أيهاO you الفاضلُvirtuous one الذيwho قدindeed هدانيhas guided me
أيها الفاضلُ الذي قد هداني
نحوَtoward ماwhat قدindeed حمدتهI praised it باختيارby choice
نحوَ ما قد حمدته باختيار
O virtuous one, you who guided me
O virtuous one who has guided me
toward what I freely chose to praise,
Toward what I have freely praised,
شكرَmay reward اللهُGod ماwhat أتيتَyou have done وجازاand may He recompense
شكرَ اللهُ ما أتيتَ وجازا
كَyou ولاand never زلتَmay you cease to be نجمa star هَدْيguidance الساريthe night traveler
كَ ولا زلتَ نجم هَدْي الساري
may God reward the deed you have done, and requite—
May God reward what you have done, and recompense
you; may you never cease to be the night traveler’s guiding star.
You; may you ever remain a guiding star for the night traveler.
وإِذاand when ماemphatic particle غداbecomes النسيمthe breeze دليليmy guide
وإِذا ما غدا النسيم دليلي
لمdid not يحلنيit directs me إِلاّexcept علىto الأزهارthe flowers
لم يحلني إِلاّ على الأزهار
And whenever the breeze becomes my guide,
And whenever the breeze becomes my guide,
it sets me down nowhere but upon the flowers.
It directs me only to the flowers.
Sol 6.1