قلتُ والنّاس يرقبون هلالاً

قلتُ والنّاس يرقبون هلالاً

يشبه الصبّ من نحافةِ جِسْمِه

يشبه الصبّ من نحافةِ جِسْمِه

I said, as people watched for a crescent moon

I said, while people were awaiting a new moon

resembling a lovesick lover in the thinness of his body:

That resembled a thirsty youth, so slender was its shape

من يكنْ صائماً فذا رمضانٌ

من يكنْ صائماً فذا رمضانٌ

خَطّ بالنّور للوَرى أوّلَ اسمِه

خَطّ بالنّور للوَرى أوّلَ اسمِه

“Whoever would fast—here is Ramadan;

Whoever is fasting, this is Ramadan

it has traced in light for humankind the first letter of its name.”

It etched its name in light upon the land