صَرَفتُ وُدّي إِلى السودانِ مِن هَجرِ

صَرَفتُ وُدّي إِلى السودانِ مِن هَجرِ

وَما اِلتَفَتُّ إِلى رومٍ وَلا خَزَرِ

وَما اِلتَفَتُّ إِلى رومٍ وَلا خَزَرِ

I turned my affection to the black people of Hajar,

I turned my love to the Sudan out of estrangement

and paid no heed to Romans or Khazars.

And did not care for Rome or Khazaria

أَصبَحتُ أَعشَقُ مِن وَجهٍ وَمِن بَدَنٍ

أَصبَحتُ أَعشَقُ مِن وَجهٍ وَمِن بَدَنٍ

ما يَعشَقُ الناسُ مِن عَينٍ وَمِن شَعَرِ

ما يَعشَقُ الناسُ مِن عَينٍ وَمِن شَعَرِ

I have come to love in face and body

I came to love a face and body

what people love in eyes and hair.

That people do not love, an eye or hair

فَإِن حَسِبتَ سَوادَ الجِلدِ مَنقَصَةً

فَإِن حَسِبتَ سَوادَ الجِلدِ مَنقَصَةً

فَاِنظُر إِلى سُفعَةٍ في وَجنَةِ القَمَرِ

فَاِنظُر إِلى سُفعَةٍ في وَجنَةِ القَمَرِ

So if you deem the blackness of skin a flaw,

If you think the darkness of skin a blemish

then look at a dark patch on the moon’s cheek.

Then look upon a radiant full moon