فَوَاللَهِ لا أَدري وَإِنّي لَسائِلٌ

فَوَاللَهِ لا أَدري وَإِنّي لَسائِلٌ

بِمَكَّةَ أَهلَ العِلمِ هَل في الهَوى وِزرُ

بِمَكَّةَ أَهلَ العِلمِ هَل في الهَوى وِزرُ

So, by God, I do not know, and I am indeed asking

By God, I do not know, though I question

the learned in Mecca: is there sin in love?

The learned men of Mecca, if love is a sin

وَهَل في اِكتِحالِ العَينِ بِالعَينِ ريبَةٌ

وَهَل في اِكتِحالِ العَينِ بِالعَينِ ريبَةٌ

إِذا ما اِلتَقى الإِلفانِ لا بَل بِهِ أَجرُ

إِذا ما اِلتَقى الإِلفانِ لا بَل بِهِ أَجرُ

And is there anything suspect in one eye taking another eye as kohl,

Or if applying kohl to the eyes is suspicious

when the two lovers meet? No—rather, there is reward in it.

When two familiar souls meet - no, but it is reward