أحبُّI love لحُبِّهاfor love of her جَمَليmy camel ورحْلِيand my saddle
أحبُّ لحُبِّها جَمَلي ورحْلِي
وعزْميand my resolve والقَتادَةَand the thornbush والطّريقَاand the road
وعزْمي والقَتادَةَ والطّريقَا
I love, for love of her, my camel and my saddle,
For her love I love my camel and saddle,
And my resolve, the thornbush, and the road,
My resolve, my guide-rope and the road,
ومَنْand whoever أخْشاهُI fear him منْfrom among سبُعِa beast of prey ولصٍّand a thief
ومَنْ أخْشاهُ منْ سبُعِ ولصٍّ
فكيْفَthen how فريقُهاher people سَلِمواthey escaped unharmed فَريقاas a group
فكيْفَ فريقُها سَلِموا فَريقا
And those I fear—beast of prey and thief;
And whoever I fear of lion or thief -
Then how could her people, as a group, escape my love?
How could her party be safe from harm?
وكيْفَand how أخَصُّI am singled out باسْمِwith the name of الحُبِّlove إنْif لمْdo not
وكيْفَ أخَصُّ باسْمِ الحُبِّ إنْ لمْ
أحِبّI love لأجْلِهاfor her sake إلاّexcept صَديقَاa friend
أحِبّ لأجْلِها إلاّ صَديقَا
And how can I be called a lover if I
How can I claim love's name if I did not,
Love only a friend for her sake?
Love for her sake a friend as well as foe?