1. Your love has consumed me with passion's fire,
Though rain has quenched it since you did retire.

2. Alas, all hearts in this realm wander distraught,
Forever homesick, restless for their desire.

3. On nights when we would gather, all as one,
Naught between us but affection's gentle ties.

4. Till the Merciful ordained another fate-
Division's breach appeared, fondness devised.

5. The Prophet called the people unto guidance;
From us no dissent did he espy.

6. We answered, heeding what he wished of us,
Embracing unity and harmony.

7. Professing One God, shunning all idols,
False statues of wood, stone, and naïve prize.

8. Performing the five prayers and fasting one month,
Paying the alms, no fraction to disguise.

9. Sheltering the orphan with utmost kindness,
And doing good by kith and kin likewise,

10. This conduct embodies piety and righteousness,
Perfection of chivalry, of dignities.

11. Yet many shunned it, in numbers considerate,
Barred by their blindness from the Merciful's prize.

12. When war was declared, lo, we declared it too,
To absolve our souls from accumulating vice.

13. Our dawns were stars in darkest night,
As spear-points defined in silhouette's guise.

14. We brought them death, relentlessly,
None escaped from that mortal enterprise.

15. When they sought to destroy half of us, we avenged
Ourselves upon the foe, complete redress devised.

16. We blamed them when they blamed us first,
With swords white as palm-shoots, keen and concise.

17. Spear-shafts of Rudainah's making, their destiny sealed,
As the horsemen's pillars thrust forth in swift enterprise.

18. The excellent arrows of Qais scatter all troubles,
Repulsing the flimsy quivered missiles of rivals.

19. Whenever they approach, we turn to confront them,
Rushing to meet their advance, no surprise.

20. We deposit their heads as prizes for our maidens,
To recompense suitors at the marriage-feast's height.

21. We gained double the losses they inflicted,
No equality this, nor even disguise!

22. So the Muslims retired to Gardens serene,
Quenched by pure wine and the houris' delight.

23. While the pagans retired to scalding liquors,
Boiling with venom, an evil device.

24. We emerged as victors with these and those spoils,
The finest garb and the fairest prize.