مَنْwhoever لَمْdid not تَرُعْهُfrighten him صَوَارِمُthe sharp swords of الأحْدَاقِthe eyes
مَنْ لَمْ تَرُعْهُ صَوَارِمُ الأحْدَاقِ
لَمْdid not يَدْرِknow كَيْفَhow مَصَارِعُthe deaths of العُشَّاقِlovers
لَمْ يَدْرِ كَيْفَ مَصَارِعُ العُشَّاقِ
Whoever has not been terrified by the swords of eyes
He who has not been awed by love's sharp swords
Does not know how lovers meet their deaths.
Knows not how lovers wrestle and collide.
إنْif لَمْdid not تَرُعْكَfrighten you وَلَمْand did not تُشَاهِدْهَاsee them فَسَلْthen ask
إنْ لَمْ تَرُعْكَ وَلَمْ تُشَاهِدْهَا فَسَلْ
بَرْقَthe lightning of الحِمَىthe protected grounds عَنْabout قَلْبِيَmy heart الخَفَّاقِfluttering
بَرْقَ الحِمَى عَنْ قَلْبِيَ الخَفَّاقِ
If they have not frightened you, and you have not seen them, ask
If it did not shake you, if you did not see it, ask
The sanctuary's lightning about my fluttering heart.
About the fever's flash within my pounding heart,
وَاصْغَand listen لِتَغْرِيدِto the warbling of الحَمَامِthe doves وَشَدْوِهِand their song
وَاصْغَ لِتَغْرِيدِ الحَمَامِ وَشَدْوِهِ
يُنْبِئْكَit will tell you عَنْof وَجْدِيmy passion وَعَنْand of أشْوَاقِيmy longings
يُنْبِئْكَ عَنْ وَجْدِي وَعَنْ أشْوَاقِي
And listen to the doves' warbling and their song;
And listen to the crooning of the doves - their song
It will tell you of my passion and my longings.
Will tell you of my fervor and all I long.
فَبِسُحْبِso through clouds of دَمُعِيmy tears وَالْتِهَابِand the burning of جَوَانِحِيmy breast
فَبِسُحْبِ دَمُعِي وَالْتِهَابِ جَوَانِحِي
أنْذِرْتُI warned بِالإغْرَاقِof drowning وَالإحْرَاقِand burning
أنْذِرْتُ بِالإغْرَاقِ وَالإحْرَاقِ
So through the clouds of my tears and the blaze within my breast,
My flowing tears and burning sighs forewarn
I have warned of drowning and burning.
Of being drowned and set aflame forlorn.
وَبِسُهْدِand through sleeplessness of جَفْنِيmy eyelid وَاكْنِئَابِand dejection of حُشَاشَتِيmy vital spirit
وَبِسُهْدِ جَفْنِي وَاكْنِئَابِ حُشَاشَتِي
أرْسِلْتُI sent لِلْعُشَّاقِto the lovers بِالأشْوَاقِwith longings
أرْسِلْتُ لِلْعُشَّاقِ بِالأشْوَاقِ
And through my sleepless eyelid and my spirit's dejection,
My heavy lids and frowning brow have sent
I have sent longings to the lovers.
Yearning itself to those by passion rent.
فَالْحُبُّfor love دِينِيmy religion وَالتَّوَلُّهُand infatuation شِرْعَتِيmy law
فَالْحُبُّ دِينِي وَالتَّوَلُّهُ شِرْعَتِي
وَالْوَجُدُand passion عَهْدِيmy pledge وَالْهَوَىand desire مِيثَاقِيmy covenant
وَالْوَجُدُ عَهْدِي وَالْهَوَى مِيثَاقِي
For love is my religion, and infatuation my law;
For love's my faith, bewilderment my law,
And passion is my pledge, and desire my covenant.
And longing is my pact, desire my flaw.
والشوقُand longing طَبْعِيmy nature وَالصَّبَابَةُand ardent love شِيمَتِيmy disposition
والشوقُ طَبْعِي وَالصَّبَابَةُ شِيمَتِي
وَالتَّوْقُand yearning وَصْفِيmy quality وَالجَوَىand burning grief أخْلاقِيmy character
وَالتَّوْقُ وَصْفِي وَالجَوَى أخْلاقِي
And longing is my nature, and ardent love my disposition;
And craving is my nature, youth my way,
And yearning is my quality, and burning grief my character.
And rapture is my wont, my moods hold sway.
أمُخَلِّفًاO you leaving behind جَسَدِيmy body وَسَالِبَand stealer of مُهْجَتِيmy soul
أمُخَلِّفًا جَسَدِي وَسَالِبَ مُهْجَتِي
مَاذاwhat يَضُرُّكharms you لَوْif سَلَبْتyou stole البَاقِيthe rest
مَاذا يَضُرُّك لَوْ سَلَبْت البَاقِي
O you who leave my body behind and steal my soul,
So take my body, rob my soul outright -
What harm would it do you if you stole the rest?
What loss to you if you take what remains?
إنِّيindeed I وَإنْand though أخْفَرْتُI violated ذِمَّةَthe pledge to مُهْجَتِيmy soul
إنِّي وَإنْ أخْفَرْتُ ذِمَّةَ مُهْجَتِي
لَمْdid not أرْضَconsent أخْفَرُto violate ذِمَّةَthe pledge of المِيثَاقِthe covenant
لَمْ أرْضَ أخْفَرُ ذِمَّةَ المِيثَاقِ
Indeed, though I have broken the pledge to my soul,
Though I've betrayed my soul's sworn covenant,
I have not consented to break the covenant's pledge.
I would not shame the pact that I have meant.
فَعَلاَمَso why خَلَّفْتَyou left behind الفُؤَادَthe heart مُرَوَّعًاterrified
فَعَلاَمَ خَلَّفْتَ الفُؤَادَ مُرَوَّعًا
مَاwhat lies بَيْنbetween إخَلافٍbroken promises إلَيto إخْلاقِwearing away
مَا بَيْن إخَلافٍ إلَي إخْلاقِ
Why, then, have you left the heart terrified,
Why then leave my heart fearful and confused
Between broken promises and wasting away?
Between betrayal and the trust I've used?
هَبْنِيsuppose that I أسَأتُdid wrong فَكُنْthen be بعبدكto your servant مُحْسِنًاkind
هَبْنِي أسَأتُ فَكُنْ بعبدك مُحْسِنًا
وَاشْفِقْand have pity عَلَىon المُهَجَاتِthe souls وَالأرْمَاقِand last breaths
وَاشْفِقْ عَلَى المُهَجَاتِ وَالأرْمَاقِ
Grant that I have done wrong; then be kind to your servant,
Forgive me, I have erred, so treat Your slave with grace
And have pity on souls and last breaths.
Have mercy on those souls whom passions chase
أوَand (questioning) لَمْdid not تَرِقَّfeel pity لِرِقِّfor the bondage of عَبْدٍa slave عِزُّهُhis honor
أوَ لَمْ تَرِقَّ لِرِقِّ عَبْدٍ عِزُّهُ
أنْthat لَمْdid not تَسُمْهُsubject him بِذِلَّةِto the humiliation of الإعْتَاقِemancipation
أنْ لَمْ تَسُمْهُ بِذِلَّةِ الإعْتَاقِ
And have you not pitied the bondage of a slave whose honor
Does not Your servant's dignity appease You enough
Lies in your not subjecting him to the shame of emancipation?
That You name him not with "freed" though in the rough?
دَنِفٌlovesick إذَاwhen ذُكِرَis mentioned الوِصَالُunion تَمَزَّقَتْare torn apart
دَنِفٌ إذَا ذُكِرَ الوِصَالُ تَمَزَّقَتْ
أحْشَاهُhis entrails قَبْلَbefore تَمَزُّقِthe tearing of الأطْوَاقِthe collars
أحْشَاهُ قَبْلَ تَمَزُّقِ الأطْوَاقِ
He is lovesick; when union is mentioned, torn apart are
When union's recalled, this abject soul is torn
His entrails, before his collars are torn.
Before the shackles binding him are worn.
يَبْكِيhe weeps for لُيَيْلآتٍbrief nights تَقَضَّتْpassed بِالهَنَاin bliss
يَبْكِي لُيَيْلآتٍ تَقَضَّتْ بِالهَنَا
مَاwhat lies بَيْنَbetween تَقْبِيلٍkissing وَطِيبِand sweetness of عِنَاقِembracing
مَا بَيْنَ تَقْبِيلٍ وَطِيبِ عِنَاقِ
He weeps for brief nights that passed in bliss,
He weeps for nights of bliss that ended, alas,
Between kisses and sweet embraces,
Between a kiss's balm and a sweet embrace,
حَيْثُwhere الغُصُونُthe branches تَمَايَلَتْswayed أفْنَانُهَاtheir shoots
حَيْثُ الغُصُونُ تَمَايَلَتْ أفْنَانُهَا
وَالْتَفَّتِand entwined الأوْرَاقُthe leaves بِالأوْرَاقِwith the leaves
وَالْتَفَّتِ الأوْرَاقُ بِالأوْرَاقِ
Where the branches' shoots swayed,
Where the boughs bent, leaves whispered each to each,
And leaves entwined with leaves.
And the blossoms leaned into a floral speech.
يَاO رَاحِلاًone departing عَنيfrom me وَسَاكِنَand dwelling in مُهْجَتِيmy soul
يَا رَاحِلاً عَني وَسَاكِنَ مُهْجَتِي
هَلاَّwhy not أقَمْتَyou stayed لَنَاfor us بِقَدْرِfor the span of فُوَاقِa moment
هَلاَّ أقَمْتَ لَنَا بِقَدْرِ فُوَاقِ
O you who depart from me and dwell within my soul,
O you who've left me, haunting yet my heart,
Why did you not stay with us for just a moment,
Why did you not stay, time's march at least retard?
وَرَحِمْتَand you pitied إشْفَاقِيmy concern عَلَيْكfor you حَنَانَةًtenderly
وَرَحِمْتَ إشْفَاقِي عَلَيْك حَنَانَةً
إنindeed الْحَنَانَةtenderness شيمةُthe nature of الإشْفَاقِcompassion
إن الْحَنَانَة شيمةُ الإشْفَاقِ
And tenderly pity my concern for you?
Show me some mercy, tenderness revive,
Indeed, tenderness is the nature of compassion.
For kindness is the wont of those who strive.
وَمَنَنْتَand you granted لِيto me بِالْقُرْبِwith nearness مِنْكَto you تَكَرُّمًاgenerously
وَمَنَنْتَ لِي بِالْقُرْبِ مِنْكَ تَكَرُّمًا
فَاللَّهُfor God حَبَّloves مكَارمthe noble qualities of الأخْلاقِcharacter
فَاللَّهُ حَبَّ مكَارم الأخْلاقِ
And generously grant me nearness to you?
And grant me by your nearness some boon, pride efface,
For God loves nobility of character.
For God loves noble deeds and gentle grace.
يَكْفِيكit suffices you مِنيfrom me أنْthat أبِيتَI pass the night مُعَذَّباtormented
يَكْفِيك مِني أنْ أبِيتَ مُعَذَّبا
قَلِقrestless الفُؤَادِthe heart مُسَهَّدَkept sleepless الأحدَاقِthe eyes
قَلِق الفُؤَادِ مُسَهَّدَ الأحدَاقِ
It is enough for you that I pass the night tormented,
Let it suffice that I spend my nights sleepless,
Restless of heart, with eyes denied sleep.
Restless of heart with burning, streaming eyes.
أرْعَىI watch النُّجُومَthe stars وَهُنَّand they أفْصَحُmost eloquent مُخْبِرٍa messenger
أرْعَى النُّجُومَ وَهُنَّ أفْصَحُ مُخْبِرٍ
عَمَّاof what أقَاسِيI suffer فِيin الدُّجَىthe darkness وَألاَقِيand endure
عَمَّا أقَاسِي فِي الدُّجَى وَألاَقِي
I watch the stars, and they are the most eloquent messengers
I watch the stars, whose talk reveals in signs
Of what I suffer in the darkness and endure.
My lonely nights, the pain my being confines.
وَأراقِبُand I watch الجوزاءal-Jawza (constellation) أسألُI ask قُطْبَهَاits pole
وَأراقِبُ الجوزاء أسألُ قُطْبَهَا
عَنْabout ثَالِثِthe third of القَمَرَيْنِthe two moons فِيin الإشْرَاقِradiance
عَنْ ثَالِثِ القَمَرَيْنِ فِي الإشْرَاقِ
And I watch al-Jawza, asking its pole
I question Gemini, speak to its pole
About the third of the two moons in radiance.
About the two stars rising, glowing whole.
وأرَاسلُand I correspond with الغَيْثَthe rain الهَتُونَpouring وَبَرْقَهُand its lightning
وأرَاسلُ الغَيْثَ الهَتُونَ وَبَرْقَهُ
بلظىwith the blaze of حَشَايَmy breast وَمَدْمَعِيand my tears الرَّقْرَاقِshimmering
بلظى حَشَايَ وَمَدْمَعِي الرَّقْرَاقِ
And I correspond with the pouring rain and its lightning,
To the rain's downpour, its lightning bright as swords,
With the fire in my breast and my shimmering tears.
I send my hot sighs, tears in flooding hordes.
وَأطَارحُand I exchange songs with القُمْرِيَّthe turtledove فِيin تَغْرِيدِهِits warbling
وَأطَارحُ القُمْرِيَّ فِي تَغْرِيدِهِ
بِنَوىwith separation يَراعِيmy reed pen أوْor بِهَوْلِwith the terror of سِبَاقِيmy racing
بِنَوى يَراعِي أوْ بِهَوْلِ سِبَاقِي
And I exchange songs with the turtledove in its warbling,
I converse with the moon, whose song and trill
With my reed's lament of separation, or the terror of my racing.
Echo my purpose or race up a hill.
وأسَائِلُand I question الأظعَانthe caravans والركْبَانand the riders عنْabout
وأسَائِلُ الأظعَان والركْبَان عنْ
بدريmy full moon المُضَلَّلِled astray فِيin دُجَىthe darkness of الآفَاقِthe horizons
بدري المُضَلَّلِ فِي دُجَى الآفَاقِ
And I question the caravans and the riders about
To travelers I tell my quest for one
My full moon, lost in the darkness of the horizons.
Lost in horizon's haze, vanished with the sun.
فَعَسَىso perhaps بشيرٌa herald بِاللِّقَاof reunion وَلَعَلَّand perhaps مَنْthe one who
فَعَسَى بشيرٌ بِاللِّقَا وَلَعَلَّ مَنْ
عَقَدَknotted الأمُورَaffairs يَمُنُّwill graciously grant بِالإطلاَقِwith release
عَقَدَ الأمُورَ يَمُنُّ بِالإطلاَقِ
So perhaps a herald will bring news of reunion, and perhaps the one who
Perhaps good news of meeting waits in store,
Knotted these affairs will graciously grant release.
Or fate's clinch loosens, opens freedom's door.
أمُعَنِّفِيO my rebuker زَعْمًاclaiming بِأنَّكَthat you are نَاصِحٌa sincere adviser
أمُعَنِّفِي زَعْمًا بِأنَّكَ نَاصِحٌ
اكْفُفْdesist فَإنَّكَfor you are رَأسُthe head of كُلّall نِفَاقِhypocrisy
اكْفُفْ فَإنَّكَ رَأسُ كُلّ نِفَاقِ
O my rebuker, claiming to be a sincere adviser,
You blame and claim you wish me well, refrain!
Desist, for you are the head of all hypocrisy.
Such hypocrisy is fakehood's clearest stain.
وَدَعِand leave التَّعَنُّفَharshness واطَّرِحْand cast aside نصحِيadvising me فَمَاfor not
وَدَعِ التَّعَنُّفَ واطَّرِحْ نصحِي فَمَا
كُلِّفْتَyou were charged with إسْعَافِيaiding me وَلاَnor إرْفَاقِيshowing me kindness
كُلِّفْتَ إسْعَافِي وَلاَ إرْفَاقِي
Leave harshness and give up advising me, for you have not been
Spare me your zeal, reject my wish outright,
Charged with helping me or showing me kindness.
You're not tasked with my rescue or my plight!
فَأنَاfor I الَّذِيthe one who أوْضَحْتُI made clear مِنْهَاجَthe path of الهَوَىlove
فَأنَا الَّذِي أوْضَحْتُ مِنْهَاجَ الهَوَى
لِذَوِيto those with نُفُوسٍsouls بِالْغَرَامِwith passionate love رِقَاقِtender
لِذَوِي نُفُوسٍ بِالْغَرَامِ رِقَاقِ
For I am the one who made the path of love clear
For I made clear the passion path ahead
To those whose souls are tender with passion.
To souls by love so gently conquered.
فَلْيُبْلَغِso let be told الأحْبَابُthe loved ones عَنيfrom me أنَّنِيthat I
فَلْيُبْلَغِ الأحْبَابُ عَني أنَّنِي
فَانٍperishing عَلَىin دِينِthe religion of الْمَحَبَّةِlove بَاقِabiding
فَانٍ عَلَى دِينِ الْمَحَبَّةِ بَاقِ
So let the loved ones be told on my behalf that I
Let loved ones know I will remain sincere,
Am perishing, yet abide in the religion of love.
Steadfast in love until I perish here.
لاnot أنْثَنِيI turn away عَنْfrom حُبّlove for مَنْone whom لَمْdid not يَثْنِهِsway him
لا أنْثَنِي عَنْ حُبّ مَنْ لَمْ يَثْنِهِ
عِنْدَat الوَدَاعِfarewell تَذلُّلthe humble pleading of الأشْواقِlongings
عِنْدَ الوَدَاعِ تَذلُّل الأشْواقِ
I do not turn from loving one who was not swayed
I will not turn from one whose heart denies,
At farewell by longing's humble entreaties.
At parting's hour, the longing in his eyes.
لَوْif كُنْتَyou had been شَاهِدَنَاour witness وَقَدْwhen already حَكَمَdecreed الهوَىlove
لَوْ كُنْتَ شَاهِدَنَا وَقَدْ حَكَمَ الهوَى
بِفرَاقنَاfor our separation لَجَزِعْتَyou would have been distraught منfrom إشْفَاقِcompassion
بِفرَاقنَا لَجَزِعْتَ من إشْفَاقِ
Had you witnessed us, when love had decreed
Had you but seen us when compelled apart
Our separation, you would have been distraught with pity.
By love's decree, you would have wept, oh heart!
وَبَكِيتَand you would have wept for مُشْتَاقاًa yearning lover بَكَىwept لِبُكَائِهِat his weeping
وَبَكِيتَ مُشْتَاقاً بَكَى لِبُكَائِهِ
جَفْنُthe eyelid of الغمَامِthe cloud بِدَمْعِهِwith its tears الرَّقْرَاقِshimmering
جَفْنُ الغمَامِ بِدَمْعِهِ الرَّقْرَاقِ
And you would have wept for a yearning lover, at whose weeping wept
You too would yearn, and for your yearning's ache,
The cloud's eyelid with its shimmering tears.
Clouds' lids would rain with tears that crack and break.
وَهِيَgrew weak الفُؤَادُthe heart وَطَارَand flew away عَقْلِيmy mind عِنْدمَاwhen
وَهِيَ الفُؤَادُ وَطَارَ عَقْلِي عِنْدمَا
جَرَتِran الأمُورُaffairs عَلَىin خِلافِopposition to وِفَاقِaccord
جَرَتِ الأمُورُ عَلَى خِلافِ وِفَاقِ
The heart grew weak, and my mind flew away when
My heart took flight, intellect no more could rein
Affairs ran contrary to accord.
When things flowed counter to concord's easeful reign.
فَجَرَتْso flowed مِنَfrom الأجْفَانِthe eyelids حُمْرُred مدَامِعٍtears
فَجَرَتْ مِنَ الأجْفَانِ حُمْرُ مدَامِعٍ
حَازَتْwon بِسَفْحِon the slope of الخَدّthe cheek فَضْلَthe advantage of سِبَاقِracing
حَازَتْ بِسَفْحِ الخَدّ فَضْلَ سِبَاقِ
Then red tears flowed from the eyelids;
Down my cheeks poured the red of streaming tears,
They won the lead in the race upon the cheek's slope.
And down my face their heated flood appears.
فَبَكَىso he wept وَقَالَand said أذَاكَis that دَمْعٌtears أمْor دَمٌblood
فَبَكَى وَقَالَ أذَاكَ دَمْعٌ أمْ دَمٌ
وَلَرُبَّand many a دَمْعٍtear كَالدّمَاlike blood مُهْرَاقِspilled
وَلَرُبَّ دَمْعٍ كَالدّمَا مُهْرَاقِ
So he wept and said, 'Are those tears or blood?'
He cried, "Are these tears or blood?" For many a tear
And many a tear is spilled like blood.
Is blood, when the heart's flames scorch and sear.
فَأجَبْتُهُso I answered him وَالدَّمْعُwhile the tears يُظْهِرُهُmake him aware عَلَىof
فَأجَبْتُهُ وَالدَّمْعُ يُظْهِرُهُ عَلَى
مَاwhat فِيwithin الحَشَاthe breast مِنْof شِدَّةِthe intensity of الإحْرَاقِburning
مَا فِي الحَشَا مِنْ شِدَّةِ الإحْرَاقِ
So I answered him, while the tears revealed to him
I said, my tears reveal upon my cheek
The fierce burning within my breast:
The fierce hell in me; look how blood they reek!
لاdo not تَحْسَبَنَّever think الدَّمْعَthe tears فَاضَoverflowed وَإنَّمَاbut rather
لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الدَّمْعَ فَاضَ وَإنَّمَا
قَلْبِيmy heart أذِيبwas melted فَسَالso flowed مِنْfrom آفَاقِيmy horizons
قَلْبِي أذِيب فَسَال مِنْ آفَاقِي
Do not think that tears have overflowed; rather,
Think not the tears just spilled; my heart instead
My heart was melted, so it flowed from my horizons.
Melted away and poured in waves they spread.
يَاO أمَّةَcommunity of الأشْوَاقِlongings هَلْis there مِنْany مُسْعِفٍhelper
يَا أمَّةَ الأشْوَاقِ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْعِفٍ
يُرْجَىhoped for لِدفْعِto ward off حَوادِثthe calamities of الأشْوَاقِlongings
يُرْجَى لِدفْعِ حَوادِث الأشْوَاقِ
O community of longing, is there a helper
O people who pine, is there one who might save
Whose help is hoped for to ward off longing's calamities?
Me from the blows of fate, passions that rend and rave?
أمْor هَلْis there لِنَارfor the fire of تَلَهُّفِيmy anguish منany مُطْفِىءٍquencher
أمْ هَلْ لِنَار تَلَهُّفِي من مُطْفِىءٍ
أمْor هَلْis there لِفَيْضِfor the flood of مَدَامِعِيmy tears منany وَاقِprotector
أمْ هَلْ لِفَيْضِ مَدَامِعِي من وَاقِ
Or is there one to quench the fire of my anguish?
Can someone douse the flames that sear my soul?
Or is there a protector against my tears' flood?
Stem the flood of my tears, help make me whole?
أمْor هَلْis there لأوَّلِfor the beginning of لَوْعَتِيmy anguish مِنْany آخِرٍend
أمْ هَلْ لأوَّلِ لَوْعَتِي مِنْ آخِرٍ
أمْor هَلْis there لِذَاهِبِfor the departing part of مُهْجَتِيmy soul مِنْany بَاقِremainder
أمْ هَلْ لِذَاهِبِ مُهْجَتِي مِنْ بَاقِ
Or is there an end to the beginning of my anguish?
Can someone heal the first stab of my pain?
Or is there anything left of my departing soul?
Ease the loss of my soul before it wanes?
أمْor هَلْis there لِكَسْرِfor the breaking of حُشَاشَتِيmy vital spirit مِنْany جَابِرٍmender
أمْ هَلْ لِكَسْرِ حُشَاشَتِي مِنْ جَابِرٍ
أمْor هَلْis there لِدَاءِfor the sickness of صبَابَتِيmy ardent love منany رَاقِhealer by incantation
أمْ هَلْ لِدَاءِ صبَابَتِي من رَاقِ
Or is there a mender for my broken spirit?
Mend my broken heart, cure lovesickness and sorrow?
Or is there one to charm away the sickness of my ardent love?
Bring dawn after the long night's empty hollow?
أمْor هَلْis there لِعَهْدِfor the pledge of المُلْتَقَىreunion مِنْany مَوْعِدٍappointed time
أمْ هَلْ لِعَهْدِ المُلْتَقَى مِنْ مَوْعِدٍ
فَلَقَدْfor indeed وَهَيgrew weak جَسَدِيmy body وَشُدَّand were tightened وَثَاقِيmy bonds
فَلَقَدْ وَهَي جَسَدِي وَشُدَّ وَثَاقِي
Or is there an appointed time for the pledge of reunion?
Meet me again as reunions have blessed?
For my body has grown weak and my bonds have been tightened.
My body wastes; these bonds arrest my quest.
آهٍah وَمَاyet not آهٍan 'ah' بِنَافِعَةٍof use وَقَدْwhen already
آهٍ وَمَا آهٍ بِنَافِعَةٍ وَقَدْ
أزِفَdrew near الفرَاقُparting وَلاَتand it is not حِينa time for تلاقِmeeting again
أزِفَ الفرَاقُ وَلاَت حِين تلاقِ
Ah! Yet an 'ah' is of no use, now that
Alas, no sigh relieves when the last meet nears.
Parting has drawn near, and it is no time for reunion.
No use in anything when the time of parting nears.
لَوْif كَانَhad يَعْلَمُknown خَازِنُthe keeper of النِّيرَانِthe fires مَاwhat
لَوْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ خَازِنُ النِّيرَانِ مَا
تَحْتَbeneath الفِرَاقِseparation مِنَof العَذَابِtorment البَاقِيlasting
تَحْتَ الفِرَاقِ مِنَ العَذَابِ البَاقِي
Had the keeper of the fires known what
If the keeper of hellfire knew what awaited
Lasting torment lies beneath separation,
In separation's purgatory, fated and hated,
لأذاقَhe would have made taste حِزْبَthe host of الكُفْرِunbelief زَقُّومَzaqqum (hell-tree) النَوَىseparation
لأذاقَ حِزْبَ الكُفْرِ زَقُّومَ النَوَى
وَإنand if اسْتَغَاثَit cried for help سَقَاهُhe gave it to drink كَأسَa cup of فِرَاقِparting
وَإن اسْتَغَاثَ سَقَاهُ كَأسَ فِرَاقِ
He would have made the host of unbelief taste separation's zaqqum,
He'd make the unbelievers drink Zaqqum's acidic brew,
And, if it cried for help, given it a cup of parting.
Though they beg for water's mercy. That is their due.