The Luzumiyat of Abu'l-Ala, LXXVIII

translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani

And why in this dark Kingdom tribute pay? 
With clamant multitudes why stop to pray? 
     Oh! hear the inner Voice:—“If thou’lt be right, 
Do what they deem is wrong, and go thy way.”

Credit

The Luzumiyat of Abu’l-Ala (James T. White & Co., 1920) by Abū al-‘Alā’ al-Ma‘arrī. Translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani. Copyright © 1920 by Ameen Rihani. This poem is in the public domain.