ظنّناwe thought أنّهthat he المهديُّthe Mahdi حقّاًtruly
ظنّنا أنّه المهديُّ حقّاً
ولاand not تقعُcome to pass الأمورthings كماas ظننّاwe thought
ولا تقعُ الأمور كما ظننّا
We thought that he was truly the Mahdi.
We thought he was the Mahdi, truly
But things do not turn out as we thought.
But things don't happen as we thought they would
ولاand no واللهby God ماnot المهديُّthe Mahdi إلاّother than
ولا والله ما المهديُّ إلاّ
إمامٌan imam فضلُهhis excellence أعلىloftier وأسْنىand more exalted
إمامٌ فضلُه أعلى وأسْنى
No, by God, the Mahdi is none other than
No, by God, the Mahdi is none other than
an imam whose excellence is loftier and more exalted.
A leader whose excellence is supreme and lofty