أَلا تِلكَ لَيلى قَد أَلَمَّ لِمامُها

أَلا تِلكَ لَيلى قَد أَلَمَّ لِمامُها

وَكَيفَ مَعَ القَومِ الأَعادي كَلامُها

وَكَيفَ مَعَ القَومِ الأَعادي كَلامُها

Behold, there is Layla—she has come for a fleeting visit.

Behold that Laila, her head-dress has weighted her down,

And how can she speak among the hostile folk?

And how does she converse with the hostile people?

تَمَتَّع بِلَيلى إِنَّما أَنتَ هامَةٌ

تَمَتَّع بِلَيلى إِنَّما أَنتَ هامَةٌ

مِنَ الهامِ يَدنو كُلَّ يَومٍ حِمامُها

مِنَ الهامِ يَدنو كُلَّ يَومٍ حِمامُها

Take your joy in Layla; you are only a head

Enjoy Laila, for you are but a lovesick one,

Among heads, whose death draws nearer every day.

Whose love approaches her every day like a dove to its nest.

وَبادِر بِلَيلى أَوبَةَ الرَكبِ إِنَّهُم

وَبادِر بِلَيلى أَوبَةَ الرَكبِ إِنَّهُم

مَتى يَرجِعوا يَحرُم عَلَيكَ لِمامُها

مَتى يَرجِعوا يَحرُم عَلَيكَ لِمامُها

And hasten to Layla before the caravan's return, for

So hurry to Laila before the caravan departs,

Whenever they return, her fleeting visit will be forbidden to you.

For when they return, her veil will forbid you from her.