يا مَن أقامَ إذ تملَّكَه

يا مَن أقامَ إذ تملَّكَه

ما بين نارَين من شَوقٍ ومن شجَنِ

ما بين نارَين من شَوقٍ ومن شجَنِ

O you who, on taking possession of it, made it dwell

O you who stood steadfast amidst the ardors of longing and grief

between two fires—of longing and of sorrow.

Eyes thirsting for you are focused upon your fair visage

تَفديكَ أعيُنُ قَومٍ حولَكَ ازدحَمَت

تَفديكَ أعيُنُ قَومٍ حولَكَ ازدحَمَت

عَطشى إلى نَهلَةٍ من وَجهِكَ الحسنِ

عَطشى إلى نَهلَةٍ من وَجهِكَ الحسنِ

The eyes of people crowded round you offer themselves as your ransom,

Seeking refuge if you smile, like pearls they guard against temptation

thirsting for a draught from your beautiful face.

You stripped all that is beautiful of its beauty

وَتَستَعيذُ إذا أَلفَتكَ مُبتَسماً

وَتَستَعيذُ إذا أَلفَتكَ مُبتَسماً

عن لؤلؤٍ بِالنُهى حِرزا من الفِتنِ

عن لؤلؤٍ بِالنُهى حِرزا من الفِتنِ

And they seek refuge—when they find you smiling,

You spared neither a gazelle nor a branch in your campaign against God

revealing pearls—in reason, a safeguard against temptation.

So take your rank above the stars, you who reign over men beyond price

جرَّدتَ كلَّ مليحٍ من ملاحتِه

جرَّدتَ كلَّ مليحٍ من ملاحتِه

لم تَتَّقِ اللَهَ في ظبيٍ وَلا غُصنِ

لم تَتَّقِ اللَهَ في ظبيٍ وَلا غُصنِ

You stripped every lovely thing of its loveliness;

you did not fear God in dealing with gazelle or bough.

فَاِستَبقِ لِلبَدرِ بينَ الشُهبِ رُتبَته

فَاِستَبقِ لِلبَدرِ بينَ الشُهبِ رُتبَته

تملِكهُ في أوجهِ عبداً بلا ثمَنِ

تملِكهُ في أوجهِ عبداً بلا ثمَنِ

So let the full moon keep its rank among the bright stars;

you will own it at its zenith, a slave at no cost.