سَأَلْتُ صَدِيقاً بِأَمْرِ الوَرَى

سَأَلْتُ صَدِيقاً بِأَمْرِ الوَرَى

خَبِيراً بَصِيراً بِطُرْقِ الهُدَى

خَبِيراً بَصِيراً بِطُرْقِ الهُدَى

I asked a friend, in the affairs of humankind

I asked a friend, well-versed in the ways of life,

well versed, discerning in the paths of guidance:

An expert, wise in the paths of guidance-

أَغِيضَ النَّدا من أَكُفٍّ لَهُمْ

أَغِيضَ النَّدا من أَكُفٍّ لَهُمْ

فَجَاوَبَني مُنْشِئاً مُنْشِدَا

فَجَاوَبَني مُنْشِئاً مُنْشِدَا

“Has generosity ebbed from their hands?”

The rain has ceased from hands that long held it;

So he answered me, composing and reciting:

He answered me, composing, reciting:

إذا غِيضَ طُوفانُ نُوحٍ فَما

إذا غِيضَ طُوفانُ نُوحٍ فَما

تَعَجُّبُنا أَنْ يَغِيضَ النَّدا

تَعَجُّبُنا أَنْ يَغِيضَ النَّدا

“If Noah’s flood subsided, why then

When Noah's flood has passed, should we wonder

should we marvel that generosity ebbs away?”

That pools of rainwater begin to diminish?