عجبَ النّاسُ عندَما حجبوا

عجبَ النّاسُ عندَما حجبوا

منهُ هِلالاً ذَا بهجةٍ وسناءِ

منهُ هِلالاً ذَا بهجةٍ وسناءِ

The people marveled when they were kept away

People were astonished when they concealed

from him—a crescent of beauty and radiance.

A crescent moon radiating joy and brilliance

قلتُ لا تعجبُوا لِبدرِ تمامٍ

قلتُ لا تعجبُوا لِبدرِ تمامٍ

حجبتْهُ سحابة الرُّقباءِ

حجبتْهُ سحابة الرُّقباءِ

I said, “Do not marvel at a perfect full moon

I said do not be astonished at the full moon

veiled by the cloud of the watchers.”

Veiled by the cloud of surveillance