إِذا رُمتُ مِن لَيلى عَلى البُعدِ نَظرَةً

إِذا رُمتُ مِن لَيلى عَلى البُعدِ نَظرَةً

تُطَفّي جَوىً بَينَ الحَشا وَالأَضالِعِ

تُطَفّي جَوىً بَينَ الحَشا وَالأَضالِعِ

When I seek a glimpse of Layla from afar,

When I glance at Layla from afar,

That quenches a burning ache between my heart and ribs,

A glance that quenches the fire within my ribs and heart,

تَقولُ نِساءُ الحَيِّ تَطمَعُ أَن تَرى

تَقولُ نِساءُ الحَيِّ تَطمَعُ أَن تَرى

مَحاسِنَ لَيلى مُت بِداءِ المَطامِعِ

مَحاسِنَ لَيلى مُت بِداءِ المَطامِعِ

The women of the clan say: You hope to see

The women of the neighborhood say with greedy hopes,

Layla's charms? Die of the sickness of longing!

"We wish to see Layla's beauty that perished due to greedy hopes."

وَكَيفَ تَرى لَيلى بِعَينٍ تَرى بِها

وَكَيفَ تَرى لَيلى بِعَينٍ تَرى بِها

سِواها وَما طَهَّرتَها بِالدامِعِ

سِواها وَما طَهَّرتَها بِالدامِعِ

And how can you see Layla with an eye through which you see

How can you see Layla with an eye you use to see

Others besides her, when you have not cleansed it with tears?

Others when you have not purified it with tears?

وَتَلتَذُّ مِنها بِالحَديثِ وَقَد جَرى

وَتَلتَذُّ مِنها بِالحَديثِ وَقَد جَرى

حَديثُ سِواها في خُروقِ المَسامِعِ

حَديثُ سِواها في خُروقِ المَسامِعِ

And delight in her speech, when there has already flowed

And how can you find pleasure in talking to her when

The speech of others through the openings of your ears?

The talk of others has flowed into your hearing?

أُجِلُّكِ يا لَيلى عَنِ العَينِ إِنَّما

أُجِلُّكِ يا لَيلى عَنِ العَينِ إِنَّما

أَراكِ بِقَلبٍ خاشِعٍ لكِ خاضِعِ

أَراكِ بِقَلبٍ خاشِعٍ لكِ خاضِعِ

I hold you, O Layla, too exalted for the eye; I only

I glorify you, O Layla, from the eye. Rather,

See you with a reverent heart, submissive to you.

I see you with a heart humble and yielded to you.