ماذاwhat جَناهُcommitted it كِتابيmy book فاستَحقَّand so deserved بهbecause of it
ماذا جَناهُ كِتابي فاستَحقَّ به
سِجناًimprisonment طَويلاًlong وتَغييباًand being hidden عَنِfrom الناسِthe people
سِجناً طَويلاً وتَغييباً عَنِ الناسِ
What crime has my book committed, to deserve
What offense has my book committed to deserve on that account
a long imprisonment and banishment from the people?
a long imprisonment and being hidden from the people?
فاطلِقهُso release it نَسألهُwe may ask it عمَّاabout what كانَhad حلَّbefallen بهupon it
فاطلِقهُ نَسألهُ عمَّا كانَ حلَّ به
فيduring طولِthe length of سجنِكَyour confinement of it منof ضُرٍّharm ومنand of باسِhardship
في طولِ سجنِكَ من ضُرٍّ ومن باسِ
Release it; let us ask it what befell it
So release it, that we may ask it what had befallen it
during its long confinement by you—among guards and cruelty.
of harm and hardship during its long confinement at your hands.
