بِأَبِي مَن هَدّ جِسمِي القُوَى

بِأَبِي مَن هَدّ جِسمِي القُوَى

طَرفُهُ الأحوَر

طَرفُهُ الأحوَر

My father be ransom for him who shattered my body's strength,

By the one who guided my body’s strength

With his dark-eyed gaze.

His glance alluring

وَسَقَانِي مَا سَقَى يَومَ النَّوَى

وَسَقَانِي مَا سَقَى يَومَ النَّوَى

وَيحَ مَن غَرّر

وَيحَ مَن غَرّر

And made me drink what he gave on the day of parting—

And quenched my thirst the day my wish was fulfilled

Alas for whoever took the risk!

And woe to he who deceived

كُلَّمَا رُمتُ سُلُوّا في الهَوَى

كُلَّمَا رُمتُ سُلُوّا في الهَوَى

تَاهَ وَاستَكبَر

تَاهَ وَاستَكبَر

Whenever I sought release from love,

Whenever I yearn for comfort in passion

He grew haughty and arrogant.

I stray and become arrogant

يَالَهُ مِن شَادِنٍ صَيَّرَنِي

يَالَهُ مِن شَادِنٍ صَيَّرَنِي

رَهنَ أشجَانِ

رَهنَ أشجَانِ

What a young gazelle he is, who made me

Oh how he who made me a captive

A hostage to sorrows!

Took my soul hostage

لَم يَدَع في الحُورِ منه عِوَضاً

لَم يَدَع في الحُورِ منه عِوَضاً

عِندَ رَضوَانِ

عِندَ رَضوَانِ

He left among the houris no substitute for himself

He left in the maidens no compensation

With Ridwan.

In the presence of contentment

مَرّ بِي في رَبرَبٍ مِن تِربهِ

مَرّ بِي في رَبرَبٍ مِن تِربهِ

يَقطِفُ الزّهرَا

يَقطِفُ الزّهرَا

He passed by me in a herd of gazelles his own age,

He passed by me in the dust of his soil

Plucking the blossoms.

Plucking flowers

وَهوَ يَتلُو آيَةً مِن حِزبِهِ

وَهوَ يَتلُو آيَةً مِن حِزبِهِ

يَبتَغِي الأَجرَا

يَبتَغِي الأَجرَا

While he recited a verse from his portion of scripture,

Reciting a verse from his recitation

Seeking reward.

Seeking reward

بَعدَمَا فَكَّرَنِي مِن قُربِهِ

بَعدَمَا فَكَّرَنِي مِن قُربِهِ

آيَةً أُخرَى

آيَةً أُخرَى

After his nearness had reminded me

After freeing me from his nearness

Of another verse.

With another verse

وَالَّذِي لَو شَاءَ ما فَكَّرَنِي

وَالَّذِي لَو شَاءَ ما فَكَّرَنِي

بَعدَ نِسيَانِ

بَعدَ نِسيَانِ

And he who, had he wished, would not have reminded me

By the one who if he willed would not have freed me

After I had forgotten,

After forgetfulness

قَلَّبَ القَلب عَلى جَمرِ الغَضَا

قَلَّبَ القَلب عَلى جَمرِ الغَضَا

وَهوَ فِي شَانِ

وَهوَ فِي شَانِ

Turned my heart over ghada-wood embers,

He tossed the heart into the embers of wrath

While he went about his affairs.

While being glorious

حَفِظَ اللهُ حَبِيباً نَزَحَا

حَفِظَ اللهُ حَبِيباً نَزَحَا

خِيفَةَ الهَجرِ

خِيفَةَ الهَجرِ

May God preserve a beloved who went far away

May God protect the beloved who packed up

For fear of abandonment.

Fearing abandonment

جَاءَتِ البُشرَى بِهِ وَانشَرَحَا

جَاءَتِ البُشرَى بِهِ وَانشَرَحَا

عِندَهَا صَدرِي

عِندَهَا صَدرِي

Glad tidings of him came, bringing relief

The good news came with him, and I relaxed

To my breast at that moment.

When I heard it

وأَطَارَ القَلبَ مِنِّي فَرَحَا

وأَطَارَ القَلبَ مِنِّي فَرَحَا

ثُمّ لَم أَدرِ

ثُمّ لَم أَدرِ

And he sent my heart flying from me with joy;

And my heart flew from me in joy

Then I could not tell

Then I did not know

هل مِنَ الإنسِ الَّذي بشَّرَني

هل مِنَ الإنسِ الَّذي بشَّرَني

أَم مِنَ الجَانِ

أَم مِنَ الجَانِ

Whether the one who brought me glad news was human

Was it from mankind who gave me the news

Or one of the jinn,

Or from the Jinn

أم حَبِيبِ القَلبِ جاء بِالرّضَى

أم حَبِيبِ القَلبِ جاء بِالرّضَى

وَهوَ سُلطَانِي

وَهوَ سُلطَانِي

Or my heart's beloved had come with favor—

Or the beloved of my heart bringing acceptance

And he is my sovereign.

For he is my authority