كُلُّ فَضلٍ لِكُلِّ نَوعٍ وَجِنسِ

كُلُّ فَضلٍ لِكُلِّ نَوعٍ وَجِنسِ

دونَ فَضل المِرآةِ مِن غَيرِ لِبسِ

دونَ فَضل المِرآةِ مِن غَيرِ لِبسِ

Every merit of every kind and class

Each excellence for each kind and genus

Falls short of the mirror's merit, unmistakably.

Without the mirror's excellence, no doubt exists

لَطُفَت رِقَّةً وَفاضَت صَفاءً

لَطُفَت رِقَّةً وَفاضَت صَفاءً

فَهِيَ كَالمال في عيان ولمس

فَهِيَ كَالمال في عيان ولمس

It grew delicate in its thinness and overflowed with clarity;

Refined in gentleness and pure transparency

So it is like money to the eye and to the touch.

It is as cash in hand to see and touch

وَاِستَدارَت بِباهِرِ النورِ حَتّى

وَاِستَدارَت بِباهِرِ النورِ حَتّى

ظَنَّها الناظِرونَ قِطعَةَ شَمسِ

ظَنَّها الناظِرونَ قِطعَةَ شَمسِ

And it became round with dazzling light, until

Circled with splendid light until

The onlookers thought it a piece of the sun.

Beholders thought it was a piece of the sun

وَهِيَ أَصفى أَخٍ يَكشِف لي

وَهِيَ أَصفى أَخٍ يَكشِف لي

عَنّي وَأَدنى خِلٍّ يُوَفِّرُ أُنسي

عَنّي وَأَدنى خِلٍّ يُوَفِّرُ أُنسي

And it is the sincerest brother, showing me

It is the clearest brother revealing me

Myself, and the closest friend, adding to my comfort.

To myself and the closest friend providing my intimacy

وَإِذا ما نَأى نَديمي عَنّي

وَإِذا ما نَأى نَديمي عَنّي

ظَلَّ طَرَفي بِها يُنادِمُ نَفسي

ظَلَّ طَرَفي بِها يُنادِمُ نَفسي

And when my boon companion goes far from me,

And if my companion moves apart from me

My gaze, through it, continues to keep my own self company.

My gaze remains with it, conversing with my soul