1. The pillow witnessed the embrace of her neck,
And I saw that musk had kissed it.

2. So I envied the kiss when it grazed her,
Though beauty itself had formed it.

3. Pearl-white tears flowed from her eyelids like kohl,
And saw her pillow, so kissed it.

4. She made her mouth a seal,
And her garland a tinkling anklet.

5. She walks in languor, burdened
With sorrow that beauty has weighed on her.

6. The stems complain of her swaying gait
For that beauty has adorned her.

7. Shy of cheek, she chided the roses,
So the blooms chided her, making her shy.

8. She appears and slays with a glance those who covet her
And wearies those who admire her.

9. O you who have overindulged in a turban,
You have ventured far in passion’s folly!

10. For natural disposition has enthralled him,
And nature altogether has enthralled her.

11. You have delighted rightly in her company,
And suffered untruth and yearning for her.

12. You recalled the bough's excuse for bending,
Yet forgot that the bough had bent her.

13. And if I recognized her nobility,
I shall thank her for her nobility.

14. Had you lodged between my ribs for a moment,
You would have seen her and seen her home.

15. By God, the night of union that killed me -
How short it was, and how long!

16. How it kept me awake, and gave me sleep,
Roused me, and made me oblivious!

17. I embraced her presence and her absence,
And kissed her first and her last.

18. In her cheeks, I deemed gold as paltry
As the youth she lavished it on.

19. She disdained it and more - a bride
Whom destiny had sent me.

20. Blessings upon her traces - blessings!
The clouds rained by her coming and going.

21. He raised her above all others in merit,
But then lowered her with his hands.

22. His munificence covered the stages for me
And generosity provided and sent her.

23. A gift! The generous approved it,
Though the guide of righteousness went astray.

24. The cup is too small to contain her,
And the udder cannot carry her.

25. She turned not from me disappointed,
That I might incline toward her,

26. Nor was she denied, that I might send for her.
She came unasked, so I approved her,

27. And arrived unprompted, so I perfected her.
Thus have I abandoned all people,

28. And sought her superior and best.
I have praised her master and darkener,

29. And thanked her Lord, my hope.
Whose hand the clouds still serve,

30. Behold them stooping when they descend!
Before whose hand the clouds still weep

31. Since they saw it and its fingers!
Who has lodged atop its highest pinnacle,

32. Noble, while the star dwells below!
In whose hand is ever a pen

33. That has subdued swords and unstrung them,
In whose hand is ever a pen

34. That has subjugated spears and made them wither,
In whose hand is ever a pen

35. That has captured lions and made cubs of them!
He threaded phrases of eloquence with it,

36. And with sagacious opinions, differentiated them.
Wonders of words he innovated with it,

37. And authenticity of ideas he grounded with them.
The ministry blossomed when he made it forbidden

38. To those who would complicate and validate it.
It rejoiced at the prospect of joining him,

39. So behold its thrilled elation!
And it was crippled without him in purpose

40. once he unharnessed and harnessed it.
Kings come to his court in throngs,

41. And all return quenched at his pool.
Perplexities come to him, and he resolves them

42. With his lucidity, and dispels their difficulties.
So to him it has entrusted its reins,

43. And on him it has placed its reliance.
He has undertaken its burdens lightly,

44. And managed its livelihoods cunningly.
And mighty things have become, through his competence,

45. Less than what had overwhelmed it.
Thus if it has, through his competence, become placid,

46. It is because he has empowered it for kingship.
In fact, it is as though he, in his nobility,

47. Has prepared hospitality for realms.
O Kaaba, around which kings circumambulate!

48. Nay, qibla, to which the people make pilgrimage!
And Eid al-Adha has come to you joyfully,

49. Having attained the honor of seeing you, its hope!
And giving glad tidings of pleasure and forgiveness,

50. And blessings that have made you its haven!
So felicitate it, and bestow your best felicitations!