قالوا تحبّ أبا بكرٍ فقلت لهم

لِم لا أحبّ الّذي أرجوه يشفع لي

They said you love Abu Bakr, so I told them,

Why wouldn't I love the one I hope will intercede for me?

نعم ومِن مذهبي أنّي أفضّله

على الإمام مبيد المعتدين علي

Yes, it is my doctrine that I prefer him

Over Imam Ali who destroys the aggressors.

وإنّ تفضيله وهو الجدير به

قد كان من قِبَل الرحمن لا قِبلي

And preferring him, as he is worthy of it,

Was from the Merciful, not from me.