قولا لأهل زمان لا خلاق لهم

قولا لأهل زمان لا خلاق لهم

ضلوا عن الرشد من جهل بهم وعموا

ضلوا عن الرشد من جهل بهم وعموا

You two, say to the people of an age who have no virtue:

Say to the people of an age with no virtues,

They strayed from right guidance through their ignorance and went blind.

Who have strayed from righteousness in their ignorance and blindness,

أعطيتم المتنبى فوق منيته

أعطيتم المتنبى فوق منيته

فزوجوه برغمٍ أمهاتكم

فزوجوه برغمٍ أمهاتكم

You have given al-Mutanabbi more than he wished for.

You have raised al-Mutanabbi beyond what he deserves,

So, begrudgingly, marry your mothers to him.

So marry him off to your mothers against their will.

لكن بغداد جاد الغيث ساكنها

لكن بغداد جاد الغيث ساكنها

نعالهم فى قفا السقاء تزدحم

نعالهم فى قفا السقاء تزدحم

But Baghdad—may rain generously water its inhabitants—

But Baghdad, where the clouds pour down rain,

Their sandals crowd against the water-carrier’s nape.

Has them - their shoes at the water-carrier's shoulder jostle.