يَا نَدِيمَيَّ فِي سَرَنْدِيبَ كُفَّا

يَا نَدِيمَيَّ فِي سَرَنْدِيبَ كُفَّا

عَنْ مَلامِي فَلَيْسَ يُغْنِي الْمَلامُ

عَنْ مَلامِي فَلَيْسَ يُغْنِي الْمَلامُ

O my two boon companions in Serendib, cease

O my friend in Serendib, cease thy blame!

from reproaching me, for reproach is of no avail.

For censure will not heal my pain.

أَنَا فِي هَذِهِ الدِّيَارِ غَريبٌ

أَنَا فِي هَذِهِ الدِّيَارِ غَريبٌ

وَغَرِيبُ الدِّيَارِ لَيْسَ يُلامُ

وَغَرِيبُ الدِّيَارِ لَيْسَ يُلامُ

I am a stranger in these lands,

I am a stranger in this land,

and a stranger in foreign lands is not to be blamed.

And strangers in a land are not to blame.

وَاذْكُرَا لِي فُسْطَاطَ مِصْرَ فَإِنِّي

وَاذْكُرَا لِي فُسْطَاطَ مِصْرَ فَإِنِّي

بِهَوَاهَا مُتَيَّمٌ مُسْتَهَامُ

بِهَوَاهَا مُتَيَّمٌ مُسْتَهَامُ

And speak to me of Egypt’s Fustat, for I

Remember Egypt's broad domain!

am enslaved by love for her, crazed with passion.

For her fair name consumes me with love's flame.