ياO عارضاًa rain cloud يرويwaters الثرىthe earth غيثهits rain
يا عارضاً يروي الثرى غيثه
ومنهلاًand a watering place يشفيrelieves الصدىthirst موردهits water source
ومنهلاً يشفي الصدى مورده
O rain cloud whose rain waters the earth,
O passerby watering the earth with his rain
And watering place whose waters quench thirst!
And spring quenching the echo with its water
أقعدتyou seated فيin الكتابthe school منone who لمdid not يكنbe
أقعدت في الكتاب من لم يكن
يضرهharm him أنكthat you لاnot تقعدهseat him
يضره أنك لا تقعده
You have enrolled in school one who
You blamed in the book one who was not
Would have suffered no harm had you not enrolled him.
Harmed by you not blaming him
أنتyou أبوهhis father فهوso he يُنميbelongs by descent إلىto
أنت أبوه فهو يُنمي إلى
كتابةٍwriting يوجبهاrequires it محتدهُhis lineage
كتابةٍ يوجبها محتدهُ
You are his father, so he belongs by descent to
You are his father, so he inclines
The craft of writing, which his lineage demands.
Towards writing induced by his zeal
إنif شئتyou wish علمهُteach him وإنand if شئتyou wish لاdo not
إن شئت علمهُ وإن شئت لا
لاno بدescape أنthat تحكيimitate أباهhis father يدُهhis hand
لا بد أن تحكي أباه يدُه
If you wish, teach him; and if you wish, do not—
If you wish, teach him, and if not, no
His hand is bound to imitate his father.
Need to blame his father who guided him