وَلكِنّand yet الجَوادَthe generous man أَباAbu (father of) هِشامHisham
وَلكِنّ الجَوادَ أَبا هِشام
وَفِيُّfaithful العَهدِthe pledge مَأمونُtrustworthy المَغيبِabsence
وَفِيُّ العَهدِ مَأمونُ المَغيبِ
And yet the generous Abu Hisham
But the generous Abū Hishām
Is faithful to his pledge, trustworthy when out of sight.
And faithful to his word, secure from harm
بَطيءٌslow عَنكaway from you ماas long as اِستَغنَيتَyou had no need عَنهُof him
بَطيءٌ عَنك ما اِستَغنَيتَ عَنهُ
وَطَلّاعٌand ever appearing عَلَيكَat your side مَعamid الخُطوبِcalamities
وَطَلّاعٌ عَلَيكَ مَع الخُطوبِ
Slow to come to you as long as you have no need of him,
Moves not till thou hast need, then swift to aid
And ever at your side amid calamities.
Comes, through all dangers undismayed.
إِذاif أَمرa matter عراكَbesets you حَماكhe shields you مِنهُfrom it
إِذا أَمر عراكَ حَماك مِنهُ
وَعادَand returned بِهِwith it إِلىto عَطنa camel-resting place by water قَريبِnearby
وَعادَ بِهِ إِلى عَطن قَريبِ
If a matter besets you, he shields you from it,
Thus ordered, he will guard thee from all ill,
And brings it back to a nearby camel-resting place.
And when thy need is past be faithful still.