إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَبقى عَلى جُملَةِ الهَوى

إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَبقى عَلى جُملَةِ الهَوى

وَأَدَنَيتَ مَن تَهوى فَأَقلِل مِنَ العَتبِ

وَأَدَنَيتَ مَن تَهوى فَأَقلِل مِنَ العَتبِ

If you wish to remain in the fullness of love,

If you wish to continue in passion's thrall

and have drawn your beloved near, then lessen your reproaches.

And draw near to she whom you adore, then chide her little.

فَلِلعَتبِ داءٌ رُبَّما جاءَ بَغتَةً

فَلِلعَتبِ داءٌ رُبَّما جاءَ بَغتَةً

فَراحَ بِروحِ الوَصلِ مِن جَسَدِ الحُبِّ

فَراحَ بِروحِ الوَصلِ مِن جَسَدِ الحُبِّ

For reproach has an illness that may come suddenly

For reproach has an illness that may come on suddenly

and carry off the soul of union from the body of love.

And steal the spirit of union from love's body.

فَكَيفَ يَروقُ العَيشَ مِن كَدَرِ القِلى

فَكَيفَ يَروقُ العَيشَ مِن كَدَرِ القِلى

إِذا كُنتَ لا تُغضي لِإِلفِكَ عَن ذَنبِ

إِذا كُنتَ لا تُغضي لِإِلفِكَ عَن ذَنبِ

How, then, can life be unclouded by the murk of aversion,

How then can life be sweet when bitterness fills the cup,

if you do not overlook a fault in your beloved?

If you cannot overlook your beloved's fault?