أحبَّتيmy beloved ones فيin دِمشقDamascus ماnot تركleft النthe sepa- (first part of النوى)
أحبَّتي في دِمشق ما ترك الن
وى-ration (completes النوى, separation) لقلبِيfor my heart منsince بعدكمyour departure حبَّهa grain
وى لقلبِي من بعدكم حبَّه
My beloved in Damascus, separation has left
My loved ones in Damascus, longing
Not a grain of my heart since you departed.
Left no place in my heart for love after you
وكنتand I was أرجوI hope اللقاthe meeting بمصرin Egypt عسىperhaps
وكنت أرجو اللقا بمصر عسى
تسرُّكمmight gladden you منfrom جوارِناbeing near us طرْبَهa thrill of joy
تسرُّكم من جوارِنا طرْبَه
And I hoped for a meeting in Egypt, that perhaps
And I hoped to meet in Egypt, perhaps
The joy of being near us might gladden you.
Your company would bring joy to me
جوارdwelling beside قومٍa people بنورِهمby their light فرِجتwas relieved
جوار قومٍ بنورِهم فرِجت
عنِّيfrom me وعنand from كلِّevery وافدٍvisitor كربَهdistress
عنِّي وعن كلِّ وافدٍ كربَه
Dwelling beside people whose light dispelled
The company of a people whose light
Distress from me and from every visitor.
Relieved me and every newcomer of sorrow
شهادةtestimony الناسthe people فيهموabout them قبلتْwas accepted
شهادة الناس فيهمو قبلتْ
بالعدلِon grounds of uprightness حتَّىeven شهادةtestimony الحسبهthe public interest (unsolicited testimony)
بالعدلِ حتَّى شهادة الحسبه
People's testimony about them was accepted
The testimony of people about them
On grounds of uprightness—even unsolicited testimony.
Was accepted even by the jealous
ياO سيِّداًmaster ماnot وجدتI found غيرِother than قرىhospitality
يا سيِّداً ما وجدت غيرِ قرى
نعماهhis bounty فيin محضرٍa place of residence ولاnor غرْبهbeing away from home
نعماه في محضرٍ ولا غرْبه
O master, I have found nothing but the hospitality
O master, I have not found any place
Of his bounty, at home or far from home.
Like it in welcome or foreignness
لياليَthe nights of الصومfasting ماnot قطعتُI discontinued لهاthanks to it
لياليَ الصوم ما قطعتُ لها
فطراًbreaking the fast وأيَّامand the days of العامthe year بالنسبهlikewise
فطراً وأيَّام العام بالنسبه
On fasting nights I never ceased, thanks to that bounty,
The nights of fasting I have not broken
To break my fast; the year's days were likewise.
Fast throughout the year relatively
فليهنأso may it rejoice القربُnearness منto حماكyour haven بهِin it
فليهنأ القربُ من حماك بهِ
صوماًwhile fasting وفطراًand while breaking the fast ولتهنكand may it gladden you القربهthe act of devotion
صوماً وفطراً ولتهنك القربه
So may nearness to your haven rejoice in it,
So may nearness to your protection find joy
In fasting and breaking fast; and may this act of devotion gladden you.
In fasting and in breaking fast, and may nearness rejoice