للهto God (expressing admiration) ليالnights سلفتwent by بالعلمat al-ʿAlam
لله ليال سلفت بالعلم
فيin أنعمthe most blissful عيشةliving وأوفىand the fullest نعمblessings
في أنعم عيشة وأوفى نعم
How wondrous the nights gone by at al-ʿAlam,
Nights I spent in knowledge seeking,
Amid the most blissful living and the fullest blessings!
In most bounteous life and grace abounding,
ماhow أطيبsweet ماwhat كانتthey were وماand how أسعدنيhappy I would be
ما أطيب ما كانت وما أسعدني
لوif فزتI attained بمثلهاtheir like ولوeven if فيin الحلمthe dream
لو فزت بمثلها ولو في الحلم
How sweet they were, and how happy I would be
How sweet was life! How it delighted me!
If I could attain their like, even in a dream!
If I could find the like, though but in dreaming.
Sol 6.1