قدindeed كتبَhas written اللهُGod علىon خدِّهhis cheek
قد كتبَ اللهُ على خدِّه
بالمسكِwith musk سطراًa line دَقّwas subtle معناهُits meaning
بالمسكِ سطراً دَقّ معناهُ
God has indeed written on his cheek
God wrote upon his cheek
with musk, a line whose meaning is subtle.
With musk, a line whose meaning is subtle
فقلْتُso I said لِلعُشاقto the lovers لمّاwhen بداit appeared
فقلْتُ لِلعُشاق لمّا بدا
صبراًpatience علىwith ماwhat كتبَhas written اللَّهُGod
صبراً على ما كتبَ اللَّهُ
So I said to the lovers, when it appeared:
So I said to the lovers when it appeared
“Be patient with what God has written.”
Patience for what God has ordained