إِنّي كَتَبتُ إِلَيكَ أَلتَمِسُ الغِنى

إِنّي كَتَبتُ إِلَيكَ أَلتَمِسُ الغِنى

بِيَدَيكَ أَو بِيَدَي أَبيكَ الهَيثَمِ

بِيَدَيكَ أَو بِيَدَي أَبيكَ الهَيثَمِ

Indeed, I have written to you seeking wealth

I wrote to you seeking wealth,

at your hands, or those of your father, al-Haytham—

Either from your hands or your father Al-Haitham's hands,

أَيدٍ سَبَقنَ إِلى المُنادي بِالقِرى

أَيدٍ سَبَقنَ إِلى المُنادي بِالقِرى

وَالبَأسِ في سَبَلِ العَجاجِ الأَقتَمِ

وَالبَأسِ في سَبَلِ العَجاجِ الأَقتَمِ

hands that were first to reach the caller with hospitality

Hands that were first to call people in towns,

and with valor amid the streaming veils of dark dust,

And valor in the paths of unyielding Ajaj,

الشاعِباتِ إِذا الأُمورُ تَفاقَمَت

الشاعِباتِ إِذا الأُمورُ تَفاقَمَت

وَالمُطعِماتِ إِذا يَدٌ لَم تُطعَمِ

وَالمُطعِماتِ إِذا يَدٌ لَم تُطعَمِ

that mend rifts when affairs grow grave,

The givers of food when matters worsened,

and feed when a hand goes unfed,

The feeders when a hand did not feed,

وَالمُصلِحاتِ بِمالِهِنَّ ذَوي الغِنى

وَالمُصلِحاتِ بِمالِهِنَّ ذَوي الغِنى

وَالخاضِباتِ قَنا الأَسِنَّةِ بِالدَمِ

وَالخاضِباتِ قَنا الأَسِنَّةِ بِالدَمِ

and with their wealth better the lot of the wealthy,

The reformers with their wealth of the rich people,

and dye the spear-tipped shafts with blood.

And the warriors whose lances’ tips were tainted with blood.

إِنّي حَلَفتُ بِرافِعينَ أَكُفَّهُم

إِنّي حَلَفتُ بِرافِعينَ أَكُفَّهُم

بَينَ الحَطيمِ وَبَينَ حَوضَي زَمزَمِ

بَينَ الحَطيمِ وَبَينَ حَوضَي زَمزَمِ

Indeed, I have sworn by those who raise their palms

I swore by those raising their palms,

between al-Hatim and the two basins of Zamzam:

Between the rubbles and the basin of Zamzam,

لِتَأتِيَنَّكَ مِدحَةٌ مَشهورَةٌ

لِتَأتِيَنَّكَ مِدحَةٌ مَشهورَةٌ

غَرّاءُ يَعرِفُها رِفاقُ المَوسِمِ

غَرّاءُ يَعرِفُها رِفاقُ المَوسِمِ

a renowned poem of praise shall surely reach you,

That you will receive a famous eulogy,

radiant, recognized by the bands of pilgrims.

Fresh, known to friends of the season.