ياO أيّهاyou (vocative) الشيخُthe sheikh الّذيwho لمhas not يزلceased
يا أيّها الشيخُ الّذي لم يزل
تزدحمُthrong الناسthe people علىat بابهِhis door
تزدحمُ الناس على بابهِ
O sheikh, who has always had
people thronging at his door,
ماwhat ذوhaving وجوهfaces كلّماwhenever سُوّدتare blackened
ما ذو وجوه كلّما سُوّدت
كانwas وجيهاًesteemed عندin the eyes of أربابهِits owners
كان وجيهاً عند أربابهِ
what has faces and, whenever they are blackened,
is held in esteem by its owners?