وليلةِ وصْلٍ خلتُها ليلةَ القَدْرِ

وليلةِ وصْلٍ خلتُها ليلةَ القَدْرِ

تنعَّم فيها القلبُ بالشَّمْسِ لا البَدْرِ

تنعَّم فيها القلبُ بالشَّمْسِ لا البَدْرِ

And a night of union—I took it for the Night of Destiny;

And a night of union—I thought it the Night of Decree.

therein the heart reveled in the sun, not the full moon.

The heart took delight in the sun, not the full moon.

وما زلتُ حتى فرّق الصبحُ بَيْنَنَا

وما زلتُ حتى فرّق الصبحُ بَيْنَنَا

فكانَ زوالُ الشَّمْسِ بالصُّبح لا الظُّهْر

فكانَ زوالُ الشَّمْسِ بالصُّبح لا الظُّهْر

And I remained so until dawn parted us;

And I remained thus until dawn parted us.

thus the sun’s departure came at dawn, not at noon.

So the sun's departure came at dawn, not at noon.