شَتَمتُما قائِلاً بِالحَقِّ مُهتَدِياً

شَتَمتُما قائِلاً بِالحَقِّ مُهتَدِياً

عِندَ الخَليفَةِ وَالأَقوالُ تَنتَضِلُ

عِندَ الخَليفَةِ وَالأَقوالُ تَنتَضِلُ

You two insulted a rightly guided speaker of truth

I insulted saying the truth, guided,

before the caliph, as words vied like arrows.

In the presence of the Caliph while words flutter about.

أَتَشتُمانِ سِفاهاً خَيرَكُم حَسَباً

أَتَشتُمانِ سِفاهاً خَيرَكُم حَسَباً

فَفيكُما وَإِلَهي الزَورُ وَالخَطَلُ

فَفيكُما وَإِلَهي الزَورُ وَالخَطَلُ

Do you two foolishly insult your better in lineage?

Do you insult a fool - the best of you in lineage?

For in you both, by my God, are falsehood and foolish speech.

So in you two are vanity and prattle.

أَتَشتُماهُ عَلى رَفعي وَوَضعِكُما

أَتَشتُماهُ عَلى رَفعي وَوَضعِكُما

لا زِلتُما في سِفالٍ أَيُّها السَفَلُ

لا زِلتُما في سِفالٍ أَيُّها السَفَلُ

Do you two insult him for raising me and lowering you both?

Do you insult him for elevating me and debasing you both?

May you two forever remain in baseness, O base ones!

You remain in vileness, O you vile!