الناسُpeople مِثلlike زَمانِهِمtheir times
الناسُ مِثل زَمانِهِم
قَدّcutting الحِذاءِof the shoe عَلىaccording to مِثالِهits pattern
قَدّ الحِذاءِ عَلى مِثالِه
People are like their times,
People are like their time
as a shoe is cut to its pattern.
The shoe fits their shape
وَرِجالُand the men دَهرِكَof your age مِثلُlike دَهyour age (first fragment)
وَرِجالُ دَهرِكَ مِثلُ دَه
رِكَyour age (remaining fragment) فيin تَقَلُّبِهِits changes وَحالِهand its condition
رِكَ في تَقَلُّبِهِ وَحالِه
And the men of your age are like your age
And the men of your age resemble your age
in its changes and condition.
In its ups and downs and states
وَكذاand likewise إِذاwhen فَسَدَgrew corrupt الزَماthe age (first fragment)
وَكذا إِذا فَسَدَ الزَما
نُthe age (remaining fragment) جَرىspread الفَسادُcorruption عَلىamong رِجالِهits men
نُ جَرى الفَسادُ عَلى رِجالِه
And likewise, when the age grows corrupt,
And so when time grows corrupt
corruption spreads among its men.
Corruption flows through its men