مَهرُ الفَتاةِ إِذا غَلا صَونٌ لَها

مَهرُ الفَتاةِ إِذا غَلا صَونٌ لَها

مِن أَن يَبُتَّ عَشيرُها تَطليقَها

مِن أَن يَبُتَّ عَشيرُها تَطليقَها

A young woman's dower, when high, safeguards her

A girl's high dowry protects her

against her husband's resolving to divorce her.

From her clan hastily divorcing her

هَوِيَ الفِراقِ وَخافَ مِن إِغرامِهِ

هَوِيَ الفِراقِ وَخافَ مِن إِغرامِهِ

فَأَدامَ في أَسبابِهِ تَعليقَها

فَأَدامَ في أَسبابِهِ تَعليقَها

He desired separation, but feared being made to pay,

He feared parting and his deep passion

so he kept her suspended in his bonds.

So he prolonged the means to possess her

وَلَرُبَّما وَرِثَتهُ أَو سَبَقت بِها

وَلَرُبَّما وَرِثَتهُ أَو سَبَقت بِها

أَقدارٌ ميتَتِها فَكانَ طَليقَها

أَقدارٌ ميتَتِها فَكانَ طَليقَها

And perhaps she inherited from him, or she was carried off first

Perchance fate took him before her

by the decrees of her death, and he was freed of her.

Or she preceded him, so he divorced her