أَلا هَل عَلى اللَيلِ الطَويلِ مُعينُ

أَلا هَل عَلى اللَيلِ الطَويلِ مُعينُ

إِذا بَعُدَت دارٌ وَشَطَّ قَرينُ

إِذا بَعُدَت دارٌ وَشَطَّ قَرينُ

Ah, is there anyone to help me through the long night,

Is there any aid against the long night,

when home is far away and a companion is distant?

When the dwelling is distant and the companion far removed?

تَطاوَلَ هَذا اللَيلُ حَتّى كَأَنَّما

تَطاوَلَ هَذا اللَيلُ حَتّى كَأَنَّما

عَلى نِجمِهِ أَلّا يَعودَ يَمينُ

عَلى نِجمِهِ أَلّا يَعودَ يَمينُ

This night has stretched on so long that it is as though

This night has stretched out until it seems as though

its star were bound by an oath never to return.

Its star has sworn an oath never to return.

كَفى حَزَناً أَنّي بِفُسطاطَ نازِحٌ

كَفى حَزَناً أَنّي بِفُسطاطَ نازِحٌ

وَلي نَحوَ أَكنافِ العِراقِ حَنينُ

وَلي نَحوَ أَكنافِ العِراقِ حَنينُ

It is sorrow enough that I am far from home in Fustat,

It suffices for grief that I am a displaced stranger in Fustat,

and I yearn for the regions of Iraq.

With a yearning toward the environs of Iraq.