سَلامٌpeace علىupon صَنْعاSana'a وَإنْand though قَرُبَwas recent الْعَهْدُthe last encounter
سَلامٌ على صَنْعا وَإنْ قَرُبَ الْعَهْدُ
أَلَمْdid … not? تَكُbe فيin الدُّنْياthe world هِيَshe الْعَلَمُthe landmark الْفَرْدُthe peerless one
أَلَمْ تَكُ في الدُّنْيا هِيَ الْعَلَمُ الْفَرْدُ
Peace upon Sana'a, though the last encounter was recent.
Greetings to Sana'a though the time be brief
Was she not the world's peerless landmark?
Was it not in this world the sole, the peerless star?
أَيَاAh! حَبَّذَاhow lovely الدُّنْياthe world فَمَنْfor whoever حَلَّsettled سُوحَهاher squares
أَيَا حَبَّذَا الدُّنْيا فَمَنْ حَلَّ سُوحَها
يُلاحِظُهُwatches over him فيin دَهْرِهِhis lifetime الْيُمْنُgood fortune والسَّعْدُand happiness
يُلاحِظُهُ في دَهْرِهِ الْيُمْنُ والسَّعْدُ
Ah, how lovely the world! For whoever dwells in her squares
O excellent indeed this world, and he who roams its hills
is watched over by good fortune and happiness throughout his life.
Shall find through all his days prosperity and joy.