ما حَرَّمَ اللَهُ شُربَ الخَمرِ عَن عَبَثٍ

ما حَرَّمَ اللَهُ شُربَ الخَمرِ عَن عَبَثٍ

مِنهُ وَلَكِن لِسرٍ مودَع فيها

مِنهُ وَلَكِن لِسرٍ مودَع فيها

God did not forbid drinking wine out of frivolity

God did not forbid drinking wine out of jest

On His part, but for a secret lodged within it.

But for a secret deposited therein

لَمّا رَأى الناسَ أَضحوا مُغرَمينَ بِها

لَمّا رَأى الناسَ أَضحوا مُغرَمينَ بِها

وَكُلَّ فَنٍّ حَوَوهُ مِن مَعانيها

وَكُلَّ فَنٍّ حَوَوهُ مِن مَعانيها

When He saw people had become enamored of it,

When people became infatuated with it

And had grasped every variety of its meanings,

And every art contained meanings from it

أَوحى بِتَحريمِها خَوفاً عَلَيهِ بِأَن

أَوحى بِتَحريمِها خَوفاً عَلَيهِ بِأَن

يُضحوا لَها سُجَّداً مِن دونِهِ تيها

يُضحوا لَها سُجَّداً مِن دونِهِ تيها

He revealed its prohibition, fearing for Himself lest

He inspired its prohibition, fearing for them

They fall prostrate before it instead of Him, in bewilderment.

Lest they bow to it, lost, apart from Him