بَدا عِذارُ حَبيبي

بَدا عِذارُ حَبيبي

وَاِعوَجَّ مثلَ الهِلالِ

وَاِعوَجَّ مثلَ الهِلالِ

The down on my beloved’s cheek appeared,

My beloved's excuse appeared

and curved like the crescent moon.

And bent like the crescent moon

بَدا كَأَسوَدِ لَيلٍ

بَدا كَأَسوَدِ لَيلٍ

عَنِ الكَواكِبِ خالي

عَنِ الكَواكِبِ خالي

It appeared like the blackest night,

It appeared like the night's darkness

devoid of stars.

Empty of stars

غَشاهُ بَدرُ جَبينٍ

غَشاهُ بَدرُ جَبينٍ

حَتّى اِختَفى بِالجَمالِ

حَتّى اِختَفى بِالجَمالِ

The full moon of his forehead veiled it,

The full moon covered it

until it was hidden by beauty.

Until it disappeared in beauty

وَلَيلَة البَدرِ تَخفى

وَلَيلَة البَدرِ تَخفى

وَتِلكَ خَيرُ اللّيالي

وَتِلكَ خَيرُ اللّيالي

And the full-moon night fades,

And the night of the full moon hides

and that is the finest of nights.

That is the best of nights