راقَني مِن لَفظِكَ المُستَطابِ

راقَني مِن لَفظِكَ المُستَطابِ

حِكمَةٌ فيهِ وَفَصلُ الخِطابِ

حِكمَةٌ فيهِ وَفَصلُ الخِطابِ

What delighted me in your delightful speech

Your eloquent words have delighted me,

was wisdom within it and decisive discourse,

Containing wisdom and clear speech.

وَمَعانٍ مُشرِقاتٌ حِسانٌ

وَمَعانٍ مُشرِقاتٌ حِسانٌ

ما تَوارَت شَمسُها في حِجابِ

ما تَوارَت شَمسُها في حِجابِ

and radiant, beautiful meanings

Radiant, beautiful meanings -

whose sun has never hidden behind a veil.

Their sun has not set behind a veil.

هِيَ لِلوارِدينَ ماءٌ زُلالٌ

هِيَ لِلوارِدينَ ماءٌ زُلالٌ

وَسِواها لامِعٌ كَالسَرابِ

وَسِواها لامِعٌ كَالسَرابِ

For those who come to drink, they are clear, sweet water,

For the seekers it is clear, cool water,

while all else gleams like a mirage.

While all else is a shimmering mirage.

جالَ ماءُ الحُسنِ فيها كَما قَد

جالَ ماءُ الحُسنِ فيها كَما قَد

جالَ في الحَسناءِ ماءُ الشَبابِ

جالَ في الحَسناءِ ماءُ الشَبابِ

The water of beauty coursed through them, just as

The water of beauty flows through it, as

the water of youth coursed through a beautiful woman.

The water of youth flows in a lovely maid.

ما رَأَينا قَبلَها عِقدَ دُرٍّ ضَم

ما رَأَينا قَبلَها عِقدَ دُرٍّ ضَم

مَهُ في الطِرسِ سَطرُ كِتابِ

مَهُ في الطِرسِ سَطرُ كِتابِ

Never before them have we seen a necklace of pearls strung together

We have not seen before it a string of pearls

on the page by a line of writing.

Containing the line of a text in its setting.

صَدَرَت عَنِ لَفظِ صاحِبِ فَضلٍ

صَدَرَت عَنِ لَفظِ صاحِبِ فَضلٍ

هُوَ عِندي مِن أَكبَرِ الأَصحابِ

هُوَ عِندي مِن أَكبَرِ الأَصحابِ

They issued from the speech of a man of merit

It flows from the words of a man of merit -

whom I count among the greatest of companions.

To me, he is the greatest of friends.

فَتَأَمَّلتُ وَأَمَّلتُ مِنهُ جَم

فَتَأَمَّلتُ وَأَمَّلتُ مِنهُ جَم

عَ شَملي في عاجِلٍ وَاِقتِرابِ

عَ شَملي في عاجِلٍ وَاِقتِرابِ

So I reflected, and hoped he would gather

So I have contemplated and wished for a time

my scattered company, soon and before long.

When I and my family may join and be close.

ثُمَّ قابَلتُ أَيادي ثَناهُ

ثُمَّ قابَلتُ أَيادي ثَناهُ

بِدُعاءٍ صالِحٍ مُستَجابِ

بِدُعاءٍ صالِحٍ مُستَجابِ

Then I repaid the favors of his praise

Then I have met his hands with a prayer,

with a righteous, answered prayer.

A worthy supplication, sure to be answered.

يا أُهَيلَ الوُدِّ أَنتِم مُرادي

يا أُهَيلَ الوُدِّ أَنتِم مُرادي

وَإِلَيكُم في العَلاءِ اِنتِسابي

وَإِلَيكُم في العَلاءِ اِنتِسابي

O dear folk of affection, you are my desire,

O beloved friends, you are my desire,

and in eminence I claim kinship with you.

And to you in exaltation is my kinship.

ذِكرُكُم لي شاغِلٌ في حُضوري

ذِكرُكُم لي شاغِلٌ في حُضوري

وَثَناكُم مُؤنِسي في اِغتِرابي

وَثَناكُم مُؤنِسي في اِغتِرابي

Remembering you occupies me when I am at home,

Thoughts of you preoccupy me when present,

and praise of you keeps me company far from home.

And your praise comforts me when far away.