ياO معْشرَassembly of النّاسِthe people كَمْhow long ذاthis
يا معْشرَ النّاسِ كَمْ ذا
إليكُمُto you all أتظلّمْI complain of being wronged
إليكُمُ أتظلّمْ
O people, how long
must I complain to you of my wrongs?
إنيindeed I بُليتُI have been afflicted بقاسٍwith a hard-hearted one
إني بُليتُ بقاسٍ
ماnot إنْemphasizes the negation يَرِقُّhe softens وَيَرحَمْand he shows mercy
ما إنْ يَرِقُّ وَيَرحَمْ
I have been afflicted with a hard-hearted one
who never softens or shows mercy.
ذوpossessing قِعدَةٍa backside كجُمادٍlike lifeless matter
ذو قِعدَةٍ كجُمادٍ
إكرامُهاhonoring it فيin مَحّرمْwhat is forbidden (a pun on Muharram)
إكرامُها في مَحّرمْ
He has a backside like lifeless matter;
honoring it lies in what is forbidden.
ماذاwhat أقولُI say لَمِنْto one who قَدْalready
ماذا أقولُ لَمِنْ قَدْ
تَعَوَّذَتْshe sought refuge منهfrom him مَريَمْMary
تَعَوَّذَتْ منه مَريَمْ
What can I say to one
from whom Mary has sought refuge?