«وَحُرْمَةِ الشَّيْخِ الَّذِي سَنَّ الْقِرَى / وَأَسَّ الْمَحْجُوجَ فِي أُمِّ الْقُرَى»
By the honour of the elder who established hospitality and founded the sanctuary visited in the Mother of Cities.
Sanna al-qirā means establishing a custom of hospitality; al-maḥjūj refers to the destination of pilgrimage; Umm al-Qurā is Mecca. The reference is to Prophet Abraham.
The youth begins with a solemn allusion instead of immediately saying what he can offer. The elevated opening raises the listener’s expectation of generous hospitality.