مالِلعِذارِwhat ails the cheek-down? وَكانَand was وَجهُكَyour face قِبلَةًa direction of prayer
مالِلعِذارِ وَكانَ وَجهُكَ قِبلَةً
قَدindeed خَطَّtraced فيهِupon it مِنَout of الدُجىthe darkness مِحراباa prayer niche
قَد خَطَّ فيهِ مِنَ الدُجى مِحرابا
What ails the cheek-down, though your face was a focus of prayer,
No blame for yearning, when your face was a qibla,
that it has traced there a prayer niche out of darkness?
Where, from the dawn shadows, a prayer niche was outlined,
وَإِذاand behold الشَبابُyouth وَكانَand was لَيسَnot بِخاشِعٍat all humble
وَإِذا الشَبابُ وَكانَ لَيسَ بِخاشِعٍ
قَدindeed خَرَّfell down فيهِtherein راكِعاًbowing وَأَناباand repented
قَد خَرَّ فيهِ راكِعاً وَأَنابا
And behold, youth, though it had not been humble,
And when in ecstasy it bowed down in homage,
has fallen there, bowing, and turned in repentance.
Though not submissive the youthful passion could be.
وَلَقَدand indeed عَلِمتُI knew بِكَونِfrom ... being ثَغرِكَyour mouth بارِقاًa lightning flash
وَلَقَد عَلِمتُ بِكَونِ ثَغرِكَ بارِقاً
أَنthat سَوفَwould يُزجىwaft لِلعِذارِtoward the cheek-down سَحاباa cloud
أَن سَوفَ يُزجى لِلعِذارِ سَحابا
And indeed I knew, from your mouth being a lightning flash,
By your radiant cheek I surely knew
that it would waft a cloud toward the cheek-down.
That clouds would be made to rain passionately.