مُقَدِّمَة

Even if the intelligent one pretending to be foolish overlooks me, and the loving friend defends me

Bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé bi ọlọ́gbọ́n tí ń ṣe bí òmùgọ̀ ba fojú fo mi, tí ọ̀rẹ́ olùfẹ́ sì gbèjà mi

I can hardly escape from an ignorant fool or a malicious one pretending to be ignorant

Ó fẹ́rẹ̀ jẹ́ pé n kò lè bọ́ lọ́wọ́ aṣiwèrè aláìmọ̀kan tàbí ẹni búburú tí ń ṣe bí ẹni tí kò mọ̀

Who belittles me for this composition and denounces it as being among the prohibitions of the law

Tí ó ń foju kere mi fún ìwé yìí tí mo kọ tí ó sì ń sọ pé ó wà lára àwọn ohun tí òfin kọ̀

And whoever critiques things with the eye of reason and scrutinizes the foundations of principles

Àti ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá ṣe àgbéyẹ̀wò àwọn nǹkan pẹ̀lú ojú ìdájọ́ tí ó sì ṣe àyẹ̀wò àwọn ìpìlẹ̀ òfin

Arranges these Maqamat in the string of useful lessons and threads them in the path of topics about animals and inanimate objects

YÓ to àwọn MaKama wọ̀nyí sínú àwọn ẹ̀kọ́ tí ó wúlò tí ó sì tò wọ́n sí ọ̀nà àwọn orí ọ̀rọ̀ nípa àwọn ẹranko àti àwọn ohun tí kò lẹ́mìí

And has not heard of anyone whose hearing recoiled from those stories or who accused their narrators of sin at any time

Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò gbọ́ nípa ẹnikẹ́ni tí etí rẹ̀ kọ̀ àwọn ìtàn wọ̀nyí sílẹ̀ tàbí tí ó fi ẹ̀sùn ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ kan àwọn olùròyìn wọn ní àkókò kankan

Then, if deeds are by intentions, and by them religious contracts are formed

Lẹ́yìn náà, bí iṣẹ́ bá jẹ́ nípa èrò inú, àti nípa wọn ni a ṣe n dé awon ọrọ ẹ̀sìn

Then what blame is there on one who created witticisms for warning, not for deception, and aimed with them towards refinement, not lies?

Nígbà náà, ẹ̀bi wo ló wà lórí ẹni tí ó ṣẹ̀dá àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ owe fún ìkìlọ̀, kì í ṣe fún ẹ̀tàn, tí ó sì ní èrò ìdàgbàsókè pẹ̀lú wọn, kì í ṣe irọ́?

And is he in that except in the position of one who volunteered for teaching or guided to a straight path?

Ṣé kò sì wà ní ipò ẹni tí ó yàn láti kọ́ni tàbí tí ó tọ́ ni sí ọ̀nà tí ó tọ́?

However, I am content to bear passion and to be free from it, neither against me nor for me

Síbẹ̀síbẹ̀, mo ní ìtẹ́lọ́rùn láti ru ìfẹ́kúfẹ̀ẹ́ àti láti bọ́ lọ́wọ́ rẹ̀, kì í ṣe lòdì sí mi tàbí fún mi