أَحَقّاً أَبا زِرٍّ حَديثٌ سَمِعتُهُ

أَحَقّاً أَبا زِرٍّ حَديثٌ سَمِعتُهُ

وَإِلّا يَحَل مِن دونِ خَيرِكَ تَنفَعِ

وَإِلّا يَحَل مِن دونِ خَيرِكَ تَنفَعِ

Is a report I heard true, Abū Zirr?

Is it true what I heard, Ab Zarrs

And if nothing bars the way to your bounty, you do good.

Unless it comes without your goodness that benefits

فَما زِلتَ تُعطي النَفسَ حَتّى تَجاوَزَت

فَما زِلتَ تُعطي النَفسَ حَتّى تَجاوَزَت

مُناها فَأَعطِ الآنَ إِن شِئتَ أَو دَعِ

مُناها فَأَعطِ الآنَ إِن شِئتَ أَو دَعِ

So you have kept giving to the soul until it surpassed

So you kept giving the soul until it went beyond

its wishes; so give now, if you wish, or refrain.

Its purpose, so give now if you wish or leave off

فَإِنَّ اِبنَ دَفّاعٍ طَريفاً وَجَدتُهُ

فَإِنَّ اِبنَ دَفّاعٍ طَريفاً وَجَدتُهُ

كَريماً عَلى عِلّاتِهِ غَيرَ مُقطَعِ

كَريماً عَلى عِلّاتِهِ غَيرَ مُقطَعِ

For I have found Ṭarīf, son of Daffāʿ,

For I found ibn Daffa softly

generous despite his shortcomings, never exhausted in giving.

Noble despite his afflictions, uninterrupted