تَذَكَّرَتrecalled; remembered نَفسيmy soul رياحينَهاher fragrant blossoms or sprigs of sweet basil
تَذَكَّرَت نَفسي رياحينَها
فَياso, O …! خَليلَيَّmy two companions رَياRayyā, the beloved’s name, echoing the preceding word for fragrant blossoms حينَهاas she was then; in her prime
فَيا خَليلَيَّ رَيا حينَها
My soul recalled her fragrant blossoms.
My soul remembered its sweet fragrant basils,
O my two companions—Rayyā as she was then!
So, O my two friends, the fragrance of that time.
أَخافَهاfrightened her الدَهرُTime; fate وَإِنalthough; even though لَمnot أَزَلI ceased; I stopped
أَخافَها الدَهرُ وَإِن لَم أَزَل
أَقرَأُI recite خَوفَfor fear of العَينِthe evil eye ياسينَهاYā Sīn for her—the Quranic surah recited protectively
أَقرَأُ خَوفَ العَينِ ياسينَها
Time frightened her, though I never ceased
Fate has struck fear into my soul, yet I cease not,
reciting Yā Sīn over her for fear of the evil eye.
Reciting 'Yasin' over it for fear of the evil eye.
ياO!; an exclamatory particle عَجَباًwhat a wonder; how strange يَأمُرُنيcommands me الشَوقُlonging; yearning أَنto; that
يا عَجَباً يَأمُرُني الشَوقُ أَن
أَرجوI hope for رَياهاher fragrance and refreshing presence وَياسيwhile my despair نَهىforbade me; said no
أَرجو رَياها وَياسي نَهى
How strange! Longing commands me to
How strange that longing commands me to,
hope for her fragrance, while my despair forbids me.
Hope for her fragrance, while my despair forbids.