حبذا ليلتا منى وغداة ال

حبذا ليلتا منى وغداة ال

نحر لا حبذا غداة النفر

نحر لا حبذا غداة النفر

How lovely are Mina’s two nights and the morning of

How wonderful were my night with them and morning without,

sacrifice; how unwelcome the morning of departure!

No wonderful morning after parting.

إذ تنادى الرفاق فليها ببين

إذ تنادى الرفاق فليها ببين

مزعجٍ فالجفون بالدمع تجري

مزعجٍ فالجفون بالدمع تجري

When the companions called to one another there, announcing a parting

When friends called to each other at dawn,

so distressing that eyelids streamed with tears;

Disturbingly, so tears flowed from eyelids,

فخدود مصافحات خدوداً

فخدود مصافحات خدوداً

ونحو قد لف نحر بنحر

ونحو قد لف نحر بنحر

then cheeks touched cheeks in greeting,

And cheeks touched cheeks in farewell,

and necks—one neck entwined with another;

And necks embraced each other,

وعيون مقذية وقلوب

وعيون مقذية وقلوب

قد حشاها يوم الفراق بجمر

قد حشاها يوم الفراق بجمر

and smarting eyes, and hearts

And teary eyes and hearts,

that the day of parting had filled with embers.

Filled on the day of parting with embers.

ليت شعري أيجمع الشمل اللاح

ليت شعري أيجمع الشمل اللاح

باب يوماً بعد النوى ليت شعري

باب يوماً بعد النوى ليت شعري

Would that I knew: will the loved ones be reunited

Would that I knew, will kinship ever again,

one day after separation? Would that I knew!

Unite us after purpose, would that I knew!