إِنَّ الأَرامِلَ وَالأَيتامَ قَد يَئِسوا

إِنَّ الأَرامِلَ وَالأَيتامَ قَد يَئِسوا

وَطالِبي العُرفِ إِذ لاقاهُمُ الخَبَرُ

وَطالِبي العُرفِ إِذ لاقاهُمُ الخَبَرُ

Surely the widows and the orphans have despaired,

The widows and orphans had lost hope,

and those seeking kindness, when the news reached them

And those seeking favors when the news reached them,

أَنَّ اِبنَ لَيلى بِأَرضِ النيلِ أَدرَكَهُ

أَنَّ اِبنَ لَيلى بِأَرضِ النيلِ أَدرَكَهُ

وَهُم سِراعٌ إِلى مَعروفِهِ القَدَرُ

وَهُم سِراعٌ إِلى مَعروفِهِ القَدَرُ

that Ibn Layla, in the land of the Nile, had been overtaken—

That the son of Layla in the land of the Nile had met his fate,

while they hastened toward his bounty—by fate.

And they hastily went to his noble character.

لَمّا اِنتَهوا عِندَ بابٍ كانَ نائِلُهُ

لَمّا اِنتَهوا عِندَ بابٍ كانَ نائِلُهُ

بِهِ كَثيراً وَمِن مَعروفِهِ فَجَرُ

بِهِ كَثيراً وَمِن مَعروفِهِ فَجَرُ

When they arrived at a door—his bounty had been

When they arrived at a door whose owner

abundant there, with an outpouring of his kindness—

Had benefited much from his favors and generosity,

قالوا دَفَنّا اِبنَ لَيلى فَاِستَهَلَّ لَهُم

قالوا دَفَنّا اِبنَ لَيلى فَاِستَهَلَّ لَهُم

مِنَ الدُموعِ عَلى أَيّامِها دِرَرُ

مِنَ الدُموعِ عَلى أَيّامِها دِرَرُ

they said, "We have buried Ibn Layla"; then there poured for them

They said: “We buried the son of Layla,” and tears

torrents of tears over their bygone days,

Poured from their eyes for her days like pearls.

مِن أَعيُنٍ عَلِمَت أَن لا حِجازَ لَهُم

مِن أَعيُنٍ عَلِمَت أَن لا حِجازَ لَهُم

وَلا طَعامَ إِذا ما هَبَّتِ القِرَرُ

وَلا طَعامَ إِذا ما هَبَّتِ القِرَرُ

from eyes that knew they had no protection

From eyes that knew they had no choice

nor food whenever the cold winds blew.

And no food when the hot winds blow.

ظَلّوا عَلى قِبرِهِ يَستَغفِرونَ لَهُ

ظَلّوا عَلى قِبرِهِ يَستَغفِرونَ لَهُ

وَقَد يَقولونَ تاراتٍ لَنا العِبَرُ

وَقَد يَقولونَ تاراتٍ لَنا العِبَرُ

They remained at his grave, seeking forgiveness for him,

They remained at his grave seeking forgiveness for him

and at times they say, "There are lessons for us."

And they may recite couplets that teaches us lessons.

يُقَبِّلونَ تُراباً فَوقَ أَعظُمِهِ

يُقَبِّلونَ تُراباً فَوقَ أَعظُمِهِ

كَما يُقَبَّلُ في المَحجوجَةِ الحَجَرُ

كَما يُقَبَّلُ في المَحجوجَةِ الحَجَرُ

They kiss the dust above his bones,

They kiss the dust above his bones

as the Stone is kissed in the place of pilgrimage.

As pilgrims kiss the Black Stone.

لِلَّهِ أَرضٌ أَجَنَّتهُ ضَريحَتُها

لِلَّهِ أَرضٌ أَجَنَّتهُ ضَريحَتُها

وَكَيفَ يُدفَنُ في المَلحودَةِ القَمَرُ

وَكَيفَ يُدفَنُ في المَلحودَةِ القَمَرُ

God bless the land whose tomb enfolded him!

To God belongs a land that has been blessed by his tomb,

And how can the moon be buried in the grave's recess?

How can the moon be buried in eroded ground?