كَفى حُزناً أَن لا أَزورَ أَحبَّتي

كَفى حُزناً أَن لا أَزورَ أَحبَّتي

مِن القرب إِلّا بالتكلّفِ وَالجَهدِ

مِن القرب إِلّا بالتكلّفِ وَالجَهدِ

It is sorrow enough that I cannot visit my loved ones

Enough of sorrow that I cannot visit my loved ones

It is sorrow enough that I do not visit my loved ones,

Though they are near, except with effort and toil.

Except with effort and imposition

Though near, save through struggle and great strain.

وَإِنّي إِذا حُييتُ ناجَيتُ قائِدي

وَإِنّي إِذا حُييتُ ناجَيتُ قائِدي

ليَعدِلني قَبلَ الإِجابَةِ في الرَدِّ

ليَعدِلني قَبلَ الإِجابَةِ في الرَدِّ

And when I am greeted, I whisper to my guide

And if I am greeted, I whisper to my guide

And were I greeted, I must whisper to my guide,

To turn me aright before I give my reply.

To correct me before responding

To steady me before I can offer a reply.

إِذا ما أَفاضوا في الحَديث تَقاصَرت

إِذا ما أَفاضوا في الحَديث تَقاصَرت

بيَ النَفسُ حَتّى ما أُحير وَما أُبدي

بيَ النَفسُ حَتّى ما أُحير وَما أُبدي

Whenever they speak at length, it shrinks—

When they converse at length, my soul shrinks

When they flow freely in talk, my breath grows short,

My spirit within me—until I neither answer nor speak.

Until I am confused and cannot express

Until I am powerless to answer or reveal my heart.

كَأَنّي غَريبٌ بَينَهُم لست منهمُ

كَأَنّي غَريبٌ بَينَهُم لست منهمُ

فَإِن لَم يَحولوا عَن وَفاء وَلا عهد

فَإِن لَم يَحولوا عَن وَفاء وَلا عهد

As though I were a stranger among them, not one of them.

As if I am a stranger among them, not one of them

As if I were a stranger among them, not of their kin,

For even if they have not forsaken loyalty or a pledge,

Yet if they do not turn from loyalty or covenant

Though they have not turned from loyalty nor broken a vow.

أُقاسي خُطوباً لا يَقوم بثِقلِها

أُقاسي خُطوباً لا يَقوم بثِقلِها

مِن الناس إِلّا كُلُّ ذي مِرَّةَ جلد

مِن الناس إِلّا كُلُّ ذي مِرَّةَ جلد

I endure calamities beneath whose weight none can stand

I endure tribulations too heavy to bear

I endure calamities whose crushing weight could be borne

Among men, save those who are strong and steadfast.

For any but the most steadfast of men

By none among men, save the resolute and enduring.