إِذا أَنتَ زَوَّجتَ الكَريمَةَ كَفوَها

إِذا أَنتَ زَوَّجتَ الكَريمَةَ كَفوَها

فَزَوِّج خَميساً راحَةَ ابنَةِ ساعِدِ

فَزَوِّج خَميساً راحَةَ ابنَةِ ساعِدِ

If you marry a noblewoman to her equal,

If you marry the virtuous woman to her equal

If you would wed a noble lady to her worthy peer,

then wed Khamis to Palm, daughter of Forearm.

Then marry the serene daughter of Sa'eed to Khamis

Then wed the Five to the palm of the Forearm's Daughter.

تِعَفِّفُهُ مادامَ في الحَبسِ ثاوِياً

تِعَفِّفُهُ مادامَ في الحَبسِ ثاوِياً

وَما خالَفَتهُ مُصمِتاتُ الحَدائِدِ

وَما خالَفَتهُ مُصمِتاتُ الحَدائِدِ

She keeps him chaste as long as he dwells in prison

She restrains him as long as he remains imprisoned, despondent

She guards his virtue for as long as he remains in prison,

and solid iron fetters do not hinder him.

And does not go against those silent on the edges of the grave

And the silencing iron fetters offer no resistance.

فَإِن جَرَتِ الأَقدارُ يَوماً بِفُرقَةٍ

فَإِن جَرَتِ الأَقدارُ يَوماً بِفُرقَةٍ

تَبَدَّلَ مِنها كُلَّ عَذراءِ ناهِدِ

تَبَدَّلَ مِنها كُلَّ عَذراءِ ناهِدِ

But if the fates one day bring a parting,

So if fate dictates a separation some day

But if the fates should one day decree a separation,

he will replace her with any budding-breasted virgin.

Every maiden will change from it, in mourning

He shall exchange her for every buxom virgin bride.

وَقُل بِالرِفا ما نِلتَ مِن وَصلِ حُرَّةٍ

وَقُل بِالرِفا ما نِلتَ مِن وَصلِ حُرَّةٍ

لَها ساحَةٌ حُفَّت بِخَمسِ وَلائِدِ

لَها ساحَةٌ حُفَّت بِخَمسِ وَلائِدِ

And say, 'May there be harmony,' whenever you enjoy union with a freeborn woman

And say in gentleness, you did not attain union with a free woman

So give the wedding blessing for the union with this free woman,

whose courtyard is encircled by five handmaidens.

Whose plain is surrounded by five shrouds

Who boasts a courtyard circled by five maiden servants.