فَقالَت أَلَيسَ اِبنُ الوَليدِ الَّذي لَهُ

فَقالَت أَلَيسَ اِبنُ الوَليدِ الَّذي لَهُ

يَمينٌ بِها الإِمحالُ وَالفَقرُ يُطرَدُ

يَمينٌ بِها الإِمحالُ وَالفَقرُ يُطرَدُ

Then she said: Is not the son of al-Walid the one whose

She said, "Is he not the son of Al-Walid, who has

Right hand drives away drought and poverty?

A hand with which want and poverty are driven away?

يَجودُ وَإِن لَم تَرتَحِل يا اِبنَ غالِبٍ

يَجودُ وَإِن لَم تَرتَحِل يا اِبنَ غالِبٍ

إِلَيهِ وَإِن لا قَيتَهُ فَهوَ أَجوَدُ

إِلَيهِ وَإِن لا قَيتَهُ فَهوَ أَجوَدُ

He gives generously even if you do not journey, O son of Ghalib,

He gives generously even if you do not move, O son of Ghālib,

To him; and if you meet him, he is more generous

To him, and even if you do not stay in his abode, he is the most generous,

مِنَ النيلِ إِذ عَمَّ المَنارَ غُثاؤُهُ

مِنَ النيلِ إِذ عَمَّ المَنارَ غُثاؤُهُ

وَمَن يَأتِهِ مِن راغِبٍ فَهوَ أَسعَدُ

وَمَن يَأتِهِ مِن راغِبٍ فَهوَ أَسعَدُ

Than the Nile when its flood-borne debris covers the landmarks.

Than the Nile when its abundant waters spread,

And whoever comes to him seeking bounty is more fortunate.

And whoever comes to him as a seeker, he is the happiest,

فَإِنَّ اِرتِدادَ الهَمَّ عَجزٌ عَلى الفَتى

فَإِنَّ اِرتِدادَ الهَمَّ عَجزٌ عَلى الفَتى

عَلَيهِ كَما رُدَّ البَعيرُ المُقَيَّدُ

عَلَيهِ كَما رُدَّ البَعيرُ المُقَيَّدُ

For it is weakness in a young man for his resolve to recoil

For the turning back of care is difficult for the youth -

Upon him, as a hobbled camel is turned back.

It turns back upon him as the tethered camel returns.

وَلا خَيرَ في هَمٍّ إِذا لَم يَكُن لَهُ

وَلا خَيرَ في هَمٍّ إِذا لَم يَكُن لَهُ

زَماعٌ وَحَبلٌ لِلصَريمَةِ مُحصَدُ

زَماعٌ وَحَبلٌ لِلصَريمَةِ مُحصَدُ

And no good lies in an intention unless it has

And there is no good in care when it has no

Determination and a tightly twisted rope of resolve.

Reins or rope for the noble stud.

جَرى اِبنُ أَبي العاصي فَأَحرَزَ غايَةً

جَرى اِبنُ أَبي العاصي فَأَحرَزَ غايَةً

إِذا أُحرِزَت مَن نالَها فَهوَ أَمجَدُ

إِذا أُحرِزَت مَن نالَها فَهوَ أَمجَدُ

The son of Abu al-Asi raced and attained a goal,

The son of Abi Al-‘Āṣī set forth and attained the utmost

Which, once attained, makes its achiever most glorious.

When the utmost is attained, he who reaches it is the most glorious,

وَكانَ إِذا اِحمَرَّ الشِتاءُ جِفانُهُ

وَكانَ إِذا اِحمَرَّ الشِتاءُ جِفانُهُ

جِفانٌ إِلَيها بادِئونَ وَعُوَّدُ

جِفانٌ إِلَيها بادِئونَ وَعُوَّدُ

And when winter reddened, his serving bowls were

And when winter reddened its eyelids,

Bowls sought by newcomers and returning guests.

They were eyelids towards which the initiators set out and grew accustomed.

لَهُم طُرُقٌ أَقدامُهُم قَد عَرَفنَها

لَهُم طُرُقٌ أَقدامُهُم قَد عَرَفنَها

إِلَيهِم وَأَيديهِم مِنَ الشَحمِ جُمَّدِ

إِلَيهِم وَأَيديهِم مِنَ الشَحمِ جُمَّدِ

They have paths their feet already know,

They had paths which their feet had come to know

Leading to them, and their hands are caked with fat.

To them, and their hands were solid with fat.

وَما مِن حَنيفٍ آلَ مَروانَ مُسلِمٍ

وَما مِن حَنيفٍ آلَ مَروانَ مُسلِمٍ

وَلا غَيرِهِ إِلّا عَلَيهِ لَكُم يَدُ

وَلا غَيرِهِ إِلّا عَلَيهِ لَكُم يَدُ

And there is no Muslim of the pure faith, O house of Marwan,

There was no sincere Hanifite client of Marwān

Nor anyone else, but your hand of bounty is upon him.

Or other, except over him you have a claim.

إِذا عَدَّ قَومٌ مَجدَهُم وَبُيوتَهُم

إِذا عَدَّ قَومٌ مَجدَهُم وَبُيوتَهُم

فَضَلتُم إِذا ما أَكرَمُ الناسِ عُدِّدوا

فَضَلتُم إِذا ما أَكرَمُ الناسِ عُدِّدوا

When a people reckon their glory and their houses,

When a people recount their glory and houses,

You surpass them whenever the noblest of people are counted.

You excel when the most generous of mankind are counted."