1. أَهَلْ دارُ ميٍّ وهي للهِ دَرُّها

    تدُرُّ لنا غَيْثاً يبشِّرُ بالقُرْبِ

    Will Mayy's dwelling—God bless its bounty—

    pour forth rain for us that heralds nearness?

  2. وهل غربَةٌ شطَّتْ لغربيِّ حيِّهِمْ

    تُلائِمُ بعدَ الشَّتِّ في الشَّرقِ والغرْبِ

    And can exile, straying far to the west of their camp,

    bring reunion after dispersal in the east and west?

  3. وهل دَرِبٌ في ساقَةِ الرَّكبِ عارِفٌ

    يُديرُ لنا مَيْلَ الجَنائِبِ للدَّرْبِ

    And is there a seasoned, knowing guide at the caravan's rear

    to turn the spare mounts' course toward the road for us?

  4. فنحنُ أُناسٌ في مُعارَكَةِ الهَوى

    مع الشَّوقِ والآلامِ والوجدِ في حَرْبِ

    For we are people in the struggle of love,

    at war with longing, pain, and passion.

  5. صَبَوْنا ولمَّا أَن جرتْ نجمَةُ الصَّبا

    من الدَّمعِ زالتْ قوَّةُ الصَّبِّ بالصَّبِّ

    We yearned; and when the east wind's star streamed

    with tears, their pouring drained the lovesick one's strength.

  6. رَضينا مُعاناةَ الهَوَى فافْعَلوا بنا

    أَحبَّتَنا المَحْبوبَ في مذهَبِ الحُبِّ

    We have accepted love's suffering; so do with us,

    O our beloved ones, what is cherished in love's creed.

  7. لكم أَمرُنا فاقْضوا الشُؤُنَ بأَمرِكُمْ

    على الحالَتَيْنِ الوَهبِ في الحُكْمِ والسَّلْبِ

    Our affairs are yours; settle matters by your command,

    in either case, whether your judgment bestows or takes away.

  8. تعِبْنا ولكنْ في المَتاعِبِ راحةٌ

    لأَجلِكُمُ طِيبوا كِراماً بِلا عَتْبِ

    We have grown weary, and yet in hardship there is rest

    for your sake; be kind and noble, without reproach.

  9. نَصومُ احْتِساباً عن سواكُمْ ودَمْعُنا

    يَرُشُّ بِقاعَ الأرضِ لَهْفاهُ بالسُّحْبِ

    We fast from all but you, seeking divine reward; and our tears

    sprinkle the earth's expanses—alas!—with rainclouds.

  10. تفرَّدْتُمُو في كلِّ شأنٍ وحضرَةٍ

    وفيكُمْ تفرَّدنا لدى العُجْمِ والعُرْبِ

    You are unrivaled in every matter and assembly,

    and in you we stand apart among non-Arabs and Arabs.

  11. فإِنَّكُمُ الأَعلَوْنَ في كلِّ حضرةٍ

    على أَنَّكُمْ واللهِ في حضرَةِ الرَّبِّ

    For you are the highest in every assembly,

    given that, by God, you are in the Lord's presence.