إِذا هُجِرَ المُحِبُّ بَكى وَأَبدى

إِذا هُجِرَ المُحِبُّ بَكى وَأَبدى

عِتاباً كَي يَراحَ مِنَ العِتابِ

عِتاباً كَي يَراحَ مِنَ العِتابِ

When the lover is forsaken, he weeps and voices

When the lover is abandoned, he weeps

reproach, so that he may find relief from reproach.

And shows reproach, that he may find relief from reproach,

وَإِن رامَ اِجتِناباً لَم يُطِقهُ

وَإِن رامَ اِجتِناباً لَم يُطِقهُ

وَلا يَقوى المُحِبُّ عَلى اِجتِنابِ

وَلا يَقوى المُحِبُّ عَلى اِجتِنابِ

And if he seeks to keep away, he cannot bear it;

And if he tries avoidance, he cannot endure it-

nor has the lover the strength to keep away.

The lover cannot withstand avoidance.

أَلَستَ تَرى الرَسولَ كَما تَراهُ

أَلَستَ تَرى الرَسولَ كَما تَراهُ

يُبَلِّغُها وَيَأتي بِالجَوابِ

يُبَلِّغُها وَيَأتي بِالجَوابِ

Do you not see the messenger, just as you see him,

Don't you see the Messenger as you see him,

conveying it to her and returning with the reply,

Conveying the message and bringing the reply,

وَيَذهَبُ بِالكِتابِ بِما أُلاقي

وَيَذهَبُ بِالكِتابِ بِما أُلاقي

فَتَلثِمُهُ فَطوبى لِلكِتابِ

فَتَلثِمُهُ فَطوبى لِلكِتابِ

and taking the letter telling what I endure?

And taking the letter with what I have conferred-

Then she kisses it—so blessed is the letter!

So she kisses it- Blessed is the letter!