أَيا مَعدنَ الآدابِ وَالظَرف وَالنُهى

أَيا مَعدنَ الآدابِ وَالظَرف وَالنُهى

وَمِن قَدرُهُ في العِلم أَربى عَلى الشُهبِ

وَمِن قَدرُهُ في العِلم أَربى عَلى الشُهبِ

O wellspring of letters, wit, and wisdom,

O epitome of refinement, grace and virtue

And you whose stature in learning has risen above the shooting stars.

Supreme in knowledge, outshining the stars

كَتَبنا لَكُم إِذ أَعوَزَ الطِرسُ أَحرُفاً

كَتَبنا لَكُم إِذ أَعوَزَ الطِرسُ أَحرُفاً

بِراحَةِ من قَد حَلّ في ساحَةِ القَلبِ

بِراحَةِ من قَد حَلّ في ساحَةِ القَلبِ

We wrote you some letters when paper was lacking,

We wrote to you when prose fell short

On the palm of one who has settled in the courtyard of my heart.

With ease, from one whose heart lies open

فَإِن كُنتَ تَرعى يا أَخا المَجدِ عَهدَنا

فَإِن كُنتَ تَرعى يا أَخا المَجدِ عَهدَنا

فَقَبّل فَدَتكَ النَفسُ في مَوضع الكَتبِ

فَقَبّل فَدَتكَ النَفسُ في مَوضع الكَتبِ

So if you honor our pledge, O brother of glory,

If you uphold our covenant, O brother of glory

Then kiss where the writing is—may my soul be your ransom.

May your soul be ransom for where this book lies

فَتلكَ يَدٌ بَيضاءُ أَسدَيتُ نَحوَكُم

فَتلكَ يَدٌ بَيضاءُ أَسدَيتُ نَحوَكُم

بِما لَكُمُ في القَلبِ مِن خالِصِ الحُبِّ

بِما لَكُمُ في القَلبِ مِن خالِصِ الحُبِّ

For that is a white hand of kindness I have extended to you,

That is a fair hand I extend to you

Because of the pure love for you within my heart.

With the sincere love you hold in my heart

وَلَولا الَّذي أَزمَعتَ مِن حُسنِ تَوبَةٍ

وَلَولا الَّذي أَزمَعتَ مِن حُسنِ تَوبَةٍ

وَقَد شاعَ هَذا عَنك في الشَرقِ وَالغَربِ

وَقَد شاعَ هَذا عَنك في الشَرقِ وَالغَربِ

And were it not for the goodly repentance you resolved upon—

Were it not for your resolve to repent

And word of this has already spread about you in East and West—

Far spread, in East and West, this tale of you

أَبَحتُ لَكَ التَقبيلَ في فيهِ إِنَّما

أَبَحتُ لَكَ التَقبيلَ في فيهِ إِنَّما

أَخافُ عَلَيكَ السكرَ يا نُخبَةَ الصَحبِ

أَخافُ عَلَيكَ السكرَ يا نُخبَةَ الصَحبِ

I would have allowed you to kiss his mouth; it is only that

I would have graced your mouth with a kiss

I fear intoxication for you, O choicest of companions.

But fear you'd be drunk, O crowning of comrades

عَلى أَنَّهُ ذَنبٌ كَما قَد عَلِمتُم

عَلى أَنَّهُ ذَنبٌ كَما قَد عَلِمتُم

أَخَفّ عَلى المُشتاقِ مِن سائِرِ الذَنبِ

أَخَفّ عَلى المُشتاقِ مِن سائِرِ الذَنبِ

Though it is a sin, as you already know,

Though it be a sin, as you know

It is lighter upon the yearning lover than all other sins.

Lighter to the ardent lover than any sin