خُلِقنا لأَمرٍ لَو عَلِمنا حَقيقةً

خُلِقنا لأَمرٍ لَو عَلِمنا حَقيقةً

له ما أَحبَّ المرءُ لَيلى وَلا لُبنى

له ما أَحبَّ المرءُ لَيلى وَلا لُبنى

We were created for a purpose—if we truly knew it,

We were created for a purpose; if we knew the truth

for its sake no one would have loved Layla or Lubna.

Of it, a man would love neither Layla nor Lubna.

وَلكن جَهِلنا فاستراحَت نُفُوسُنا

وَلكن جَهِلنا فاستراحَت نُفُوسُنا

وما تلكَ إِلا راحةٌ تَعقبُ الحُزنا

وما تلكَ إِلا راحةٌ تَعقبُ الحُزنا

But we were ignorant, so our souls found repose;

But we did not know, so our souls found rest;

and that is only a respite that follows sorrow.

And that is only a respite that brings sorrow in its wake.