ياO مُرتَحِلاًdeparting one إِلىto المُصَلّىthe prayer ground غَلَساin the predawn darkness
يا مُرتَحِلاً إِلى المُصَلّى غَلَسا
إِنif جُزتَyou pass بِساكِنِby the dweller of الحِمىthe sanctuary قِفstop نَفَساfor a breath
إِن جُزتَ بِساكِنِ الحِمى قِف نَفَسا
O traveler bound for al-Musalla in the predawn darkness,
O traveler to the mosque with haste,
If you pass by the dweller of the sanctuary, pause for a breath.
If you meet the dweller of passion's abode then stop and rest,
بِاللَهِby God وَعَرِّضand hint بِغَراميat my ardent love فَعَساso perhaps
بِاللَهِ وَعَرِّض بِغَرامي فَعَسا
تَستَعطِفُyou seek to soften قَلبَهُhis heart فَقَدfor indeed قيلَit has been said قَساit grew hard
تَستَعطِفُ قَلبَهُ فَقَد قيلَ قَسا
And, by God, hint at my ardent love, so perhaps
For God's sake put my love before him, mayhap
you may soften his heart, for it is said to have grown hard.
My longing will soften his hardened heart, so it's said.
Sol 6.1