جاءَ الحَبيبُ فَما أَقبَلتُ مِنهُ عَلى

جاءَ الحَبيبُ فَما أَقبَلتُ مِنهُ عَلى

مَواضِع اللَّثمِ إِكراماً وَتَنزيها

مَواضِع اللَّثمِ إِكراماً وَتَنزيها

The beloved came, but I did not approach his

The beloved came, but I did not kiss his lips

places for kissing, out of honor and reverence.

Out of reverence and glorification.

لَكِن سَجَدتُ عَلى آثارِ أَخمصِهِ

لَكِن سَجَدتُ عَلى آثارِ أَخمصِهِ

أُقَبِّلُ النَعلَ إِكراماً لِما فيها

أُقَبِّلُ النَعلَ إِكراماً لِما فيها

Instead, I prostrated myself upon the traces of his sole,

Rather, I prostrated upon the tracks of his heels-

kissing the sandal in honor of what is in it.

I kiss the sandal out of veneration for what is in it.

وَدِدتُ لَو كانَ مَسعى أَخمصَيهِ عَلى

وَدِدتُ لَو كانَ مَسعى أَخمصَيهِ عَلى

خَدَّيّ صَوناً لِنَعلَيهِ وَتَرفيها

خَدَّيّ صَوناً لِنَعلَيهِ وَتَرفيها

I wished the path of his two soles lay upon

I wish the range of his feet were upon

my cheeks, to protect his sandals and give them ease.

My cheeks, protecting his sandals and pampering them.

فَيا لَها قَدَماً أَهدَت إِلَيَّ بِمَس

فَيا لَها قَدَماً أَهدَت إِلَيَّ بِمَس

عاها أَيادِيَ بيضاً لَستُ أُحصيها

عاها أَيادِيَ بيضاً لَستُ أُحصيها

And oh, what a foot! It bestowed on me, through

What excellent feet they are that walked their range to me-

its treading, white hands of kindness I cannot count.

White hands I cannot count delivered them to me.