بغدادُ دارٌ رياضُها أُنُفُ

بغدادُ دارٌ رياضُها أُنُفُ

والغيثُ في عنفوانِها يَكفُ

والغيثُ في عنفوانِها يَكفُ

Baghdad is an abode whose gardens are fresh and untouched;

Baghdad is a land whose gardens are springs,

And in its prime, the rain falls in drops.

And whose rain in its prime is bountiful.

ومَع تصاريفِ طِيبِ لذَتِها

ومَع تصاريفِ طِيبِ لذَتِها

مُقامُ مثلي بمثلها شَرَفُ

مُقامُ مثلي بمثلها شَرَفُ

And with the varied sweetness of its pleasures,

Along with the permutations of its pleasant essence,

For one like me to dwell in a place like it is an honor;

My stay in it is an honor like its stature.

إذ كلُّ مَن حلَّها وأُوطِنَها

إذ كلُّ مَن حلَّها وأُوطِنَها

جواهرُ عند كسرِها خَزَفُ

جواهرُ عند كسرِها خَزَفُ

For all who have dwelt there and been settled there

Since all who reside and settle it

Are jewels that, when broken, prove to be earthenware.

Are gems when examined closely.

وإن رأيتَ الثيابَ رائقةً

وإن رأيتَ الثيابَ رائقةً

فتلكَ درٌّ في جوفِها صَدَفُ

فتلكَ درٌّ في جوفِها صَدَفُ

And if you see the garments looking splendid,

And if you see the clothes being thin,

Then those are pearls with shells inside them.

Those are pearls with oyster shells inside.