قالوا النَبيهُ فَقُلتُ أَه

قالوا النَبيهُ فَقُلتُ أَه

لاً بِالنَبيهِ وَمَرحَبا

لاً بِالنَبيهِ وَمَرحَبا

They said, "Al-Nabih!" I said, "Wel—

They said the prophet, so I said welcome

—come, al-Nabih, and welcome!"

To the prophet and greetings abound

قالوا صَديقُكَ قُلتُ أَع

قالوا صَديقُكَ قُلتُ أَع

رِفُهُ الصَديقَ المُجتَبى

رِفُهُ الصَديقَ المُجتَبى

They said, "Your friend." I said, "I know

They said your friend, I said I know

him—the chosen friend."

This noble, chosen friend

قالوا أَتى لَكَ زائِراً

قالوا أَتى لَكَ زائِراً

مُتَوَدِّداً مُتَحَبِّبا

مُتَوَدِّداً مُتَحَبِّبا

They said, "He has come to visit you,

They said he came visiting you

showing affection and seeking to endear himself."

Seeking closeness and affection

قُلتُ الكَريمُ وَمِثلُهُ

قُلتُ الكَريمُ وَمِثلُهُ

مَولىً تُحَلُّ لَهُ الحُبى

مَولىً تُحَلُّ لَهُ الحُبى

I said, "A generous man—and one like him

I said the generous and his like

is a lord for whom the knee-bands are loosened."

Are masters whom love suits

فَنَهَضتُ إِكراماً لَهُ

فَنَهَضتُ إِكراماً لَهُ

عَجِلاً وَقُمتُ تَأَدُّبا

عَجِلاً وَقُمتُ تَأَدُّبا

So I rose to honor him,

So I got up quickly to honor him

in haste, and stood out of courtesy.

Hastening and standing with manners

قالوا أَقامَ هُنَيهَةً

قالوا أَقامَ هُنَيهَةً

ثُمَّ اِنثَنى مُتَغَضِّبا

ثُمَّ اِنثَنى مُتَغَضِّبا

They said, "He stayed a little while,

They said he stayed a bit

then turned away in anger."

Then turned away angry

فَعَجِبتُ مِمّا قَد سَمِع

فَعَجِبتُ مِمّا قَد سَمِع

تُ وَحُقَّ لي أَن أَعجَبا

تُ وَحُقَّ لي أَن أَعجَبا

So I was astonished at what I had heard,

I was surprised at what I heard

and I had every right to be astonished.

And rightfully astonished

وَلَعَلَّ أَمراً ساءَهُ

وَلَعَلَّ أَمراً ساءَهُ

مِن جانِبي فَتَجَنَّبا

مِن جانِبي فَتَجَنَّبا

And perhaps something displeased him

Perhaps something I did

on my part, so he kept away.

Offended him, so he shunned

أَولا فَبَعضُ الحاسِدي

أَولا فَبَعضُ الحاسِدي

نَ سَعى إِلَيهِ فَأَلَّبا

نَ سَعى إِلَيهِ فَأَلَّبا

Or else some of the envious

Or some envious slanderers

went to him and incited him against me.

Incited him against me

لاأُمَّ لي إِن كانَ ما

لاأُمَّ لي إِن كانَ ما

نَقَلَ الحَسودُ وَلا أَبا

نَقَلَ الحَسودُ وَلا أَبا

May I have no mother if what

No, mother, whatever the envious spread

the envious man reported was true—and no father either!

I don't believe or accept