أُودِّعُ في فاس أعزَّ عشيرَةٍ

ولي عندهُم في الشَّوقِ مالَهُمُ عِندي

I bid farewell in Fez to a most beloved clan,

Yet my longing for them equals their longing for me.

ولمَّا أبَى قلبِي فِراقا نَويتُه

ومَا لِىَ من بدٍّ ومالَه من بُد

When my heart refused to bear our parting,

I had no choice, nor had they any choice.

رَحلتُ وخلفَّتُ الفؤادَ لَديهِمُ

فرَعياً لِقلبي مثلَ رعيكُم عَهدِي

I departed leaving my heart behind with them

To tend to my heart as you tended my pact.

فَما أنا في فاسٍ وإِني نَزيلُها

فلِله ما يُخفِي ولله ما يُبدِي

So I'm not in Fez, though lodged within her walls.

To God what's hid and God what's revealed.