1. خوارجُ فارقوهُ بنهروانٍ

    على تحكيمهِ الحسنِ الجميلِ

    Kharijites parted from him at Nahrawan,

    Over his fine and admirable arbitration.

  2. على تحكيمِهِ فَعَموا وصمُّوا

    كتابَ اللهِ في فمِ جُبْرَئيلِ

    Over his appointing as arbiter—they went blind and deaf—

    The Book of God, in Gabriel's mouth.

  3. فمالوا جانباً وبَغَوا عليهِ

    فما مالوا هناكَ إلى مَميلِ

    So they turned aside and rebelled against him,

    Yet there they did not turn toward any refuge.

  4. فتاةَ القومُ في ظُلَمٍ حَيارى

    عماةً يَعمَهونَ بلا دليل

    So the people apparently wandered, bewildered in darkness,

    Blind, wandering in confusion without a guide.

  5. فضّلوا كالسوائم يومَ عيدٍ

    تنحر بالغداة وبالأصيل

    So they apparently strayed like grazing livestock on a feast day,

    Slaughtered in the morning and late afternoon.

  6. كأن الطير حولهم نضارعه

    عُكوفاً حولَ صُلبانِ الأبيلِ

    As though we resemble the birds around them [wording uncertain],

    Devoutly gathered around the monk's crosses.