araada sittatu ʿumyaanin an yaʿrifuu shakla al-fiiliSix blind men wanted to know what an elephant looks like.
lamasa al-awwalu janba al-fiili waqaala al-fiilu mithlu al-ḥaa’iṭiThe first touched the elephant's side and said, "The elephant is like a wall."
lamasa ath-thaanii naabahu waqaala bal huwa mithlu ar-rumḥiThe second touched its tusk and said, "No, it is like a spear."
lamasa ath-thaalithu khurṭuumahu waqaala huwa mithlu ath-thuʿbaaniThe third touched its trunk and said, "It is like a snake."
lamasa ar-raabiʿu rijlahu waqaala huwa mithlu ash-shajaratiThe fourth touched its leg and said, "It is like a tree."
lamasa al-khaamisu udhunahu waqaala huwa mithlu al-mirwaḥatiThe fifth touched its ear and said, "It is like a fan."
lamasa as-saadisu dhaylahu waqaala huwa mithlu al-ḥabliThe sixth touched its tail and said, "It is like a rope."
takhaaṣamuu kathiiran wakullu waaḥidin yaquulu anaa ʿalaa ḥaqqinThey argued a lot, each one saying, "I am right!"
qaala rajulun baṣiirun kullukum ʿalaa ḥaqqin fakullu waaḥidin lamasa juz’an faqaṭA man who could see said, "You are all right, because each of you touched only one part."
man yaraa juz’an laa yaʿrifu al-kullaWhoever sees one part does not know the whole.