قسماً بشمسِ جبينها وضُحاها

قسماً بشمسِ جبينها وضُحاها

وبِلَيلِ طُرتَّها إذا يغشاها

وبِلَيلِ طُرتَّها إذا يغشاها

By the sun of her brow and its morning radiance, I swear—

I swear by the sun of her brow and its morning radiance,

and by the night of her forelock when it veils that sun.

And by the night of her forelock when it veils that sun:

إِنَّ النُّفوسَ لغيرِها لا تشتهي

إِنَّ النُّفوسَ لغيرِها لا تشتهي

أبداً ولا تَهوَى القُلوبُ سِواها

أبداً ولا تَهوَى القُلوبُ سِواها

Indeed, souls desire none but her,

Indeed, souls desire no one other than her,

and never do hearts love anyone else.

Ever; nor do hearts love anyone but her.

لَّما رَنَت نحوَ السَّماء بِطَرفِها

لَّما رَنَت نحوَ السَّماء بِطَرفِها

ورأت تقلُّبَ طرفِ مَن يَهواها

ورأت تقلُّبَ طرفِ مَن يَهواها

When she lifted her gaze toward the sky

When she cast her gaze toward the sky

and saw the restless turning of her lover’s eyes,

And saw the shifting gaze of the one who loves her,

قالت محاسنُ وجهِها لمحبِّها

قالت محاسنُ وجهِها لمحبِّها

لَنُوَلِّينَّكَ قبِلةً ترضاها

لَنُوَلِّينَّكَ قبِلةً ترضاها

the beauties of her face said to her lover:

The beauties of her face said to her lover:

“We shall surely turn you toward a qiblah that pleases you.”

"We shall surely turn you toward a direction of prayer that pleases you."