لا عيبَ بالبَصرة مُستهجنٌ

إلاَّ وجودُ الشَّيخ مفتيها

No fault in Basra is more jarring

Than the presence of its mufti there

تظنّه النجْديّ بأفعاله

لأنَّه أحيَلُ من فيها

You'd think him from Nejd by his deeds

For he's craftier than all who dwell there