تَباشَرواrejoiced together بهِلالat the crescent of الفِطْرEid al-Fitr حينwhen بَداappeared
تَباشَروا بهِلال الفِطْر حين بَدا
وماand did not أقامstay سِوىexcept أنْthat لاحَshine ثمthen غداdeparted
وما أقام سِوى أنْ لاحَ ثم غدا
They rejoiced together at the Eid al-Fitr crescent when it appeared.
They greeted the crescent moon of Eid when it appeared
And it lingered only long enough to shine, then departed.
It barely arose before it was gone
كالحِبِّlike the beloved واعَدَpromised وَصْلاًunion وهوwhile he was مُحتَجِبٌveiled
كالحِبِّ واعَدَ وَصْلاً وهو مُحتَجِبٌ
فحينso when بانَappeared تَقاضَوْهُthey demanded fulfillment from him فقالso he said غداtomorrow
فحين بانَ تَقاضَوْهُ فقال غدا
Like a beloved who promised union while still veiled.
Like a lover who made a tryst but stayed hidden
So when he appeared, they demanded fulfillment from him; he said, "Tomorrow."
When he emerged they asked for union but he said “tomorrow"