1. I suffer the passion of Layla, how I suffer!
And I approach one who is not to be approached.

2. And I tend to her during the days when she was my neighbor,
When her cheek, smitten, had tied my eyes' rein.

3. I was never disloyal to Layla, God knows my pledge to her.
And I never wearied of whispering lovingly to her after we had parted.

4. Nor did any absence, after she left, change me
When time's tyranny changed even the truest of friends.

5. Nor did I accustom my eyes to sleep, but it was Layla who made them sleepless and wakeful.
Passion called her when passion called me to her,

6. So she answered just as I answered when called.
How many a lover is not loved,

7. And the time turned against one whose state did not please it!
O my two friends from Sa'd ibn Abl Waqqas

8. I spent the night tossing about restlessly while you slept.
Had you been as lovesick and sleepless as I,

9. Your sickness for her would have kept you awake when it made me sleepless.
Help me against my deep cares and thank

10. Him who cured you while allowing me to be tried.
For a friend is one who shares my pain

11. And suffers with me the strokes of time.
From Qayl came a gift to me, to turn

12. The head of a black lion gray.
And a howdah of Dhul Rummah to say farewell,

13. That would have made the roofs of Oman collapse.
Who am I to deny the son of Ma'bad

14. His voice, and how much good news did he bring me!
Who am I to deny the sun its light

15. And detract from the bounty of a pouring cloud?
What they related about me and Abu Bakr

16. Did not happen, and my affair with him is too trivial.
Shall I ride the waves of doom deliberately,

17. Opening my mouth while spears prod me?
And eat the flesh of snakes to satiation

18. When just touching their skin would suffice me?
And show ingratitude for the kindness

19. In whose time I became known, to the envy of foes?
And cut off my nose, which is the seat of my pride,

20. Purposely, with my own hands?
No! By Him whose Holy House

21. The throngs of pilgrims circumambulate like the orbit of Saturn,
When my fingers wrote those words

22. My tongue spoke not what the slanderers said.
But they are the sons of Jacob who came

23. With a wolf's blood on a coat.
They wronged and injured on that day, and suggested

24. Falsehoods, misleading the course of truth after its clarification.
How strange that my sanctities should be made lawful

25. By so-and-so's writing or so-and-so's speech!
It was said in al-Baṭḥāʾ that Ahmad was a sorcerer,

26. And people said to al-Muhaymin he was an imposter,
And the followers of Jesus likened him to his likeness,

27. A cross, though the Spirit of God is not mortal.
I cannot transform their deeds, though they split the staff

28. And provoked wrath without any slip of mine.
Vain fools defamed me unjustly,

29. And God repelled what they threw at me when they threw it.
Truth has an answer, and falsehood is a kind of raving;

30. The words of enemies are a type of madness.
Upon you, O Abu Bakr, be peace, and your melodies

31. Have always been the best melodies for visitors.
Well and safe from harm, ascending to the heights

32. And lasting, watered by the rain at all times.
I arrived, and my friends were between one who drove me away

33. And another who loosened the reins for travel.
In the soul desires, in the heart awe,

34. For passion and fear are different.
Behind me, O Ibn al-Ash`ath, are boys

35. Like the kittens of a wildcat, each wanting to see me.
And an old man whose anger is provoked by misfortunes,

36. And an old woman to whom it is hard if I depart.
What you said about me alarmed them, and they are all

37. With eyes flowing copiously with tears.
Be charitable to them, or to me for their sake,

38. And calm hearts beating tumultuously.
Give security - how often you have secured

39. The fear of one in need! Set free -
How often you have released the anguish of a distressed soul!

40. And live the life of Noah in the munificence of Tubba`,
Achieving all your wishes from the days.