1. The Prophet stood up one day at Khumm
Beside the pond, or facing it,

2. And said: "To whomsoever I am his master,
This Ali here is his master too." He said it over and over.

3. They all said: "We hear and obey,
Every one of us," and they hastened

4. To affirm it with their tongues.
And there came to him an aged band,

5. Led by an old man who congratulated Haydar,
Saying: "Bravo to you, well done!

6. You have become the master of the faithful, hurrah!"
"Strange," he said, "by my life how strange!

7. That the wise should fall into such pitfalls!"
"Surely those men only swore allegiance to you

8. Because they were swearing allegiance to God?"
And how could men not bear witness when at his oration

9. They bore witness to their allegiance?
And the old man challenged him, saying: "I have grown old,

10. And never seen the like of it."
He retorted: "By God, a lie cannot hide a truth!"