kaana lijuḥaa ʿasharatu ḥamiirin wakaana yarkabu waaḥidan minhaaJuha had ten donkeys and was riding one of them.
ʿaddahaa fawajadahaa tisʿatanHe counted them and found nine.
nazala waʿaddahaa marratan thaaniyatan fawajadahaa ʿasharatanHe got down and counted them again, and found ten.
rakiba waʿaddahaa faṣaarat tisʿatanHe got on and counted them, and again there were nine.
qaala afḍalu an amshiya walaa akhsara ḥimaaranHe said, "It is better that I walk than lose a donkey!"
ḍaḥika jaaruhu li’annahu lam yaʿudda al-ḥimaara alladhii yarkabuhuHis neighbour laughed, because he had not counted the donkey he was riding.