إذاif رضيis content الصديقthe friend منfrom الصديقthe friend
إذا رضي الصديق من الصديق
بمتفقwith a chance occurrence of السلامgreeting علىon الطريقthe road
بمتفق السلام على الطريق
If a friend is content with his friend’s
When a friend is pleased with a friend
chance greeting on the road,
With agreed upon greetings on the road
فماand not يتزاورانthey visit each other بغيرwithout عذرa reason
فما يتزاوران بغير عذر
ولاand not يتعاتبانthey reproach each other علىfor العقوقneglect
ولا يتعاتبان على العقوق
and they do not visit each other without a reason,
They do not visit without reason
nor reproach each other for neglect,
Nor reproach each other for estrangement
فقدthen indeed جعلاthey have made سلامهماtheir greeting عزاءcondolences
فقد جعلا سلامهما عزاء
علىfor موتdeath الصداقةfriendship والخفوقand the heart’s throbbing
على موت الصداقة والخفوق
then they have turned their greeting into condolences
For they have made their greetings a consolation
for the death of friendship and the heart’s throbbing.
For the death of friendship and intimacy