أخٌ تباعَدَ عَنِّي شخصُهُ ودَنا

أخٌ تباعَدَ عَنِّي شخصُهُ ودَنا

مَعناهُ مِنِّي فلم يَظعَنْ وقد ظَعَنا

مَعناهُ مِنِّي فلم يَظعَنْ وقد ظَعَنا

A brother—his body has grown distant from me, yet near

A brother whose person distanced from me, yet his meaning drew near

To me is his spirit; he has not departed, though he has gone.

He didn't wrong me, though he wronged

وكيفَ يَبعدُ مِنِّني مَنْ جعلْتُ لهُ

وكيفَ يَبعدُ مِنِّني مَنْ جعلْتُ لهُ

صَميمَ قَلبي على عِلاّتِهِ وَطَنا

صَميمَ قَلبي على عِلاّتِهِ وَطَنا

And how can one be far from me when I have made for him

How can one who made the core of my heart his homeland distance himself from me?

The very core of my heart, despite his flaws, a homeland?

Or does one who doesn't differ from me in opinion or fortune abandon me?

أمْ هَلْ يُزايِلُني من لا يُغايرُني

أمْ هَلْ يُزايِلُني من لا يُغايرُني

في الرَّأْيِ كيف رأى والَّحْظِ كيفَ رَنا

في الرَّأْيِ كيف رأى والَّحْظِ كيفَ رَنا

Or can one part from me who does not differ from me

Abu Sulaiman, go if you wish or stay

In opinion, however he thinks, and in his gaze, however he looks?

Wherever you want, near or far

أبا سُليمانَ سِرْ إنْ شئتَ أو فأقِمْ

أبا سُليمانَ سِرْ إنْ شئتَ أو فأقِمْ

بحيث شِئتَ دَنا مَثواكِ أمْ شَطَنا

بحيث شِئتَ دَنا مَثواكِ أمْ شَطَنا

O Abu Sulayman, travel if you wish, or else stay

You weren't other than me, I fear you leaving me

Wherever you wish, whether your dwelling lies near or far.

I ransom your soul with my soul, for you are me

ما كنتَ غَيري أفخشى أن يُفارِقَني

ما كنتَ غَيري أفخشى أن يُفارِقَني

فديْتُ روحَكَ بَكْ رُوحي فأنْتَ أنا

فديْتُ روحَكَ بَكْ رُوحي فأنْتَ أنا

You have never been other than me; should I fear losing

—may I be your soul’s ransom—my soul with you? For you are I.