لَعَمريby my life لَئِنindeed, if شَطَّتhas grown distant بِعُثمانَwith Uthman دارُهُhis dwelling
لَعَمري لَئِن شَطَّت بِعُثمانَ دارُهُ
وَأَضحىand he has become غَنِيّاًcontent بِالحَبابَةِwith al-Hababa وَالوَردِand al-Ward
وَأَضحى غَنِيّاً بِالحَبابَةِ وَالوَردِ
By my life, if Uthman's dwelling has borne him far away,
and he is now content with al-Hababa and al-Ward,
أَلاlisten فاِقرهthen convey to him مِنّاfrom us السَلامَgreetings وَقُلand say لَهُto him
أَلا فاِقره مِنّا السَلامَ وَقُل لَهُ
غَنيناwe have all we need بِفِتيانٍwith young men غَطارِفَةٍnoble مُردِbeardless
غَنينا بِفِتيانٍ غَطارِفَةٍ مُردِ
then convey our greetings to him, and tell him:
We have all we need in noble, beardless youths.
إِذاwhen شاءَwishes مِنهُمamong them ناشِئٌa youth مَدَّstretches out كَفَّهُhis hand
إِذا شاءَ مِنهُم ناشِئٌ مَدَّ كَفَّهُ
إِلىtoward كَفَلٍa rump رَيّانَwell-fleshed أَوor كَعثَبٍa pubic mound نَهدِprominent
إِلى كَفَلٍ رَيّانَ أَو كَعثَبٍ نَهدِ
When a young man among them wishes, he stretches out his hand
to a plump rump or a swelling pubic mound.
بحمدwith praise to أميرthe Commander المؤمنينof the Faithful أقرهمhe kept them at home
بحمد أمير المؤمنين أقرهم
شباباًyoung men وأغزاكمand sent you to war خوالفworthless fellows فيamong الجندthe troops
شباباً وأغزاكم خوالف في الجند
Praise be to the Commander of the Faithful: he kept them at home,
young as they are, and sent you worthless fellows to war with the troops.
فماfor not كنتمyou were تقضونsatisfying حاجةthe need أهلكمof your wives
فما كنتم تقضون حاجة أهلكم
قريباًnearby فيقضوهاso they may satisfy it علىdespite النأيremoteness والبعدand distance
قريباً فيقضوها على النأي والبعد
For you did not satisfy your wives' need
even nearby; let them satisfy it while you are far away.
فأرسلso send إليناto us بالسراحwith release from marriage فإنهfor it is
فأرسل إلينا بالسراح فإنه
مناناour wish ولاand not ندعوwe implore لكfor you اللَهGod بالرشدfor right guidance
منانا ولا ندعو لك اللَه بالرشد
So send us our release, for it is
our wish; and we do not ask God to guide you aright.
إِذاwhen رَجَعَreturns الجُندُthe army الَّذيthat أَنتَyou فيهُمُare among them
إِذا رَجَعَ الجُندُ الَّذي أَنتَ فيهُمُ
فَزادَكَthen may He give you more رَبُّthe Lord الناسِof humankind بُعداًdistance عَلىupon بُعدِdistance
فَزادَكَ رَبُّ الناسِ بُعداً عَلى بُعدِ
When the army you are with returns,
may the Lord of humankind send you farther and farther away.