حَضَرَ الرَحيلُ وَشُدَّتِ الأَحداجُ

وَغَدا بِهِنَّ مُشَمِّرٌ مِزعاجُ

The departure came, the burdens were heavy

The time of departure has come, and the camel-litters are fastened,

And with them went one troubled and restless

And at dawn, a brisk and rousing driver set out with them.

لِلشَّوقِ نيرانٌ قَدَحنَ بِقَلبِهِ

حَتّى اِستَمَرَّ بِهِ الهَوى المِلجاجُ

For longing there were fires kindled in his heart

Longing has fires that have struck sparks within his heart,

So that passionate love persevered within him

Until a stubborn passion took hold and carried him along.

أَزعِج هَواكَ إِلى الَّذينَ تُحِبُّهُم

إِنَّ المُحِبَّ يَسوقُهُ الإِزعاجُ

Disturb your loved ones with your passion

Stir up your passion toward those whom you love,

For a lover is led by disquietude

For the lover is truly driven by such stirring.

لَن يُدنِيَّنكَ لِلحَبيبِ وَوَصلِهِ

إِلا السُرى وَالبازِلُ الهَجهاجُ

Only the sleepless and wakeful night

Nothing will bring you near the beloved and union,

Can bring you close to the beloved and union with him

Save for the night-journey and the strong, bellowing camel.

إِنَّ المَنايا في السُيوفِ كَوامِنٌ

حَتّى يُهَيِّجَها فَتىً هَيّاجُ

In swords there lies death in waiting

Indeed, deaths lie hidden within the swords,

Until a bold youth awakens and stirs it

Until a fierce youth awakens them to fury.

وَمَدجَجٍ يَغشى المَضيقَ بِسَيفِهِ

حَتّى يَكونَ بِسَيفِهِ الإِفراجُ

And an armed man bars the pass with his sword

And a heavily armed warrior storms the narrows with his blade,

Until with his sword he makes an opening

Until, by his sword, a breakthrough is won.

نَزَلَت نُجومُ اللَيلِ فَوقَ رُؤوسِهِم

وَلِكُلِّ قَومٍ كَوكَبٌ وَهّاجُ

The stars of night descended over their heads

The stars of the night have descended upon their heads,

And for every people there was an inspiring star

And every people has a star that glows.

شَرِبَت بِمَكَّةَ في ذُرى بَطحائِها

ماءَ النُبُوَّةِ لَيسَ فيهِ مِزاجُ

He drank in Mecca, in its sandy valley

She drank in Mecca, upon the heights of its valley,

The water of prophethood without adulteration

The water of Prophecy, pure and unmixed.