قوَّضtook down الحيُّthe tribe للرحيلfor departure الحياماthe tents (likely intended as الخياما)
قوَّض الحيُّ للرحيل الحياما
ماwhat علىupon الحيthe tribe لوif قليلاًa little while أقاماit stayed
ما على الحي لو قليلاً أقاما
The tribe struck its tents for departure.
The encampment was struck though we wished to linger awhile,
What harm would it do the tribe to stay a little while?
Yet what can men do if the order comes: “Onward, march!”
قدindeed مررناwe passed علىby الحبيبthe beloved وسلَّمand greeted
قد مررنا على الحبيب وسلَّم
ناwe (suffix completing the preceding verb) عليهِupon him فلمbut did not يردّreturn السلاماthe greeting
نا عليهِ فلم يردّ السلاما
Indeed, we passed by the beloved and greeted
We passed by the dwellings of those we hold dear,
him, but he did not return the greeting.
They came forth to greet us, but we returned no salute.