لولا مَدامعُ عُشّاقٍ ولَوعتُهم

لولا مَدامعُ عُشّاقٍ ولَوعتُهم

لَبَانَ في الخَلق غيرُ الماءِ والنارِ

لَبَانَ في الخَلق غيرُ الماءِ والنارِ

Were it not for lovers’ tears and their burning anguish,

Were it not for lovers' tears and their agony

something other than water and fire would appear in creation.

Nothing would exist in creation but water and fire

وكلُّ نارٍ فمن أنفاسِهم قدحت

وكلُّ نارٍ فمن أنفاسِهم قدحت

وكل ماءٍ فمن دمعٍ لهم جاري

وكل ماءٍ فمن دمعٍ لهم جاري

And every fire was kindled from their breaths,

Every fire was kindled by their sighing breaths

and all water flows from tears of theirs.

And every stream flowed from their falling tears

كلُّ العَذاب الذي في النار مُستَرَقٌ

كلُّ العَذاب الذي في النار مُستَرَقٌ

ممّا بقلبيَ من شوقٍ وتَذكارِ

ممّا بقلبيَ من شوقٍ وتَذكارِ

All the torment in the Fire is stolen

All the torment in hellfire was stolen

from the longing and remembrance in my heart.

From my heart's longing and remembrance

وكلُّ ما في جنان الخلد يَجمَع لي

وكلُّ ما في جنان الخلد يَجمَع لي

في الوصل ما بين لذّاتي وأوطاري

في الوصل ما بين لذّاتي وأوطاري

And all that the gardens of eternity hold brings together for me,

And all delights in the gardens of eternity are

in union, my pleasures and my desires.

United for me in the joy of reunion after separation

فغُصَّة البُعد لا شَيءٌ يُقاس بها

فغُصَّة البُعد لا شَيءٌ يُقاس بها

ولذَّة الوصل جازت كلَّ مقدارِ

ولذَّة الوصل جازت كلَّ مقدارِ

So nothing compares with the anguish of separation,

No comparison can be made to the anguish of distance

and the delight of union has surpassed every measure.

And the bliss of reunion surpasses all measures