ألا هل لصبّ يرتجى أمدَ اللقا

ألا هل لصبّ يرتجى أمدَ اللقا

وصول إلى الهادي إلى الرشد والتقى

وصول إلى الهادي إلى الرشد والتقى

Ah, can a lovesick soul hoping for the hour of meeting

Is there any hope for a lover to meet his beloved?

reach the guide to right conduct and piety?

To arrive at the true guide, at righteousness and piety,

بأمداح خير الخلق أعنى

بأمداح خير الخلق أعنى

وأنشرها في الأرض غرباً ومشرقا

وأنشرها في الأرض غرباً ومشرقا

I devote myself to praises of the best of creation,

Through praising the best of mankind, I mean,

and spread them across the earth, westward and eastward.

And spreading his virtues east and west.

له الشرف السامي على كل مفخرٍ

له الشرف السامي على كل مفخرٍ

به قد حوى أسنى المراتب مطلقا

به قد حوى أسنى المراتب مطلقا

His is the lofty honor above every source of pride;

He possesses the highest honor above all the proud,

through it he has attained the highest ranks of all.

For he has attained the utmost sublime stations.

فلا فخر أعلى من فخار محمد

فلا فخر أعلى من فخار محمد

ولا عزّ أسمى ولا مجد أسبقا

ولا عزّ أسمى ولا مجد أسبقا

No glory is higher than the glory of Muhammad,

There is no pride higher than the pride of Muhammad,

nor any honor loftier, nor any glory that comes before his.

No honor loftier, no glory earlier.

سبقنا به كل الورى لا محالة

سبقنا به كل الورى لا محالة

ونلنا به في ذروة المجد مرتقى

ونلنا به في ذروة المجد مرتقى

Through him we have surpassed all humankind, beyond doubt,

Through him we have surpassed all people, without doubt,

and through him we have attained a lofty station at glory's summit.

And attained the pinnacle of glory, a lofty ascent.

بحبّ رسول اللَه طاب نعيمنا

بحبّ رسول اللَه طاب نعيمنا

وطبنا ولا نخشى به أبدا شقا

وطبنا ولا نخشى به أبدا شقا

Through love of God's Messenger, our bliss has grown sweet,

With love of Allah's Messenger our bliss is sweet,

and we are happy, and through him we never fear misery.

We have thrived, and with him we never fear misery.

لقد طال شوقى للحبيب وقبره

لقد طال شوقى للحبيب وقبره

فيا ليت شعرى هل يتاح لي اللقا

فيا ليت شعرى هل يتاح لي اللقا

Long indeed has my yearning lasted for the beloved and his grave.

Indeed my longing for the Beloved and his tomb has lasted long,

And oh, if only I knew: will a meeting be granted to me?

Oh how I wish I knew if I may meet him!

تميل بي الأشواق حبا لذكره

تميل بي الأشواق حبا لذكره

إذا ما سرى برق العذيب وأبرقا

إذا ما سرى برق العذيب وأبرقا

Longings sway me, for love of remembering him,

Yearning draws me out of love to mention him,

whenever the lightning of al-ʿUdhayb courses through the night and flashes.

When the brilliant lightning flashes and illuminates.

ويطربني لحن السماع فأنثنى

ويطربني لحن السماع فأنثنى

كأنّي غصنٌ بالصبابة أورقا

كأنّي غصنٌ بالصبابة أورقا

And the melody of song enraptures me, so I bend,

The melody of poetry delights me and I sway

as though I were a branch that ardent love has brought into leaf.

As if I were a branch, tender and leafy.

لقد صدعت قلبي حمام حمى اللوى

لقد صدعت قلبي حمام حمى اللوى

وصيّرني بعد اللقا بعدهم لقى

وصيّرني بعد اللقا بعدهم لقى

Indeed, the doves of al-Liwā's sanctuary have rent my heart,

The doves of passionate love have cracked my heart,

and, after the meeting, separation from them has made me a castoff.

And after meeting them I met their like.

فواحسرتا إن لم أفز بوصالهم

فواحسرتا إن لم أفز بوصالهم

وواأسفا إن لم يكن لي ملتقى

وواأسفا إن لم يكن لي ملتقى

So, alas for my grief if I do not attain union with them!

Alas if I fail to attain their company,

And alas for my sorrow if there is no meeting place for me!

And woe to me if I have no meeting place.