أَمِن آلِ زَينَبَ جَدَّ البُكورُ

أَمِن آلِ زَينَبَ جَدَّ البُكورُ

نَعَم فَلِأَيِّ هَواها تَصيرُ

نَعَم فَلِأَيِّ هَواها تَصيرُ

Is it for Zaynab’s kin that the early departure has grown urgent?

Has morning come to Zainab's family?

Yes; then which way will you turn in your love for her?

Yes, but for whose love does it dawn?

أَلِلغَورِ أَم أَنجَدَت دارُها

أَلِلغَورِ أَم أَنجَدَت دارُها

وَكانَت قَديماً بِعَهدي تَغورُ

وَكانَت قَديماً بِعَهدي تَغورُ

To the Ghawr, or has her home moved to Najd?

For departure, or has their abode been prepared,

And long ago, as I recall, she used to descend to the lowlands.

Though it used to be in ruins in my time?

هِيَ الشَمسُ تَسري عَلى بَغلَةٍ

هِيَ الشَمسُ تَسري عَلى بَغلَةٍ

وَما خِلتُ شَمساً بِلَيلٍ تَسيرُ

وَما خِلتُ شَمساً بِلَيلٍ تَسيرُ

She is the sun, journeying by night upon a mule,

She is the sun riding on a mule

And I never imagined a sun would travel by night.

And I have never known a sun to ride by night.

وَما أَنسَ لا أَنسَ مِن قَولِها

وَما أَنسَ لا أَنسَ مِن قَولِها

غَداةَ مِنىً إِذ أُجِدَّ المَسيرُ

غَداةَ مِنىً إِذ أُجِدَّ المَسيرُ

And whatever I forget, I will not forget these words of hers,

Nor will I forget her words

On the morning at Mina, when the journey was hastened:

At Miná, when setting out was hurried.

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّكَ مُستَشرَفٌ

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّكَ مُستَشرَفٌ

وَأَنَّ عَدُوَّكَ حَولي كَثيرُ

وَأَنَّ عَدُوَّكَ حَولي كَثيرُ

“Do you not see that you are being watched,

Do you not see that you are in danger

And that your enemies around me are many?

And that many foes surround you?

فَإِن جِئتَ فَأتِ عَلى بَغلَةٍ

فَإِن جِئتَ فَأتِ عَلى بَغلَةٍ

فَلَيسَ يُؤاتي الخَفاءَ البَعيرُ

فَلَيسَ يُؤاتي الخَفاءَ البَعيرُ

So if you come, come upon a mule,

If you come, then come on a mule,

For a camel is ill-suited to concealment.

For a camel cannot be brought secretly.

فَإِنَّكَ عِندِيَ فيما اِشتَهَي

فَإِنَّكَ عِندِيَ فيما اِشتَهَي

تَ حَتّى تُفارِقَ رَحلي أَميرُ

تَ حَتّى تُفارِقَ رَحلي أَميرُ

For with me, in whatever you desire,

With me you shall have whatever you desire

You are master until you leave my dwelling.”

Until the day our Chief departs.

نَظَرتُ بِخَيفِ مِنىً نَظرَةٍ

نَظَرتُ بِخَيفِ مِنىً نَظرَةٍ

إِلَيها فَكادَ فُؤادي يَطيرُ

إِلَيها فَكادَ فُؤادي يَطيرُ

At Khayf Mina I cast a glance

I glanced in fear at Miná

Toward her, and my heart almost took flight.

And my heart almost flew towards her.