مَنwho مُبلِغٌone who informs عَمروʿAmr بِنَson of نُعمانَNuʿmān إِنَّماonly; indeed
مَن مُبلِغٌ عَمرو بِنَ نُعمانَ إِنَّما
فُضوحُdisgrace الحَياةِlife أَنthat نُقِرَّwe acquiesce in المَظالِماthe injustices
فُضوحُ الحَياةِ أَن نُقِرَّ المَظالِما
Who will tell ʿAmr ibn Nuʿmān that the only
Who will inform Amr ibn Nu'man that
disgrace in life is our acquiescence in injustices?
The disgrace of life is to ignore tyranny.
قَدindeed عَلِمَتknew قَيسٌQays وَخِندَقُand Khindaq أَنَنيthat I
قَد عَلِمَت قَيسٌ وَخِندَقُ أَنَني
وَفَيتُI kept faith إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle فارِسُhorseman السَوءِunworthiness أَحجَماdrew back
وَفَيتُ إِذا ما فارِسُ السَوءِ أَحجَما
Qays and Khindaq know well that I
Qays and Khindif have come to know that I
kept faith when the unworthy horseman drew back.
Fulfill my duty when the evil horseman attacks.