وَأَوصاني الحَريمُ بِعِزِّ جاري

وَأَوصاني الحَريمُ بِعِزِّ جاري

وَأَمنَعُهُ وَلَيسَ بِهِ اِمتِناعُ

وَأَمنَعُهُ وَلَيسَ بِهِ اِمتِناعُ

And al-Harim charged me to uphold my neighbor's honor.

The women bid me guard my neighbor's honor

And I protect him, though he has no power to defend himself.

And I prevent him though he feels no need

وَأَدفَعُ ضَيمَه وَأَذودُ عَنهُ

وَأَدفَعُ ضَيمَه وَأَذودُ عَنهُ

وَأَمنَعُهُ إِذا اِمتَنَعَ المِناعُ

وَأَمنَعُهُ إِذا اِمتَنَعَ المِناعُ

And I repel injustice against him and ward harm away from him.

I ward off harm and shield him when in danger

And I protect him when the defenders hold back.

And guard him still when guards no more succeed

فِدىً لَكُمُ أَبي عَنهُ تَنَحّوا

فِدىً لَكُمُ أَبي عَنهُ تَنَحّوا

لِأَمرٍ ما اِستَجارَ بِيَ الشُجاعُ

لِأَمرٍ ما اِستَجارَ بِيَ الشُجاعُ

May my father be your ransom—stand back from him.

Oh father I implore you, leave this matter

For some reason the brave man sought my protection.

When one so brave appeals for sanctuary

وَلا تَتَحَمَّلوا دَمَ مُستَجيرٍ

وَلا تَتَحَمَّلوا دَمَ مُستَجيرٍ

تَضَمَّنَهُ أُجَيرَةُ فَالتِلاعُ

تَضَمَّنَهُ أُجَيرَةُ فَالتِلاعُ

And do not take upon yourselves the blood of one seeking refuge,

Do not take on yourself a fleeing refugee's blood

Whom Ujayrah, and then the ravines, have sheltered.

Though hirelings may pursue him angrily

فَإِنَّ لما تَرَونَ خَفِيَّ أَمرٍ

فَإِنَّ لما تَرَونَ خَفِيَّ أَمرٍ

لَهُ مِن دونِ أَمرِكُم قِناعُ

لَهُ مِن دونِ أَمرِكُم قِناعُ

For in what you see there is a hidden matter,

For what you see is but a surface matter

With a veil between it and your own affairs.

With secrets underneath none can decree