اُختلِسَت ريحانتي من يدي

اُختلِسَت ريحانتي من يدي

أَبكي عَلَيها آخِرَ الأَبَدِ

أَبكي عَلَيها آخِرَ الأَبَدِ

My sweet basil was snatched from my hand.

My sprig of basil was stolen from my hand

I shall weep for her until eternity’s end.

I shall weep for it until the end of time

كانت هيَ الأُنسُ إذا استَوحَشت

كانت هيَ الأُنسُ إذا استَوحَشت

نَفسي من الأقرَبِ والأبعَدِ

نَفسي من الأقرَبِ والأبعَدِ

She was my solace whenever loneliness gripped

It was my solace when I felt lonely

my soul, estranged from those nearest and farthest.

Whether from those near or far

ورَوضةٌ كان بها مَرتَعي

ورَوضةٌ كان بها مَرتَعي

ومَنهلاً كان بها مَورِدي

ومَنهلاً كان بها مَورِدي

And a meadow where I used to graze,

It was my meadow, my pasture

And a watering place where I came to drink.

My spring from which I drank

كانَت يدي كانت بها قُوَّتي

كانَت يدي كانت بها قُوَّتي

فاختَلَسَ الدهرُ يدي من يدي

فاختَلَسَ الدهرُ يدي من يدي

She was my hand; in her lay my strength.

My hand, my strength they held it

So Time snatched my hand from my hand.

Yet fate stole it from my hand