At the start of human history, when Adam left the garden

As he repented to his Lord and sought His deepest pardon

God advised to seek His mercy through the blessing of five names:

Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain.

Wilayah was established as man’s bridge to the Divine

but its role would be forgotten amid the tides of humankind.

As Prophethood concluded, and Imamah took the helm

Corruption and misguidance overtook the human realm

Some people followed power, and some were led by greed

But the ones who yearned for Truth became the lovers of Ali.

They were labeled the rejectors, for denying manmade power

But were staunch in their belief that Allah is sole Endower

of all authority and truth, as embodied in His wali

They could not deny the knowledge that this embodiment was Ali.

Now human consciousness is waning, and the truth is hard to find

as humanity is governed by those who deify the mind

The world is full of chaos, and is darkened by misdeeds

and this darkness makes it difficult for humanity to see

but the pathway back to fitrah, to the light of true Tawhid

can still be found within the hearts of those who keep alive this creed

The light can still be found by those who have the eyes to see;

the light can still be found within the lovers of Ali.

For Truth retains its rightful place within Amirul Mu’mineen

And the flame of Haqq is kindled by the lovers of Ali.

Some call them the Rawafidh, some call them the insane-

The world has not yet understood the many secrets they contain.

Their hearts are written in a language that the world has never spoken

Mankind is dowsed in slumber, but their spirits have awoken.

If you wish to find his lovers, you can know them by their deeds

And the depth of their surrender to God’s rulings and decrees

And the way their spirits soften, when they come across a soul in need

such is the ethos and compassion, of the lovers of Ali.

And the heart of every lover, is like the lonely desert well

Where Ali poured out his secrets, when he had no one left to tell

There is no cure for the love that ails them, for the wound of separation

The only thought that brings them bliss is the remembered destination.

Their hearts are full of sorrow, yet their faces show no grief

For the lovers of Ali, his very name is their relief

This world is not a goal for them, it is just a resting place;

Their souls ache to find a home within God’s eternal face.

They mark themselves as different, by their purity of heart

In a world that worships darkness, they turn goodness into art.

You may not recognize them, the world may never know their names

for the lovers of Ali have little use for praise or fame.

Know them by their love of God, by their soft humility-

Know them by the beauty they embody when they speak

The way their heavy hearts grow restless at the pain of humankind,

The way their souls are tranquil oceans aflood with the Divine.

And if you wish to taste the rivers, that are found in Paradise

Sate your thirst with a single glance, in a lover’s gentle eyes.

The world sets its greatest riches, at their tired, aching feet

But the lovers look away, for it isn’t wealth they seek.

In their adherence to the guidance, and pursuit of Allah’s pleasure

They themselves exceed the worth of all the world’s material treasure.

For the lovers understand, the only wealth that satisfies

Is the love of Aal Muhammad, whom God has purified.

And there can be no other rope, that perfects a lover’s faith

But the rope of perfect union, between Qur’an and Ahlulbayt.

So the culmination of the dream, of Adam’s progeny

Still lies upon the threshold, of the lovers of Ali.

x Rubab Zaidi