لَم يَكفِ ما قَد سَامَني بِغيابه

لَم يَكفِ ما قَد سَامَني بِغيابه

حَتّى تَلقَاني بِسَيف عِتابه

حَتّى تَلقَاني بِسَيف عِتابه

The suffering he inflicted on me through his absence was not enough—

His absence did not suffice the agony it caused me

he even met me with the sword of his reproach.

Until his sword of rebuke did find and smite me

نَفسي الفِداء لِغائب عَن ناظِري

نَفسي الفِداء لِغائب عَن ناظِري

وَمحله في القَلب دونَ حِجابه

وَمحله في القَلب دونَ حِجابه

May my soul be the ransom for one absent from my sight,

My soul I sacrifice for one absent from my sight

and whose dwelling is in my heart, within its veil.

His place in my heart beyond any veil or barrier

لَولا تَمتع مُقلَتي بِلقائِهِ

لَولا تَمتع مُقلَتي بِلقائِهِ

لَوَهَبتها لمبشري بايابه

لَوَهَبتها لمبشري بايابه

Were it not for my eye’s delight in seeing him,

If it were not for my eyes delighting in seeing him again

I would give it to the bearer of glad tidings of his return.

I would have granted them to the bringer of glad tidings of his return

فَالحَمدُ لِلّه الَّذي قَمع العِدا

فَالحَمدُ لِلّه الَّذي قَمع العِدا

وَأَقر أَعيننا بِعود رِكابه

وَأَقر أَعيننا بِعود رِكابه

So praise be to God, who subdued the enemies

So praise be to God who suppressed the enemies

and gladdened our eyes with the return of his riding camels.

And brought joy to our eyes with his homecoming