أنكرobjected to الحِبُّthe beloved إِذwhen لَثمتُI kissed يَميناa right hand
أنكر الحِبُّ إِذ لَثمتُ يَمينا
مِنهُof his حاليmy conduct فَقالand he said شُرّفتَyou have been honored قَدراin rank
مِنهُ حالي فَقال شُرّفتَ قَدرا
The beloved objected, when I kissed his right hand,
Love denied when I kissed the right hand,
To my conduct, and said, “You have been honored in rank!
My state improved, it said, your worth increased.
لِمَwhy لاnot كَنتyou were لاثِماًkissing وَردَthe rose of خَدّيmy cheek
لِمَ لا كَنت لاثِماً وَردَ خَدّي
وَالطُلىand the neck (literally, necks) أَوor قَبّلتyou kissed مِنّيَfrom me ثَغراa mouth
وَالطُلى أَو قَبّلت مِنّيَ ثَغرا
Why did you not kiss the rose of my cheek
Why did you not kiss my cheek instead?
And my neck, or kiss my mouth?”
Or kiss my lips, their sweetness never cease.
قُلتI said إِنّيindeed I أَراكَI see you كَعبةa Kaaba حُسنٍbeauty
قُلت إِنّي أَراكَ كَعبة حُسنٍ
حَيثماwherever قَدindeed لَثمتهاI kissed it نِلتُI gained أَجراa reward
حَيثما قَد لَثمتها نِلتُ أَجرا
I said, “I see you as a Kaaba of beauty;
I said, I see you as a shrine of beauty,
Wherever I have kissed it, I have gained a reward.”
Wherever kissed, rewards and grace release.