خَليلُ العُمرِ أَبدَلَني

خَليلُ العُمرِ أَبدَلَني

بِظُلمَةٍ بَعدَهُ نورُهُ

بِظُلمَةٍ بَعدَهُ نورُهُ

My lifelong companion replaced for me

The friend of a lifetime replaced

his light with darkness once he was gone.

My darkness with his light

وَأَهداني بِصورَتِهِ

وَأَهداني بِصورَتِهِ

فَكانَت مِنهُ مَأثورُهُ

فَكانَت مِنهُ مَأثورُهُ

And he gifted me with his portrait,

And gifted me his image—

so it became a keepsake from him.

Precious beyond recall.

فَاِشغِلني بِها شِغفاً

فَاِشغِلني بِها شِغفاً

عَنِ الأَورادِ وَالسورُهُ

عَنِ الأَورادِ وَالسورُهُ

So keep me occupied with it in ardent love,

So let this image fill me with desire,

away from the devotional litanies and the surah.

Distracting me from litanies and psalms,

وَما أَرضى بِها بَدَلاً

وَما أَرضى بِها بَدَلاً

وَلَكِن تَحكُمُ الصورَةُ

وَلَكِن تَحكُمُ الصورَةُ

And I do not accept it as a substitute,

Not that I'd take it in exchange,

and yet the image holds sway.

But images compel.