1. قيل لي ما لعصبةٍ

    أغضَبوا اللَه وَالرُسُل

    I was asked, “What of a band

    Who angered God and the messengers,

  2. أبدعوا البَغي وَالمَعا

    صيَ وَالجُبنَ وَالبُخُل

    Invented oppression and transgres-

    -sions, cowardice, and miserliness,

  3. ما بِهم غَير مدَّعٍ

    وَخَسيس وَمن سَفل

    With none among them but a pretender,

    A base fellow, and one who has sunk low?”

  4. جال فِكري بِهَجوهم

    وَدَعاني فَلَم أَجل

    My mind roamed toward lampooning them,

    And summoned me, yet I did not stir.

  5. قُلت دَعني فَإِنَّنا

    كُلّنا ذَلك الرَجل

    I said, “Leave me be, for we

    Are all that man.”