1. ما كُنتُ أحسَبُ هذا الأمرَ مُنصَرِفاً

    عن هاشمٍ ثُمَّ منها عن أبي حَسَنِ

    I never thought this authority would be diverted

    From Hashim, and then, within that clan, from Abu Hasan.

  2. أليسَ أوَّلَ من صلَّى لِقِبلَتِهم

    وأعرَفَ الناسِ بالآثارِ والسُّنَنِ

    Is he not the first to have prayed toward their qibla,

    And the most knowledgeable of people about transmitted traditions and established practices,

  3. وآخِرَ الناسِ عَهداً بالنبيِّ ومَن

    جبريلُ عونٌ لهُ في الغُسلِ والكَفَنِ

    And the last of all to be with the Prophet, and the one

    Whom Gabriel aided in washing and shrouding?

  4. من فيه ما فيهمُ لا يمترونُ بهِ

    وليسَ في القومِ ما فيهِ من الحَسَنِ

    He has what they have—they have no doubt of it—

    Yet the people lack the excellence that is in him.

  5. ماذا الذي ردَّكم عنهُ فنعلَمَهُ

    ها إنَّ بيعَتَكُم من أغبَنِ الغَبَنِ

    What turned you away from him, that we might know it?

    Behold, your pledge of allegiance is among the worst of bad bargains.