كفى بفعال امرئٍ عالمٍ

كفى بفعال امرئٍ عالمٍ

على أهلِه عادِلاً شاهِدا

على أهلِه عادِلاً شاهِدا

A learned man's deeds suffice

A leader's deeds for his people suffice

as a just witness against his own people.

As fair witness if he rules justly.

أَرى لَهُم طارِفاً مُؤنِقا

أَرى لَهُم طارِفاً مُؤنِقا

وَلا يُشبِه الطَّارِفُ التالِدا

وَلا يُشبِه الطَّارِفُ التالِدا

I see they have a splendid new acquisition,

I see for them a helper, a defender,

yet the newly acquired does not resemble the inherited.

Unlike tired, idle defenders.

يُمَنّ عَلَيكُم بِأَموالِكُم

يُمَنّ عَلَيكُم بِأَموالِكُم

وَتُعطَونَ من مائَة واحِدا

وَتُعطَونَ من مائَة واحِدا

Your own wealth is held over you as a favor,

He grants you wealth which is yours already

and you are given one out of a hundred.

And you're given one percent in fees.

فَلا حمد اللَّه مُستَبصِرا

فَلا حمد اللَّه مُستَبصِرا

يَكون لأَعدائِكُم حامِدا

يَكون لأَعدائِكُم حامِدا

So may God not praise a discerning man

So do not praise God gratefully

who praises your enemies.

If your enemies get praised too.

فضلتَ قَسيمَك في قُعددٍ

فضلتَ قَسيمَك في قُعددٍ

كَما فَضلَ الوالِدُ الوالِدا

كَما فَضلَ الوالِدُ الوالِدا

You surpassed your counterpart in closeness of descent,

You favored your partner sitting still

just as one father surpassed the other.

Just as a father favors his son.