أَحِنُّ إِلى لَيلى وَأَحسَبُ أَنَّني

أَحِنُّ إِلى لَيلى وَأَحسَبُ أَنَّني

كَريمٌ عَلى لَيلى وَغَيري كَريمُها

كَريمٌ عَلى لَيلى وَغَيري كَريمُها

I yearn for Layla and think that I

I yearn for Layla, thinking myself

am dear to Layla, yet another is her dear one.

Generous to Layla, and others are her generosity.

فَأَصبَحتُ قَد أَزمَعتُ تَركاً لِبَيتِها

فَأَصبَحتُ قَد أَزمَعتُ تَركاً لِبَيتِها

وَفي النَفسِ مِن لَيلى قَذىً لا يَريمُها

وَفي النَفسِ مِن لَيلى قَذىً لا يَريمُها

So I have now resolved to leave her house,

So I've resolved to depart from her abode,

and in my soul is a mote from Layla that never leaves it.

With a speck in my soul from Layla that does not diminish.

لَئِن آثَرَت بِالوُدِّ أَهلَ بِلادِها

لَئِن آثَرَت بِالوُدِّ أَهلَ بِلادِها

عَلى نازِحٍ مِن أَرضِها لا نَلومُها

عَلى نازِحٍ مِن أَرضِها لا نَلومُها

If she has indeed favored the people of her land with affection

If she prefers those of her land with love

over one far from her land, we do not blame her.

Over an emigrant from her land, we do not blame her.

وَما يَستَوي مَن لا يُرى غَيرَ لَمَّةٍ

وَما يَستَوي مَن لا يُرى غَيرَ لَمَّةٍ

وَمَن هُوَ ثاوٍ عِندَها لا يَريمُها

وَمَن هُوَ ثاوٍ عِندَها لا يَريمُها

And one seen only on a brief visit is not equal

And it is not equal, one who is not seen but as a blemish,

to one who dwells with her and never leaves her.

And one who dwells with her, she does not dismiss.