لَقَد جاءَ قَومٌ يَدَّعونَ فَضيلَةً

وَكُلُّهُمُ يَبغي لِمُهجَتِهِ نَفعا

They came claiming virtue,

Each seeking benefit for his tribe,

وَما اِنخَفَضوا كَي يَرفَعوكُم وَإِنَّما

رأوا خَفضَكُم طولَ الحَياةِ لَهُم رَفعا

Not lowering themselves to raise you -

Rather, they saw your lowness as raising them high.

وَما ثَبَّتوا مِن شاهِدٍ يُهتَدى بِهِ

فَإِن لَزَموا دَعواهُمُ فَاِلزَموا الدَفعا

They established no proof to follow;

If they insist on their claim, then insist on rejecting it.

نَدينُ بِأَنَّ اللَهَ وِترٌ وَخَوفُهُ

رَشادٌ فَصَلّوا الوَتَرَ في الدَهرِ وَالشَفَعا

We believe God is Odd, and fear of Him

Is guidance - so pray the witr in life and in pairs.

وَدُنياكُمُ الدارُ الَّتي ما تَضَمَّنَت

زَكيّاً فَلا تَبكوا أَثافِيَّها السُفعا

Your world is an abode that contains

No righteous man - so weep not for its foolish ones.