اللَهُ أَكبَرُ ما أَحلى سَجاياكا

اللَهُ أَكبَرُ ما أَحلى سَجاياكا

لَو لَم يَكُن في طَريقِ الهَجرِ مَسراكا

لَو لَم يَكُن في طَريقِ الهَجرِ مَسراكا

God is greatest! How sweet your character would be,

God is Greatest, how sweet are your qualities

if your course did not follow the path of estrangement!

If the path of separation didn't have its joys

تَثَنّى وَتَمدَحُ عَن بُعدٍ وَأَحسَنُ لي

تَثَنّى وَتَمدَحُ عَن بُعدٍ وَأَحسَنُ لي

أَنّي أَفوزُ وَلَم تَمدَح بِلُقياكا

أَنّي أَفوزُ وَلَم تَمدَح بِلُقياكا

You extol and praise from afar; yet better for me

You praise from afar and speak well of me

would be to win a meeting with you, even without your praise.

That I win though you didn't praise meeting me

وَطالَما قُلتُ لا تَبخَل بِزَورَتِنا

وَطالَما قُلتُ لا تَبخَل بِزَورَتِنا

وَأَنتَ توعِدُ في هَذا وَفي ذاكا

وَأَنتَ توعِدُ في هَذا وَفي ذاكا

And how often I have said, “Do not begrudge us a visit,”

And I often said don’t be stingy with visiting us

while you make promises at this time and at that.

While you threaten me about this and that

وَلا وَفاءَ وَلا أَدري لَهُ سَبَباً

وَلا وَفاءَ وَلا أَدري لَهُ سَبَباً

إِلّا إِذا كانَ سوءَ الحَظِّ أَغراكا

إِلّا إِذا كانَ سوءَ الحَظِّ أَغراكا

Yet there is no fulfillment, and I know no reason for it,

No loyalty and I don’t know why

unless it was ill fortune that enticed you.

Unless bad luck tempted you

وَلَستُ وَحدي الَّذي أَوعَدتَهُ كَرَماً

وَلَستُ وَحدي الَّذي أَوعَدتَهُ كَرَماً

بَلى وَنَجلي هَذا الغَزلُ قَدحاكا

بَلى وَنَجلي هَذا الغَزلُ قَدحاكا

And I am not the only one to whom you graciously made a promise:

And I'm not the only one you promised generosity

indeed, my son too—he has woven this love poem.

Yes, and this flirting excites my son

مِن يَومٍ كُنّا التَقَينا ثُمَّ فَرَّقنا

مِن يَومٍ كُنّا التَقَينا ثُمَّ فَرَّقنا

ذا الدَهرُ ما فاتَني وَاللَهُ ذِكراكا

ذا الدَهرُ ما فاتَني وَاللَهُ ذِكراكا

Since the day we met, and then were parted

Since the day we met then we separated

by this age, by God, your memory has never left me.

Time didn’t forget me by God, I remember you

فَكُنتُ مِن أَمَلٍ في قُربِ مَوعِدِكُم

فَكُنتُ مِن أَمَلٍ في قُربِ مَوعِدِكُم

أَقولُ يا قَلبُ بِالمَحبوبِ بُشراكا

أَقولُ يا قَلبُ بِالمَحبوبِ بُشراكا

So, in hope that your promised meeting was near, I would

So I was hopeful of your near promise

say, “O heart, glad tidings to you of the beloved!”

I say oh heart, good news from the beloved

لِأَنَّ هَذا مُنايَ كُلُّ أَونِةٍ

لِأَنَّ هَذا مُنايَ كُلُّ أَونِةٍ

وَلَيتَ شِعري هَل أَحظى بِرُؤياكا

وَلَيتَ شِعري هَل أَحظى بِرُؤياكا

For this is my desire at every moment;

Because this is my comfort every moment

and would that I knew: will I be fortunate enough to see you?

I wish I know will I see you in my dreams

فَاللَهُ يَحلى لَكَ الأَيّامَ صافِيَةً

فَاللَهُ يَحلى لَكَ الأَيّامَ صافِيَةً

وَتَستَتِمُ بِهَذا العامِ نُعماكا

وَتَستَتِمُ بِهَذا العامِ نُعماكا

So may God make your days sweet and serene,

So may God make your days clear

and may your bliss be complete this year.

And complete this year with your blessings