ياO خَيرَbest of مَنthose who لَبِسَwore النِعالَsandals وَخَيرَand best of مَنthose who
يا خَيرَ مَن لَبِسَ النِعالَ وَخَيرَ مَن
وَطِىءَtrod التُرابَthe earth وَخَيرَand best of مَنthose who سَكَنَdwelt in الدُناthe worlds
وَطِىءَ التُرابَ وَخَيرَ مَن سَكَنَ الدُنا
O best of those who have worn sandals, and best of those who
O best of those who donned sandals and best
have trodden the earth, and best of those who have dwelt in the worlds!
Of those who tread the dust and best of those who lived humbly
ياO مَنyou who إِذاwhen حَلَّalights المُؤَمِّلُthe hopeful seeker of جودَهُhis generosity
يا مَن إِذا حَلَّ المُؤَمِّلُ جودَهُ
بِفَنائِهِin his courtyard يَوماًone day فَقَدthen indeed بَلَغَhe has attained المُناwishes
بِفَنائِهِ يَوماً فَقَد بَلَغَ المُنا
O you—when one who hopes for your bounty alights
O you, when the hopeful relied on your generosity
in your courtyard one day, he has attained his wishes.
And spent a day in your courtyard, he attained what he wished
ياO اِبنَson of الَّذيhim who خَضَعَتbowed لِعِزَّةِto the power of بَأسِهِhis martial might
يا اِبنَ الَّذي خَضَعَت لِعِزَّةِ بَأسِهِ
مُضطَرَّةًperforce بيضُbright الصَوارِمِkeen-edged swords وَالقَناand spears
مُضطَرَّةً بيضُ الصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا
O son of him before whose mighty prowess bowed
O son of one whose might made the bright swords
perforce, bright, keen-edged swords and spears.
And spears bow down submissively
أَيَجوزُis it permissible? أَنthat أَغشىI enter حِماكَyour sanctuary فَأَنثَنيthen I return
أَيَجوزُ أَن أَغشى حِماكَ فَأَنثَني
صِفراًempty يَديmy hand وَيَداكَwhile your two hands مَلأىfull بِالثَناwith praise
صِفراً يَدي وَيَداكَ مَلأى بِالثَنا
Is it right that I enter your sanctuary, then return
Is it proper that I visit your sanctuary and kneel before you
with my hand empty, while both your hands brim with praise?
With empty hands while yours are filled with bounty?
أَوor هَلis it يَليقُfitting بِمِثلِfor the like of جودِهِhis generosity أَنthat يَرىhe sees
أَو هَل يَليقُ بِمِثلِ جودِهِ أَن يَرى
حِرمانَthe deprivation of مَنone who أَمسىhas become بِشُكرِكَin thanking you مُعلِناopenly proclaiming
حِرمانَ مَن أَمسى بِشُكرِكَ مُعلِنا
Or is it fitting for one as generous as he to see
Or is it fitting that your generosity should see
the deprivation of one who has openly proclaimed his thanks to you?
One made wretched through thanking you spend the night despairing?
وَإِذاand if اِكتَسَيتَyou clothed yourself in مَدائِحيmy praises وَعَريتُwhile I went bare عَنof
وَإِذا اِكتَسَيتَ مَدائِحي وَعَريتُ عَن
الطافِfavors بِرِّكَyour benevolence فِالجَوادُso the generous one إِذاًin that case أَناI
الطافِ بِرِّكَ فِالجَوادُ إِذاً أَنا
And if you clothe yourself in my praises while I go bare of
When you are clothed in my praises and the mantle
the favors of your benevolence, then I am the generous one.
Of your kindness I strip off, then for generosity I am renowned
ماwhat ليis with me غَرَستُI planted مَدائِحيmy praises وَسَقَيتُهاand watered them
ما لي غَرَستُ مَدائِحي وَسَقَيتُها
ماءَwater الوَلاءِof loyalty وَماand not حَصَلتُI gained possession عَلىof جَناfruit
ماءَ الوَلاءِ وَما حَصَلتُ عَلى جَنا
Why have I planted my praises and watered them
Why did I plant my praises and water them
with the water of loyalty, yet reaped no fruit?
With the water of loyalty and reap no harvest?