كم قد خلوتُ بمن أهوى ويمنعني

كم قد خلوتُ بمن أهوى ويمنعني

منه الحياء وخوف اللّه والحَذَرُ

منه الحياء وخوف اللّه والحَذَرُ

How often I have been alone with one I love, yet I am restrained

How often I have been alone with the one I love, yet am held back

How often have I been alone with whom I love

from him by modesty, fear of God, and caution.

From him by modesty, fear of God, and caution.

Yet modesty, fear of God and caution deny me

وكم ظفرت بمن أهوى فيقنعني

وكم ظفرت بمن أهوى فيقنعني

منه الفكاهة والتعليل والنظرُ

منه الفكاهة والتعليل والنظرُ

How often I have won the company of one I love, and I am satisfied

And how often I have won the one I love, yet am content

And how often have I attained whom I love

with his humor, his beguiling talk, and the sight of him.

With his banter, soothing talk, and the sight of him.

Yet jest, excuse and gaze satisfy me

أهوى الملاح وأهوى أنْ اجالسهم

أهوى الملاح وأهوى أنْ اجالسهم

وليس لي في حرام منهم وطرُ

وليس لي في حرام منهم وطرُ

I love the beautiful, and I love to sit in their company,

I love the beautiful, and I love to sit with them;

I love the sailing men and I love to sit with them

but I have no desire for anything forbidden with them.

But I have no desire for anything forbidden with them.

Yet I have no part in their sin or danger

فذلك الحب لا إتيان معصية

فذلك الحب لا إتيان معصية

لا خير في لذة من بعدها سقرُ

لا خير في لذة من بعدها سقرُ

That is love—not the committing of a sin.

That is love, not the committing of a sin;

Such love is not the doing of wrong

There is no good in a pleasure after which comes Saqar.

There is no good in a pleasure followed by Saqar.

There is no good in a delight that is followed by hell