كَيْفَ حَالُ السَّجينَ لَمْ يُعْدَمِ

كَيْفَ حَالُ السَّجينَ لَمْ يُعْدَمِ

الْقُوتَ وَلَكِنْ يُدْمَى مِنَ التَّقَيِّيدِ

الْقُوتَ وَلَكِنْ يُدْمَى مِنَ التَّقَيِّيدِ

How fares the prisoner, who is not deprived

How is the prisoner who lacks no food, yet is tortured by confinement?

of food, yet bleeds from being shackled?

A dog roaming free between houses is better off

إِنَّ كَلْباً بَيْنَ البُيُوتِ طَلِيقاً

إِنَّ كَلْباً بَيْنَ البُيُوتِ طَلِيقاً

لَهْوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ضَيْغَمِ فِي الْحَدِيدِ

لَهْوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ضَيْغَمِ فِي الْحَدِيدِ

Indeed, a dog roaming free among the houses

Than a lion in chains.

is surely better off than a lion in irons.

Who will intercede for me with the Caliph?

مَنْ شَفِيعِي لَدَى الْخَلِيفَةِ إِنِّي

مَنْ شَفِيعِي لَدَى الْخَلِيفَةِ إِنِّي

لَمَ أَكُنْ بِالْعَتيِّ أَوْ بِالمُرَيدِ

لَمَ أَكُنْ بِالْعَتيِّ أَوْ بِالمُرَيدِ

Who will intercede for me with the caliph? Indeed, I

I was neither disobedient nor mutinous.

was neither insolent nor rebellious.

The thief who stole a sheep, my family's livelihood,

سَارِقُ الشَاةِ وَهْيَ رِزْقُ عِيَالِي

سَارِقُ الشَاةِ وَهْيَ رِزْقُ عِيَالِي

لَقِيَ الْحَتْفَ مِنْ يَدَيْ صندِيدِ

لَقِيَ الْحَتْفَ مِنْ يَدَيْ صندِيدِ

The thief of the ewe—my family's sustenance—

Was put to death by the executioner's blade.

met death at the hands of a valiant man.

They considered it an assault against me, but

شَنَّها غارَةً عَلَيَّ وَلَكِنْ

شَنَّها غارَةً عَلَيَّ وَلَكِنْ

بَاءَ بِالْحَدِّ وَالقَصَاصِ الشَّدِيدِ

بَاءَ بِالْحَدِّ وَالقَصَاصِ الشَّدِيدِ

He launched a raid against me, but

He met severe punishment and retribution.

incurred the prescribed punishment and harsh retribution.