إن أعرضوا فهم الذين تعطَّفوا

إن أعرضوا فهم الذين تعطَّفوا

كم قد وَفَوا فاصبر لهم إن أخلَفوا

كم قد وَفَوا فاصبر لهم إن أخلَفوا

If they turn away, they are the ones who showed tenderness.

If they turn away, they are the ones who were kind

How often they have kept faith! So bear with them if they break their promise.

How often they kept their word! Be patient with them if they fail

كم قد تصدَّوا للِّقاء فصنتُهم

كم قد تصدَّوا للِّقاء فصنتُهم

عنه لمعرفتي بما لم يعرفوا

عنه لمعرفتي بما لم يعرفوا

How often they offered to meet, yet I shielded them

How often they intended to meet, but I prevented them

from it, because I knew what they did not know.

Because I knew what they did not

وحملتُ أثقال الفراق مخافةً

وحملتُ أثقال الفراق مخافةً

أن يحملوا ثقلَ العتاب فيضعفوا

أن يحملوا ثقلَ العتاب فيضعفوا

And I bore the burdens of separation, for fear

And I bore the burden of parting, fearing

that they might bear the weight of reproach and grow weak.

That they would bear the weight of reproach and be weakened

فالآن قد خرج الهوى بأخيكمُ

فالآن قد خرج الهوى بأخيكمُ

عمّا يريد فساعِدوا وتلطَّفوا

عمّا يريد فساعِدوا وتلطَّفوا

So now love has carried your brother away

So now desire has driven your brother

from what he wishes; so help him and be gentle.

Beyond what he wants - help him and be gentle

هاتيكم دار الأحبَّة فاقصدوا

هاتيكم دار الأحبَّة فاقصدوا

وقِفُوا بها لي وقفةً وتعرَّفوا

وقِفُوا بها لي وقفةً وتعرَّفوا

That is the beloveds' dwelling; so make for it,

Take me to the abode of loved ones, head there

and pause there for me, and make inquiries.

Stop there for me for a moment and make yourself known

وصِفوا له شوقي إليه فما أرى

وصِفوا له شوقي إليه فما أرى

طبّاً يداوي علَّةً لا توصَف

طبّاً يداوي علَّةً لا توصَف

And describe to him my longing for him, for I do not see

Describe for him my yearning, for I do not see

a remedy that heals an illness left undescribed.

A cure that can heal an illness that cannot be described