Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

– ‘Ali ibn Abi Ṭālib (‘a).

Ghurar al-Ḥikam wa Durar al-Kalim is a late fifth or early sixth century work that comprises of the aphorisms and short sayings of Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi Ṭālib(‘a). The sayings, which number more than eleven thousand, contain words of wisdom and advice that can benefit everyone in their daily lives. It is for this reason that we embarked on translating this work. We hope that, God-willing, it will be a source of inspiration to all those who read it.

There are many different extant copies of this book(1) and in one recent edition, the original alphabetical listing of sayings have been rearranged and categorized subject-wise. It is the translation of this version of the work that we present before you.

Translating a work such as this poses numerous challenges. Firstly, this work is comprised of traditions in the form of aphorisms and short sayings, many of which have been extracted from other longer traditions, sermons and letters.(2) As such, in many cases the context of the narration is missing and needs to be investigated.

Another challenge is that in many cases it is evident that there have been changes inadvertently made by the narrators or the scribes and hence other possible forms of the sayings are mentioned in brackets. Here we have translated the other possible forms in parenthesis and have included what we have inferred from the text in square brackets for the sake of clarification and fluidity. Alternative translations and explanatory notes have been included in

p: 2

the footnotes.

In addition, there are certain sayings that are difficult to comprehend and accept. An example of this can be seen in the section on the sayings about women. Here we would urge the readers to refer to what the scholars and commentators have said about such narrations and how they should be interpreted.

The seven volume commentary written by the respected scholar ‘Allāma Jamāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Khwansāri has been helpful in understanding many of the seemingly ambiguous sayings. In cases where we were unable to gain a satisfactory understanding of the sayings, our respected teachers in the ḥawza were more than willing to spare their time in order to assist. For this I thank them and pray that the Almighty reward them amply. Lastly, the classical dictionaries have, as always, been an invaluable resource during the translation.

Though all effort has been made to present an accurate translation of the sayings, we take full responsibility for any mistakes and errors in the translation and seek forgiveness from the Almighty for the same.

In closing, we would like to express our appreciation to Sayyid Muhammad Ridha Shushtari for facilitating this translation and Ansariyan Publications for arranging the typesetting (along with inclusion of the original Arabic text) and publication of this work.

Tahir Ridha Jaffer

Qum al-Muqaddasah

1433 A.H.

AH.(1) He was a contemporary of Sayyid Ra

i, Sayyid Murta

a and Shaykh Ṭusi.

Some of the great scholars such as Ibn Shahr Āshub, ‘Allāma Majlisi and Muḥaddith Nūri, have praised him and considered his work to be of great value. Many of these scholars have also narrated from him.

There has been some discussion about al-Āmudi’s beliefs because he used the phrase karramallāhu wajhahu (may Allah honour him) for Imam ‘Ali (‘a) in his introduction to this book, and this is the practice of the Sunnis and not the Shi‘as. However, the great scholar Jamāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Khwansāri notes that this was either done out of precautionary dissimulation (taqiyya)(2) or was an addition by one of the scribes.

He further mentions some arguments to dispel any doubts about al-Āmudi’s being an Imāmi scholar. These are summarized as follows:

• The fact that Ibn Shahr Āshub mentions him as one of his teachers in his book Ma‘ālim al ‘Ulamā and notes that he was an Imāmi scholar.

• Ibn Shahr Āshub also mentions him again in his other book al-Manāqib and states that he was a Shi‘a scholar.

• Whoever examines this book will notice that many of the narrations have been compiled from other Shi‘a books.

• This book contains certain narrations that can only be narrated by a Shi‘a such as the narrations about the Holy Prophet (s) and his progeny.(3)

Our esteemed teacher and student of the late Ayatullah Sayyid Abu al-Qāsim al-Khui (r), Ayatullah Muslim al-Dāwari (may Allah grant him a long life), argues that

p: 4

the fourth point cannot be considered as proof since many Sunni scholars have mentioned such traditions about the family of the Prophet (s). He further adds that the compiler’s reliability (tawthīq) has not been established even though he was known to be one of the teachers of Ibn Shahr Āshub.

Another important point to note is that the there is no chain of transmitters (ṭarīq) for this book so its authenticity and reliability comes into question. This, however, does not mean that the narrations contained in it are all inauthentic and unreliable. Rather, it only means that we cannot be certain about the origins of this work and hence need to ascertain the authenticity and source of each narration before we can attribute it to the Imam (‘a).

Also, since the compiler has not listed the chains of narrators of the narrations, it would be impossible to authenticate any saying that cannot be found in any other source where the chain of transmission has been mentioned and can hence be verified using the normal processes of scrutiny.

A recent effort to expand on the work of al-Āmudi is the book Ikmālu Ghurar al-Ḥikam by Mahdi al-Ansari al-Qummi(1) in which 15,751 more aphorisms of Amīr al-Mu’minīn (‘a) have been added to the original title from twenty other ḥadith sources, both Sunni and Shi‘i.

servants through [belief in] His Oneness. I glorify Him for all the single and paired bounties, a glorifying the limits of which cannot be comprehended and the magnitude of which cannot be fathomed by the imaginations.

I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, alone, without any partner – the witnessing of one whose tongue speaks veraciously and whose heart is filled up with the truth. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His chosen servant from among the servants and His messenger who called the people to the path of guidance. He sent him while the nations were following falsehoods and treading on misguided ways, one after another.

So Allah, the Glorified, introduced to them, through His prophet (s), the ways of the religion [of truth], and clarified for them the paths of certitude, until the truth became illuminated and gleamed and falsehood was destroyed and perished. May the blessings of Allah be [showered] upon him and his progeny, the pure leaders, and the chosen infallible people of his household, and [on] his selected virtuous companions, blessings that neither cease in the [late] hours of the night nor [in] parts of the day.

The one who has committed excesses against his soul and is in need of the mercy of his Lord, ‘Abd al-Wāḥid ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wāhid al-Āmudi al-Tamīmī, said: The thing that motivated me to compile, annotate, and compose this book, was that which Abu ‘Uthmān al-Jāḥidh was successful in doing. He enumerated and wrote down

p: 6

in his manuscript a list of one hundred wise and eloquent sayings that were not widely known, on various topics, from Amīr al-Mu’minīn ‘Ali ibn Abi Ṭālib (‘a).

So I said: How astonishing it is that this man who was the most learned of his time, unmatched by his contemporaries, despite his great knowledge and erudition, having ascended to the peak of understanding, with his closeness to the first era, and his possessing a great share and a large portion of virtues and excellent merits; how could he shut his eyes from the luminous full moon and content himself with so little from so much? And is this not but a fraction of the whole, a little of the innumerable and a drizzle from the downpour?

And I despite my covered heart and falling short from the station of perfection, and my acknowledgement of my inability to recognize the excellences of the hearts of the foremost, and my falling short from following in their footsteps and my insignificance in comparison to their greatness – have compiled a small number of of his short aphorisms and a few of his wise sayings which render even the most eloquent ones mute and make the wisest sages despair of matching it.

Allah knows that in this endeavour I am only like a person who takes with his hand from the sea and acknowledges his shortcoming, even if it may seem an exaggeration, but why not? When he (‘a) has drank from the spring of Prophethood and

p: 7

possesses in his heart divine knowledge, as he (may Allah honour him) says, and his words are true and his speech veracious, based on what the narrators have narrated: verily I have much knowledge in my heart; if only I came across someone who could bear it!

I have omitted the chains of narrators from it and have arranged it alphabetically, placing together the aphorisms and sayings that rhyme and exhibit assonance so that it falls more easily upon the ears and is grasped quicker by the hearts and minds, because of the intense inclination of the souls towards poetical speech and their dislike for prosaic form. In this way its readers may easily commit it to memory and it may become a source of joy for those who examine it, having been extracted from its masterpiece with my cutting off most of it out of fear of lengthening [it] and sufficing with that which contains a remedy from hardships and difficulties for the people of intellect and understanding.

And I have named it Ghurar al-Ḥikam wa Durar al-Kalim (Exalted Aphorisms and Pearls of Speech) in the hope of getting reward from Allah, the Glorified, while seeking refuge with Him, the Most High, from every flaw. And my success is from none save Allah; in Him I have put my trust and to Him will be my return.

your children will be good to you.

2_ بِرُّوا آباءَکُمْ یَب_ََرَّکُمْ أبْناؤُکُمْ.

3. Whoever is good to his parents, his child will be good to him.

3_ مَنْ بَرَّ والِدَیْهِ بَرَّهُ وَلَدُهُ.

4. The death of a father breaks one’s back.

4_ مَوْتُ الوالِدِ قاصِمَةُ الظَّهْرِ.

5. One who scorns his parents has diverged from the right path.

5_ مَنِ اسْتَنْکَفَ مِنْ أبَوَیهِ فَقَدْ خالَفَ الرُّشْدَ.

6. The affection of parents is [the basis of] the relationship between siblings.

6_ مَوَدَّةُ الآباءِ نَسَبٌ بَیْنَ الأبناءِ.

حَقیر.

19. The highest of noble traits is self-sacrifice.

19_ غایَةُ المَکارِمِ الإیثارُ.

    20. Self-sacrifice suffices as nobility.

20_ کَفی بالإیثارِ مَکْرُمَةً.

    21. Whoever prefers others to himself has reached the height of magnanimity.

21_ مَنْ آثَرَ علی نَفْسِهِ بالَغَ فی المُرُوءَةِ.

    22. Whoever prefers others to himself deserves to be called a person of virtue.

22_ مَنْ آثَرَ علی نَفْسِهِ اسْتَحقَّ إسْمَ الفَضیلَةِ.

    23. One who prefers you to his property and wealth has preferred you over himself.

23_ مَنْ آثَ_َرکَ بِنَشَبِهِ فَقَدِ اختارَکَ علی نَفْسِهِ.

    24. From the qualities of the virtuous is impelling themselves to be selfless.

24_ مِنْ شِیَمِ الأبْرارِ حَمْلُ النُّفوُسِ علَی الإیثارِ.

    25. One of best [form of] benevolence is self-sacrifice.

25_ مِنْ أحْسَنِ الإحسانِ اَلإیثارُ.

    26. One of the most excellent choices is adorning oneself with selflessness.

26_ مِنْ أفْضلِ الإختیارِ التَّحَلّی بِالإیثار.

    27. Nobility cannot be fully achieved but by self-restraint and self-sacrifice.

27_ لاتُکْمَلُ المَکارِمُ إلاّ بِالعَفافِ والإیثارِ.

moment there is death.

5_ فی کُلِّ لَحْظَة أجَلٌ.

6. The remembrance of [the times of] death has disappeared from your hearts and has been replaced by false hopes and aspirations.

6_ قَدْ غابَ عَنْ قُلُوبِکُمْ ذِکرُ الآجالِ، وَحَضَرَتْکُمْ کَواذِبُ الآمالِ.

7. Your hearts have forgotten the reality of death and you have been overcome by deception of [false] hope.

7_ قَدْ ذَهبَ عَنْ قُلُوبِکُمْ صِدْقُ الأجَلِ، وغَلَبَکُم غُرُورُ الأملِ.

8. The one who takes death into consideration values his time.

8_ مَنْ راقَبَ أجَلَهُ إغْتَنَمَ مَهَلَهُ.

9. One whose death draws near to him cannot be saved [from it] by his efforts.

9_ مَنْ دَنی مِنْهُ أجَلُهُ لَمْ تُعِنْهُ (لم تُغْنِهِ) حِیَلُهُ.

10. The passing of time draws one towards death.

10_ مِنَ الآجالِ إنْقِضاءُ السَّاعاتِ.

11. How is it possible for one to live forever, when there will come a day which he will not pass and a seeker who will quickly bring him to his death, urging him forwards?

11_ ما عَسی أنْ یَکُونَ بَقاءُ مَنْ لَهُ یَوْمٌ لایَعدُوهُ وطالِبٌ حَثیثٌ مِنْ أجَلِهِ یَحدُوهُ.

12. It is when [the time of] death comes that the failure of [one’s] aspirations become apparent.

12_ عِنْدَ حُضُورِ الآجالِ، تَظْهَرُ خَیْبَةُ الآمالِ.

13. When death strikes, hopes and aspirations are exposed.

13_ عِنْدَ هُجُومِ الآجالِ تَفْتَضِحُ الأمانی والآمالُ.

14. Every future [event] is near.

14_ کُلُّ آت قَریبٌ.

15. How many a person has delayed his work until death came upon him!

15_ کَمْ مِنْ مُسَوِّف بِالعَمَلِ حتّی هَجَمَ عَلَیْهِ الأجَلُ.

16. The appointed time of death is sufficient as a guard.

16_ کَفی بِالأجَلِ حارِساً.

17. There is a prescribed duration for every term

p: 12

[of life].

17_ لِکُلِّ أجَل کِتابٌ.

18. Death strikes down.

18_ اَلأجَلُ یَصْرَعُ.

19. Departure [from this world] is imminent.

19_ اَلرَّحیلُ وَشیکٌ.

20. The appointed time of death is a shield.

20_ اَلأجلُ جُنَّةٌ.

21. The appointed time of death is an impenetrable fortress.

21_ اَلأجَلُ حِصْنٌ حَصینٌ.

22. Death cuts hopes short.

22_ اَلآجالُ تَقْطَعُ الآمالَ.

23. Death exposes hope.

23_ اَلأجَلُ یَفْضَحُ الأمَلَ.

24. Death is the reaper of hope.

24_ اَلأجلُ حَصادُ الأمَلِ.

25. When death comes, hopes are exposed.

25_ إذا حَضَرَتِ الآجالُ افتَضَحَتِ الآمالُ.

26. When you reach the end of your hopes, then remember the suddenness of death.

26_ إذا بَلَغْتُمْ نِهایَةَ الآمالِ فَاذکُرُوا بَغَتاتِ الآجالِ.

27. The bane of aspirations is the coming of death.

27_ آفَةُ الآمالِ حُضُورُ الآجالِ.

28. The bane of hope is death.

28_ آفةُ الأمَلِ الأجَلُ.

29. Your death will [soon] come to you, so be moderate in what you seek.

29_ سَوْفَ یَأتیکَ أجَلُکَ فَأجْمِلْ فی الطَّلَبِ.

30. Anticipate death, for verily the hopes of people are on the verge of being cut short as death comes upon them.

30_ سابِقُوا الأجَلَ فإنَّ النَّاسَ یُوْشِکُ أنْ یَنْقَطِعَ بِهِمُ الأملُ فَیُرهِقَهُمُ الأجلُ.

31. Anticipate death and do good deeds; [by this] you will attain felicity through your [hastening to good deeds while you have] respite.

31_ سابِقُوا الأجَلَ، وأحْسِنُوا العَمَلَ، تَسْعَدُوا بالمَهَلِ.

32. Every moment you come closer to death, so improve your deeds.

32_ کُلَّما قارَبتَ أجَلاً فَأحْسِنْ عَمَلاً.

33. For every appointed time there is an arrival.

33_ لِکُلِّ أجَل حُضُورٌ.

34. For every person there is a day that he shall not go beyond.

34_ لِکلِّ امْرِء یَوْمٌ لایَعْدُوهُ.

35. For everyone there is a driver who drives him towards

p: 13

his death.

35_ لِکُلِّ أحَد سائِقٌ مِنْ أجَلِهِ یَحْدُوهُ.

36. If the appointed times of death were to become known, the [secret] hopes [of people] would be exposed.

36_ لَو ظَهَرَتِ الآجالُ لافْتَضَحَتِ الآمالُ

37. If you were to see death and its approach, you would surely hate [false] aspiration and its deception.

37_ لَوْ رَأیْتُمُ الأجَلَ ومَسیرَهُ لأبْغَضْتُمُ الأمَلَ وغُرُورَهُ.

38. If you were to think about the closeness of death and its [imminent] arrival, the sweetness of life and its comfort would become bitter for you.

38_ لَوْ فَکَّرْتُمْ فی قُرْبِ الأجَلِ وَحُضُورِهِ لأمَرَّ عِنْدکُمْ حُلْوُ العَیْشِ وَسُرُورُهُ.

39. Whoever is mindful of his [eventual] death reduces his aspirations.

39_ مَنْ راقَبَ أجَلَهُ قَصَّ_رَ أمَلَهُ.

40. Whoever regards his stay [in this world] as short and temporary, his hope and aspiration gets diminished.

40_ مَنِ اسْتَقصَ_رَ بَقائَهُ وأجَلَهُ قَصُرَ رَجاؤُهُ وأمَلُهُ.

41. One who rides with the reins of his aspiration stumbles over his death.

41_ مَنْ جَری فی عِنانِ أمَلِهِ عَ_ثُرَ بِأجَلِهِ.

42. How close hope is to death!

42_ ما أقْرَبَ الأجَلَ مِنَ الأمَلِ.

43. How severing death is for hope!

43_ ما أقطَعَ (أقْرَبَ ) الأجلَ لِلأمَلِ.

44. He who counts tomorrow [to be] from his lifetime has not given death its rightful place.

44_ ما أنْزلَ المَوتَ مَنْزِلَهُ مَنْ عَدَّ غَداً مِنْ أجَلِهِ.

45. What an excellent cure death is!

45_ نِعْمَ الدَّواءُ الأجَلُ.

46. Each breath of a person is a step closer to his death.

46_ نَفَسُ الْمَرْءِ خُطاهُ إلی أجَلِهِ.

47. No shield is more protective than the appointed time of death.

47_ لا جُنََّةَ أوقیمِنَ الأجلِ.

48. Nothing is truer than death.

48_ لا شَیْءَ أصْدَقُ مِنَ

p: 14

الأجَلِ.

49. You are the harvests of the appointed terms and the targets of death.

49_ إنَّکُمْ حَصائِدُ الآجالِ وأغْراضُ الحِمامِ.

50. May the mercy of Allah be on the person who understands that his [every] breath brings him a step closer to his death, so he hastens to [do] good deeds and shortens his hopes.

50_ رَحِمَ اللّهُ امْرَءاً عَلِمَ أنَّ نَفَسَهُ خُطاهُ إلی أجَلِهِ، فبادَرَ عَمَلَهُ، وقَصَّرَ أمَلَهُ.

51. May the mercy of Allah be on the person who anticipates [his] death, belies [his false] aspirations, and makes his actions sincere.

51_ رَحِمَ اللّهُ امْرَءا ًبادَرَ الأجَلَ، وأکْذَبَ الأمَلَ، وأخلَصَ العَمَلَ.

52. Sometimes death is [hidden] beneath an aspiration.

52_ رُبَّ أجَل تَحْتَ أمَل.

53. With the passing of hours, lifetimes perish.

53_ مَعَ السَّاعاتِ تَفنَی الآجالُ.

54. Verily there is a shield over me, in the form of my appointed time of death, which protects me; so when my day comes, it relieves itself of me and surrenders me [to death]. At this time the arrow will not miss its target and the wound will not heal.

54_ إنَّ عَلَیَّ مِنْ أجَلی جُنَّةً حَصینَةً، فَإذا جاءَ یَومِی انْفَرَجَت عَنّی وَأسْلَمَتْنی، فَحینَئذ لا یَطیشُ السَّهْمُ ولا یَبْرَءُ الکَلِمُ.

of the life of this world whereas good deeds are the tillage of the Hereafter.

4_ اَلمالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زینَةُ الحَیوةِ الدُّنیا، والعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ حَرْثُ الآخِرَةِ.

5. The conditions in this world are based on convention whereas the conditions in the Hereafter are based on merit.

5_ أحْوالُ الدُّنیا تَتْبَعُ الإتِّفاقَ وأحْوالُ الآخرةِ تَتْبَعُ الاِسْتِحْقاقَ.

6. Surely in front of you is a difficult place of ascension in which one whose weight is lighter is in a better position than the one whose weight is heavier, and the one who moves slowly is worse off than the one who moves swiftly. Verily its landing will lead you to either Paradise or hell.

6_ إنّ أمامَکَ عَقَبَةً کَؤُوداً، اَلمُخِفُّ فیها أحْسَنُ حالاً مِنَ المُثْقِلِ، والمُبْطِئُ عَلَیها أقْبَحُ أمْراً مِنَ المُس_ْرِعِ، إنّ مَهْبِطَها بِکَ لامُحالَةَ علی جَنَّة أوْ نار.

7. Verily the final destination is al-Qiyāmah and this is enough of an admonition for the one who reasons, and [enough of] a warning for the one who is unaware; and after that - what you know of the torment of the Day of Judgment and the frightening terror, and the deafening of the ears, and the turning of the ribs, and the narrowness of the grave, and the intensity of sadness and heavy-heartedness.

7_ إنَّ الغایَةَ القیامَةُ، وکَفی بِذلِکَ واعِظاً لِ_مَنْ عَقَلَ، ومُعْتَبَراً لِمَنْ جَهِلَ، وبَعدَ ذلک ما تَعْلَمُونَ مِنْ هَوْلِ الْمُطَّلَعِ، وَرَوْعاتِ الفَزَعِ، واسْتِکاکِ الأسماعِ، وَاخْتِلافِ الأضلاعِ، وضیقِ الأرماسِ، وَشِدَّةِ الأبلاسِ.

8. If you desire success and honor in the Hereafter, then take from the perishing [life of this world]

p: 16

for the everlasting [life of the Hereafter].

8_ إنْ رَغِبْتُم فی الفَوزِ وکَرامَةِ الآخِرَةِ فَخُذُوا فی الفَناءِ لِلْبَقاءِ.

9. Verily you are following the path of those who came before you, so put your efforts in [working for] your Hereafter and do not care for worldly gain.

9_ إنَّکَ فی سَبیلِ مَنْ کانَ قَبْلَکَ، فَاجْعَلْ جِدَّکَ لآخرَتِکَ، ولا تَکْتَ_رِثْ بِعَمَلِ الدُّنیا.

10. Verily you have been created for the Hereafter, so work for it!

10_ إنّک مَخْلُوقٌ لِلآخِرَةِ فَاعْمَل لَها.

11. If you work for the Hereafter, your arrow hits the mark.

11_ إنّکَ إنْ عَمِلْتَ لِلآخِرَةِ فازَ قِدْحُکَ.

12. Verily you are all proceeding towards the Hereafter and will be presented before Allah.

12_ إنَّکمْ إلی الآخِرَةِ صائِرُونَ وعَلَی اللّهِ مَعْرُوضُونَ.

13. The sweetness of the Hereafter removes the pangs of misery of this world.

13_ حَلاوَةُ الآخِرَةِ تُذهِبُ مَضاضَةَ شقاءِ الدُّنیا.

14. Attain the Hereafter by abandoning this world, and don’t [try to] acquire [the embellishments of] this world by abandoning the faith.

14 _ حَصِّلُوا الآخِرَةَ بِتَرکِ الدُّنیا، ولاتُحَصِّلُوا بِتَرکِ الدِّینِ الدُّنیا.

15. The Hereafter is everlasting.

15_ الآخرَةُ أبَدٌ.

16. Blessed is he who remembers the Hereafter and thus does good.

16_ طُوبی لِمَنْ ذَکَرَ المَعادَ فأحْسَنَ.

17. The seeker of the Hereafter finds in it what he hopes for, whereas in this world [only] that which is predestined for him comes to him.

17_ طالِبُ الآخِرَةِ یُدْرِکُ مِنْها أمَلَهُ وَیَأتیهِ مِنَ الدُّنیا ما قُدِّرَ لَهُ.

18. You must strive and struggle for the betterment of the Hereafter.

18_ عَلَیکَ بِالْجِدِّ والإجتِهادِ فی إصْلاحِ المَعادِ.

19. I wonder at the one who denies the second genesis while he

p: 17

sees the first genesis.

19_ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ أنْکَرَ النَشأةَ الاُخْری وهُوَ یَرَی النَّشأَةَ الاُولی.

20. The goal of the Hereafter is everlasting [life].

20_ غایَةُ الآخِرَةِ البَقاءُ.

21. In the Hereafter there is accounting without action.

21_ فی الآخِرَةِ حِسابٌ ولاعَمَلٌ.

22. Be from the children of the Hereafter and do not be from the children of this world, for surely every child will join his mother on the Day of Reckoning.

22_ کُونُوا مِنْ أبْناءِ الآخِرَةِ ولاتَکُونُوا مِنْ أبْناءِ الدُّنیا فإنَّ کُلَّ وَلَد سَیَلْحَقُ بِاُمِّهِ یَوْمَ القیمَةِ.

23. One who works for the Hereafter will be triumphant.

23_ مَنْ عَمِلَ لِلْمَعادِ ظَفِرَ بِالسَّدادِ.

24. One who develops his Hereafter achieves his aspirations.

24_ مَنْ عَمَرَ آخِرَتَهُ بَلَغَ آمالَهُ.

25. One who buys his Hereafter with his worldly life, gains both of them.

25_ مَنِ ابْتاعَ آخِرَتَهُ بِدُنْیاهُ رَبِحَهُما.

26. One who builds the abode of his permanent dwelling is truly wise.

26_ مَنْ عَمَرَ دارَ إقامَتِهِ فَهُوَ العاقِلُ.

27. One who is certain about the Hereafter turns away from this world.

27_ مَنْ أیْقَنَ بِالآخِرَةِ أعْرَضَ عَنِ الدُّنیا.

28. One who improves his Hereafter will be triumphant.

28_ مَنْ أصْلَحَ المَعادَ ظَفِرَ بِالسَّدادِ.

29. One who is certain about the Hereafter does not covet this world.

29_ مَنْ أیْقَنَ بِالآخِرَةِ لَمْ یَحْرِصْ علَی الدُّنیا.

30. One who is desirous of the Hereafter [and works for it] attains it.

30_ مَنْ حَرَصَ علَی الآخرةِ مَلَکَ.

31. Everything in the Hereafter has perpetuity and everlastingness.

31_ لِکُلِ شیْء مِنَ الآخِرَةِ خُلُودٌ وَبَقاءٌ.

32. There is no substitute for the Hereafter; and this world is not the price of one’s soul.

32_ لَیْسَ عَنِ الآخِرَةِ عِوَضٌ، وَلَیْسَتِ الدُّنْیا لِلنَّفْسِ

p: 18

بِثَمَن.

33. He who does not concern himself with improving his Hereafter is not a [true] believer.

33_ لَیْس بِمُؤْمِن مَنْ لَمْ یَهْتَمَّ بِإصْلاحِ مَعادِهِ.

34. One who longs for the bounties of the Hereafter is content with little in this world.

34_ مَنْ رَغِبَ فی نَعیمِ الآخِرَةِ قَنِعَ بِیَسیرِ الدُّنیا.

35. Who is more at a loss than the one who trades his Hereafter for this world?!

35_ مَنْ أخْسَرُ مِمَّنْ تَعَوَّضَ عَنِ الآخِرَةِ بِالدُنیا؟!

36. One who puts all his efforts for [the betterment of] his Hereafter succeeds in attaining what he looks forward to.

36_ مَنْ جَعَلَ کُلَّ هَمِّهِ لآخِرَتِهِ ظَفِرَ بِالمأمُولِ.

37. Whoever strives for his permanent abode, his action becomes sincere and his fear [of displeasing Allah] increases.

37_ مَنْ سَعی لِدارِ إقامَتِهِ خَلُصَ عَمَلُهُ وکَثُرَ وَجَلُهُ.

38. One who is certain about his Hereafter thinks no more of this world.

38_ مَنْ أیْقَنَ بِالآخِرَةِ سَلا عَنِ الدُّنیا.

39. Whoever increases his remembrance of the Hereafter, his transgression reduces.

39_ مَنْ أکْثَرَ مِنْ ذِکْرِ الآخِرَةِ قَلَّتْ مَعْصِیَتُهُ.

40. One who strives to improve his Hereafter, Allah will improve for him his worldly life.

40_ مَنْ أصْلَحَ أمْرَ آخِرَتهِ، أصْلَحَ اللّهُ لَهُ أمْرَ دُنیاهُ.

41. One whose efforts are for the Hereafter will attain the best of his aspired goals.

41_ مَنْ کانَتِالآخِرَةُ هِمَّتَهُ بَلَغَ مِنَ الخَیْرِ غایَةَ اُمْنیَّت_ِهِ.

42. One who does not work for the Hereafter will not attain what he hopes for.

42_ مَنْ لَمْ یَعْمَلْ لِلآخِرَةِ لَمْ یَنَلْ أمَلَهُ.

43. One who has three [qualities] will have saved his life in this world and the Hereafter: he commands good and himself follows it,

p: 19

forbids evil and himself keeps away from it, and is careful in following the commandments of Allah, the Mighty and High.

43_ مَنْ کانَ فیهِ ثَلاثٌ سَلِمَتْ لَهُ الدُّنیا والآخِرَةُ: یَأمُرُ بِالمَعْرُوفِ وَیَأتَمِرُ بِهِ، وَیَنْهی عَنِ المُنْکَرِ ویَنْتَهی عَنْهُ، ویُحافِظُ علی حُدُودِ اللّهِ جَلَّ وَعلا.

44. How great a loser is the one for whom there is no share in the Hereafter!

44_ ما أخْسَرَ مَنْ لَیْسَ لَهُ فی الآخِرَةِ نَصیبٌ.

45. The bitterness of this world is the sweetness of the Hereafter.

45_ مِرارَةُ الدُّنیا حَلاوَةُ الآخِرَةِ.

46. The deceived one who succeeds in attaining the smallest portion of this world [through his greatest effort] is not comparable the one who succeeds in attaining [the smallest portion

of] the Hereafter by exerting his greatest effort.

46_ ما المَغْروُرُ الذَّی ظَفِرَ مِنَ الدُّنیا بأدنی سُهْمَتِِهِ(بِأعْلی هِمَّتِهِ) کالآخَرِ الَّذی ظَفِرَ مِنَ الآخِرَةِ بأعْلی هِمَّتِهِ(بأدنی سُهمَتِهِ).

47. He who works for his Eternal Abode obtains what he desires.

47_ نالَ المُنی مَنْ عَمِلَ لِدارِ البَقاءِ.

48. Do not sell the Hereafter for this world and do not exchange the everlasting for the evanescent.

48_ لاتبیعُوا الآخرَةَ بالدُّنیا، ولاتَسْتَبْدِلُوا الفَناءَ بِالبَقاءِ.

49. Never let anything occupy you from working for the Hereafter for indeed the time is short.

49_ لایَشْغَلَنَّکَ عَنِ العَمَلِ لِلآخِرَةِ شُغلٌ فإنَّ المُدَّةَ قَصیرَةٌ.

50. The Hereafter and this world do not come together.

50_ لاتَجْتَمِعُ الآخِرَةُ وَالدُّنیا.

51. The perishing and the permanent do not go together.

51_ لاتَجتَمِعُ الفَناءُ والبَقاءُ.

52. No one attains what he wishes for in the Hereafter except by abstaining from that which he desires in this world.

52_ لایُدْرِکُ أحَدٌ ما یُریدُ

p: 20

مِنَ الآخِرَةِ إلاّ بِتَرْکِ ما یَشتَهی مِنَ الدُّنیا.

53. It behoves one who is certain about the everlastingness and permanence of the Hereafter to work for it.

53_ یَنبَغی لِمَنْ أیْقَنَ بِبَقاءِ الآخِرَةِ ودَوامِها أنْ یَعْمَلَ لَها.

54. People do not abstain from anything of their worldly life for the sake of improving their Hereafter but that Allah, the Glorified, recompenses them with what is better than it.

54_ لایَتْرُکُ النَّاسُ شَیْئاً مِنْ دُنیاهُمْ لإصلاحِ آخِرَتِهِمْ إلاّ عَوَّضَهُمُ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ خَیْراً مِنْهُ.

55. Aspire for what Allah has promised the God-wary, for surely the truest promises are His promises.

55_ إرْغَبُوا فیما وَعَدَاللّهُ المُتَّقینَ، فإنّ أصْدَقَ الوَعْدِ میعادُهُ.

56. Verily tomorrow is close to today. This day will pass with what is in it and tomorrow will come [soon] following it.

56_ إنَّ غَداً مِنَ الیَوْمِ قَریبٌ، یَذْهَبُ الیَومُ بِما فیهِ، ویَأتی الْغَدُ لاحِقاً بِهِ.

57. The [final] destination is in front of you and time is behind you, pushing you [forward].

57_ إنَّ الغایَةَ أمامَکُمْ، وإنَّ السَّاعَةَ وَرائَ_کُمْ تَحْدُوکُمْ.

58. Verily you have an ultimate destination so move towards your destination, and you have a guide so move towards it with [the help of] your guide.

58_ إنّ لَکُمْ نِهایَةً فَانْتَهُوا إلی نِهایَتِکُمْ، وإنّ لَکُمْ عَلَماً فَانْتَهُوا بِعَلَمِکُمْ.

59. A man may be happy to gain what he was not meant to lose, and [he may be] saddened to lose what he was not meant to gain; so let your happiness be in that which you have acquired for your Hereafter and let your sadness be in that which you have lost

p: 21

from it; and let your concern be for that which comes after death.

59_ إنَّ المَرْءَ قَدْ یَسُرُّهُ دَرَکُ ما لَمْ یَکُنْ لِیَفُوتَهُ، ویَسُؤُءُهُ فَوْتُ ما لَمْ یَکُنْ لِیُدْرِکَهُ، فَلْیَکُنْ سُرُورُکَ بِما نِلتَ مِنْ آخِرَتِکَ، ولْیَکُنْ أسَفُکَ علی ما فاتَکَ مِنْها، ولْیَکُنْ هَمُّکَ لِما بَعْدَ المَوْتِ.

60. Let your concern be for your Hereafter and your sorrow be for your soul - for how many of the sorrowful have been led to everlasting bliss by their sorrow, and how many of the distressed have attained their aspiration.

60_ إجْعَلْ هَمَّکَ لآخِرَتِکَ، وحُزْنَکَ علی نَفْسِکَ، فَکَمْ مِنْ حَزین وََفَدَ بِهِ حُزْنُهُ علی سرُورِ الأبَدِ، وَکَمْ مِنْ مَهْمُوم أدْرَکَ أمَلَهُ.

61. Prepare yourselves for the day when the eyes will be glazed, and the minds will lose their sanity because of its horror, and the perceptions will become dull.

61_ إسْتَعِدُّوا لِیَوم تَشْخَصُ فیهِ الأبْصارُ وتَتَدلَّهُ لِهَولِهِ العُقُولُ وتَتَبَلَّدُ البَصائِرُ.

62. Beware of the day when the deeds are audited, when earthquakes increase and when young children turn old.

62_ إحْذَرُوا یَوْماً تُفْحَصُ فیهِ الأعْمالُ، وتَ_کْثُرُ فیهِ الزِّلْزالُ، وتَشیبُ فیهِ الأطْفالُ.

63. Be careful not to be swindled out of the Permanent Abode, the dwelling of the righteous and the virtuous elite, about whose qualities the Qur’an has spoken and whose dwellers it has praised; while Allah, the Glorified, has guided you and invited you to it.

63_ إیَّاکَ أن تَخْدَعَ عَنْ دارِ القَرارِ، ومَحَلِّ الطَّیِّبینَ الأخْیارِ، والأولیاءِ الأبْرارِ التَّی نَطَقَ القُرآنُ بِوَصْفِها، وأثنی علی أهْلِها، وَدَلَّکَ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ عَلیْها وَدَعاکَ إلیها.

64. Is there nobody who has prepared the provisions for

p: 22

his Hereafter before the coming of [the hour of] his departure?

64_ ألا مُتَزَوِّدٌ لآخِرَتِهِ قَبْلَ اُزُوفِ رِحْلَتِهِ.

65. The Hereafter is the abode of your permanent stay, so prepare for it that which will be lasting for you.

65_ اَلآخِرَةُ دارُ مُسْتَقَرِّکُمْ، فَجَهَزُوا إلیها ما یَبْقی لَکُمْ.

66. Place your concern and effort for your Hereafter.

66_ إجْعَلْ هَمَّکَ وجِدَّکَ لآخِرَتِکَ.

67. Be concerned about your Hereafter and you will become upright.

67_ إجْعَلْ هَمَّکَ لِمَعادِکَ تَصْلَحْ.

68. Exert all your effort for your afterlife and your [final] station will be improved, and do not sell your Hereafter for your worldly life.

68_ إسْتَفْرِغْ جَهْدَکَ لِمَعادِکَ تُصْلِحْ مَثْ_واکَ، ولاتَبِ_عْ آخِرَتَکَ بِدُنیاکَ.

69. Work hard in preparing the answers for the Day of Questioning and Reckoning.

69_ إجعَلْ جِدَّکَ لإعدادِ الجَ_وابِ لِیَ_ومِ المَسْئَلَةِ (المُس_ائَلَة) والحساب.

70. Those who have the greatest share of the Hereafter are those who have the smallest share of this world.

70_ أوْفَرُ النَّاسِ حَظّاً مِنَ الآخِرَةِ أقَلُّهُمْ حَظّاً مِنَ الدُّنیا.

71. I enjoin you to be well prepared and increase your provisions for the day when you will meet with what you have sent forth and regret what you have left behind, and will be rewarded for what you had forwarded [in advance].

71_ إنّی آمُرُکُمْ بِحُسْنِ الإسْتِعْدادِ والإکثارِ مِنَ الزَّادِ لِیَوْم تَقْدِمُونَ علی ما تُقَدِّمُونَ، وتَنْدَمُونَ علی ما تُخَلِّفُونَ، وتُجْزَوْنَ بِما کُنْتُمْ تُسَلِّفُونَ.

72. When you turn away from the transitory world and become occupied with the permanent abode, then your arrow has indeed hit its mark, the doors of prosperity are opened for you and you have attained success.

72_

p: 23

إذا أعرَضْتَ عَنْ دارِ الفَناءِ، وتَوَلَّهْتَ بِدارِ البَقاءِ، فَقَدْ فازَ قِدْحُکَ، وَفُتِحَتْ لَکَ أبْوابُ النَّجاحِ، وظَفِرْتَ بِالفَلاحِ.

73. The reward of the Hereafter makes one forget the hardships of this world.

73_ ثَوابُ الآخِرَةِ یُنْسی مَشَقَّةَ الدُّنیا.

74. Take from what will not last for you and what you will not last for [of this world] for that which you will not separate from and which will not separate from you [of the Hereafter].

74_ خُذْ مِمَّا لایَبْقی لَکَ ولا تَبْقی لَهُ لِما لا تُفارِقُهُ ولایُفارِقُکَ.

75. Partake in the best of actions and befriend the best of friends; for verily every person will get that which he has earned and will be with the one whom he loves in the Hereafter.

75_ خُذْ مِنْ صالِحِ العَمَلِ، وخالِلْ خَیْرَ خَلیل، فإنَّ لِلْمَرءِ ما اکْتَسَبَ، وَهُوَ فی الآخِرَةِ مَعَ مَنْ أحَبَّ.

76. The Everlasting Abode [of Paradise] is the home of the veracious and the dwelling of the virtuous and righteous.

76_ دارُ البَقاءِ مَحَلُّ الصِّدّیقینَ ومَوطِنُ الأبْرارِ والصَّالِحینَ.

77. Remembrance of the Hereafter is a cure and a remedy.

77_ ذِکْرُ الآخِرَةِ دَواءٌ وشِفاءٌ.

78. May Allah have mercy on the person who takes from [his] life for [his] death, from the transitory for the everlasting and from the perishing for the permanent.

78_ رَحِمَ اللّهُ امْرَءاً أخَذَ مِنْ حَیوة لِمَوْت، وَمِنْ فَناء لِبَقاء، ومِنْ ذاهِب لِدائِم.

79. Seek the Hereafter and the world will come to you belittled.

79_ عَلَیْکَ بِالآخِرَةِ تَأْتِکَ الدُّنیا صاغِرَةً.

80. Everything in the Hereafter is greater when seen than when heard of, so be satisfied with what you hear

p: 24

[of it] without seeing [it] and what you learn of [it] without witnessing [it].

80_ وکُلُّ شَیْء مِنَ الآخِرَةِ عِیانُهُ أعْظَمُ مِنْ سَماعِهِ، فَلْیَکْفِکُمْ مِنَ العَیانِ السَّماعُ ومِنَ الغَیْبِ الخَبَرُ.

81. How can one who is occupied with this world work for the Hereafter?

81_ کَیفَ یَعْمَلُ لِلآخِرَةِ المَشْغُولُ بِالدُّنیا؟

82. Verily you are in greater need of developing the permanent abode [of the Hereafter] than you are of building the temporary abode [of this world].

82 _ إنَّکُمْ إلی عِمارَةِ دارِ البَقاءِ أحْوَجُ مِنْکُمْ إلی عِمارَةِ دارِ الفَناءِ.

83. Verily you have been created for the Hereafter, not for this world, and for perpetuity, not for extinction.

83_ إنَّکُمْ إنَّما خُلِقْتُمْ لِلآخِرَةِ لا لِلدُّنیا، ولِلبَقاءِ لا لِلْفَناءِ.

84. Verily you have been created for perpetuity, not for extinction; and you are most certainly in a temporary abode of subsistence and a place which is not suitable for settling.

84 _ إنَّما خُلِقْتُمْ لِلْبَقاءِ لا لِلفَناءِ، وإنّکُمْ فی دارِ بُلْغَة ومَنْزِلِ قُلْعَة.

85. The betterment of the Hereafter is in the rejection of this world.

85 _ صَلاحُ الآخِرَةِ رَفْضُ الدُّنیا.

86. I am amazed at the one who knows his Lord, how can he not strive for the everlasting abode?!

86_ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ عَرَفَ رَبَّهُ کَیْفَ لایَسْعی لِدارِ البَقاءِ؟!

87. One who is certain about the everlasting is uninterested in that which perishes.

87 _ مَنْ أیْقَنَ بِما یَبْقی زَهِدَ فیما یَفْنی.

88. One who loves the everlasting abode becomes oblivious to [worldly] pleasures.

88 _ مَنْ أحَبَّ الدَّارَ الباقیَةَ لَهی عَنِ اللذَّات.

89. One who hopes to attain the bountiful rewards [of the Hereafter] will not

p: 25

have his hopes disappointed.

89_ مَنْ أمَّلَ ثوابَ الحُسْنی لَمْ تُنْکَدْ آمالُهُ.

90. Would you be happy to meet Allah tomorrow on the Day of Resurrection while He is pleased with you and not angry? Then be indifferent to [the pleasures of] this world and desirous of the Hereafter. And adopt God-wariness and honesty, for these are the consolidators of faith. And accompany the people of truth and emulate their actions - you will become one of them.

90_ أیَسُرُّکَ أنْ تَلْقَی اللّهَغَداً فی القِیامَةِ وهُوَ عَلَیْکَ راض غَیرُ غَضْبانَ؟ کُنْ فی الدُّنیا زاهِداً، وفی الآخرَةِ راغِباً، وعَلَیْکَ بِالتَّقوی والصِّدقِ، فَهُما جِماعُ الدِّینِ، والْزَمْ أهْلَ الحقِّ، واعْمَلْ عَمَلَهُمْ تَ_کُنْ مِنْهُمْ.

91. He whose goal is [attaining] this world will not be successful in [attaining] the Hereafter.

91_ ما ظَفِرَبِالآخِرَةِ مَنْ کانَتِ الدُّنیا مَطْلَبَهُ.

92. The fortunate one who becomes prosperous in the permanent abode by attaining his desires is not like the deceived one who loses the bounties [of the Hereafter] because of his bad choices and wretchedness.

92_ مَا المَغْبُوطُ الَّذی فازَ مِنْ دارِ البَقاءِ بِبُغْیَتِهِ کالمَغبُونِ الَّذی فاتَهُ النَّعیمُ بِسُوءِ اخْتیارِهِ وشَقاوَتِهِ.

93. Do not be one of those who hopes for the Hereafter without working [for it], and postpones repentance with long hopes; one who speaks in this world with the words of those who are indifferent [to its pleasures] but acts in it with the actions of the desirous.

93_ لا تَ_کُنْ مِمَّن یَرْجوُا الآخِرَةَ بِغَیْرِ عَمَل، ویُسَوِّفُ التَّوبَةَ بِطُولِ الأمَلِ، یَقُولُ فی الدُّنیا بِقَوْلِ الزَّاهِدینَ، ویَعمَلُ فیها بِعَمَلِ الرَّاغِبینَ.

94. None will be rewarded with

p: 26

the bounties of the Hereafter except those who are patient in the face of the tribulations of this world.

94_ لایُنْعَمُ بِنَعیمِ الآخِرَةِ إلاّ مَنْ صَبَ_رَ عَلی بلاءِ الدُّنیا.

95. There is no benefit in working for the Hereafter while having desire for this world.

95_ لایَنْفَعُ العَمَلُ لِلآخِرَةِ مَعَ الرَّغْبَةِ فی الدُّنیا.

96. No one will attain an elevated rank in the Hereafter except through sincerity in action, reducing hopes and espousing God-wariness.

96_ لایُدْرِکُ أحَدٌ رِفْعَةَ الآخِرَةِ إلاّ بِإخلاصِ العَمَلِ، وتَقْصیرِ الأمَلِ، وَلُزُومِ التَّقوی.

97. Become deserving of what Allah has prepared for you [in the Hereafter] by seeking the fulfillment of His true promise and being wary of the horror of His reckoning.

97_ إسْتَحِقُّوا مِنَ اللّهِ ما أعَدَّ لَکُمْ بِالتَّنَجُّزِ لِصِدقِ میعادِهِ والحَذَرِ مِنْ هَوْلِ مَعادِهِ.

حَبیبٌ.

8. Brothers in faith have lasting affection [for each other].

8_ إخْوانُ الدّین أبْقی مَوَدَّةً.

9. The brother whom you benefit from is better than the brother [for] whom you increase [benefit].

9_ أخٌ تَسْتَفیدُهُ خَیْرٌ مِنْ أخ تَسْتَزیدُهُ.

10. Seeking the destruction of a friend stems from lack of conciliation.

10_ اِسْتِفْسادُ الصَّدیقِ مِنْ عَدَمِ التَّوفیقِ.

11. Brothers are an embellishment in times of ease and a [means of] support in times of tribulation.

11_اَلإخوانُ زینَةٌ فِی الرَّخاءِ وَعُدَّةٌ فِی البلاءِ.

12. Worldly brothers are such that their affection is cut off as quickly as its causes are severed.

12_ إخوانُ الدُّنیا تَنْقَطِعُ مَوَدَّتُهُمْ لِسُرْعَةِ انْقِطاعِ أسبابِها.

13. The best of your brothers is he who supports you with his benevolence, and better than him is one who makes you needless of all other than him.

13_ خَیرُ إخْوانِکَ مَنْ واساکَ بِخیرِهِ وخَیرٌ منهُ مَنْ أغناکَ عَنْ غیرِهِ.

14. The best of brothers are the most sincere [of them] and the worst of them are the most

Deceitful.

14_ خَیرُ الإخْوانِ أنْصَحُهُمْ وشَرُّهُمْ أغَشُّهُمْ.

15. The best brother is one whose brotherhood is not based on worldly gain.

15_ خَیرُ الإخْوانِ مَنْ لَمْ تَکُنْ علی الدُّنیا اُخُوَّتُهُ.

16. The best brother is one whose affection is for the sake of Allah.

16_ خَیرُ الإخوانِ مَنْ کانَتْ فی اللّهِ مَوَّدَتُه.

17. The best brother is one after whose loss you would not like to remain [alive].

17_ خَیرُ الإخوانِ مَنْ إذا فَقَدْتَهُ لَ_مْ تُحِبَّ البَقاءَ بَعدَهُ.

18. The best of your brothers is one who rushes towards good and pulls you towards it, and enjoins you to righteousness and assists

p: 28

you in it.

18_ خیرُ إخوانِکَ مَنْ سارَعَ إلَی الخَیرِ وجَذَبَکَ إلیه، وأمَرَکَ بِالبِرِّ وَأعانَکَ علَیْهِ.

19. The best of your brothers is the one who exhorts you to speak the truth by his own veracity and compels you to perform the best deeds by his own good actions.

19_ خَیرُ إخوانِکَ مَنْ دَعاکَ إلی صِدْقِ المَقالِ بِصِدقِ مَقالِهِ ونَدَبَکَ إلی أفْضلِ الأعمالِ بِحُسنِ أعمالهِ.

20. The best of your brothers is the one who shows you the path of guidance, makes you acquire piety and prevents you from following your lowly desires.

20_ خَیرُ إخوانِکَ مَنْ دَلَّکَ علی هُدیً، وألبَسَکَ(أکْسَبَکَ) تُقیً، وَصَدَّکَ عَنْ إتّباعِ هَویً.

21. The best of your brothers is the one who assists you financially [in your time of need].

21_ خَیرُ إخوانِکَ مَنْ واساکَ.

22. Many a brother has not been born to your mother.

22_ رُبَّ أخ لَمْ یَلِدْهُ اُمُّکَ.

23. The friend of an ignorant person is troubled and afflicted.

23_ صَدیقُ الجاهلِ مَتْعُوبٌ مَنکُوبٌ.

24. Accompany your brothers with kindness and cover their offences with forgiveness.

24_ صاحِبِ الإخوانَ بالإحسانِ، وتَغَمَّدْ ذُنُوبَهُم بالغُفْرانِ.

25. Accompany the intelligent and you will benefit, turn away from this world and you will be safe.

25_ صاحبِ العُقلاءَ تَغْنَمْ وأعرِضْ عنِ الدُّنیا تَسلَمْ.

26. Accompany the intelligent, associate with the learned and overcome your vain desires, [by this] you will join the company of the Exalted Assembly.

26_ صاحبِ العُقلاءَ وجالِسِ العُلَماءَ، وأغْلِبِ الهوی، تُرافِقِ المَلأ الأعلی.

27. Accompany the wise, associate with the forbearing and turn away from this world - you shall dwell in the Garden of the Abode.

27_ صاحبِ الحُکَماءَ، وجالِسِ

p: 29

الحُلَماءَ، وأعرِضْ عَنِ الدُّنیا تَسْکُنْ جَنَّةَ المأوی.

28. Association with the wicked leads one to become evil, just like the wind - when it passes by a foul smell, it carries the stench.

28_ صُحبَةُ الأشرارِ تُکْسِبُ الشَّرَّ کالرّیحِ إذا مَرَّتْ بالنَّتِنِ حَمَلَتْ نَتِناً.

29. Accompanying a fool is torment for the soul.

29_ صُحْبَةُ الأحْمَقِ عذابُ الرُّوحِ.

30. Accompanying a wise friend enlivens the soul.

30_ صُحْبَةُ الوَلیِّ اللَّبیبِ حَیاةُ الرُّوحِ.

31. The friend of a fool is in distress.

31_ صَدیقُ الأحمقِ فی تَعَب.

32. The friend of an ignorant person is exposed to harm.

32_ صَدیقُ الجاهِلِ مَعْرَضٌ لِلْعَطَبِ.

33. Your friend is one who forbids you [from evil] and your enemy is one who entices you [to

Perform evil].

33_ صَدیقُکَ مَنْ نهاکَ، وعدُوُّکَ مَنْ أغراکَ.

34. Association with the wicked leads one to have negative thoughts about the righteous.

34_ صُحبَةُ الأشرارِ تُوجبُ سُوءَ الظَّنِّ الأخیارِ.

35. You should accompany the one who is intelligent and devout, for surely he is the best of companions.

35_ عَلَیکَ بِمُقارَنَةِ ذِی العَقلِ والدِّینِ فإنَّهُ خَیرُ الأصحابِ.

36. You should keep ties with brethren of purity, for they are an embellishment in times of ease and a support in [times of] tribulation.

36_ عَلیکَ بإخْوانِ الصَّفا فإنّهُمْ زینَةٌ فِی الرَّخاءِ وعَونٌ فِی البلاءِ.

37. You should build a bond of brotherhood with the one who cautions and forbids you [from doing evil] for verily he is aiding and guiding you.

37_ عَلَیکَ بِمُواخاةِ مَنْ حَذَّرَکَ وَنهاکَ فإنّهُ یُنجِدُکَ ویُرشِدُکَ.

38. One who is amiable towards people is loved by them.

38_ مَنّ تَألّفَ النَّاسَ أحَبُّوهُ.

39. The companionship [in this world]

p: 30

is short.

39_ الإصْطِحابُ قلیلٌ.

40. A friend is the closest of relations.

40_ الصَّدیقُ أقْرَبُ الأقارِبِ.

41. The friend has been named ṣadīq because he is truthful to you about your nature and faults, so have confidence in one who does this for he is your [true] friend.

41_ إنّما سُمِّیَ الصَّدیقُ صدیقاً لأنّه یَصْدُقُکَ فی نَفْسِکَ ومَعائبِکَ، فَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذلک فاستَنِمْ إلیْهِ فإنَّهُ الصَّدیقُ.

42. The comrade has been named rafīq because he encourages you to improve your religion; so whoever assists you to improve your faith, then he is a concerned comrade.

42_ إنَّما سُمِّیَ الرَّفیقُ رَفیقاً لأنَّه یَرفَقُکَ علی إصلاحِ دینکَ فَمنْ أعانَکَ علی صَلاحِ دینکَ فَهُوَ الرَّفیقُ الشَّفیقُ.

43. As the companionship prolongs, the [mutual] respect is affirmed.

43_ إذا طالَّتِ الصُّحْبَةُ تأکَّدَتِ الحُرمَةُ.

44. If you like to remain safe, then keep away from the companionship of a foolish person.

44_ إذا أحْبَبْتَ السَّلامَةَ فَاجْتَنِبْ مُصاحَبَةَ الجَهُولِ.

45. When the sins of a friend increase, the joy of being with him decreases.

45_ إذا کَثُرَتْ ذُنوبُ الصَّدیقِ قَلَّ السُّرُورُ بهِ.

46. When your friend takes you as a brother, then be like a servant to him and accord him with true loyalty and perfect sincerity.

46_ إذَا اتَّخذَکَ وَلیُّکَ أخاً فَکُنْ لَهُ عَبْداً وامْنَحْهُ صِدقَ الوفاءِ وحُسْنَ الصَّفاءِ.

47. When the disloyalty of a friend becomes evident, forsaking him becomes easy.

47_ إذا ظَهرَ غَدْرُ الصَّدیقِ سَهُلَ هَجْرُهُ.

48. Through mutual understanding, companionship lasts.

48_ بِحُسنِ المُوافَقَةِ تَدُومُ الصُّحبَةُ.

49. Through good companionship, camaraderie increases.

49_ بِحُسنِ الصُّحبَةِ تَ_کْثُرُ الرِّفاقُ.

50. The worst friend is the one who is [easily] fed up.

50_ بِئسَ الصَّدیقُ المَلولُ(المُلُوک).

51. How

p: 31

bad a colleague the ignoramus is!

51_ بِئسَ القَرینُ الجَهُولُ.

52. How evil a colleague the enemy is!

52_ بِئسَ القَرینُ العدُوُّ.

53. How evil a comrade the envious one is!

53_ بِئسَ الرَّفیقُ الحَسُودُ.

54. Hold on to every friend who is brought close to you by hard times (and who benefits you

in times of distress).

54_ تَمَسَّکْ بِکُلِّ صَدیق أفادَتْکَهُ الشِّدَّةُ، (أفادکَ نَکْبَةُ الشِّدَّةِ).

55. Be warm-hearted to your friend and he will be warm-hearted towards you, honour him and he will honour you, give him preference over yourself and he will give you preference over himself and his family.

55_ تَحَبَّبْ إلی خَلیلِکَ یُحْبِبْکَ، وأکرِمْهُ یُکْرِمْکَ وآثِرْهُ علی نَفْسِکَ یُؤثِرْکَ علی نَفسِهِ وأهْلِهِ.

56. A good companion is a blessing.

56_ جَلیسُ الخَیرِ نِعْمَةٌ.

57. An evil companion is a curse.

57_ جَلیسُ الشّرِّ نِقْمَةٌ.

58. Sit in the company of the people of piety and wisdom and increase your discourse with them, for if you are ignorant they will enlighten you and if you are knowledgeable, you will increase your knowledge.

58_ جالِسْ أهْلَ الوَرَعِ والحِکْمَةِ، وأکثِرْ مُناقَشَتَهُمْ، فإنَّکَ إنْ کُنتَ جاهلاً عَلَّمُوکَ، وإنْ کُنْتَ عالِماً إزدَدْتَ عِلماً.

59. Good companionship increases the affection of the hearts.

59_ حُسنُ الصُّحْبَةِ یَزیدُ فی مَحَبَّةِ القُلُوبِ.

60. The jealousy of a friend is an ailment of [his] friendship.

60_ حَسَدُ الصَّدیقِ مِنْ سُقْمِ المَوَدَّةِ.

61. The best choice is accompanying the righteous.

61_ خَیْرُ الاِختیارِ صُحبَةُ الأخیارِ.

62. The best of those whom you can accompany are the people of knowledge and insight.

62_ خیرُ مَنْ صاحَبْتَ ذَوُوا العِلْمِ والحِلمِ.

63. The best person you can accompany is the one who

p: 32

does not compel you to seek adjudication between yourself and him.

63_ خَیْرُ مَنْ صَحِبْتَهُ مَنْ لایُحوِجُکَ إلی حاکِم بَینَکَ وبیْنَهُ.

64. The best companion is one who makes you infatuated with the Hereafter, urges you to renounce worldly pleasures and assists you in obeying your Lord.

64_ خَیرُ مَنْ صَحِبْتَ مَنْ وَلَّهَکَ بالاُخری، وزَهَّدَکَ فی الدُّنیا، وأعانَکَ علی طاعةِ المَولی.

65. A man’s friend is a sign of his intelligence and his speech is evidence of his merit.

65_ خَلیلُ المَرءِ دَلیلٌ علی عَقْلِهِ، وکَلامُهُ بُرهانُ فَضْلِهِ.

66. The best of all things is that which is newer, but the best of brothers is the oldest of them.

66_ خَیْرُ کُلِّ شَیْء جدیدُهُ، وخَیْرُ الإخْوانِ أقدَمُهُمْ.

67. The best brother is the most helpful of them in [performing] good deeds, the most active in doing good deeds and the most affable in companionship.

67_ خَیرُ الإخْوانِ أعْوَنُهُمْ عَلی الخَیْرِ، وأعْمَلُهُمْ بِالبِرِّ، وأرْفَقُهُمْ بِالمُصاحِبِ.

68. Many a friend may be envious.

68_ رُبَّ صَدیق حَسُود.

69. Many a friend is scorned because of his ignorance, not because of his intention.

69_ رُبَّ صَدیق یُؤتی(یُؤبی) مِنْ جَهْلِهِ لامِنْ نیَّتِهِ.

70. The beauty of companionship is tolerance.

70_ زَیْنُ المُصاحَبَةِ الإحتِمالُ.

71. The worst of your brothers is the one who makes you accept falsehood.

71_ شَرُّ إخوانِکَ مَنْ أرْضاکَ بالباطِلِ.

72. The worst of your brothers is the one who forces you to compromise and compels you to ask for pardon.

72_ شرُّ إخوانِکَ مَنْ أحوَجَکَ إلی مُداراة وألْجَأکَ إلی اعْتِذار.

73. The worst of your friends is the one for whom you [always] have to undergo hardship.

73_ شرُّ أصْدِقائِکَ مَنْ

p: 33

تَتَکَلّفُ لهُ.

74. The worst of brothers is one who forsakes you [in times of need].

74_ شرُّ الإخوانِ الخاذِلُ.

75. The worst companion is an ignorant person.

75_ شرُّ الأصحابِ الجاهِلُ.

76. The worst brother is the one who keeps ties with you in good times but abandons you in times of difficulty.

76_ شرُّ الإخوانِ المُواصِلُ عِنْدَ الرَّخاءِ، والمَفاصِلُ عِنْدَ البلاءِ.

77. The worst of your brothers is the one who beguiles you with vain desire and distracts you with this world.

77_ شرُّ إخوانِکَ مَنْ أغراکَ بِهَویً، ووَلّهَکَ بالدُّنیا.

78. The worst of your brothers is the one who flatters you and hides your faults from you.

78_ شرُّ إخوانِکَ مَنْ داهَنَکَ فی نَفْسِکَ، وساتَرَکَ عَیْبَکَ.

79. The worst of your brothers is the deceiving flatterer.

79_ شرُّ إخوانِکَ اَلْغاشُّ المُداهِنُ.

80. The worst of your brothers is the one who is slow in performing good deeds and slows you down [from doing good] along with him.

80_ شرُّ إخوانِکَ مَنْ تَثبَّطَ (یَتبَطّئُ) عنِ الخَیرِ وثبَّطکَ (ویُبَطِّئُکَ) معَهُ.

81. The worst and most deceitful of your brothers is the one who entices you with [the pleasures of] this transitory world and makes you unmindful of the Hereafter.

81_ شرُّ إخوانِکَ وأغَشُّهُمْ لَکَ مَنْ أغراکَ بِالعاجِلَةِ واَلهاکَ عَنِ الآجِلَةِ.

82. The worst companion is the one who changes [his loyalty] quickly.

82_ شرُّ الأصحابِ السَّریعُ الإنقِلابِ.

83. The worst comrade is the one who is very suspicious.

83_ شرُّ الأتْرابِ الکثیرُ الإرتیابِ.

84. The worst affinity is [one that leads to] putting someone into trouble.

84_ شرُّ الاُلفَةِ إطِّراحُ الکُلفَةِ.

85. The condition of companionship is lack of disagreement.

85_ شَرْطُ المُصاحَبَةِ

p: 34

قِلّةُ المُخالَفَةِ

86. A bad companion is [like] a splinter of hellfire.

86_ صاحِبُ السُّوءِ قَطْعَةٌ منَ النّار

87. Companionship with the righteous leads one to acquire righteousness just like the wind - when it passes by perfume, it carries the fragrance.

87_ صُحْبَةُ الأخْیارِ تُکْسِبُ (تَکتسِبُ) الخَیرَ کالریحِ إذا مَرَّتْ بالطّیبِ حَمَلَتْ طیباً.

88. Enmity with the honourable is safer than friendship with the wicked.

88_ مُعاداةُ الکَریمِ أسْلَمُ مِنْ مُصادَقَةِ اللَّئیمِ.

89. The companionship of a wise person is dependable.

89_ مُصاحَبَةُ العاقِلِ مأمُونَةٌ.

90. Sitting in the company of the virtuous brings honour.

90_ مُجالَسَةُ الأبرارِ تُوجِبُ الشَّرَفَ.

91. Accompanying the wicked brings ruin.

91_ مُصاحَبَةُ الأشرارِ تُوجِبُ التَّلَفَ.

92. Sitting with people of low morals wears out the hearts.

92_ مُجالَسَةُ السِّفَلِ تُضْیئُ القُلُوبَ.

93. Holding back your kindness invites [your companions] to accompany someone other than you.

93_ مَنْعُ خَیْرِکَ یَدْعُوا إلی صُحبَةِ غیرِکَ.

94. Being in the company of an ignorant person is one of the greatest tribulations.

94_ مُصاحَبَةُ الجاهِلِ مِنْ أعْظَمِ البلاءِ.

95. Sitting with the common people corrupts one’s habits.

95_ مُجالَسَةُ العَوامِّ تُفسِدُ العادَةَ.

96. One who accompanies the wicked is like one who travels by sea, if he is saved from

96_ مُصاحِبُ الأشرارِ کراکِبِ البَحرِ إنْ سَلِمَ مِنَ الغَرَقِ لَمْ یَسْلَمْ مِنَ الفَرَقِ.

97. Drowning he will still not be saved from the fear [of drowning].

97_ مُجالَسَةُ أبناءِ الدُّنیا مِنْساةٌ للإیمانِ قائدَةٌ إلی طاعةِ الشیطانِ.

98. Sitting with worldly people causes one to forget his faith and drives [one] towards the obedience of Satan.

98_ مُوافَقَةُ الأصحابِ تُدیمُ الإصطِحابَ، والرِّفقُ فی المَطالِبِ یُسَهِّلُ الأسبابَ.

99. Agreement with companions prolongs the companionship; and showing

p: 35

courtesy in matters makes the means [of accomplishment] easy.

99_ مُجالَسَةُ الحُکماءِ حَیاةُ العُقولِ، وشِفاءُ النُّفُوسِ.

100. Sitting in the company of wise men enlivens the minds and cures the souls.

100_ وَحدَةُ المَرْءِ خَیْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ قَرینِ السُّوءِ.

101. The loneliness of a man is better for him than [having] an evil comrade.

101_ بالتِّواخی فی اللّهِ تُثْمِرُ الاُخُوَّةَ.

102. By establishing ties for the sake of Allah, brotherhood becomes fruitful.

102_ تُبْتَنی الاُخوَّةُ فی اللّهِ علَی التَّناصُحِ فی اللّهِ، والتَّباذُلِ فی اللّهِ، والتَّعاونِ علی طاعةِ اللّهِ، والتَّناهی عن معاصِی اللّهِ، والتَّناصرِ فی اللّهِ، وإخْلاصِ المَحَبِّةِ.

103. Brotherhood for the sake of Allah is based on advising each other for the sake of Allah, contributing for His sake, helping each other to obey His commands, forbidding each other from disobeying Him, assisting each other for His sake and sincere affection.

103_ تناسَ مَساوِیَ الإخوانِ، تستَدِمْ وُدَّهُمْ.

104. Pretend to have forgotten the bad actions of your brothers and their affection [towards you] will last longer.

104_ ثَمَرَةُ الاُخُوَّةِ حِفْظُ الغَیبِ وإهْداءُ العَیْبِ.

105. The fruit of brotherhood is [in] protecting [the reputation of one’s brother in] his absence and presenting his faults to him [so that he may correct himself].

105_ مَنْ آخی فی اللّهِ غَنِمَ.

106. One who fraternizes for the sake of Allah, Gains.

106_ مَنْ آخی فی الدُّنیا حُرِمَ.

107. One who fraternizes for the sake of this world is deprived [of it].

107_ مَنْ لا إخوانَ لَهُ لا أهلَ لَهُ.

108. One who has no brothers has no kin.

108_ مَنْ ناقَشَ الإخوانَ قَلَّ صَدیقُهُ.

109. One who [always] argues with his brothers has few

p: 36

friends.

109_ مَنْ فَقَدَ أخاً فی اللّهِ فَکَأنَّما فَقدَ أشْرَف أعضائهِ.

110. He who loses the one who was his brother for the sake of Allah, it is as if he has lost the most important organ of his body.

110_ مَنْ کانَ ذا حِفاظ ووَفاء لَمْ یَعدَم ْحُسْنُ الإخاءِ.

111. One who preserves [that which is entrusted to him] and is loyal will not be deprived of the benefit of brotherhood.

111_ مِنْ عَجْزِ الرِّأیِ إسْتِفْسادُ الإخْوانِ.

112. It is from weak personal judgment to break ties with one’s brothers.

112_ ما أکثَرَ الإخوانَ عِندَ الجِفانِ وأقَلَّهُمْ عِندَ حادِثاتِ الزَّمانِ.

113. How numerous are friends during times of prosperity and how few they are during the difficult times!

113_ ما تَواخی قَوْمٌ علی غَیرِ ذاتِ اللّه سُبْحانَهُ إلاّ کانَتْ اُخُوَّتُهُمْ علَیْهِم تِرَةً یَوْمَ العَرْضِ علَی اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ.

114. No community has established brotherhood for other than seeking the pleasure of Allah, the Glorified, but that their brotherhood will be counted as a sin against them on the day when the deeds are presented to Allah, the Glorified.

114_ مَوتُ الأخِ قَصُّ الجَناحِ والیَدِ.

115. Death of a brother is like having wings clipped and hands cut.

115_ نِظامُ المُرُوَّةِ حُسْنُ الاُخُوَّةِ، ونِظامُ الدّینِ حُسنُ الیَقینِ.

116. The order of humanity is based on righteous brotherhood and the order of religion is based on unshakable certainty.

116_ لاتَصْرِمْأخاکَ علَی ارْتیاب، ولاتَهْجُرهُ بَعدَ اسْتِعتاب.

117. Do not sever ties with your brother because of some doubt that you have, and do not abandon him after he has sought [your] pardon.

117_ لاتُضَیِّعَنَّ حَقَّ أخیکَ اتِّکالاً علی ما بَینَکَ

p: 37

وبَینَهُ فَلیسَ لَکَ بأخ مَنْ أضَعْتَ حَقَّهُ.

118. Do not neglect the rights of your brother out of confidence in your close relationship with him, for he whose rights you neglect is not your brother.

118_ لاتُواخِ مَنْ یَستُرُ مَناقِبَکَ ویَنْشُرُ مثالِبَکَ.

119. Do not take as a brother one who hides your positive traits and exposes your shortcomings.

119_ لاتَطْلُبَنَّ الإخاءَ عِندَ أهْلِ الجَفاءِ واطلُبْهُ عِندَ أهلِ الحِفاظِ والوَفاءِ.

120. Do not seek brotherhood [and friendship] among the uncouth people, rather seek it among the trustworthy and loyal people.

120_ لا خَیرَ فیمَنْ یَهْجُرُ أخاهُ مِنْ غیرِ جُرم.

121. There is no good in the one who abandons his brother without [him committing] any offence.

121_ لاخیرَ فی أخ لایُوجِبُ لَکَ مِثلَ الَّذی یُوجبُ لِنَفْسِهِ.

122. There is no good in the brother who does not enjoin on you what he enjoins on himself.

122_ یُغْتَنَمُ مُؤاخاةُ الأخیارِ، ویُجّتَنَبُ مُصاحَبَةُ الأشرارِ والفُجَّارِ.

123. The brotherhood of the righteous is to be considered beneficial whereas association with the wicked and sinful is to be avoided.

123_ إیّاکَ ومُصادَقَةَ الکَذَّابِ، فإنّهُ یُقَرِّبُ عَلَیکَ الْبَعیدَ، ویُبَعِّدُ علَیکَ القَریبَ.

124. Be careful not to accept the words of a liar, for he will bring close to you that which is far and take far away from you that which is close.

124_ إیّاک أنْ تُخرِجَ صَدیقَکَ إخراجاً یُخرِجُهُ عَنْ مَودَّتِکَ وَاستَبْقِ لَهُ مِنْ اُنْسِکَ مَوْضِعاً یَثِقُ بالرُّجوعِ إلیهِ.

125. Be careful not to drive away your friend in a way that removes all the affection he has for you, and leave some room from your friendship for him

p: 38

so that he may rely on returning back to it.

125_إیّاکَ أنْ تُوحِشَ مُوادَّکَ وَحْشةً تُفضی بهِ إلی اختیارِهِ البُعدَ عَنْکَ، وَإیثارِ الفُرْقَةِ.

126. Be careful not to alienate the one who has affection for you in such a manner that he opts to distance himself and prefers to separate himself from you.

126_ إیّاکَ وصُحبَةَ مَنْ ألهاکَ، وأغراکَ، فإنّهُ یَخْذُلُکَ ویُوبِقُکَ.

127. Be careful not to associate with the one who makes you negligent and deceives you, for he will surely forsake you and destroy you.

127_ إیّاکَ ومُصاحَبَةَ أهلِ الفُسُوقِ، فإنّ الرَّاضیَ بِفِعْلِ قَوْم کالدَّاخِلِ مَعَهُمْ.

128. Be careful not to associate with the sinners, for verily one who is pleased with the actions of a group is like one of them.

128_ إیّاکُمْ ومُصادَقَةَ الفاجِرِ، فإنّهُ یَبیعُ مُصادِقَهُ بِالتَّافِهِ المُحتَقَرِ.

129. Be careful not to befriend a wicked person, for he would surely sell his friendship for the most worthless of things.

129_ أکثَرُ الصَّلاحِ والصَّوابِ فی صُحبَةِ اُولِی النُّهی والألبابِ.

130. It is better and more appropriate to associate with people of wisdom and intelligence.

130_ أحسَنُ الشِّیَمِ إکْرامُ المُصاحِبِ، وَإسْعافُ الطَّالِبِ.

131. The best habits are honouring one’s companion and assisting one who seeks help.

131_ أشرَفُ الشِّیَمِ رِعایَةُ الوُدِّ، وأحسَنُ الهِمَمِ إنجازُ الوَعدِ.

132. The noblest of traits is guarding one’s friendship and the best of endeavours is fulfilling one’s promise.

132_ مَنْ دَعاکَ إلی الدَّارِ الباقیةِ، وأعانَکَ علَی العَمَلِ لَها، فَهُوَ الصَّدیقُ الشَّفیقُ.

133. Whoever invites you to the Eternal Abode and assists you to work for it, then he is the true, caring friend.

133_ الرَّفیقُ فی دُنیاهُ کالرَّفیقِ

p: 39

فی دینهِِ.

134. The friend in one’s worldly life is like the friend in his faith.

134_ سَلِ (عنِ) الرَّفیقَِ قَبْلَ الطَّریقِ.

135. Inquire about the companion [on the journey] before the route.

135_ لایَحُولُ الصَّدیقُ الصَّدُوقُ عَنِ المَودَّةِ وإنْ جُفِیَ.

136. The true friend will not turn away from his friendship even if he is treated harshly.

136_ إحمِلْ نَفْسَکَ معَ أخِیکَ عِندَ صَرْمِهِ علَی الصِّلَةِ وعندَ صُدُودهِ علَی اللُّطْفِ والمُقارَبَةِ، وعندَ تَباعُدِهِ علَی الدُنُوِّ، وعندَ جُرمِهِ علَی العُذرِ حتّی کأنّکَ لَهُ عبدٌ، وکأنّهُ ذُو نِعمَة عَلَیکَ، وإیّاکَ أنْ تَضَعَ ذلکَ فی غیرِ مَوْضِعهِِ، أو تَفْعَلَهُ معَ غیرِ أهْلِهِ.

137. Bring yourself to build ties with your brother when he cuts you off, and to be kind and seek closeness [to him] when he turns away from you, and to be near to him when he distances himself from you, and to assume that he has an excuse when he does something wrong to you – to the extent that you are like his servant, and as if he has done some great favor upon you. Beware however, not to do this where it is not befitting or with someone who is not worthy of it.

137_ إمحَضْ أخاکَ النَّصِیحَةَ حسَنَةً کانَتْ أو(أم) قَبیحَةً.

138. Be sincere in giving your brother advice whether [he finds it] courteous or offensive.

138_ إحمِلْ نَفْسکَ عِندَ شِدَّةِ أخیکَ علَی اللّینِ، وعِندَ قَطیعتهِ علَی الوَصلِ، وعِندَ جُمودِهِ علَی البَذلِ، وکُنْ للَّذی یَبدُو مِنْهُ حَمُولاً وَلَهُ وَصوُلاً.

139. Bring yourself to be polite to your brother when he is harsh to you, and to build

p: 40

ties [with him] when he cuts you off, and to be generous [with him] when he is niggardly, and tolerate what he does and keep relations with him.

139_ إخْتَرْمِنْ کُلِّ شَیْء جَدیدَهُ، ومِنَ الإخوانِ أقدَمَهَمْ.

140. Choose the new of everything but the oldest one from among your brothers.

140_ إجْتَنِبْ مُصاحِبَةَ الکَذَّابِ، فإنِ اضْطُرِرْتَ إلَیهِ فلا تُصَدِّقْهُ، ولا تُعلِمْهُ أنّکَ تُ_کَذِّبُهُ، فإنّه یَنْتَقِلُ عَنْ وُدِّکَ ولا یَنْتَقِلُ عَنْ طَبْعِهِ.

141. Avoid the company of a liar, but if you are forced to be in his company then do not accept his words as true, and do not let him know that you belie him, for he will readily turn away from your friendship rather than abandoning his habit [of lying].

141_ اُبْذُل لِصَدیقِکَ کُلَّ المَودَّةِ، ولا تَبْذُلْ لَهُ کُلَّ الطُّمَأنینةِ وأعْطِهِ مِنْ نَفْسِکَ کُلَّ المُواساةِ، ولا تَقُصَّ إلَیهِ بِکُلِّ أسرارِکَ.

142. Spare no effort in showing affection to your friend, but do not put your entire trust in him; give him all your support, but do not disclose all your secrets to him.

142_ فَقْدُ الإخوانِ مُوهی الجَلَدِ.

143. The loss of one’s brothers weakens one’s fortitude.

143_ لَیْسَ لَکَ بأخ، مَنِاحْتَجْتَ إلی مُداراتِهِ.

144. He whom you need to indulge is not your [true] brother.

144_ لَیسَ بِرَفیق مَحمُودِ الطَّریقَةِ مَنْ أحوَجَ صاحِبَهُ إلی مُماراتِهِ.

145. He who forces his companion to argue with him is not a comrade with praiseworthy traits.

145_ لَیسَ لَکَ بأخ مَنْ أحوَجَکَ إلی حاکِم بینَکَ وبینَهُ.

146. He who makes it necessary for you to get a judge to adjudicate between yourself and him is

p: 41

not your brother.

146_ جَمالُ الاُخُوَّةِ إحسانُ العِشْرَةِ، والمُواساةُ معَ العُسْرَةِ.

147. The embellishment of brotherhood is good companionship and [giving] support despite [financial] difficulty.

147_ حُسْنُ الإخاءِ یُجْزِلُ الأجرَ ویُجمِلُ الثَّناءَ.

148. Good brotherhood increases reward and beautifies praise.

148_ خَیرُ الإخوانِ أقَلُّهُمْ مُصانَعَةً فی النَّصیحَةِ.

149. The best of brothers are the least hypocritical in giving good advice.

149_ خَیرُ الإخوانِ مَنْ لا یُحْوِجُ إخوانَهُ إلی سِواهُ.

150. The best of brothers is the one who makes it unnecessary for his brother to seek from anyone other than him.

150_ خَیرُ إخْوانِکَ مَنْ عَنَّفَکَ فی طاعَةِ اللّهِ.

151. The best of your brothers is the one who is stern with you regarding obedience to Allah.

151_ خَیرُ إخوانِکَ مَنْ واساکَ، وخیرٌ مِنْهُ مَنْ کَفاکَ، وإنِاحْتاجَ إلَیکَ أعفاکَ.

152. The best of your brothers is the one who supports you, and better than him is the one who suffices for you, and when he needs you, he excuses you [if you are unable to assist him].

152_ خَیرُ الإخوانِ مَنْ لَمْ یَکُنْ علی إخوانِهِ مُسْتَقْصیاً.

153. The best of brothers is one who does not scrutinize his brothers.

153_ خَیرُ إخوانِکَ مَنْ کَثُرَ إغضابُهُ لَکَ فی الحقِّ.

154. The best of your brothers is the one whose anger at you increases in matters pertaining to the truth.

154_ اَلصَّدیقُ أفْضَلُ الذُخرَینِ.

155. A friend is the better of the two resources.

155_ اَلصَّدِیقُ أفضلُ العُدَّتَینِ.

156. A friend is the better of the two assets.

156_ اَلصَّدیقُ أفضلُ عُدَّة وأبقی مَوَدَّةً.

157. A friend is a better asset and is more lasting in fondness.

157_ الصَّدیقُ إنسانٌ هُوَ أنتَ إلاّ أنّهُ غیْرُکَ.

158.

p: 42

A friend is a person who is ‘you’ except that he is other than you.

158_ اَلصَّدیقُ الصَّدوُقُ مَنْ نَصَحَکَ فی عَیبکَ وحَفِظَکَ فی غَیبِکَ وَآثرَکَ علی نَفْسِهِ.

159. The truthful friend is one who advises you of your faults protects your dignity in your absence and gives you preference over himself.

159_ الحازمُ مَنْ تَخیَّرَ لِخُلَّتِهِ فإنَّ المَرْءَ یُوزَنُ بخَلِیلِهِ.

160. The wise person is one who selects his friend carefully, for a man is gauged by his friend.

160_ اَلأصدِقاءُ نَفسٌ واحِدَةٌ فی جُسُومِ مُتفَرِّقَة.

161. Friends are one soul in different bodies.

161_ الصَّدیقُ مَنْ کانَ ناهِیاً عَنِ الظُّلمِ والعُدْوانِ مُعیناً علَی البِرِّ وَالإحسان ِ.

162. The [true] friend is he who forbids [one from] injustice and wrongdoing while helping [one] to perform good deeds and be righteous.

162_ إصحَبْ مَنْ لا تَراهُ إلاّ وکَأنّهُ لاغَناءَ بِهِ عَنْکَ، وإنْ أسَأتَ إلَیهِ أحسَنَ إلَیکَ وکَأنّهُ المُسیءُ.

163. Keep the company of one whom you find cannot do without you, and if you do something bad to him he responds with good, as if he was the one at fault.

163_ مَنْ لا (أخا) إخاءَ لَهُ لا خَیرَ فیهِ.

164. One who has no brother (or brotherhood) has no goodness in him.

164_ مَنْ جانَبَ الإخْوانَ علی کُلِّ ذَنْب قَلَّ أصدِقاؤُهُ.

165. One who turns away from his brothers because of every [small] misdeed will have few friends.

165_ مَنِاسْتَفْسَدَ صَدیقَهُ نَقَصَ مِنْ عَدَدِهِ.

166. One who spoils [his relationship with] his friend has reduced his own number.

166_ مَنْ صَحِبَ الأشرارَ لَمْ یَسْلَمْ.

167. One who accompanies evildoers will not be safe [from them].

167_ مَنِاهْتَمَّ بِکَ

p: 43

فَهُوَ صَدیقُکَ.

168. Whoever is concerned about you, then he is your [true] friend.

168_ مَنْ أحْسَنَ المُصاحَبَةَ کثُرَ أصحابُهُ.

169. One whose company is good will have many companions.

169_ مَنْ جالَسَ الجُهّالَ فَلْیَستَعِدَّ لِلْقیلِ والقالِ.

170. One who sits in the company of the ignorant should be prepared for fruitless talk and gossip.

170_ مَنْ لَمْ یَتَعاهَدْ مُوادِدَهُ فَقَدْضَیَّعَ الصَّدیقَ.

171. One who does not attend to the needs of the one who shows friendship towards him has lost a friend.

171_ مَنِاسْتَقْصی علی صَدیقِهِ انْقطَعَتْ مَوَدَّتُهُ.

172. One who demands too much from his friend will sever his friendship.

172_ مَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِمُوالِیهِ اسْتَثقَلَ وَطْأةَ مُعادیهِ.

173. One who takes his [relationship with his] allies lightly will find the overrunning of his enemies to be heavy.

173_ علَی التَّواخی فی اللّهِ تَخْلُصُ المَحَبَّةُ.

174. It is through brotherhood for the sake of Allah that love becomes sincere.

174 _ عِندَ نُزُولِ الشَّدائدِ یُجَرَّبُ حِفاظُ الإخوانِ.

175. It is in times of tribulation that the protection of brethren is put to test.

175_ عِندَ زَوالِ القُدْرَةِ یَتَبَیَّنُ الصَّدیقُ مِنَ العَدُوِّ.

176. It is when power is lost that friend is distinguished from foe.

176_ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ یَرْغَبُ فی التَّکثُّرِ مِنَ الأصحابِ کَیفَ لایَصحَبُ العُلَماءَ الألِبَّاءَ الأتقیاءَ الَّذینَ یَغنَمُ فَضائِلَهُمْ وتَهْدیهِ عُلُومُهُمْ وتُزَّینُهُ صُحبَتُهُمْ.

177. I am amazed at the one who seeks more companions why does he not accompany the wise, pious scholars from whose character he can benefit and from whose knowledge he can get guidance and whose company is an embellishment for him!

177_ فی کُلِّ صُحْبَة اخْتیارٌ.

178. In every companionship there is choice.

178_ فی

p: 44

الشِّدَّةِ یُخْتَبَرُ الصَّدیقُ.

179. In times of difficulty one comes to know who his [true] friend is.

179_ فی الضّیقِ یَتَبیَّنُ حُسْنُ مُواساةِ الرَّفیقِ.

180. It is in times of [financial] difficulty that the value of a friend’s generosity becomes apparent.

180_ فی حُسنِ المُصاحَبَةِ یَرْغَبُ الرِّفاقُ.

181. Good companionship is something friends wish for.

181_ إیّاکَ أنْ تَغفُلَ عَنْ حقِّ أخیکَ، اتِّکالاً علی واجبِ حَقِّکَ عَلیهِ، فإنَّ لأخیکَ علَیکَ مِنَ الحقِّ مِثلَ الَّذی لَکَ عَلَیهِ.

182. Be careful not to become negligent of your brother’s right [over you] while counting on your right over him, for indeed your brother has the same right over you that you have over him.

182_ إیّاکَ أنْ تُهْمِلَ حقَّ أخیکَ اتِّکالاً عَلی ما بَینَکَ وبَیْنَهُ فَلَیسَ لَکَ بأخ مَنْ أضَعْتَ حَقَّهُ.

183. Be careful not to ignore the right of your brother while relying on the bond between you and him, for he whose right you overlook is not your brother.

183_ أفْضَلُ العُدَدِ ثِقاتُ الإخوانِ.

184. The best assets are reliable brothers.

184_ أفضَلُ الْعُدَدِ أخٌ وَفیٌّ وشَقیقٌّ زَکیُّ.

185. The best of assets are a loyal brother and a righteous sibling.

185_أصْدَقُ الإخْوانِ مَوَدَّةً أفْضَلُهُمْ لإخوانِهِ فی السَّرّاءِ والضَّرّاءِ مُواساةً.

186. The brother whose friendship is strongest is one who is most supportive of his brother [both] in times of ease and difficulty.

186_ أبْعدُ النَّاسِ سَفَراً مَنْ کانَ سَفَرُهُ فی ابْتِغاءِ أخ صالِح.

187. The one who journeys in search of a righteous brother journeys the farthest.

187_إنَّ أخاکَ حقَّاً مَنْ غَفَرَ زلَّتَکَ، وَسَدَّ خَلَّتَکَ وقَبِلَ عُذْرَکَ، وسَتَرَ عَوْرتَکَ، ونَفی وَجَلَکَ، وحَقَّقَ أمَلَکَ.

188. Your true brother is one

p: 45

who forgives your mistake, fulfils your need, accepts your excuse, hides your [hidden] flaw, removes your apprehension and actualizes your hope.

188_ لا تَصْحَبْ مَنْ فاتَهُ العَقلُ، ولاتَصْطَنِعْ مَنْ خانَهُ الأصلُ، فإنَّ مَنْ لا عَقلَ لَهُ یَضُرُّکَ مِنْ حیثُ یَری أنَّه یَنْفَعُکَ، وَمَنْ لا أصلَ لَهُ یُسیءُ إلی مَنْ یُحْسِنُ إلَیهِ.

189. Do not accompany the one who has lost his mind and do not seek good from one who is betrayed by his roots, for the one who is insane will harm you while he thinks he is helping you and the one who does not have [virtuous] roots will do evil to the one who does good to him.

189_ تَصْحَبْ إلاَّ عاقِلاً تَقِیّاً، ولا تُعاشِرْ إلاّ عالِماً زَکیّاً، ولاتُودِعْ سِرَّکَ إلاّ مُؤمِناً وَفیّاً.

190. Do not accompany anyone but the intelligent and pious; and do not associate with anyone but the knowledgeable and righteous; and do not mention your secret to anyone but the trustworthy and loyal.

190_ لا تَصْحَبْ مَنْ یَحفَظُ مَساوِیَکَ، ویَنْسی فَضائلَکَ وَمعالِیَکَ.

191. Do not accompany one who recalls your misdeeds and forgets your virtues and merits.

191_ لا تَحْلُومُصاحَبَةُ غَیْرِ أریب.

192. The companionship of the unintelligent is not enjoyable.

192_ لایَصْحَبُ الأبرارَ إلاّ نُظَراؤُهُمْ.

193. None accompany the virtuous except those who are like them.

193_ لایَأمَنُ مُجالِسُوا الأشرارِ غوائِلَ البَلاءِ.

194. Those who sit in the company of the wicked are not safe from the calamities of tribulation.

194_ لإخوانُ جَلاءُ الهُمُومِ والأحزانِ.

195. Brothers are eliminators of grief and sorrow.

195_ أطِعْ أخاکَ وإنْ عَصاکَ، وَصِلْهُ وإنْ جَفاکَ.

196. Obey your brother even if he

p: 46

disobeys you, and establish ties with him even if he shuns you.

196_ إصْحَبْ أخاَ التُّقی والدّینِ تَسْلَمْ، وأسْتَرشدْهُ تَغْنَمْ.

197. Keep yourself in the company of a virtuous and pious brother and you will remain safe, seek advice from him and you will benefit.

197_ أحْبِبْ فی اللّهِ مَنْ یُجاهِدُکَ علی صَلاحِ دین، ویُکْسِیکَ(یُکْسِبُکَ) حُسنَ یَقین.

198. Love for the sake of Allah the one who struggles against you for the betterment of [your] religion and covers you with the mantle of certitude.

198_ إرْفَقْ بِإخْوانِکَ، وَاکْفِهِمْ غَربَ لِسانِکَ، وأجْرِ عَلَیْهِمْ سَیْبَ إحسانِکَ.

199. Be courteous to your brothers and don’t expose them to the harshness of your tongue; and let your goodness flow forth for them.

199_ اُبْذُلْ لِصَدیقِکَ نُصْحَکَ، ولِمَعارِفِکَ مَعُونَت_َکَ، ولِکافَّةِ النَّاسِ بِشْرَکَ.

200. Offer your advice to your friend, your assistance to your acquaintance, and to all the people, your cheerfulness.

200_ إحْذَرْ مُصاحَبَةَ کُلِّ مَنْ یُقْبَلُ رَأیُهُ، ویُنکَرُ عَمَلُهُ، فإنَّ الصّاحِبَ مُعْتَبَرٌ بِصاحِبِهِ.

201. Be cautious of the company of one whose opinion is accepted but whose actions are evil, for surely a person is judged by the company he keeps.

201_ إحْذَر مُجالِسَةَ قَرینِ السَّوءِ فَإنَّهُ یُهْلِکُ مُقارِنَهُ، ویُرْدی مُصاحِبَهُ.

202. Be careful not to associate with an evil colleague, for his association will destroy you and his companionship will ruin you.

202_ لا تُؤثِرْ دَنِیّاً عَلی شَریف.

203. Do not give preference to an ignoble person over a noble one.

203_ لا تَصْحَبَنَّ مَنْ لا عَقْلَ لَهُ.

204. Never associate with one who has no intelligence.

204_ لا تَصْحَبِ المائِقَ فَیُزَیِّنَ لَکَ فِعْلَهُ، ویَوَدَّ أنّکَ مِثْلُهُ.

205. Do not associate

p: 47

with a fool, for he will embellish his actions for you and want you to become like him.

205_ لاتَصْحَبَنَّ أبْناءَ الدُّنیا فإنّکَ إنْ أقْلَلْتَ إسْتَثْقَلُوکَ وإنْ أکْثَرتَ حَسَدُوکَ.

206. Do not associate with those who love this world, for if you have less they will disregard you and if you have more they will envy you.

206_ لا تُکْثِرَنَّ صُحْبَةَ اللَّئیمِ، فإنَّهُ إنْ صَحِبَتْکَ نِعْمَةٌ حَسَدَکَ، وإنْ طرَقَتْکَ نائِبَةٌ قَذَفَکَ.

207. Do not frequent the company of a wicked person, for if you are bestowed with a blessing, he will envy you and if a misfortune befalls you, he will abandon you.

207_ لا تَسْتَکْثِرَنَّ مِنْ إخوانِ الدُّنیا، فَإنَّکَ إنْ عَجَزْتَ عَنْهُمْ تَحَوَّلُوا أعداءً، وإنَّ مَثَلَهُمْ کَمَثَلِ النَّارِ کَثیرُها یُحرِقُ وقلیلُها یَنْفَعُ.

208. Do not acquire more ‘worldly’ brothers, for if you become incapable of fulfilling their wishes they turn into enemies; and their example is like the example of fire – a lot of it burns and a little of it benefits.

208_ کُنْ بِالوَحْدَةِ آنَسَ مِنکَ بِقُرَناءِ السُّوءِ.

209. Take comfort for yourself in solitude rather than bad company.

209_ کُنْ بِعَدُوِّکَ العاقِلِ أوثَقَ مِنْکَ بِصَدیقِکَ الجاهِلِ

210. Be more confident of your intelligent foe than your ignorant friend.

210_ کُلَّما طالَتِ الصُّحْبَةُ تَأکَّدتِ الحُرْمَةُ.

211. Whenever the companionship prolongs, the [mutual] respect is affirmed.

211_ لِکُلِّ شَیْء آفَةٌ وآفَةُ الْخَیْرِ (الخَیِّرِ) قَرینُ السُّوءِ.

212. For everything there is a bane and the bane of a good person is bad company.

212_ لِکُلِّ شَیْء نَکَدٌ ونَکَدُ العُمرِ مُقارَنَةُ العَدُوِّ.

213. For everything there is a vexation and the vexation of your lifetime is

p: 48

[being in] the company of an enemy.

213_ لَیْسَ مَنْ خالَطَ الأشرارَ بِذی مَعْقُول.

214. One who mingles with the wicked is not intelligent.

214_ لَیْسَ شَیْءٌ أدْعی لِخَیر وأنْجی مِنْ شَرّ مِنْ صُحْبَةِ الأخیارِ.

215. There is nothing that brings one closer to good and keeps one safer from evil than keeping company with the righteous.

215_ مَنْ صاحبَ العُقَلاءَ وُقِّرَ.

216. One who accompanies the wise is respected.

216_ إحْذَرْ مُصاحَبَةَ الفُسَّاقِ والفُجَّارِ والمُجاهِرینَ بِمَعاصِی اللّهِ.

217. Be careful not to accompany the immoral, the wretched, and those who openly disobey the commandments of Allah.

217_ إحْذَرْ مُجالِسَةَ الجاهِلِ، کما تَأمَنُ مِنْ مُصاحَبَةِ العاقلِ.

218. Be just as wary of sitting in the company of the ignorant, as you would be at ease in the company of the intelligent.

218_ إیّاکَ ومُصاحَبَةَ الفُسَّاقِ، فإنَّ الشّرَّ بالشّ_رِّ یَلْحَقُ.

219. Be careful not to remain in the company of the immoral, for surely evil clings to evil.

219_ إیّاکَ أنْ تُخْدَعَ عَنْ صَدیقِکَ، أو تُغْلَبَ عَنْ عَدُوِّکَ.

220. Be careful not to be cheated by your friend or to be overcome by your foe.

220_ إیّاکَ ومُصادَقَةَ الأحْمَقِ، فَإنَّهُ یُریدُ أنْ یَنْفَعَکَ فَیَضُ_َّرکَ.

221. Be careful not to befriend a fool, for he will harm you while trying to benefit you.

221_ إیّاکَ ومُصادَقَةَ البَخیلِ، فإنَّهُ یَقْعُدُ عَنْکَ (بِکَ) أحوَجَ ما تَ_کوُنُ إلَیهِ.

222. Be careful not to befriend a miser, for he will hold back [from assisting you] when you are most in need of him.

222_ إیّاکَ ومُصاحَبَةَ الأشْرارِ، فَإنَّهُمْ یَمُنُّونَ عَلَیْکَ بِالسَّلامَةِ مِنْهُمْ.

223. Be careful not to accompany the wicked, for they consider it a favour

p: 49

upon you to keep you safe from themselves.

223_ أخُوکَ مُواسیکَ فی الشِّدَةِ.

224. Your brother is your supporter in times of difficulty.

224_ إنْ اَرَدْتَ قَطیعَةَ أخیکَ فَاسْتَبْقِ لَهُ مِنْ نَفْسِکَ بَقِیَّةً یَرْجِعُ إلَیْها إنْ بَدا لَهُ ذلِکَ یَوْماًما.

225. If you want to cut off ties with your brother [in faith] then leave some of your friendship for him, so that he may return to it someday if he so wishes.

225_ َقدِّمِ الإخْتبارَ وأجِدِ الإسْتِظْهارَ فِی اخْتیارِ الإخوانِ وإلاّ ألْجَأکَ الإضطرارُ إلی مُقارَنَةِ الأشرارِ.

226. Before choosing a friend, assess him and try hard to find out about him, otherwise you will be forced by necessity to associate with the wicked.

226_ کَفی بِالصُّحْبَةِ إخْتِبارَاً.

227. Accompanying a person [for some time] is sufficient to evaluate him.

227_ إنِ اسْتَنَمْتَ إلی وَدُودِکَ فَأحْرِزْ لَهُ مِنْ أمْرِکَ واستَبْقِ لهُ مِنْ سِ_ِّرکَ مالَعَلَّکَ أنْ تَنْدِمَ عَلَیْهِ وَقتاً ما.

228. [Even] if you have gained confidence and trust in your close friend, safeguard some of your affairs and conceal some of your secrets [from him], for it is possible that you may regret [revealing them] at some time [in the future].

228_ إذا تَأکَّدَ الإخاءُ سَمُجَ الثَّناءُ.

229. As the bond of brotherhood strengthens, compliments become distasteful.

229_ إذا آخَیْتَ فَأکْرِمْ حقَّ الإخاءِ.

230. When you [decide to] establish the bond of brotherhood, then honour the right of brotherhood.

230_ إذا وَثِقْتَ بِمَودَّةِ أخیکَ فَلا تُبالِ مَتی لَقیتَهُ ولَقِیَکَ.

231. If you are certain of the affection of your brother then don’t be concerned [about what transpires] when you meet him or he meets you.

231_ مَنِاتَّخَذَ

p: 50

أخَاً بَعدَ حُسنِ الإختبارِ دامَتْ صُحبَتُهُ وتَأکَّدَتْ مَوَدَّتُهُ.

232. One who takes a brother after successfully evaluating him, his companionship will last longer and his bond will be more firmly established.

232_ مَنْ لَم یُقَدِّمْ فِی اتّخاذِ الإخوانِ الاعتِبارَ دَفَعَهُ الاغتِرارُ إلی صُحْبَةِ الفُجَّارِ.

233. One who does not investigate before he takes a brother will be misled to association with

the depraved.

233_ مَنِاتَّخذَ أخَاً مِنْ غیرِ اختِبار ألجَأهُ الاضطرارُ إلی مُرافَقَةِ الأشرارِ.

234. One who takes a brother without evaluation will be forced by necessity to associate with the wicked.

234_ اَلإخْوانُ فی اللّه تعالی تَدُومُ مَوَّدَتُهُمْ لِدَوامِ سَبَبِها.

235. The amity between those who are brothers for the sake of Allah endures because of its firm foundation.

235_ إخوانُ الصِّدقِ زینَةٌ فی السَّرّاءِ وعُدَّةٌ فی الضَّرّاءِ.

236. True brotherhood is an embellishment in times of ease and a provision in times of difficulty.

236_ اَلأخُ المُکْتَسَبُ فی اللّهِ أقْرَبُ الأقْرِباءِ وأحَمُّ مِنَ الأُمَّهاتِ والآباءِ.

237. The brother acquired for the sake of Allah is the nearest of relations – even closer than mothers and fathers.

237_ أخُوکَ فی اللّهِ مَنْ هَداکَ إلی رَشاد، ونَهاکَ عَنْ فَساد، وأعانَکَ إلی إصلاحِ معاد.

238. Your brother for the sake of Allah is one who guides you towards rectitude, forbids you from corruption and assists you to improve your Hereafter.

238_ أخُوکَ الصَّدیقُ مَنْ وَقاکَ بِنَفْسِهِ، وآثَرَکَ علی مالِهِ ووَلدِهِ، وَعِرْسِهِ.

239. Your true friend and brother is the one who protects you with his life, and prefers you over his wealth, his children and his spouse.

239_ قَلیلٌمِنَ الإخْوانِ مَنْ یُنْصِفُ.

240. It is only a few

p: 51

of the brothers who are fair.

240_ قَرینُ السُّوءِ شَ_رُّ قَرین وداءُ اللُّؤْمِ داءٌ دفینٌ.

241. An evil companion is the worst of companions; and the disease of ignobility is a concealed disease.

241_ قارِنْ أهلَ الخَیرِ تَکُنْ مِنْهُمْ، وبایِنْ أهْلَ الشَّ_رِّ تَبِنْ عَنْهُمْ.

242. Accompany the virtuous and you will become one of them; separate yourself from the evil people and you will be dissociated from them.

242_ قَدِّمِ الاختبارَ فِی اتِّخاذِ الإخوانِ، فإنَّ الاختِبارَ مِعیارٌ یَفْرُقُ بَیْنَ الأخیارِ والأشرارِ.

243. Be sure to investigate before taking anyone as your brother, for assessment is the gauge that distinguishes the virtuous from the wicked.

243_ مَنْ رَفِقَ بِمُصاحِبِهِ وافَقَهُ، ومَنْ أعنَفَ بِهِ أخْرَجَهُ وفارَقَهُ.

244. One who is courteous to his companion will gain his acceptance, and one who is harsh to him will drive him away and get separated from him.

244_ مَنْ لَمْ یَرْضَ مِنْ صَدیقِهِ إلاّ بِإیثارِهِ علی نَفْسِهِ دامَ سَخَطُهُ.

245. One who is not pleased with his friend except when he prefers him over himself, will always be resentful.

245_ مَنْ کانَتْ صُحْبَتُهُ فی اللّهِ کانَتْ صُحْبَتُهُ کَریمَةً ومَوَدَّتُهُ مُسْتَقیمَةً.

246. One whose companionship is for the sake of Allah, his companionship is honourable and his friendship is upright.

246_ مَنْ لَمْ تَکُنْ مَوَدَّتُهُ فِی اللّهِ فَاحْذَرْهُ، فَإنَّ مَوَّدَتَهُ لَئیمَةٌ وصُحْبَتَهُ مَشُومَةٌ.

247. Be careful of the one whose friendship is not for the sake of Allah, for his friendship is wicked and his company is doomed.

247_ مَنْ لَم یَصْحَبْکَ مُعیناً عَلی نَفْسِکَ فَصُحْبَتُهُ وَبالٌ عَلیْکَ إنْ عَلِمتَ.

248. One who does not assist you by [his] accompanying you, then

p: 52

his company is [actually] a burden on you, if [only] you knew.

248_ مَنْ لَمْ یَحْتَمِلْ زَلَلَ الصَّدیقِ ماتَ وحیداً.

249. One who does not overlook the mistakes of his friend will die lonely.

249_ مَنْ طَلَبَ صَدیقَ صِدْق وَفیّاً طَلَبَ ما لا یُوجَدُ.

250. One who seeks a truly loyal friend, seeks that which cannot be found.

250_ مَنْ دَنَتْ هِمَّتُهُ فلا تَصْحَبْهُ.

251. Do not accompany the one who lacks determination.

251_ مَنْ لَمْ تَنْفَعْکَ صَداقَتُهُ ضَرَّتْکَ عَداوَتُهُ.

252. One whose friendship does not benefit you, his enmity will harm you.

252_ مَنْ لَم یَنْصَحْکَ فی صَداقَتِِهِ فَلا تُعَذِّرْهُ.

253. Do not excuse one who is insincere in his friendship with you.

253_ مِنْ شَرائطِ الإیمانِ حُسْنُ مُصاحَبَةِ الإخوانِ.

254. One of the conditions of faith is [having] good companionship with one’s brothers.

254_ مِنْ عَدَمِ العَقلِ مُصاحَبَةُ ذَوی الجَهلِ.

255. Associating with the ignorant stems from lack of intelligence.

255_ لا تَتَّخِذَنَّ عَدُوَّ صَدیقِکَ صَدیقاً فَتُعادیَ صَدیقَکَ

256. Never take your friend’s enemy as your friend, thereby making an enemy out of your friend.

256_ لا عَیْشَ لِمَنْ فارَقَ أحِبَّ_تَهُ.

257. There is no life for one who is separated from those whom he loves.

257_ لا خَیْرَ فی صَدیق ضَنین(ظَنین).

258. There is no good in a stingy (or suspicious) friend.

258_ لا یَکُونُ الصَّدیقُ صَدیقاً حتّی یَحْفَظَ أخاهُ فی غَیْبَتِهِ ونَکْبَتهِ وَوَفاتِهِ.

259. A friend is not truly a friend unless he protects his brother in his absence, his misfortune and his death.

259_ لاتَقْطَعْ صَدیقاً وإنْ کَفَرَ.

260. Do not break off ties with a friend, even if he is ungrateful.

260_ لاتَثِقْ بالصَّدیقِ قَبْلَ الخُبْرَةِ.

261. Do not trust

p: 53

in a friend before testing him.

261_ لاتَعُدَّنََّّ صَدیقاً مَنْ لا یُواسی بِمالِهِ.

262. Do not count one who does not support [you] with his wealth as a friend.

262_ لاتَأمَنْ صَدیقَکَ حتّی تَخْتَبِرَهُ وکُنْ مِنْ عَدُوِّکَ علی أشَدِّ الحَذَرِ.

263. Do not rely on your friend until you have tested him, and be extremely cautious of your enemy.

263_ مَنْ أحسنَ مُصاحَبَةَ الإخْوانِ اسْتدامَ مِنْهُمُ الوُصْلَةَ.

264. One who keeps good ties [and company] with his brothers makes their bond [with him] last longer.

264_ مَنْ بَصَّ_َرکَ عَیْبَکَ وحَفِظَکَ فی غَیْبِکَ فَهُوَ الصَّدیقُ فَاحفَظْهُ.

265. One who points out your faults to you and defends you in your absence, then he is your true friend, so protect him.

265_ مَنْ لا صَدیقَ لَهُ لا ذُخْرَ لَهُ.

266. One who has no friend has no provision.

266_ مَنْ دَعاکَ إلی الدَّارِ الباقِیَةِ وأعانَکَ علَی العَمَلِ لَها فَهُوَ الصَّدیقُ الشَّفیقُ.

267. One who calls you towards the Eternal Abode and assists you to work for it, then he is indeed a caring friend.

267_ مِنْ سُوءِ الاختیارِ صُحْبَةُ الأشْرارِ.

268. One of the bad choices [that a person can make] is accompanying the wicked.

268_ ما تَأکَّدَتِ الحُرْمَةُ بِمِثلِ المُصاحَبَةِ والمُجاوَرَةِ.

269. Nothing establishes the boundaries of respect like companionship and neighbourhood.

أفْضلُ الأدبِ حِفْظُ المُرُوءَةِ.

5. The best etiquette is that [in] which you start with yourself.

5_ أفضلُ الأدبِ ما بَدَأْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَکَ.

6. The best etiquette is for a person to stay within his limits and not go beyond his rank.

6_ أفضلُ الأدبِ أنْ یَقِفَ الإنسانُ عِندَ حَدِّهِ ولایَتَعدَّی قَدْرَهُ.

7. The best of etiquettes is that which stops you from what is forbidden.

7_ أحسنُ الآدابِ ما کَفَّکَ عَنِ المَحارِمِ.

8. The noblest merit is good etiquette.

8_ أکرَمُ حَسَب حُسْنُ الأدبِ.

9. The people of intellect are in need of good etiquette just as the plants thirst for rain.

9_ إنَّ بِذَوی العُقُولِ مِنَ الحاجَةِ إلی الأدبِ، کَما یَظْمَأُ الزَّرْعُ إلَی المَطَرِ.

10. People are more in need of good etiquette than of silver and gold.

10_ إنَّ النَّاس إلی صالحِ الأدبِ أحْوَجُ مِنْهُمْ إلی الفِضَّةِ والذَّهبِ.

11. Good etiquette is the best merit.

11_ الأدبُ أفْضَلُ حَسَب.

12. Etiquettes are renewed vestments.

12_ الآدابُ حُلَلٌ مُجَدَّدَةٌ.

13. Good etiquette is the best trait.

13_ الأدبُ أحسنُ سَجِیَّة.

14. Etiquette is a reflection of the intellect.

14_ الأدبُ صُورَةُ العَقلِ.

15. Good etiquette is the perfection of man.

15_ الأدبُ کَمالُ الرَّجُلِ.

16. You are gauged by your etiquette so beautify it with forbearance.

16_ إنَّکَ مُقَوَّمٌ بأدَبِکَ، فَزَیِّنْهُ بالحِلمِ.

17. Indeed you are more in need of acquiring good etiquette than you are of acquiring silver and gold.

17_ إنّکُمْ إلی اکْتِسابِ الأدَبِ أحوَجُ مِنْکُم إلَی اکْتِسابِ الفِضَّةِ وَالذَّهبِ.

18. Through good etiquette brainpower is sharpened.

18_ بِالأدبِ تُشْحَذُ الفِطَنُ.

19. The worst attribute is bad etiquette.

19_ بِئسَ النَّسَبُ سُوءُ الأدَبِ.

20. The fruit of good etiquette is good character.

20_ ثَمَرةُ الأدبِ حُسْنُ الخُلْقِ.

21. Good

p: 55

etiquette covers up bad lineage.

21_ حُسْنُ الأدَبِ یَستُرُ قُبْحَ النَّسَبِ.

22. Good etiquette is the best supporter and finest companion.

22_ حُسنُ الأدبِ خَیْرُ مُوارز وأفضلُ قَرین.

23. Good etiquette is the best attribute and noblest means.

23_ حُسنُ الأدبِ أفْضلُ نَسَب وأشرَفُ سَبب.

24. The value of good etiquette is nobler than the value of lineage.

24_ حَسَبُ الأدبِ أشرَفُ مِنْ حَسَبِ النَّسَبِ.

25. The best thing that parents can bequeath to their children is good etiquette.

25_ خَیْرُ ما وَرَّثَ الآباءُ الأبناءَ الأدبُ.

26. The means of purifying [one’s] character is good etiquette.

26_ سَبَبُ تَزْکِیَةِ الأخلاقِ حُسْنُ الأدَبِ.

27. The seeker of good etiquette is wiser than the seeker of gold.

27_ طالبُ الأدَبِ أحزَمُ مِنْ طالِبِ الذَّهبِ.

28. Seeking [good] etiquette is the embellishment of [one’s] honourable lineage.

28_ طَلَبُ الأدَبِ جَمالُ الحَسَبِ.

29. Adopt good etiquette for it is the embellishment of honourable lineage.

29_ علَیکَ بِالأدبِ فإنَّهُ زَیْنُ الحَسَبِ.

30. A little good etiquette is better than many noble ancestors.

30_ قلیلُ الأدَبِ خیْرٌ مِن کَثیرِ النَّسَبِ.

31. Everything requires intellect and intellect requires etiquette.

31_ کُلُّ شَیْء یَحْتاجُ إلیَ العَقْلِ، والعَقلُ یَحتاجُ إلیَ الأدبِ.

32. Every distinction is limited except intelligence and good etiquette.

32_ کُلُّ الحَسَبِمُتَناه إلاّ العَقْلَ والأدَبَ.

33. In order to discipline yourself, it is enough that you keep away from [doing] that which you hate from others.

33_ کَفاکَ مُؤدِّباً لِنَفْسِکَ تَجَنُّبُ ما کَرِهْتَهُ مِنْ غَیْرِکَ.

34. Good etiquette will not be effective until it is accompanied with intellect.

34_ لَنْ یَنْجََعَ الأدَبُ حَتّی یُقارِنَهُ العَقْلُ.

35. One whose etiquette decreases, his vices increase.

35_ مَنْ قَلَّ أدَبُهُ کَثُرَتْ مَساوِیهِ.

36. One who is abased because of his

p: 56

poor etiquette will not be elevated by his noble lineage.

36_ مَنْ وَضَعَهُ دَناءَةُ أدَبِهِ لَمْ یَرْفَعْهُ شَرَفُ حَسَبِهِ.

37. One whose etiquette is bad, his honourable lineage gets tarnished.

37_ مَنْ ساءَ أدَبُهُ شانَ حَسَبَهُ.

38. One who is lowered by his lineage is elevated by his good etiquette.

38_ مَنْ قَعَدَ بِه حَسَبُهُ نَهَضَ بِهِ أدَبُهُ.

39. One who is held back by his lack of etiquette will not be pushed forward by the weight of his honourable lineage.

39_ مَنْ أخَّرَهُ عَدَمُ أدَبِهِ لَمْ یُقَدِّمْهُ کَثافَةُ حَسَبِهِ.

40. Whoever is keen about [acquiring] good etiquette, his vices will decrease.

40_ مَنْ کَلَفَ بِالأدَبِ قَلَّتْ مَساوِیهِ.

41. One who is infatuated with [good] etiquette has adorned himself.

41_ مَنِاسْتُهْتِرَ بالأدَبِ فَقَدْزانَ نَفْسَهُ.

42. One whose etiquette augments his intellect is like a [lone] shepherd among many sheep.

42_ مَنْ زادَ أدَبُهُ علی عَقْلِهِ کانَ کالرَّاعی بَیْنَ غَنَم کَثیرَة.

43. One whose etiquette is not his best quality, his simplest condition will be his destruction.

43_ مَنْ لَمْ یَکُنْ أفْضلَ خِلالِهِ أدبُهُ کانَ أهْوَنَ أحوالِهِ عَطَبُهُ.

44. One who is not reformed by the discipline of Allah cannot become reformed through self-discipline.

44_ مَنْ لَمْ یَصْلُحْ علی أدَبِ اللّهِ لَمْ یَصْلُحْ علی أدَبِ نَفْسِهِ.

45. The best companion of the intellect is etiquette.

45_ نِعمَ قَرینُ العقلِ الأدَبُ.

46. The best attribute is good etiquette.

46_ نِعْمَ النَسَّبُ حُسْنُ الأدَبِ.

47. There is no merit like good etiquette.

47_ لاحَسَبَ کالأدبِ.

48. There is no adornment like good etiquette.

48_ لازینَةَ کالآدابِ.

49. There is no heritage like etiquette.

49_ لامیراثَ کالأدَبِ.

50. There is no vestment like good etiquette.

50_ لاحُلَلَ کالآدابِ.

51. There is no honour with

p: 57

bad etiquette.

51_ لاشرَفَ مَعَ سُوءِ أدَب.

52. One who has a dirty tongue has no etiquette.

52_ لاأدبَ لِسَیّی النُّطْقِ.

53. There is no rank higher than good etiquette.

53_ لاحَسَبَ أرفَعُ مِنَ الأدبِ.

54. He who has no etiquette has no intelligence.

54_ لاعَقْلَ لِمَنْ لا أدَبَ لَهُ.

55. He who lacks good etiquette and inclines towards idle play does not become a leader.

55_ لایُرَأَّسُ مَنْ خَلا عَنِ الأدَبِ وصَبا إلی اللَّعَبِ.

56. There are three things which one always needs to seek more of: Good etiquette, avoidance of suspicion, and abstinence from all that is forbidden.

56_ ثلاثٌ لَیْسَ عَلَیْهِنَّ مُسْتَزادٌ حُسْنُ الأدَبِ ومُجانَبَةُ الرَّیبِ، والکَفُّ عَنْ المَحارِمِ.

odour.

6_ کَثرَةُ الأکلِ تُذَفِّرُ (تُدْفِرُ).

7. Be like the bee when it eats it eats what is good and when it secretes it secretes what is good, and when it sits on a twig it does not break it.

7_ کُنْ کالنَّحْلَةِ إذا أکَلَتْ أکَلَتْ طَیِّباً، وإذا وَضَعَتْ وَضَعتْ طَیِّباً، وإذا وَقَعَتْ علی عُود لَمْ تُکَسِّرْهُ.

8. Whoever eats less, his thoughts become pure.

8_ مَنْ قَلَّ أکلُهُ صَفی فِکْرُهُ.

9. One who restricts his eating, his health improves and his thoughts become righteous.

9_ مَنِ اقْتَصَرَ فی أکْلِهِ کَثُرَتْ صِحَّتُهُ، وصَلُحَتْ فِکْرَتُهُ.

10. One whose efforts are [solely] for [acquiring] that which enters his stomach, his value is [equal to] that which comes out from it.

10_ مَنْ کانَتْ هِمَّتُهُ ما یَدْخُلُ بَطْنَهُ کانَتْ قیمَتُهُ ما یَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ.

11. One who eats excessively, his health deteriorates and his expenses become heavy for him to bear.

11_ مَن کَثُرَ أکْلُهُ قَلَّتْ صِحَّتُهُ، وثَقُلَتْ علی نَفْسهِ مَؤُنتُهُ.

سُبْحانَهُ قَلیلٌ، وکُلُّ عزیز غَیرُهُ ذَلیلٌ، وَکُلُّ قَویّ غَیرُهُ ضعیفٌ، وَکُلُّ مالِک غَیرُهُ مَمْلُوکٌ، وکُلُّ عالِم غَیرُهُ مُتَعَلِّمٌ، وَکُلُّ قادِر غیرُهُ یَقْدِرُ ویَعْجِزُ.

3. Every hidden thing is apparent for Allah, exalted are His bounties.

3_ کُلُّ باطِن عندَ اللّه جَلّتْ آلاؤُهُ ظاهرٌ.

4. Every secret is manifest for Allah.

4_ کُلُّ سِرّ عندَ اللّهِ عَلانِیَةٌ.

5. Whoever contemplates about the essence of Allah, apostatizes.

5_ مَنْ تَفَکَّرَ فی ذاتِ اللّهِ اَلْحَدَ(تَزَنْدَقَ)

6. Allah, the Glorified, does not misguide anyone and Allah is not unjust to the servants.

6_ ماکانَ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ لِیُضِلَّ أحَداً ولَیسَ اللّهُ بِظلاّّم لِلْعَبیدِ.

7. How great is the clemency of Allah, the Glorified, upon the recalcitrant, and how great is His forgiveness to the extravagant servants.

7_ ما أعظَمَ حِلْمَ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ عَنْ أهْلِ العِنادِ، وما أکْثَرَ عَفْوَهُ عَنْ مُسرِفی العِبادِ.

8. Allah, how great is that which we see of your creation, yet how small its greatness is next to what is hidden from us of your might!

8_ ما أعْظَمَ ألّلهُمَّ ما نَری مِنْ خَلْقِکَ، وما أصغَرَ عَظیمَهُ فی جَنْبِ ما غابَ عنَّا مِنْ قُدْرَتِکَ.

9. Allah! How awesome is that which we witness of Your kingdom, yet how negligible is that compared to what is hidden from us of Your grand sovereignty!

9_ ما أهْولَ ألّلهُمَّ ما نُشاهِدُهُ مِنْ مَلَکُوتِکَ، وما أحقَرَ ذلِکَ فیما غابَ عنَّا مِنْ عظیمِ سُلْطانِکَ.

10. He is Allah, the One for whom all signs of existence stand witness over the denying heart.

10_ هُوَ اللّهُ الَّذی تَشْهَدُ لَهُ أعْلامُ الوُجودِ علی قَلْبِ ذی الجُحُودِ.

11. Allah, Great is His Majesty, is not perceived by

p: 60

the eyes through the sense of sight, rather He is perceived by the hearts though the realities of faith.

11_ لا تُدْرِکُ اللّهُ جلَّ جَلالُهُ العُیُونُ بِمُشاهَدَةِ الأعیانِ، لکن تُدْرِکُهُ القُلُوبُ بِحَقائقِ الإیمانِ.

12. How can one whose guarantor is Allah, lose?

12_ کَیفَ یَضیعُ مَنِ اللّهُ کافِلُهُ؟!

13. Allah, the Glorified, has not created anything in vain so that He may be entertained.

13_ ما خلَقَ اللّهُ سُبحانَهُ أمْراً عَبَثاً فَیَلْهُوَ.

14. Allah, the Glorified, does not abandon anything to futility thereby rendering it void.

14_ ما ترَکَ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ أمْراً سُدیً فَیَلْغُوَ.

15. The knowledge of Allah, the Glorified, encompasses the concealed interiors and records the apparent exteriors.

15_ قَدْ أحاطَ عِلْمُ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ بِالبَواطِنِ، وأحصیَ الظَّواهِرَ.

16. Allah, the Glorified, has recorded your traces, known your actions and ordained your death.

16_ قَدْ سَمَّی اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ آثارَکُمْ، وعَلِمَ أعْمالَکُمْ، وکَتَبَ آجالَکُمْ.

17. Allah, the Glorified, did not create the creation on account of loneliness, nor did He command them [to obey Him] in order to gain anything.

17_ لَمْ یَخْلُقِ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ الخَلْقَ لِوَحْشَة ولَمْ یَسْتَعْمِلْهُمْ لِمَنْفَعة.

18. Allah, the Glorified, has not created you in vain, and has not abandoned you to wander aimlessly, and He has not left you alone in misguidance and blindness.

18_ لَمْ یَخْلُقْکُم اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ عَبَثاً، ولَمْ یَتْرُکْکُمْ سُدیً، ولَمْ یَدَعْکُمْ فی ضلالَة ولا عمی.

19. How amazing the human being is! He sees through [a layer of] fat(1), speaks with a piece of flesh, hears with a bone and breathes through a hole.

19_ إعْجِبُوا لِهذا الإنسانِ یَنْظُرُ بِشَحْم ویَتَکَلَّمُ بِلَحم ویَسْمَعُ بِعَظْم وَیَتَنَفَّسُ مِنْ خَرْم.

20. About

p: 61

the unity of Allah, the Exalted, he said: The depths of understanding cannot perceive Him and the heights of [intellectual] endeavors cannot reach Him.

20_ وَقالَ فی توحیدِاللّهِ تعالی: غَوْصُ الفِتَنِ لایُدْرِکُهُ وبُعدُ الهِمَمِ لا یَبْلُغُهُ.

21. Faces bow down in front of the greatness of Allah, hearts tremble out of fear of Him and souls are sacrificed for His pleasure.

21_ تَعْنُوا الوُجُوهُ لِعَظَمَةِ اللّهِ، وتَجِلُّ القُلُوبُ مِنْ مَخافَتِهِ، وتَتَهالَکُ النُفُوسُ علی مَراضیهِ.

22. Belief in the oneness of Allah enlivens the soul.

22_ اَلتَّوحیدُ حَیوةُ النَّفْسِ.

23. Belief that Allah is one means that you should not [try to] imagine [Him].

23_ اَلتَّوحیدُ أنْ لا تَتَوَهَّمَ.

24. Whoever believes in one God is saved.

24_ قَدْنَجا مَنْ وَحَّدَ (وَجَدَ، وُحِدَ).

25. He (‘a) said about the oneness of Allah: He is near everything but not attached, far from everything but not separate.

25_ وقال _ علیه السلام _ فی توحیدِ اللّهِ: قَریبٌ مِنَ الأشیاءِ غَیرُ مُلابِس، بعیدٌ مِنْها غَیْرُ مُبایِن.

26. He (‘a) said about the oneness of Allah, the Glorified: He is neither inside things nor outside them.

26_ وقال _ علیه السلام _ فی توحیدِ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ: لَیسَ فی الأشیاءِ بِوالِج ولا عَنْها بِخارج.

27. If your Lord had a partner, then his prophets would [also] have come to you.

27_ لَو کانَ لِرَبِّکَ شَریکٌ لأتَتْکَ رُسُلُهُ.

28. One who believes in the oneness of Allah, the Glorified, does not compare Him to the creation.

28_ مَنْ وَحَّدَ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ لَمْ یُشَبِّهْهُ بِالخَلْقِ.

29. He, the Glorified, was not perceived by the intellects and thus described, rather, He, the Exalted, described himself before the

p: 62

describers [attempted to describe Him].

29_ لَمْ تَرَهُ سُبْحانَهُ العُقُولُ فَتُخْبِرَ عَنْهُ، بَلْ کانَ تعالی قَبلَ الواصِفینَ بِهِ لَهُ.

30. Allah, the Glorified, did not give the intellect knowledge about the limits of His qualities, yet He did not prevent it from gaining the necessary understanding of Him.

30_ لَمْ یُطْلِعِ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ العُقُولَ عَلی تَحدیدِ صِفَتِهِ، وَلَمْ یَحْجُبْها عَنْ واجِبِ مَعرِفَتِهِ.

31. He, the Glorified, can neither be confined in the intellect, thereby changing through the process of thought [or imagination], nor in the shackles of the mind, thereby becoming limited and the object of alteration.

31_ لَمْ یَتَناهَ سُبْحانَهُ فی العُقُولِ فَیَکُونَ فی مَهَبِّ فِکْرِها مُکَیَّفاً ولافی رَوِیَّاتِ خَواطِرِها مُحَدَّداً مُصَرَّفاً.

32. Allah has not settled in anything so that it be said He exists therein, nor is He separated from anything so that it is said He is detached from it.

32_ لَمْ یَحْلُلِ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ فی الأشیاءِ فَیکُونَ (فَیُقالَ هُوَ فیها کائِنٌ) فیها کائناً ولَمْ یَنْأ عَنْها فَیُقالَ هُوَ عَنْها بائنٌ.

33. Whoever seeks permission from Allah, He grants it [to him].

33_ مَنِ اسْتَأذَنَ علَی اللّهِ أذِنَ لَهُ.

إذا تَشابَهَتْ اُعْتُبِرَ آخِرُها بِأوَّلِها.

5. Matters are [perfected] through experience [and trial].

5_ الأُمُورُ بِالتَّجرِبَةِ.

6. Matters are similar [to one another].

6_ الأُمُورُ أشباهٌ.

7. Matters are subservient to destiny until death (or injustice) enters the plan.

7_ تَذِلُّ الأُمُورُ لِلْمَقادیرِ حتّی یَکُونََ الحَتْفُ (الحِیْفُ) فی التَّدبیرِِ.

8. Seek in your work the course by which your excuse may be credible, your evidence may be established and your integrity may be restored.

8_ تَحَرَّ مِنْ أمْرِکَ مایَقُومُ بِهِ عُذرُکَ، وتَثْبُتُ بِِهِ حُجَّتُکَ ویَفیءُ إلَیْکَ بِرُشْدِکَ.

9. The best matters are those which give rise to certitude.

9_ خَیْرُ الأُمُورِ ما أسْفَرَ عنِ الیَقینِ.

10. The best matters are those which lead to deliverance [from hellfire].

10_ خَیْرُ الأُمُورِ ما أدّی إلَی الخَلاصِ.

11. The best matters are those which are free from cupidity.

11_ خَیْرُ الأُمُورِ ما عَری عَنِ الطَّمَعِ.

12. The best matters are those that reveal the truth.

12_ خَیْرُ الأُمُورِ ما أسْفَرَ عَنِ الحقِّ.

13. The best matters are those that are easy to initiate, end well and give praiseworthy results.

13_ خَیرُ الأُمُورِ ما سَهُلَتْ مَبادیهِ، وحَسُنَتْ خَواتِمُهُ وحُمِدَتْ عَواقِبُهُ.

14. The best matters are those that give the quickest benefit and the most praiseworthy results.

14_ خَیْرُ الأُمُورِ أعْجَلُها عائدَةً، وأحْمَدُها عاقبَةً.

15. Take of your matter that which makes your excuse credible and establishes your proof.

15_ خُذْ مِنْ أمْرِکَ ما یَقُومُ بِهِ عُذْرُکَ، وتَثْبُتُ بِهِ حُجَتُک.

16. Sometimes matters look grim (or inescapable).

16_ رُبَّما تَجَهَّمَتِ(تَحَتَّمَتِ) الأُمورُ.

17. The worst matters are those that are the most dubious.

17_ شَ_رُّ الأُمورِ أکثَرُها شَکاًّ.

18. Blessed is he who is not unaware of the similarity between matters.

18_ طُوبی لِمَنْ

p: 64

لَمْ تَغُمَّ عَلَیْهِ مُشْتَبَهاتُ الأُمورِ.

19. Sometimes matters become prevalent (or obscure).

19_ قَدْ تَعُمُّ(تُغَمُّ) الأُمورُ.

20. One who suffers the severity of matters is destroyed.

20_ مَنْ کابَدَ الأُمورَ هَلَکَ.

21. One who suffers the severity of matters, perishes.

21_ مَنْ کابَدَ الأُمُورَ عَطِبَ.

22. One who neglects his [own] affairs is negligent in all matters.

22_ مَنْ ضَیَّعَ أمْرَهُ ضَیَّعَ کُلَّ أمْر.

23. The gauge of [successful] matters is [in] their good endings.

23_ مِلاکُ الأُمورِ حُسنُ الخَواتِمِ.

24. One who does not safeguard his affairs is destroyed.

24_ هَلَکَ مَنْ لَمْ یُحرِزْ أمْرَهُ.

25. Do not embark on any matter until you have knowledge of it.

25_ لاتُقْدِمَنَّ علی أمْر حتّی تُخْبِرَهُ.

26. Make [matters] easy and not arduous; make [them] light and not strenuous.

26_ یَسِّرُُوا وَلا تُعَسِّرُوا، وخَفِّفُوا ولا تُثَقِّلُوا.

27. Every matter has an outcome.

27_ لِکُلِّ أمْر مَ آلٌ.

28. What has not [yet] happened can be deduced from what has transpired.

28_ یُسْتَدَلُّ عَلی مالَمْ یَکُنْ بِما قَد کانَ.

29. Let the most beloved matters to you be the most universal in justice and the most equitable with [regards to the] rights [of others].

29_ لِیَکُنْ أحَبُّ الأُمورِ إلَیکَ أعَمَّها فی العَدْلِ وأقسَطَها بِالحقِّ.

30. Be wary of every matter that degrades the one who performs it when it becomes apparent, and abases him.

30_ إحذَرْ کُلَّ أمْر إذا ظَهَرَ، أزری بفاعِلِهِ وحَقَّرَهُ.

31. Be wary of every matter that ruins the Hereafter and improves the worldly life.

31_ إحذَرْ کُلَّ أمْر یُفْسِدُ الآجِلَةَ، ویُصْلِحُ الدَّانیةَ.

creation.

1_ اَلأمرُ بِالمَعْرُوفِ أفْضلُ أعْمالِ الخَلقِ.

2. Enjoin good and you will be among the virtuous. Forbid evil with your hand and tongue, and make an effort to disassociate yourself from the one who commits it.

2_ اُومُرْ بِالمَعْروفِ تَکُنْ مِنْ أهْلِهِ، وأنْکِرِ المُنْکَرَ بِیَدِکَ ولِسانِکَ، وبایِنْ مِنْ فِعْلِهِ بِجَهْدِکَ.

3. Submit yourselves to good and enjoin it; keep away from evil and forbid it.

3_ إئتَمِرُوا بِالمَعرُوفِ، وَأْمُرُوا بهِ، وتَناهَوا عَنِ المُنکَرِ وانْهَوا عنهُ.

4. Verily enjoining good and forbidding evil neither brings death near nor decreases sustenance, rather it multiplies reward and magnifies recompense; and a just word in the presence of an oppressive ruler is [even] better than this.

4_ إنَّ الأمْرَ بالمَعروفِ والنَّهیَ عنِ المُنْکَرِ لا یُقَرِّبانِ مِنْ أجَل، وَلا یَنْقُصانِ مِنْ رِزق، لکنْ یُضاعِفانِ الثَّوابَ ویُعْظِمانِ الأجْرَ، وأفْضَلُ مِنْهُما کَلِمَةُ عَدْل عِندَ إمام جائر.

5. Whoever observes excesses being committed and people being called towards evil, and disapproves of it with his heart, is safe and free [from responsibility for it], and whoever disapproves of it with his tongue will be rewarded for it, and he is in a higher position than the former. But whoever disapproves of it with his sword in order that the proof of Allah may remain superior and the word of the oppressors may remain inferior, has found the path of guidance and stands on the right way while his heart is illuminated with conviction.

5_ إنَّ مَنْ رَأی عُدْواناً یُعمَلُ بهِ، ومُنْکَراً یُدعی إلَیهِ، فَأنْکَرَهُ بِقَلْبِهِ فَقَدْ سَلِمَ وبَرِئَ، ومَنْ أنْکَرَهُ بِلِسانِهِ فَقَد اُجِرَ، وهُوَ أفْضَلُ مِنْ

p: 66

صاحِبِهِ، وَمَنْ أنْکَرَهُ بِسَیفِهِ لِتَکُونَ حُجَّةُ اللّهِ العُلْیا، وکَلِمَةُ الظَّالِمینَ السُّفلی، فَذلکَ الَّذی أصابَ سَبیلَ الهُدی، وَقامَ عَلَی الطَّریْقِ، ونَوَّرَ فی قَلْبِهِ الیَقینُ.

6. If one of you sees an evil being committed and is unable to forbid it with his hand or tongue and forbids it with his heart, while Allah knows the truth of his intention, then [it is as if] he has forbidden it.

6_ إذا رَأی أحَدُکُمْ المُنْکَرَ، وَلَمْ یَسْتَطِعْ أنْ یُنْکِرَهُ بِیَدِهِ ولِسانِهِ، وأنْکَرَهُ بِقَلْبِهِ، وعَلِمَ اللّهُ صِدقَ ذلِک مِنْهُ فَقَد أنکَرَهُ.

7. When [showing] respect is of no benefit then humiliation is firmer; when the whip is not successful then the sword is sharper.

7_ إذا لَمْ تَنْفَعِ الکَرامَةُ فَالإهانَةُ أحْزَمُ، وَإذا لَمْ یَنجَحِ السَّوْطُ فَالسَّیفُ أحْسَمُ.

8. He (‘a) said regarding those who enjoin good and forbid evil: From among them there is one who disapproves of evil with his hand, tongue and heart. He is the one who has perfectly attained [all the] virtuous qualities. And among them there is one who disapproves of evil with his tongue and heart but not with his hand. He is the one who has attained only two virtuous qualities but lacks one. And among them there is the third one who disapproves of evil with his heart but not with his tongue and hand. He is the one who lacks the two better qualities out of three and possesses only one. Then, among them there is he who does not disapprove of evil with his tongue, heart or hand. He

p: 67

is just [like] a dead man among the living. All the virtuous deeds, including fighting in the way of Allah, when compared to the act of enjoining good and forbidding evil, are just like drops in the ocean. Enjoining good and forbidding evil does not bring death nearer, nor does it decrease sustenance. And better than all this is a just word in the presence of a tyrannical ruler.

8 _ وقال _ علیه السّلام _ فی ذِکْرِ الآمرینَ بالمَعْرُوفِ والناهینَ عَنِ المُنکَرِ: فَمِنْهُمُ المُنْکِرُ لِلْمُنْکَرِ بِیَدِهِ ولِسانِهِ وقَلْبِِهِ، فَذلِکَ المُستَکْمِلُ لِخِصالِ الخَیْرِ، ومِنْهُمْ المُنکِرُ بِلسانِهِ وقَلْبِهِ، والتَّارِکُ بِیَدِهِ، فذلِکَ المُتَمَسِّکُ بِخَصلَتَینِ مِنْ خِصالِ الخَیْرِ ومُضَیِّعُ خَصلَة، ومِنْهمْ المُنکِرُ بِقَلبِهِ والتَّارِکُ بِلِسانِهِ ویَدِهِ، فذلِکَ مُضَیِّعٌ أشْ_َرفَ الخَصلَتَیْ_نِ مِنَ الثَّلاثِ ومُتَمَسِّکٌ بواحِدَة، ومِنْهُمْ تارِکٌ لإنکارِ المُنْکَرِ بِقَلْبِهِ ولِسانِِهِ وَیدِهِ فذلِکَ مَیِّتُ الأحیاءِ وَما أعْمالُ البِرِّ کُلِّها والجهادُ فی سَبیلِ اللّهِ عِنْدَ الأمرِ بالمعْروفِ والنَّهیِ عَنِ المُنکَرِ إلاّ کنَفْثَة فی بحْر لُجّیّ، وانَّ الأمرَ بِالمَعروفِ والنَّهیِ عَنِ المُنْکَرِ لا یُقَرِّبانِ مِنْ أجل، ولایَنقُصانِ مِنْ ِرزْق وأفْضلُ مِنْ ذلک کُلِّهِ کَلِمَةُ عَدْل عِنْدَ إمام جائر.

9. Enjoining good [was prescribed] as a reformation for the common people, and forbidding evil as a restriction for the insolent.

9_ والأمرَ بِالمَعرُوفِ مَصْلَحةً لِلْعَوامِّ، والنَّهیَ عَنِ المُنْکَرِ رَدْعاً لِلسُّفَهاءِ.

10. Be one who invites towards good, dissuades from evil, builds ties with those who cut him off and gives to those who deprive him.

10_ کُنْ بِالمعرُوفِ آمِراً، وعَنِ المُنْکَرِ ناهِیاً، ولِمَنْ قَطَعَکَ واصِلاً، وَلِمَنْ حَرَمَکَ مُعطِیاً.

11. Be one who invites towards good, dissuades from evil, acts with virtue and prevents

p: 68

vice.

11 _ کُنْ بِالمَعْرُوفِ آمِراً، وعَنِ المُنکَرِ ناهِیاً، وبِالخَیْرِ عامِلاً، وللْشَّ_رِّ مانِعاً.

12. Be one who invites towards good while acting upon it, and don’t be one who enjoins it while being distant from it [himself], thereby committing a sin and earning the displeasure of his Lord.

12_ کُنْ آمِراً بالمَعْروفِ عاملاً بهِ، ولا تَکُنْ مِمَّنْ یَأمُرُ بِِهِ ویَنْأی عَنْهُ فَیَبُوءُ بإثمهِ، ویَتَعَرَّضُ مَقَتَ رَبِّهِ.

13. You will never be guided to good until you stray from evil.

13_ لَنْ تَهتَدِیَ إلَی المَعْرُوفِ حَتّی تَضِلَّ عَنِ المُنْکَرِ.

14. One who enjoins good strengthens the backs of the believers.

14_ مَنْ عَمِلَ (أمَرَ) بِالمَعرُوفِ شَدَّ ظُهُورَ المُؤمِنینَ.

15. One who forbids evil rubs the noses of the evildoers to the ground.

15_ مَنْ نهَی عَنِ المُنْکَرِ أرْغَمَ اُنُوفَ الفاسِقینَ.

16. It is disgraceful for a man to dissuade the people from evil actions and forbid them from vices and sins, and then perform the same deeds when he is alone and not refrain from them.

16_ یَقْبَحُ عَلَ_یالرَّجُلِ أنْ یُنْکِرَ عَلَی النَّاسِ مُنکَرات ویَنهاهُمْ عَنْ رَذائِلَ وسَیِّئات، وإذا خَلا بِنَفْسِِهِ إرتَکَبَها ولا یَسْتَنْکِفُ مِنْ فِعْلِها.

17. Allah, the Glorified, has not commanded you to do anything but [that which is] good and has not forbidden you from anything but evil.

17_ لَمْ یَأمُرْکُمُ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ إلاّ بِحَسَن، وَلَمْ یَنْهَکُمْ إلاّ عَنْ قَبیح.

18. Allah, the Glorified, does not command anything except that He assists [the people] towards it.

18_ ما أمَرَ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ بشَیْء إلاّ وأعانَ علَیهِ.

19. Allah, the Glorified, does not forbid anything but that He has makes [the people] needless of it.

19_ ما

p: 69

َنهَی اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ عَنْ شَیْء إلاّ وأغنی عنهُ.

20. Verily I deem myself higher than that I should forbid people from that which I do not forbid myself, or enjoin them towards that which I have not preceded them in performing, or that I should be pleased with their actions which my Lord is not pleased with.

20_ إنّی لأرفَعُ نَفْسی أنْ أنْهَی النَّاسَ عَمّا لَستُ أنْتَهی عَنْهُ أوْ آمُرَهُمْ بِما لا أسْبِقُهُمْ إلَیِهِ بِعَمَلی أوْ أرضی مِنْهُمْ بِما لا یَرضی رَبیّ.

of the wise and those endowed with understanding.

8_ أکذِبُوا آمالَکُمْ، واغْتَنِمُوا آجالَکُمْ بِأحسَنِ أعْمالِکُمْ، وبادِرُوا مُبادَرَةَ اُولِی النُّهی والألبابِ.

9. Be wary of the deceit of hopes, for many a person has hoped for a day that never came and built a house that he never occupied and amassed wealth that he never used, and it may be that he amassed it unlawfully by depriving others of their rights, thereby acquiring what is forbidden and carrying the burden of sin.

9_ إتَّقُوا خِداعَ الآمالِ، فَکَمْ مِنْ مُؤَمِّلِ یَوْم لَمْ یُدْرِکْهُ، وَبانی بِناء لَمْیَسکُنْهُ، وجامِعِ مال لَمْ یَأکُلْهُ، وَلَعَلَّهُ مِنْ باطِل جَمَعَهُ وَمِنْ حَقّ مَنَعَهُ، أصابَهُ حَراماً، واحْتَمَلَ بِهِ أثاماً.

10. Be wary of vain hopes, as it is possible for one who starts a day not to end it and for one who is deemed fortunate at dusk to be mourned at dawn.

10_ إتَّقُوا باطلَ الأمَلِ، فَرُبَّ مُسْتَقْبِلِ یَوم لَیْسَ بِمُسْتَدْبِرِه، ومَغْبُوط فی أوّلِ لَیْلَة قامَتْ بَواکیهِ فی آخِرِهِ.

11. Be cautious of dashed hopes and seized blessings.

11_ إحْذَرُوا الأمَلَ المَغْلُوبَ، والنَّعیمَ المَسْلُوبَ.

12. Beware of relying on [your] hopes, for this is the trait of fools.

12_ إیّاکَ والثِّقَة بِالآمالِ فَإنَّها مِنْ شِیَمِ الحَمْقی.

13. The deception of hope corrupts [one’s] action.

13_ غُُرُورُ الأمَلِ یُفْسِدُ العَمَلَ.

14. An ignorant person is fooled by the deception of his hope, so he loses the best of his actions.

14_ غَرَّ جَهُولاً کاذِبُ أمَلِهِ فَفاتَهُ حُسْنُ عَمَلِهِ.

15. The deception of hope wastes time and brings death closer.

15_ غُرُورُ الأمَلِ یُنْفِدُ المَهَلَ ویُدْنی الأجَلَ.

16. In the deception of hopes, lifetimes lapse.

16_ فی

p: 71

غُرُورِ الآمالِ إنْقِضاءُ الآجالِ.

17. Aspirations may deceive.

17_ قَدْ تَغُرُّ الاُمنِیَّةُ.

18. Hopes may beguile.

18_ قَدْ تَکْذِبُ الآمالُ.

19. Rarely do hopes turn out to be true.

19_ قَلَّما تَصْدُقُ الآمالُ.

20. Reduce your hopes, fear the suddenness of death and hasten towards performing good deeds.

20_ قَصِّ_رُوا الأمَلَ، وخافُوا بَغْتَةَ الأجَلِ، وبادِرُوا صالِحَ العَمَلِ.

21. Decrease your hopes and your actions will become sincere.

21_ قَلِّلِ الآمالَ، تَخْلُصْ لَکَ الأعمالُ.

22. Reduce your hopes, for your death is indeed near!

22_ قَصِّ_رْ أمَلَکَ فَما أقْرَبَ أجَلَکَ.

23. Reduce [your] hopes, for verily life is short; and perform good actions, for verily little of it is plenty.

23_ قَصِّ_رِ الأمَلَ فَإنَّ العُمْرَ قَصیرٌ، وافْعَلِ الخَیرَ فَإنَّ یَسیَرهُ کَثیرٌ.

24. Reduce [your] hopes, hasten towards [good] deeds and fear the suddenness of death, as the return of lifetime cannot be hoped for like the return of livelihood. Whatever is missed from livelihood today may be hoped for tomorrow with increase, but whatever is lost from one’s lifetime yesterday, its return cannot be hoped for today.

24_ قَصِّ_رُوا الأمَلَ، وَبادِرُوا العَمَلَ، وَخافُوا بَغْتَةَ الأجلِ، فَإنَّهُ لَنْ یُرجی مِنْ رَجْعَةِ العُمْرِ ما یُرجی مِنْ رَجْعَةِ الرِّزقِ، ما فاتَ الیَوْمُ مِنَ الرِّزقِ یُرجی غَداً زیادَتُهُ، وما فاتَ أمْسِ مِنَ العُمرِ لَمْ تُرْجَ الیَومَ رَجْعَتُهُ.

25. Every person is seeking his aspirations while [concurrently] being sought by his death.

25_ کُلُّ امْرِء طالِبُ اُمْنِیَّتِهِ ومَطْلُوبُ مَنِیَّتِهِ.

26. How many a person is deluded by hopes, [and] ends up wasting his actions!

26_ کَمْ مِنْ مَخْدُوع بِالأمَلِ مُضَیِّع لِلْعَمَلِ.

27. Hope is sufficient as a deception.

27_ کَفی بِالأمَلِ إغْتِراراً.

28. Increased aspirations stem from corruption of

p: 72

the intellect.

28_ کَثْرَةُ الأمانی مِنْ فِسادِ العَقْلِ.

29. For every hope there is a delusion.

29_ لِکُلِّ أمَل غُرورٌ.

30. Hopes never end.

30_ اَلآمالُ لاتَنتَهی.

31. Hope causes death to be forgotten.

31_ اَلأملُ یُنْسِی الأجَلَ.

32. Aspirations are incentives for men.

32_ اَلأمانیُّ هِمَّةُ الرِّجالِ.

33. Hope is the veil of death.

33_ اَلأمَلُ حِجابُ الأجَلِ.

34. There is no end to hope.

34_ اَلأمَلُ لا غایَةَ لَهُ.

35. Hope is an intimate companion.

35_ اَلأملُ رَفیقٌ مُونِسٌ.

36. Hope is a cheater, deceiver, and harmer.

36_ اَلأملُ خادِعٌ، غارٌّ، ضارٌّ.

37. Hope corrupts [one’s] actions and wastes [one’s] lifetime.

37_ اَلأملُ یُفْسِدُ العَمَلَ، ویُفنِی الأجَلَ.

38. Aspirations blind the eyes of insight.

38_ اَلأمانیُّ تُعْمی عُیُونَ البَصائِرِ.

39. Aspirations beguile you, and in the presence of reality, they abandon you.

39_ اَلأمانیُّ تَخْدَعُکَ، وعِنْدَ الحَقائقِِ تَدَعُکَ.

40. Verily I am fighting against my hopes and waiting for my death.

40_ إنّی مُحاربُ أمَلی، ومُنْتَظِرُ أجَلی.

41. Verily you will not reach what you hope for and will never surpass death, so be conscious of Allah and be moderate in your desires.

41_ إنّکَ لَنْ تَبْلُغَ أمَلَکَ، وَلَنْ تَعدُوَ أجَلَکَ، فَاتَّقِ اللّهَ، وأجْمِلْ فی الطَّلَبِ.

42. If you are deceived by hopes, you will surely be annihilated by the fast approaching death and will have lost [the opportunity to perform] good deeds.

42_ إنَّکُمْ إنِ اغْتَرَرْتُمْ بِالآمالِ، تَخَرَّمَتْکُمْ بَوادِرُ الآجالِ وقَدْ ماتَتْکُمُ الأعْمالُ.

43. The bane of hopes is the coming of death.

43_ آفَةُ الآمالِ حُضُورُ الآجالِ.

44. The bane of hope is death.

44_ آفَةُ الأمَلِ اَلأجَلُ.

45. With the realization of hopes, it becomes easier to overcome [one’s] fears.

45_ بِبُلُوغِ الآمالِ یَهُونُ رُکُوبُ الأهْوالِ.

46. The worst habit is

p: 73

hoping [for too much] as it wastes one’s lifetime and causes one to lose [the opportunity to perform good] deeds.

46_ بِئْسَ الشّیمَةُ الأمَلُ یُفْنِی الأجَلَ، ویُفَوِّتُ العَمَلَ.

47. Keep away from vain hopes, for they take away the delight of the blessings of Allah from you and make them seem small and insignificant, thereby increasing your lack of gratitude.

47_ تَجَنَّبُوا المُنی، فإنَّها تَذْهَبُ بِبَهجَةِ نِعَمِ اللّهِ عِنْدَکُمْ، وتُلْزِمُ إسْتِصْغارَها لَدَیْکُمْ، وَعلی قِلَّةِ الشُّکرِ مِنْکُمْ.

48. The fruit of hope is corruption of deeds.

48_ ثَمَرَةُ الأمَلِ فَسادُ العَمَلِ.

49. The product of aspirations is regret (and its fruit is loss).

49_ حاصِلُ الأمانِی، الأسَفُ (وَ ثَمرَتُهُ التَّلَفُ).

50. How close death is to hope!

50_ ما أقْرَبَ الأجَلَ مِنَ الأمَلِ.

51. How corrupting is hope for deeds!

51_ ما أفْسَدَ الأمَلَ لِلْعَمَلِ.

52. How severing is death for hope!

52_ ما أقْطعَ الأجَلَ للأمَلِ.

53. No one lengthens his hopes except that he [also] curtails his actions.

53_ ما أطالَ أحدٌ فی الأمَلِ إلاّ قَصَّ_َر فِی العَمَلِ.

54. What is the matter with you? You hope for that which you do not achieve, amass wealth which you do not use and build houses which you do not occupy!

54_ ما لَکُمْ تُؤَمِّلُونَ ما لاتُدْرِکُونَهُ، وتَجْمَعُونَ مالا تأکُلُونَهُ، وَتَبْنُونَ ما لا تَسْکُنُونَهُ؟

55. No one lengthens his hopes except that he forgets death and performs evil actions.

55_ ماأطال اَحَدٌ الأمَلَ إلاَّ نَسیَ الأجَلَ، وأساءَ العَمَلَ.

56. The best assistance for action is curtailing hopes.

56_ نِعْمَ عَوْنُ العَمَلِ قَصْ_رُ الأمَلِ.

57. Let aspirations and ploys not deceive you, for this suffices as ineptness.

57_ لا تَغُرَّنَّکَ الأمانیُّ والخُدَعُ، فَکفی بِذلِکَ خُرْقاً.

58.

p: 74

No deception is more misleading than hope.

58_ لاغارَّ أخْدَعُ مِنَ الأمَلِ.

59. Nothing is more untrue than hope.

59_ لاشَیْءَ أکْذَبُ مِنَ الأمَلِ.

60. Aspirations are not loyal to those who rely on them.

60_ لاتَفِی الأمانیُّ لِمَنْ عَوَّلَ عَلَیْها.

61. The smallest of hopes leads to corruption of actions.

61_ یَسیرُ الأمَلِ یُوجِبُ فَسادَ العَمَلِ.

62. Be wary of [false] aspirations, for verily they are certain [causes of] deaths.

62_ إحْذَرُوا الأمانیَّ، فَإنَّها مَنایا مُحَقَقَةٌ.

63. Be cautious not to depend on hopes, for they are the wares of the unintelligent.

63_ إیّاکَ والإتِّکالَ عَلَی المُنی، فَإنَّها مِنْ بَضائِعِ النَّوْکی.

64. The most beneficial cure is abandoning [false] aspirations.

64_ أنْفَعُ الدَّواءِ تَرْکُ المُنی.

65. Aspirations are scattered [and dispersed].

65_ الأمانیُّ أشتاتٌ.

66. Aspirations delude.

66_ اَلأمانِیُّ تُُخْدَعُ.

67. False aspiration is the trait of fools.

67_ اَلأمانیُّ شَیْمَةُ الحَمْقاءِ.

68. Submission to hope corrupts [one’s] actions.

68_ طاعةُ الأمَلِ، تُفْسِدُ العَمَلَ.

69. It is when death comes that the failure of hopes becomes apparent.

69_ عِنْدَ حُضُورِ الاجالِ تَظْهَرُ خَیْبَةُ الآمالِ.

70. I wonder at the one who has no control over his death, how can he lengthen his hopes?

70_ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ لا یَمْلِکُ أجَلَهُ کَیفَ یُطیلُ أمَلَهُ.

71. The end of hope is death.

71_ غایةُ الأملِ اَلأجَلُ.

72. The farthest thing is hope.

72_ اَبْعَدُ شَیْء الأمَلُ.

73. Those who have the most [false] hopes are the ones who remember death the least.

73_ أکْثَرُ النَّاسِ أمَلاً أقَلُّهُمْ لِلْمَوْتِ ذِکراً.

74. Those who have the longest hopes are the ones whose deeds are the worst.

74_ أطْوَلُ النَّاسِ أمَلاً أسْوَئُهُمْ عَمَلاً

75. Verily Allah, the Glorified, hates the one who has long hopes and performs evil actions.

75_

p: 75

إنَّ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ لَیُبْغِضُ الطَّویلَ الأمَلِ، السَّیِّءَ العَملِ.

76. Indeed man reaches near [the realization of] his hopes, when the [sudden] approach of his death cuts them short, then - Glory be to Allah! - Neither is the hope realized nor is the hoper spared.

76_ إنَّ المَرْءَ یَشْرُفُ عَلی أمَلِهِ، فَیَقْطَعُهُ حُضُورُ أجَلِهِ، فَسُبْحانَ اللّهِ لا أمَلٌ یُدْرَکُ، ولا مُؤَمِّلٌ یُتْرَکُ.

77. Be cautious not to lengthen [your] hope, for many a deceived person has been enticed by his long hope and corrupted his deeds and cut [short] his lifetime, then neither was his hope realized nor was that which he lost regained.

77_ إیّاکَ وطُولَ الأمَلِ، فَکَمْ مِنْ مَغْرُور افتَتَنَ بِطُولِ أمَلَهِ، وأفْسََدَ عََمَلَهُ، وقَطَعَ أجَلَهُ، فَلا أمَلَهُ أدْرَکَ ولا ما فاتَهُ اسْتَدرَکَ.

78. Where will the falsehoods of hopes mislead you to?!

78_ أیْنَ تَخْتَدِعُکُمْ کَواذِبُ الآمالِ؟!

79. Where will the mirage of hopes misguide you to?!

79_ أینَ یَغُرُّکُمْ سَرابُ الآمالِ؟!

80. The most delusive thing is hope.

80_ أکْذَبُ شیْء اَلأمَلُ.

81. The one who is worst in bargaining and most unsuccessful in striving is he who exerts himself in seeking the realization of his hopes while fate does not help him in his aims, and [as a result] he leaves this world in a sorrowful state and proceeds to the next world where he faces the consequences.

81_ إنَّ أخْسَرَ النَّاسِ صَفْقَةً، وأخْیَبَهُمْ سَعیاً، رَجلٌ أخْلَقَ بَدَنَهُ فی طَلَبِ آمالِهِ، ولَم تُساعِدْهُ المَقادیرُ علی إرادَتِهِ، فَخَرَجَ مِنَ الدُّنیا بِحَسَراتِهِ، وقَدِمَ عَلَی الآخِرَةِ بِتَبِعاتِهِ.

82. Hope is treacherous.

82_ اَلأمَلُ خَوَّانٌ.

83. Hope deceives and lifetime passes.

83_ اَلأمَلُ یَغُرُّ، اَلعَیْشُ

p: 76

یَمُرُّ.

84. Hope misleads and transgression strikes down.

84_ اَلأمَلُ یَخْدَعُ، اَلبَغیُ یَصرَعُ.

85. One who is deceived by hopes is misled.

85_ اَلمُغْتَ_رُّ بِالآمالِ مَخْدُوعٌ.

86. Aspirations are the wares of the unintelligent.

86_ الأمانیُّ بَضائِعُ النَّوْکی.

87. Hopes are the delusions of the foolish.

87_ اَلآمالُ غَرُورُ الحَمْقی.

88. Hopes bring death closer.

88_ اَلآمالُ تُدنِی الآجالَ.

89. One whose aspirations increase, his satisfaction decreases.

89_ مَنْ کَثُرَ مُناهُ قَلَّ رِضاهُ.

90. One whose hopes lengthen, his actions become worse.

90_ مَنْ طالَ أمَلُهُ ساءَ عَمَلُهُ.

91. One who is deceived by hope is misled by it.

91_ مَنِ اغْتَرَّ بِالأمَلِ خَدَعَهُ.

92. One who is deceived by aspirations is belied by death.

92_ مَنْ غَرَّتْهُ الأمانیُّ کَذَّبَتْهُ الآجالُ.

93. One who reaches the end of his hopes should expect the arrival of his death.

93_ مَنْ بَلَغَ غایَةَ أمَلِهِ فَلْیَتَوَقَّعْ حُلُولَ أجَلِهِ

94. One who follows his aspirations faces increased hardship.

94_ مَنْ تَبِعَ مُناهُ، کَثُرَ عَناؤُهُ.

95. One who proceeds on the path of his hopes, stumbles upon his death.

95_ مَنْ جَری فی مَیْدانِ أمَلَهِ، عَثِرَ بِأجَلِهِ.

96. One whose aspirations increase, his hardship increases.

96_ مَنْ کَثُرَ مُناهُ، کَثُرَ عَناؤُهُ.

97. One who hopes for that which is not possible, his anticipation becomes long.

97_ مَنْ أمَّلَ ما لایُمْکِنُ، طالَ تَرَقُّبُهُ.

98. One whose hope is [to reach] Allah, shall realize the fulfilment of his hope and aspiration.

98_ مَنْ یَکُنِ اللّهُ أمَلَهُ، یُدْرِکُ غایَةَ الأمَلِ والرَّجاءِ.

99. Whoever regards his remaining lifetime to be fleeting, his hopes and aspirations become short.

99_ مَنِ اسْتَقصَ_رَ بَقاءَهُ وأجَلَهُ، قَصَّ_رَ رَجاؤُهُ وأمَلُهُ.

100. One who proceeds on the course of his hopes, stumbles upon his death.

100_ مَنْ جَری فی

p: 77

عِنانِ أمَلِهِ عَثِرَ بِأجَلَهِ.

101. One who hopes for anything other than Allah, the Glorified, has given lie to his hopes.

101_ مَنّ أمَّلَ غَیْ_رَ اللّهِ سُبْحانَه أکذَبَ آمالَهُ.

102. One who seeks support from his aspirations becomes penniless.

102_ مَنِ اسْتَعانَ بِالأمانیِّ أفْلَسَ.

103. It is foolishness to depending on [one’s] hope.

103_ مِنَ الحُمْقِ الاِتِّکالُ عَلَی الأمَلِ.

104. The humiliation of men is in the dashing of hopes.

104_ ذُلُّ الرِّجالِ فی خَیْبَةِ الآمالِ.

105. May Allah have mercy on the man who shortens his hopes, anticipates death, makes good use of his time and takes with him the provisions of [good] deeds.

105_ رَحِمَ اللّهُ امْرَءاً قَصَّرَ الأمَلَ، وبادَرَ الأجَلَ، واغْتَنَمَ المَهَلَ، وتَزَوَّدَ مِنَ العَملِ.

106. Many an aspiration may lie beneath death.

106_ رُبَّ اُمْنِیَّة تَحتَ مَنِیَّة.

107. Take away from your long hopes and increase your short lifetime, and do not be deceived by your good physical health and yesterday’s wellbeing, for life is short and good health is prone to change.

107_ زِدْ مِنْ طُولِ أمَلِکَ فی قَصْرِ أجَلِکَ، ولا تَغُرَّنَّکَ صِحَّةُ جِسْمِکَ وَسَلامَةُ أمْسِکَ، فَإنَّ مُدَّة َ العُمرِ قَلیلَةٌ، وسَلامَةُ الجِسمِ مُسْتَحیلَةٌ.

108. The worst poverty is [false] aspiration.

108_ شَ_رُّ الفَقْرِ المُنی.

109. Lifetimes are wasted between hope and aspiration.

109_ ضِیاعُ العُمْرِ بَیْنَ الآمالِ والمُنی.

110. Blessed is he who shortens his hopes and makes good use of his time.

110_ طُوبی لِمَنْ قَصَّرَ أمَلَهُ واغْتَنَمَ مَهَلَهُ.

111. Blessed is he who belies his aspirations and sacrifices his world in order to build his Hereafter.

111_ طُوبی لِمَنْ کَذَّبَ مُناهُ وأخْرَبَ دُنیاهُ لِعِمارَةِ اُخْراهُ.

112. One who relies on his aspirations dies without [realizing]

p: 78

his hopes.

112_ مَنِاتَّکلَ علَی الأمانیّ ماتَ دُونَ أمَلِهِ.

113. One who trusts his aspirations will have them severed by death.

113_ مَنْ وَثِقَ بِالاُمْنِیَّةِ قَطَعَتْهُ المَنیِّةُ.

114. Whoever shortens his hopes, beautifies his actions.

114_ مَنْ قَصُرَ أمَلُهُ حَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ.

115. Whoever lengthens his hopes, corrupts his actions.

115_ مَنْ أطالَ أمَلَهُ أفْسَدَ عَمَلَهُ.

the security of the peaceful or takes away the rights of the people except the disbelieving infidel and the duplicitous apostate.

2_ واللّهِ ما مَنَعَ الأمْنَ أهْلَهُ، وأزاحَ الحقَّ عَنْ مُسْتَحِقِّهِ إلاّ کُلُّ کافِر جاحِد، ومُنافِق مُلْحِد.

3. Do not be deceived by [a false sense of] security, for you will surely be taken from your sanctuary.

3_ لا تَغْتَرَّنَّ بِالأمْنِ، فَإنَّکَ مَأخُوذٌ مِنْ مَأمَنِکَ.

4. It is not appropriate for an intelligent person to live in fear when he has found a way to [attain] security.

4_ لایَنْبَغی لِلْعاقِلِ أنْ یُقیمَ عَلَی الخَوفِ إذا وَجَدَ إلیَ الأمْنِ سَبیلاً.

5. There is no blessing better than security.

5_ لا نِعْمَةَ أهْنَأُ مِنَ الأمْنِ.

6. Security is [a cause of] deception; fear is [a means of] precaution.

6_ اَلأمْنُ إغْتِرارٌ، اَلخَوْفُ إسْتِظْهارٌ.

7. The sweetness of security is spoilt by the bitterness of fear and panic.

7_ حَلاوَةُ الأمْنِ، تُنَکِّدُها مَرارَةُ الخَوفِ والحَذَرِ.

8. Many a security turns into fear.

8_ رُبَّ أمْن إنْقَلَبَ خَوْفاً.

9. The comfort of life is in security.

9_ رِفاهِیَّةُ العَیْشِ فیِ الأمْنِ.

leads to truthfulness.

1_ اَلأمانَةُ تُؤَدّی إلی الصِّدْقِ.

2. Trustworthiness and loyalty are sincere actions, lying and fabrication are perfidious utterances.

2_ اَلأمانةُ والوَفاءُ صِدْقُ الأفعالِ، والکِذْبُ والإفتِراءُ خیانَةُ الأقوالِ.

3. Return the trust to the one who has entrusted it to you, and do not act treacherously with the one who betrayed your trust.

3_ أدِّ الأمانَةَ إلی مَنِ ائْتَمَنَکَ، ولا تَخُنْ مَنْ خانَکَ.

4. Return the trust when it is entrusted to you, and do not accuse anyone when you entrust something to him, for surely one who is not trustworthy has no faith.

4_ أدِّ الأمانَةَ إذَا ائْتُمِنْتَ، ولا تَتَّهِمْ غَیرَکَ إذَا ائْتَمَنْتَهُ، فَإنَّهُ لا إیمانَ لِمَنْ لا أمانَةَ لَهُ.

5. The best [form of] trustworthiness is keeping one’s promise.

5_ أفضلُ الأمانَةِ الوَفاءُ بِالعَهدِ.

6. Trustworthiness is [a sign of] faith; cheerfulness is [a form of] kindness.

6_ اَلأمانةُ إیمانٌ، البَشاشَةُ إحسانٌ.

7. Trustworthiness is preservation [and safeguarding of what has been entrusted].

7_ اَلأمانَةُ صِیانةٌ.

8. Trustworthiness is a success for the one who observes it.

8_ الأمانَةُ فَوْزٌ لِمَنْ رَعاها(وَعاها).

9. Trustworthiness is a merit for the one who executes it.

9_ اَلأمانَةُ فَضیلَةٌ لِمَنْ أدَّاها.

10. The bane of trustworthiness is treachery.

10_ آفَةُ الأمانَةِ الخِیانَةُ.

11. When you are entrusted with something, then do not betray [the trust].

11_ إذا ائْتُمِنْتَ فَلا تَخُنْ.

12. When you entrust anyone [with something], then do not accuse them of treachery.

12_ إذا ائْتَمَنْتَ فَلا تَسْتَخِنْ.

13. When trustworthiness becomes stronger, truthfulness increases.

13_ إذا قَوِیَتِ الأمَانةُ کَثُرَ الصِّدْقُ.

14. The cornerstone of faith is trustworthiness.

14_ رَأسُ الإسلامِ(الإیمانِ) الأمانَةُ.

15. Sound trustworthiness is a symbol of good conviction.

15_ صِحَّةُ الأمانَةِ عُنْوانُ حُسْنِ المُعْتَقَدِ.

16.

p: 81

Espouse trustworthiness for it is the best [form of] religiosity.

16_ عَلَیْکَ بِالأمانَةِ فَإنَّها أفْضَلُ دِیانَة.

17. Corruption of trustworthiness is submission to treachery.

17_ فَسادُ الأمانَةِ طاعَةُ الخِیانَةِ.

18. Successful is the one who clothes himself with loyalty and arms himself with trustworthiness.

18_ فازَ مَنْ تَجَلْبَبَ الوَفاءَ، وادَّرَعَ الأمانَةَ.

19. Everything that is not fit to be disclosed is a trust, even if its confidentiality is not specifically sought.

19_ کُلُّ شَیْء لایَحْسُنُ نَشْْرُهُ أمانَةٌ وإنْ لَمْ یُسْتَکتَمْ.

20. One who has no trustworthiness has no faith.

20_ مَنْ لا أمانَةَ لَهُ لا إیمانَ لَهُ.

21. One who takes [the] keeping [of] trust lightly will fall into treachery.

21_ مَنِ اسْتَهانَ بِالأمانَةِ وَقَعَ فیِ الخِیانَةِ.

22. One who acts with trustworthiness has perfected his religion.

22_ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِالأمانَةِ فَقَدْ أکْمَلَ الدِّیانَةَ.

23. The best trust that can be kept is fulfilling [one’s] obligations.

23_ مِنْ أحْسنَ الأمانَةِ رَعْیُ الذِّمَمِ.

24. There is no faith in one who is not trustworthy.

24_ لا إیمانَ لِمَنْ لا أمانَةَ لَهُ.

25. There is no trustworthiness in one who has no religion.

25_ لاأمانَةَ لِمَنْ لا دینَ لَهُ.

is a tree, its root is certitude, its branch is piety, its sunlight is modesty and its fruit is generosity.

5_ الإیمانُ شَجَرَةٌ، أصْلُهَا الْیَقینُ، وفَرْعُهَا التُّقی، ونُورُهَا الْحَیاءُ، وَثَمَرُهَا السَّخاءُ.

    6. Faith, sincerity, certitude and piety are [encapsulated in] patience and acceptance of what has been decreed [by Allah].

6_ الإیمانُ، والإخْلاصُ، والیَقینُ، والوَرَعُ، اَلصَّبْرُ والرِّضا بما یَأتی بِهِ القَدَرُ.

    7. Faith and action are twin brothers and companions who do not part ways; Allah does not accept one without its counterpart.

7_ اَلإیمانُ والعَمَلُ أخَوانِ تَوْأمانِ، ورَفیقانِ لایَفْترِقانِ، لا یَقْبَلُ اللّهُ أحَدَهُما إلاّ بِصاحِبِهِ.

    8. The best [sign of] faith is trustworthiness.

8_ أفضلُ الإیمانِ، الأمانَةُ.

    9. The best faith is [based on] complete certitude.

9_ أفْضَلُ الإیمانِ، حُسْنُ الإیقانِ.

    10. The people who are strongest in faith are those who rely the most on Allah, the Glorified.

10_ أقْویَ النَّاسِ إیمانَاً أکثَرُهُمْ تَوَکُّلاً عَلَی اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ.

    11. The closest people to Allah, the Glorified, are the ones with the greatest faith.

11_ أقْرَبُ النَّاسِ مِنَ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ أحْسَنُهُمْ إیماناً.

    12. The best faith is [accompanied with] sincerity and good deeds, and the worst traits are cruelty and aggression.

12_ أفضلُ الإیمانِ الإخلاصُ والإحسانُ، وأقْبَحُ الشِّیَمِ اَلتَّجافی وَالعُدْوانُ.

    13. The best faith is [based on] complete certitude, and the greatest honour is [in] doing good deeds.

13_ أفضلُ الإیمانِ حُسْنُ الإیقانِ وأفْضَلُ الشَّرَفِ بَذْلُ الإحسانِ.

    14. Verily the best faith is for a man to act justly with others.

14_ إنَّ أفضلَ الإیمانِ إنْصافُ الرَّجُلِ مِنْ نَفْسهِ.

    15. Indeed the place of faith is the heart, and the

p: 83

path to it is [through] the ears.

15_ إنَّ مَحَلَّ الإیمانِ الجَنانُ، وسَبیلَهُ الأُذُنانِ.

    16. Faith is security.

16_ اَلإیمانُ أمانٌ.

    17. Faith is the path with manifest inner secrets.

17_ اَلإیمانُ واضِحُ الوَلائجِ.

    18. Faith is an effective intercessor.

18_ اَلإیمانُ شَفیعٌ مُنجِحٌ.

    19. Faith is free of jealousy.

19_ اَلإیمانُ بَریءٌ مِنَ الحَسَدِ.

    20. Faith is the loftiest goal.

20_ الإیمانُ أعلی غایَة.

    21. Disbelief is wiped out by faith.

21_ اَلکُفْرُ یَمْحاهُ (یَمحوه) الإیمانُ.

    22. Faith is sincerity in action.

22_ اَلإیمانُ إخلاصُ العَمَلِ.

    23. Salvation comes with faith.

23_ النَّجاةُ مَعَ الإیمانِ.

    24. Faith is a flame that cannot be extinguished.

24_ اَلإیمانُ شِهابٌ لا یَخْبُو.

    25. Faith is free of hypocrisy.

25_ اَلإیمانُ بَریءٌ مِنَ النِّفاقِ.

    26. Faith is patience in tribulation and gratitude in ease.

26_ اَلإیمانُ صَبْرٌ فی البَلاءِ، وشُکْرٌ فی الرَّخاءِ.

    27. If you have faith in Allah, your place of return will be secure.

27_ إنْ امَنْتَ باللّهِ أمِنَ مُنْقَلَبُکَ.

    28. It is through faith that salvation is attained.

28_ بِالإیمانِ تَکُونُ النَّجاةُ.

    29. It is through faith that one is guided towards virtuous actions.

29_ بِالإیمانِ یُستَدَلُّ عَلَی الصَّالِحاتِ.

    30. It is through faith that one reaches the pinnacle of felicity and the zenith of happiness.

30_ بِالإیمانِ یُرْتَقی إلی ذُرْوَةِ السَّعادَةِ ونِهایَةِ الحُبُورِ.

    31. Faith is salvation.

31_ الإیمانُ نَجاةٌ.

    32. The fruit of faith is success with Allah.

32_ ثَمَرَةُ الإیمانِ اَلفَوْزُ عِندَ اللّهِ.

    33. The fruit of faith is desire for the Eternal Abode.

33_ ثَمَرَةُ الإیمانِ اَلرَّغبَةُ فی دارِ البَقاءِ.

    34. Three things, if possessed, complete one’s faith: intellect, forbearance and knowledge.

34_ ثَلاثٌ مَنْ کُنَّ

p: 84

فیهِ کَمُلَ ایمانُهُ، اَلعَقْلُ، والحِلمُ، والعِلْمُ.

    35. Three things, if possessed, perfect one’s faith: that when one is pleased, his pleasure does not lead him towards vice; and when he gets angry, his anger does not draw him away from the truth; and when he is in a position of power, he never takes that which is not his.

35_ ثلاثٌ مَنْ کُنَّ فیهِ استَکْمَلَ الإیمانَ: مَنْ إذا رَضیَ لَمْ یُخْرِجْهُ رِضاهُ إلی باطِل، وإذا غَضِبَ لَمْ یُخْرِجْهُ غَضَبُهُ عَنْ حقّ، وإذا قَدَرَ لَمْ یَأخُذْما لَیسَلَهُ.

    36. Three things, if possessed, perfect one’s faith: justice in anger and contentment, moderation in poverty and wealth, and maintaining a balance between fear and hope.

36_ ثلاثٌ مَنْ کُنَّ فیهِ فَقَدْ أکمَلَ الإیمانَ: العَدْلُ فی الغَضَبِ والرِّضا، وَالقَصدُ فی الفَقْرِ وَالغِناءِ، وَاعْتِدالُ الخَوفِ والرَّجاءِ.

    37. Three things are from the treasures of faith: concealing misfortune, charity and sickness.

37_ ثلاثٌ مِنْ کُنُوزِ الإیمانِ: کِتمانُ المُصیبَةِ، والصَّدَقَةُ، وَالمَرَضُ.

    38. Virtuous chastity and contentment with what suffices are from the pillars of faith.

38_ حُسْنُ العَفافِ، والرِّضا بِالکَفافِ مِنْ دَعائمِ الإیمانِ.

    39. Lowering your voice, casting down your gaze and walking with modesty are from the signs of faith and religiousness.

39_ خَفْضُ الصَّوتِ وغَضُّ البَصَرِ، ومَشیُ القَصْدِ، مِنْ أمارَةِ الإیمانِ وحُسنِ التَدَیُّنِ.

    40. Contently remaining obedient [to Allah], performing good deeds and hastening towards noble traits are from the perfections of faith and the best virtues.

40_ دَوامُ الطَّاعاتِ، وفِعْلُ الخَیْراتِ، والمُبادَرَةُ إلَی المَکْرُماتِ مِنْ کَمالِ الإیمانِ، وأفضَلِ الإحسانِ.

    41. The embellishment of faith is piety.

41_ زَیْنُ الإیمانِ الوَرَعُ.

    42.

p: 85

He (‘a) said about faith: It is nearness [to Allah] for the one who guards [against evil], confidence for the one who trusts [in Allah], comfort for the one who entrusts [his affairs to Allah] and a shield for the one who endures patiently.

42_ وقالَ _ علیه السّلام _ فی ذِکرِ الإیمانِ: زُلْفی لِمَنِ ارْتَقَبَ، وَثِقَةٌ لِمَنْ تَوَکَّلَ، وراحَةٌ لِمَنْ فَوَّضَ، وجُنَّةٌ لِمنْ صَبَرَ.

    43. The embellishment of faith is [in] purity of one’s innermost thoughts [and secrets] and [performing] good deeds in the open.

43_ زَیْنُ الإیمانِ طَهارَةُ السَّ_رائرِ، وَحُسْنُ العَمَلِ فیِ الظَّاهِرِ.

    44. Ask Allah for [strong] faith and act upon the ordinances of the Qur’an.

44_ سَلُوااللّهَ الإیمانَ، واعْمَلُوا بِمُوجَبِ القُرآنِ.

    45. The worst faith is that in which doubt enters.

45_ شرُّ الإیمانِ ما دَخَلَهُ الشَّکُّ.

    46. The uprightness of faith is [in] piety and its corruption is [in] greed.

46_ صَلاحُ الإیمانِ الوَرَعُ، وفَسادُهُ الطَّمَعُ.

    47. True faith and good deeds are the best provisions.

47_ صِدْقُ الإیمانِ، وصَنایِ_عُ الإحسانِ، أفْضَلُ الذَّخائِرِ.

    48. Protect your faith from doubt, for doubt spoils faith the same way salt spoils honey.

48_ صُنْ ایمانَکَ مِنَ الشَّکِّ: فَإنَّ الشَّکَّ یُفْسِدُ الإیمانَ کَما یُفْسِدُ المِلْحُ العَسَلَ.

    49. Make your faith sincere, for this is the path to Paradise and safety from hellfire.

49_ عَلَیْکُمْ بِإخلاصِ الإیمانِ فَإنَّهُ السَّبیلُ إلَی الجَنَّةِ والنَّجاةِ مِنَ النَّارِ.

    50. It is on truth and trust that faith is based.

50_ عَلَی الصِّدْقِ والأمانَةِ مَبْنَی الإیمانِ.

    51. The pinnacle of faith is certitude.

51_ غایَةُ الإیمانِ الإیقانُ.

    52. The highest degree of faith is befriending

p: 86

for the sake of Allah, having enmity for the sake of Allah, spending on each other for the sake of Allah and establishing ties with each other for the sake of Allah, the Glorified.

52_ غایَةُ الإیمانِ المُوالاةُ فیِ اللّهِ، والمُعاداةُ فیِ اللّهِ، والتَّباذُلُ فیِ اللّهِ، وَالتَّواصُلُ فیِ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ.

    53. One type of faith is that which is firmly fixed in the hearts and another is that which shifts between the hearts and breasts [without being firmly fixed in the hearts].

53_ فَمِنَ الإیمانِ ما یَکُونُ ثابِتاً مُسْتَقِرّاً فِی القُلُوبِ ومِنْهُ ما یَکونُ عَوارِیَ بَینَ القُلُوبِ والصُّدُورِ.

    54. Allah, the Glorified, has prescribed faith as a purification from doubt.

54_ فَرَضَ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ الإیمانَ تَطْهیراً مِنَ الشِّرکِ.

    55. Faith has made it incumbent on its possessor to establish the traditions of Islam and its ordinances.

55_ قَدْ أوْجَبَ الإیمانُ عَلی مُعْتَقِدِهِ إقامَةَ سُنَنِ الإسلامِ والفَرْضِ.

    56. Strengthen your faith with certitude, for this is the best religion.

56_ قَوُّوا إیمانَکم(قَوِّ إیمانَک) بالیَقینِ فَإنَّهُ أفْضَلُ الدّینِ.

    57. How can he who resents the truth taste the sweetness of faith?

57_ کَیفَ یَجِدُ حَلاَوَةَ الإیمانِ مَنْ یُسْخِطُ الحَقَّ؟!

    58. Acquiring faith is [through] adhering to the truth and being sincere with the creatures.

58_ کَسْبُ الإیمانِ لُزُومُ الحَقِّ، ونُصْحُ الخَلْقِ.

    59. He who claims to have faith yet is infatuated by misleading aspirations and false amusements of this world, has lied.

59_ کَذِبَ مَنِ ادَّعی الإیمانَ وهُوَ مَشْغُوفٌ(مَشعُوفٌ) مِنَ الدُّنیا بِخُدَعِ الأمانیِّ وزُورِ المَلاهی.

    60. The conception of faith is [achieved through] the recitation of the Qur’an.

60_ لَقاحُ الإیمانِ

p: 87

تَلاوَةُ القُرآنِ.

    61. One who entertains doubt in his faith [in one God] becomes a polytheist.

61_ مَنِ ارتابَ بِالإیمانِ أشرَکَ.

    62. One who has no faith has no trustworthiness.

62_ مَنْ لا إیمانَ لَهُ لاأمانَةَ لَهُ.

    63. One who likes his faith to become perfect should ensure that his love, hate, pleasure and displeasure are [all] for the sake of Allah.

63_ مَنْ أحبَّ أنْ یَکْمُلَ إیمانُهُ فَلْیَکُنْ حُبُّه لِلّهِ، وبُغضُهِ لِلّهِ، ورِضاهُ لِلّهِ، وسَخَطُهُ لِلّهِ.

    64. One who gives for the sake of Allah, withholds for the sake of Allah, loves for the sake of Allah and hates for the sake of Allah, has perfected [his] faith.

64_ مَنْ أعْطی فیِ اللّهِ، ومَنَعَ فِی اللّهِ، وأحَبَّ فِی اللّهِ، وأبْغَضَ فِی اللّهِ، فَقَدِ اسْتکْملَ الإیمانَ.

    65. The basis of faith is unwavering certitude.

65_ مِلاکُ الإیمانِ حُسْنُ الإیقانِ.

    66. One whose faith is true is saved, and one whose submission is complete is guided.

66_ نَجا مَنْ صَدَقَ إیمانُهُ وهُدِیَ مَنْ حَسُنَ إسْلامُهُ.

    67. There is no honour higher than faith.

67_ لاشَ_رَفَ أعْلی مِنَ الإیمانِ.

    68. There is no medium more successful than faith.

68_ لاوَسیلَةَ أنْجَحُ مِنَ الإیمانِ.

    69. There is no faith like modesty and generosity.

69_ لاإیمانَ کَالحیاءِ والسَّخاءِ.

    70. Faith without piety is of no benefit.

70_ لایَنْفَعُ الإیمانُ بِغَیرِ تَقْوی.

    71. A servant’s faith is not complete until he loves whom Allah, the Glorified, loves and hates the one whom Allah, the Glorified, hates.

71_ لایَکْمُلُ إیمانُ عَبْد حتّی یُحِبَّ مَنْ أحَبَّهُ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ، ویُبْغِضَ مَنْ أبْغَضَهُ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ.

    72. The faith of a

p: 88

servant is not true until he is more confident of what is in the Hand of Allah, the Glorified, than what is in his own hand.

72_ لا یَصْدُقُ إیمانُ عَبْد حَتّی یَکُونَ بِما فی یَدِ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ أوْثَقَ مِنْهُ بِما فی یَدهِ.

    73. Nothing that is preserved by human beings is like faith in Allah and good deeds.

73_ لاشَْیءَ یَدَّخِرُهُ الإنْسانُ کَالإیمانِ بِاللّهِ وصَنایعِ الإحْسانِ.

    74. The faith of a man is deduced by his submission and obedience [to Allah].

74_ یُسْتَدَلُّ عَلی إیمانِ الرَّجُلِ بِالتَّسْلیمِ ولُزومِ الطَّاعَةِ.

    75. The faith [of a person] is deduced by increased fear [of Allah], controlling lust and overcoming lowly desires.

75_ یُسْتَدَلُّ عَلَی الإیمانِ بِکَثْرَةِ التُّقی، ومِلْکِ الشَّهْوَةِ، وغَلَبَةِ الهَوی.

    76. Faith requires certitude.

76_ یَحتاجُ الإیمانُ إلَی الإیقانِ.

    77. Faith requires sincerity.

77_ یَحتاجُ الإیمانُ إلیَ الإخلاصِ.

    78. One who believes in Allah [and attests to His oneness] is saved.

78_ مَنْ صَدَّقَ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ نَجی.

    79. The foundation of faith is total submission to the will of Allah.

79_ أصْلُ الإیمانِ حُسْنُ التَّسْلیمِ لأمرِ اللّهِ.

    80. Have faith and you will be safe.

80_ آمِنْ تَأمَنْ.

whose hate is for Allah, whose taking is for Allah and whose leaving is for Allah.

4_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ مَنْ کانَ حُبُّهلِلّهِ، وبُغْضُهلِلّهِ، وأخذُهلِلّهِ، وتَرْکُهُ لِلّهِ.

5. A believer is thankful in [times of] comfort, patient in tribulation and fearful in affluence.

5_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ شاکِرٌ فیِ السَّ_رّاءِ، صابِرٌ فِی البَلاءِ، خائفٌ فِی الرَّخاءِ.

6. A believer is moderate in [times of] affluence, [and] keeps away from the [pleasures of this] world.

6_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ عَفیفٌ فِی الغِنی، مُتَنَزَّهٌ عَنِ الدُّنیا.

7. A believer is [always] between blessing and wrongdoing, [and] nothing reforms these two except thankfulness and repentance.

7_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ بَیْنَ نِعْمَة وخَطیئَة لا یُصلِحُهُما إلاّ الشُّکرُ وَالإسْتِغْفارُ.

8. A believer is dignified, honourable, self-reliant, cautious and sorrowful.

8_ اَلمُؤْمِِنُ عِزٌّ کَریمٌ، مَأمُونٌ علی نَفْسِهِ، حَذِرٌ مَحْزُونٌ.

9. A believer constantly remembers [Allah], frequently contemplates, is thankful for blessings and patient in the face of tribulation.

9_ المُؤْمِنُ دائِمُ الذِّکرِ، کَثیرُ الفِکرِ، عَلَی النَّعماءِ شاکِرٌ، وَفِی البَلاءِ صابِرٌ.

10. A believer is modest, independent, certain and pious.

10_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ حَییٌّ، غَنیٌّ، مُوقِنٌ، تَقِیٌّ.

11. When a believer is asked [for help], he helps, and when he asks [other for help], he is lenient [and does not overburden them].

11_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ إذا سُئِلَ أسْعَفَ، وإذا سَألَ خَفَّفَ.

12. A believer is wary of his sins, always fearing chastisement and hoping for the mercy of his Lord.

12_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ حَذِرٌ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ أبَداً یَخافُ البَلاءَ ویَرجُو رَحمَةَ رَبِّهِ.

13. To a believer, this world is his arena, action is his endeavour, death is his gift and Paradise is his prize.

13_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ الدُّنْیا مِضْمارُهُ، والعَمَلُ هِمَّتُهُ، والمَوتُ تُ_حْفَتُهُ، والجَنَّةُ سَبْقَتُهُ.

14. A believer is

p: 90

one who has purified his heart of vileness.

14_ المُؤْمِنُ مَنْ طَهَّرَ قَلْبَهُ مِنَ الدَنِیَّةِ(الریبَةِ).

15. A believer is one whose affair is near, whose sorrow is distant, whose silence is much and whose actions are sincere.

15_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ قَریبٌ أمْرُهُ، بَعیدٌ هَمُّهُ، کَثیرٌ صَمْتُه، خالِصٌ عَمَلُهُ.

16. A believer is eager in [his] obedience [to Allah] and refrains from what is forbidden.

16_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ عَلَی الطَّاعاتِ حَریصٌ، وعَنِ المَحارِمِ عَفٌّ.

17. The soul of a believer is firmer than a hard rock while he is [himself] humbler than a slave.

17_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ نَفْسُهُ أصْلَبُ مِنَ الصَّلْدِ، وهُوَ أذَلُّ مِنَ العَبْدِ.

18. When a believer observes, he takes lesson; and when he is quiet, he contemplates; and when he speaks, he remembers [Allah]; and when he is given, he is grateful; and when he undergoes hardship, he is patient.

18_ اَلمؤمِنُ إذا نَظَرَ اعْتَبَ_رَ، وإذا سَکَتَ تَفَکَرَّ، وإذا تَکَلَّمَ ذَکَرَ، وَإذا اُعْطِیَ شَکَرَ، وإذَا ابْتُِلیَ صَبَ_رَ.

19. When a believer is admonished, he restrains himself; and when he is warned, he becomes cautious; and when he is shown an example, he learns [from it]; and when he is reminded, he remembers; and when he is oppressed, he forgives.

19_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ إذا وُعِظَ اِزْدَجَرَ، وإذا حُذِّرَ حَذِرَ، وإذا عُبِّرَ اِعْتَب_َرَ، وإذا ذُکِّرَ ذَکَّرَ، وإذا اُظْلِمَ غَفَرَ.

20. The persistence of a believer is [in] his renunciation [of worldly pleasures], his interest is [in] his religiosity, his dignity is [in] his contentment and his striving is for his Hereafter. His good deeds are many, his status is elevated and he has managed [to gain]

p: 91

his freedom and salvation.

20_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ دَأْبُهُ زِهادَتُهُ، وَهَمُّهُ دِیانَتُهُ، وعِزُّهُ قَناعَتُهُ، وجِدُّهُ لآخِرَتِهِ، قَد کَثُرَتْ حَسَناتُهُ، وعَلَتْ دَرَجاتُهُ، وشَارَفَ خَلاصَهُ ونَجاتَهُ.

21. A believer looks at this world with eyes that derive lesson, and consumes from it only what is necessary, and hears in it with ears of hatred and enmity [towards it].

21_ اَلمُؤمِنُ یَنْظُرُ إلَی الدُّنیا بِعَیْنِ الإعتِبارِ، ویَقْتاتُ فیها بِبَطْنِ الإضْطِرارِ، ویَسْمَعُ فیها بِأُذُنِ المَقْتِ والإبْغاضِ.

22. The believers blame themselves and are fearful of their past mistakes; they detest this world, eagerly yearn for the Hereafter and hasten towards [acts of] obedience.

22_ اَلمُؤمنونَ لأنْفُسِهِمْ مُتَّهِمُونَ، ومِنْ فارِطِ زَلَلِهِمْ وَجِلُونَ، ولِلدُّنْیا عائِفُونَ، وإلَی الآخِرَةِ مُشْتاقُونَ، وإلَی الطّاعاتِ مُسارِعُونَ.

23. A believer is one who bears with the harm that people inflict [on him] but nobody is ever harmed by him.

23_ المُؤْمِنُ مَنْ تَحَمَّلَ أذَی النَّاسِ، ولایَتَأذّی أحَدٌ بِهِ.

24. The believer is one who safeguards his Hereafter by [sacrificing] his world, while the vicious is one who safeguards his world by [sacrificing] his Hereafter.

24_ اَلمُؤمِنُ مَنْ وَقی دینَهُ بِدُنْیاهُ، والفاجِرُ مَنْ وَقی دُنْیاهُ بدِینهِِ.

25. A believer is faithful to himself and struggles against his vain desires and feelings.

25_ اَلمُؤمِنُ أمینٌ عَلی نَفْسِهِ، مُغالِبٌ (مُجاهِدٌ) لِهَواهُ وحِسِّهِ.

26. Be careful of the opinions of believers, for Allah, the Glorified, effectuates the truth through their tongues.

26_ إتَّقُوا ظُنُونَ المُؤمِنینَ، فَإنَّ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ أجْرَی الحقَّ علی ألْسِنَتِهِمْ.

27. The most honourable of believers is the most sagacious of them.

27_ أشرَفُ المُؤْمِنینَ أکْثَرُهُمْ کَیْساً.

28. The best of believers in terms of belief is the one whose taking, giving,

p: 92

anger and pleasure are all for [the sake of] Allah.

28_ أفضلُ المُؤْمِنینَ إیماناً مَنْ کانَ لِلّهِ أخذُهُ، وعَطاهُ، وسَخَطُهُ، وَرِضاهُ.

29. Believers are indeed compassionate.(1)

29_ إنَّ المُؤْمِنینَ مُشْفِقُونَ.

30. Verily believers are afraid [of displeasing Allah].

30_ إنَّ المُؤْمِنینَ وَجِلُونَ.

31. Indeed the cheerfulness of a believer is in his face, his strength is in his religion and his sorrow is in his heart.

31_ إنَّ بِشْرَ المُؤمِنِ فی وَجْهِهِ، وقُوَّتَهُ فی دینِهِ، وحُزْنَهُ فی قَلْبِهِ.

32. Verily a believer feels ashamed if an act which goes against his faith is committed by him.

32_ إنَّ المُؤْمِنَ لَیَسْتَحْیی إذا مَضی لَهُ عَمَلٌ فی غَیرِ ما عُقِدَ عَلَیْهِ ایمانُهُ.

33. The goal of a believer is Paradise.

33_ غایَةُ المُؤْمِنِ الجَنَّةُ.

34. The needlessness of a believer is through [his reliance on] Allah, the Glorified.

34_ غِنَی المُؤمِنِ بِاللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ.

35. He (the believer) has enlivened his intellect, killed his lust, obeyed his Lord and disobeyed his lower-self.

35_ قَدْ أحْیا عَقْلَهُ، وأماتَ شَهْوَتَهُ، وأطاعَ رَبَّهُ وعَصی نَفْسَهُ.

36. How many a believer has succeeded through patience and thinking positively.

36_ کَمْ مِنْ مُؤمِن فازَ بِهِ الصَّبْرُ، وحُسْنُ الظَّنِّ.

37. Be a pious, contented and modest believer.

37_ کُنْ مُؤمِناً، تَقِیّاً، مُتَقَنِّعاً، عَفیفاً.

38. A believer has a perfect intellect, a pleasing leniency, an inclination towards good deeds and an aversion towards bad deeds.

38_ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ عَقْلٌ وَفِیٌّ، وحِلْمٌ مَرْضِیٌّ، ورَغْبَةٌ فِی الحَسَناتِ، وفِرارٌ مِنَ السَّیِّئاتِ.

39. A believer has three times: a time for whispering to his Lord, a time for assessing himself (or in another narration: a time for making arrangements for his livelihood) and a time when he

p: 93

freely enjoys himself with what is lawful and pleasant.

39_ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ ثلاثُ ساعات، ساعَةٌ یُناجی فیها رَبَّهُ، وساعَةٌ یُحاسِبُ فیها نَفْسَهُ، (وساعَةٌ یَرُمُّ فیها مَعاشَهُ) وساعَةٌ یُخَلّی بَینَ نَفْسِهِ ولَذَّتِها فیما یَحِلُّ ویَجْمُلُ.

40. The faith of a believer is not perfected until he deems comfort to be a trial and affliction to be a blessing.

40_ لایَکْمُلُ إیمانُ المُؤْمِنِ حَتّی یَعُدَّ الرَّخاءَ فِتْنَةً، والبَلاءَ نِعْمَةً.

41. A believer is never found to be envious, malevolent or miserly.

41_ لایُلْفَی المُؤمِنُ حَسُوداً، ولاحَقُوداً، ولابَخیلاً.

42. A believer is never anything other than forbearing and merciful.

42_ لایَکونُ المُؤْمِنُ إلاَّ حَلیماً، رَحیماً.

43. It behoves a believer to feel ashamed if the thought of disobedience crosses his mind.

43_ یَنْبَغی لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أنْ یَسْتَحییَ إذَا اتَّصَلَتْ لَهُ فِکْرَةٌ فی غَیرِ طاعَة.

44. It behoves a believer to remain obedient and to cover himself with piety and contentment.

44_ یَنْبَغی لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أنْ یَلْزَمَ الطَّاعَةَ، ویَلْتَحِفَ الوَرَعَ والقَناعَةَ.

45. A believer is tested with affliction just like the purity of gold and silver is tested with fire.

45_ یُمْتَحَنُ المُؤْمِنُ بِالبَلاءِ، کَما یُمْتَحَنُ بِالنّارِ اَلخِلاصُ.

46. There are three signs of a believer: truthfulness, certitude and [having] short hopes.

46_ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ ثَلاثُ عَلامات: الصِّدْقُ، والیَقینُ، وقَصْرُ الأمَلِ.

47. A believer is never found to be anything but content.

47_ لَنْ یُلْقَی المُؤْمِنُ إلاّ قانِعاً.

48. He who is not concerned about improving his Hereafter is not a believer.

48

_ لَیْسَ بِمُؤمِن مَنْ لَمْ یَهْتَمَّ بإصْ

49. If I were to strike the nose of a believer to make him hate me he would still not hate me, and if I were to bestow the

p: 94

whole world to a hypocrite to make him love me he would still not love me.

49_ لَو ضَرَبْتُ خَیْشُومَ المُؤْمِنِ علی أنْ یُبْغِضَنی ما أبْغَضَنی، وَلَو صَبَبْتُ الدُّنیا بِجُمْلَتِها عَلَی المُنافِقِ علی أنْ یُحِبَّنی ما أحَبَّنی.

50. One who believes is safe.

50_ مَنْ آمَنَ أمِنَ.

51. One who believes increases his certitude.

51_ مَنْ یُؤمِنْ یَزْدَدْ یَقیناً.

52. One who believes in Allah seeks [help and] protection from Him.

52_ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ لَجَ_أَ إلَیْهِ.

53. A believer has not [truly] believed until he comprehends.

53_ ما آمَنَ المُؤْمِنُ حتّی عَقَلَ.

54. The example of a believer is like that of citronella, both its taste and its fragrance are pleasant.

54_ مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ کَالاُتْرُجَّةِ طَیِّبٌ طَعْمُها وریحُها.

55. One who purifies his faith is guided.

55_ هُدِیَ مَنْ أخْلَصَ إیمانَهُ.

56. The concern of a believer is for his Hereafter, and all his efforts are for his place of [final] return.

56_ هَمُّ المُؤمِنِ لآِخِرَتِهِ، وکُلُّ جِدِّهِ لِمُنْقَلَبِهِ.

57. A believer is never satiated while his brother is hungry.

57_ لایَشْبَعُ المُؤْمِنُ وأخُوهُ جایعٌ.

58. A believer never falls short of forbearance and never gets anxious when faced with difficulty.

58_ لایُقَصِّرُ المُؤْمِنُ عَنْ احْتِمال، ولا یَجزَعُ لِرَزِیَّة.

59. A man does not become a [true] believer until he is no longer concerned about what [food] will end his pangs of hunger and which of his two attires he will wear.

59_ لایَکونُ الرَّجُلُ مُؤْمِناً حتّی لایُبالیَ بِماذا أسَدَّ فَوْرَةَ جُوعِهِ، ولابِأیِّ ثَوبَیْهِ ابْتَذَلَ.

60. The cheerfulness of a believer is in his face and his sorrow is in his heart. He has the broadest chest (i.e. has great patience,

p: 95

knowledge and virtue) and is most humble in spirit. He hates high position and dislikes renown. His grief is long, his sorrow is distant, his silence is much and his time is occupied. He is grateful and patient, submerged in his thoughts [about the Hereafter], sparing in his friendship, easy going and of soft temperament. He is firmer than a hard rock but humbler than a slave.

60_ بِشْرُ المُؤْمِنِ فی وَجْهِهِ، وحُزْنُهُ فی قَلْبِهِ، أوْسَعُ شَیْء صَدْراً، وأذَلُّ شَیْء نَفْساً، یَکْرَهُ الرِّفْعةَ، ویَشْنَأُ السُّمْعَةَ، طَویلٌ غَمُّهُ، بَعیدٌ هَمُّهُ، کَثیرٌ صَمْتُهُ، مَشْغُولٌ وَقْتُهُ، صَبُورٌ شَکُورٌ، مَغْمُورٌ بِفِکْرَتِهِ، ضَنینٌ بِخُلَّتِهِ، سَهْلُ الخلیقَةِ، لَیِّ_نُ العَریکَةِ، نَفْسُهُ أصْلَبُ مِنَ الصُّلْدِ، وهُوَ أذَلُّ مِنَ العَبْدِ.

61. The beauty of a believer’s face is from the special favour of Allah on him.

61_ حُسْنُ وَجْهِ المُؤمِنِ مِنْ حُسْنِ عِنایَةِ اللّهِ بِهِ.

62. Verily the certitude of a believer is seen in his actions and the doubt of a hypocrite is seen in his actions.

62_ إنَّ المُؤْمِنَ یُری یَقینُهُ فی عَمَلِهِ وإنَّ المُنافِقَ یُری شَکُّهُ فی عَمَلِهِ.

63. A believer is sagacious and intelligent.

63_ اَلمُؤمنُ کَیِّسٌ، عاقِلٌ.

64. A believer is free from perversion and dissension.

64_ المُؤْمِنُ مُنَزَّهٌ عَنِ الزَّیغِ والشِّقاقِ.

65. A believer is penitent, repentant and remorseful.

65_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ مُنیبٌ، مُسْتَغْفِرٌ، تَوَّابٌ.

66. The nature of a believer is [being] sincere and his trait is suppressing anger.

66_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ غَریزَتُهُ النُّصْحُ، وسَجِیَّتُهُ الکَظْمُ.

67. The believers are such that their good deeds are expected and people are safe from their evil.

67_ اَلمُؤمِنُونَ خَیْراتُ_هُمْ مَأمُولَةٌ، وشُرُورُهُمْ مَأمُونَةٌ.

68. The fear of a believer is in his heart

p: 96

and his repentance is in his admission.

68_ تَقِیَّةُ المُؤْمِنِ فی قَلْبِهِ، وتَوْبَتُهُ فِی اعْتِرافِهِ.

69. Three things are adornments for believers: fear of Allah, truthful speech and returning trusts [to their rightful owners].

69_ ثَلاثٌ هُنَّ زَیْنُ المُؤْمِنِ: تَقْوَی اللّهِ، وصِدْقُ الحَدیثِ، وأداءُ الأمانَةِ.

70. The beauty of a believer is his piety.

70_ جَمالُ المُؤمِنِ وَرَعُهُ.

71. The joy of a believer is in the obedience of his Lord, and his sorrow is due to his sin.

71_ سُرُورُ المُؤْمِنِ بِطاعَةِ رَبِّهِ، وحُزْنُهُ علی ذَنْبِهِ.

72. The integrity of a believer is in his keeping away from what is forbidden and hastening towards virtues.

72_ طَرْفُ المُؤْمِنِ نَزاهَتُهُ عَنِ المَحارِمِ، ومُبادِرَتُهُ إلَی المَکارِمِ.

73. A believer is easy going, polite, approachable and reliable.

73_ ألمُؤْمِنُ هَیِّ_نٌ لَیِّنٌ، سَهْلٌ، مُؤتَمَنٌ.

74. A believer makes few mistakes and does plenty of work.

74_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ قَلیلُ الزَّلَلِ، کَثیرُ العَمَلِ.

75. The demeanour of a believer is characterized by moderation and his conduct is upright.

75_ المُؤمِنُ سیرَتُهُ القَصْدُ، وسُنَّتُهُ الرُّشدُ.

76. A believer loathes idle play and likes to work hard.

76_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ یَعافُ اللَّهْوَ، وَیَألِفُ الجِدَّ.

77. When the soul of a believer ascends to the heavens, the angels are amazed and say: It is incredible how he was saved from a place where the best of us(1) got corrupted.

77_ إذا صَعَدَتْ رُوحُ المُؤْمِنِ إلَی السَّماءِتَعَجَّبَتِ المَلائِکَةُ وقالَتْ عَجَباً کَیْفَ نَجا مِنْ دار فَسَدَ فیها خِیارُنا.

78. A believer is sorrowful in his thoughts [about himself], sparing in his friendship.

78_ اَلمُؤمِنُ مَغْمُومٌ بِفِکْرَتِهِ، ضَنینٌ بِخُلَّتِهِ.

79. A believer has a mild disposition and is easy going.

79_ اَلمُؤمِنُ لَیِّنُ العَریکَةِ، سَهْلُ

p: 97

الخَلیقَةِ.

80. A believer does not oppress [anyone] and eschews sin.

80_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ لایَظْلِمُ، وَلایَتَأثَّمُ.

81. A believer is fair to the one who is unfair to him.

81_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ یُنْصِفُ مَنْ لا یُنْصِفُهُ.

82. A believer is affectionate, endearing and compassionate.

82_ المُؤْمِنُ آلِفٌ، مألُوفٌ، مُتَعَطِّفٌ.

83. Indeed believers are approachable and soft-hearted.

83_ إنَّ المُؤْمنینَ هَیْنُونَ، لَیْنُونَ.

84. Believers are indeed virtuous.

84_ إنَّ المُؤْمِنینَ مُحْسِنُونَ.

85. Indeed believers are fearful [of Allah].

85_ إنَّ المُؤْمِنینَ خائِفُونَ.

86. A believer is [gauged] by his actions.

86_ اَلمُؤْمِنُ بِعَمَلِهِ.

87. Believers possess more intelligence [than others].

87_ اَلمُؤمِنُونَ أعْظَمُ أحْلاماً.

Allah keeps aloof from the people.

3_ مَنْ اَنِسَ باللّهِ اِسْتَوحَشَ مِنَ النَّاسِ.

4. One who keeps aloof from the people, becomes intimate with Allah, the Glorified.

4_ مَنِ اسْتَوحَشَ عَنِ النَّاسِ أَنِسَ بِاللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ.

وَرَدَتِ الأظْعانُ یُوشِکُ مَنْ أسْ_َرعَ أنْ یَلْحَقَ.

    10. Bind your haste with your deliberateness, your domination with your friendliness and your evil [traits] with your good [ones]. Help the intellect overcome vain desires and you will possess understanding.

10_ صِلْ عَجَلَتَکَ بِتَأنّیکَ، وسَطْوَتَکَ بِرِفْقِکَ، وشَرَّکَ بِخَیْرِکَ، وانْصُرِ العَقْلَ عَلَی الهَوی تَمْلِکِ النُّهی.

    11. You must adopt deliberateness, for indeed one who acts unhurriedly is deserving of success.

11_ عَلَیکَ بِالأناةِ فَإنَّ المُتَأنّی حَرِیٌّ بِالإصابَةِ.

    12. In deliberateness there is [precaution and] assurance.

12_ فِی التَّأنّی إسْتِظْهارٌٌ.

    13. In deliberateness there is safety.

13_ فیِ الأناةِ السَّلامَةُ.

    14. One who acts without haste is saved from mistakes.

14_ مَنْ إتَّأدَ أمِنَ مِنَ الزَّلَلِ.

    15. There is no success for one who has no deliberateness.

15_ لا إصابَةَ لِمَنْ لا أناةَ لَهُ.

    16. Deliberateness is a virtue.

16_ اَلأناةُ حُسْنٌ.

    17. Deliberateness is success.

17_ اَلأناةُ إصابَةٌ.

العارَ، ویُدْخِلُ النَّارَ.

3. Stinginess in spending from one’s wealth that which Allah, the Glorified, has made obligatory, is the worst type of stinginess.

3_ البُخْلُ بِإخْراجِ مَاافتَرَضَهُ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ مِنَ الأمْوالِ أقْبَحُ البُخلِ.

4. Protect yourselves from vehement miserliness, malice, anger and jealousy and prepare for each of these things a contrivance which you can fight it with, like thinking about the consequence, refraining [from] vice, seeking virtue, improving your Hereafter and espousing forbearance.

4_ اِحْتَِرسُوا مِنْ سَوْرَةِ الجِمْدِ(الحَمد)، والحِقْدِ، والغَضَبِ، والحَسَدِ، وَأعِدُّوا لِکُلِّ شَیْء مِنْ ذلِکَ عُدَّةً تُجاهِدونَهُ بِها مِنَ الفِکْرِ فیِ العاقِبَةِ، ومَنْعِ الرَّذیلَةِ، وطَلَبِ الفَضیلَةِ، وصَلاحِ الآخِرَةِ، ولُزومِ الحِلْمِ.

5. Be wary of stinginess, for it is ignobility and [leads to] vilification.

5_ اِحْذَرُوا البُخْلَ فَإنَّهُ لُؤْمٌ ومَسَبَّةٌ.

6. Be wary of avarice, for verily it brings hate, tarnishes [one’s] good qualities and exposes [one’s] faults.

6_ اِحْذَرُوا الشُّحَّ، فَإنَّهُ یُکْسِبُ المَقْتَ، ویَشِینُ المَحاسِنَ، ویُشیعُ العُیوبَ.

7. I bid you not to adorn yourself with stinginess, for it will disparage you near those who are close to you and will make your hated by your relatives.

7_ إیّاکَ والتَّحَلِّیَ بِالبُخْلِ، فَإنَّهُ یُزری بِکَ عِندَ القَریبِ (الغَریبِ)، وَیُمَقِّتُکَ إلَی النَّسیبِ.

8. I bid you to refrain from avarice, for it is the garment of indigence and the bridle that is used to drive one towards every [type of] vileness.

8_ إیّاک والشُّحَّ فَإنَّهُ جِلبابُ المَسْکَنَةِ، وزِمامٌ یُقادُ بِهِ إلی کُلِّ دِناءَة.

9. I bid you to refrain from stinginess, for the miser is hated by strangers and shunned by those who are close to him.

9_ إیّاکُمْ والبُخلَ، فَإنَّ البَخیلَ یَمْقَتُهُ

p: 101

الغَریبُ، ویَنْفُرُ مِنْهُ القَریبُ.

10. The worst stinginess is withholding money from those who deserve it.

10_ أقْبَحُ البُخْلِ مَنْعُ الأمْوالِ مِنْ مُسْتَحِقِّها.

11. Stinginess is [a form of] poverty.

11_ اَلبُخلُ فَقْرٌ.

12. Avarice leads to vilification.

12_ اَلشُّحُّ مَسَبَّةٌ.

13. Making too many excuses is a sign of stinginess.

13_ کَثْرَةُ التَّعَلُّلِ آیَةُ البُخْلِ.

14. Avarice earns vilification.

14_ اَلشُّحُّ یَکْسِبُ المَسَبَّةَ.

15. Stinginess degrades its possessor.

15_ اَلبُخْلُ یُزْری بِصاحِبِهِ.

16. Stinginess earns condemnation.

16_ اَلبُخْلُ یَکْسِبُ الذَّمَّ.

17. Stinginess gives rise to hatred.

17_ البُخْلُ یُوجِبُ البَغْضاءَ.

18. Stinginess with what is available [in one’s possession] is thinking negatively of God.

18_ اَلبُخْلُ بِالمَوجُودِ سُوءُ الظَّنِّ بِالمَعْبُودِ.

19. Stinginess humiliates its possessor and elevates the one who turns away from it.

19_ اَلبُخْلُ یُذِلُّ مُصاحِبَهُ ویُعِزُّ مُجانِبَهُ.

20. Through stinginess, vilification increases.

20_ بِالبُخْلِ تَ_کْثُرُ المَسَبَّةُ.

21. The worst trait is stinginess.

21_ بِئْسَ الخَلیقَةُ البُخْلُ.

22. Excessive avarice sullies chivalry and spoils brotherhood.

22_ زِیادَةُ الشُّحِّ تَشینُ الفُتُوَّةَ وتُفْسِدُ الاُخُوَّةَ.

23. In avarice there is vilification (and dishonour).

23_ فِی الشُّحِّ المَسَبَّةُ (السَّبَّةُ).

24. Excessive avarice leads to vilification.

24_ کَثْرَةُ الشُّحِّ تُوجِبُ المَسَبَّةَ.

25. If you were to see stinginess in the form of a man, you would have surely seen an ugly, disfigured person.

25_ لَوْ رَأیْتُمُ البُخْلَ رَجُلاً لَرَأیْتُمُوهُ شَخْصاً مُشَوَّهاً.

26. If you were to see stinginess in the form of a man, you would have surely seen a disfigured person, from whom every eye would look away and every heart would turn away.

26_ لَوْ رَأیْتُمُ البُخْلَ رَجُلاً لَرَأیْتُمُوهُ مُشَوَّهاً یُغَضُّ عَنْهُ کُلُّ بَصَر، ویَنْصَرِفُ عَنْهُ کُلُّ قَلْب.

27. One who persists in avarice is deprived of [sincere] advisers.

27_ مَنْ لَزِمَ الشُّحَّ عَدِمَ النَّصیحَ.

28. Avarice

p: 102

is one of the most revolting traits.

28_ مِنْ أقْبَحِ الخَلائِقِ الشُّحُّ.

29. How revolting is stinginess with affluence!

29_ ما أقْبَحَ البُخْلَ مَعَ الإکْثارِ.

30. How revolting is stinginess by those who possess nobility.

30_ ما أقْبَحَ البُخْلَ بِذَوِی النُّبْلِ.

31. Nothing brings down the wrath of Allah like stinginess.

31_ مَا اجْتُلِبَ سَخَطُ اللّهِ بِمِثْْلِ البُخلِ.

32. The honourable do not flee from death the way they flee from stinginess and the company of the wicked.

32_ ما فِرارُ الکِرامِ مِنَ الحِمامِ کَفِرارِهِمْ مِنَ البُخلِ ومُقارَنَةِ اللِّئامِ.

33. There is no vilification like avarice.

33_ لا مَسَبَّةَ کالشُّحِّ.

34. There is no alienation like avarice.

34_ لا غُرْبَةَ کالشُّحِّ.

35. There is no magnanimity with avarice.

35_ لا مُرُوَّةَ مَعَ شُحّ.

36. There is no evil trait worse than avarice.

36_ لا سَوْأةَ أسْوَأُ مِنَ الشُّحِّ.

37. There is no evil trait worse than stinginess

37_ لا سَوْأةَ أسْوَءُ مِنَ البُخْلِ.

his honour.

4_ أبْخَلُ النَّاسِ بِعَرَضِهِ أسْخاهُمْ بِعِرْضِهِ.

5. The most miserly of all people is the one who is stingy to himself with his wealth, and [eventually] leaves it behind for his heirs.

5_ أبْخَلُ النَّاسِ مَنْ بَخِلَ علی نَفْسِهِ بِمالِهِ، وخَلَّفَهُ لِوُرّاثهِِ.

6. The miser is dispraised, the envious is disheartened.

6_ البَخیلُ مَذْمُومٌ، اَلْحَسُودُ مَغْمُومٌ.

7. The miser is a treasurer for his heirs.

7_ اَلبَخیلُ خازِنٌ لِوَرَثَتِهِ.

8. A miser hastens poverty.

8_ البَخیلُ مُتَعَجِّلُ الفَقْرِ.

9. A miser is always disgraced.

9_ اَلبَخیلُ أبَداً ذَلیلٌ.

10. A miser always comes up with excuses and pretexts.

10_ اَلبَخیلُ مُتَحَجِّجٌ (مُتَبََجِّجٌ) بِالمعاذیرِ والتَّعالِیلِ.

11. A miser is abased among those who are dear to him.

11_ اَلبَخیلُ ذَلیلٌ بَیْنَ أعِزَّتِهِ.

12. I am amazed at the wretched miser who rushes towards the poverty that is fleeing him and loses the wealth that is seeking him; he lives a life of poverty in this world and is called to account with the reckoning of the wealthy in the Hereafter.

12_ عَجِبْتُ لِلْشَّقِیِّ البَخیلِ یَتَعَجَّلُ الفَقْرَ الَّذی مِنْهُ هَرَبَ ویَفُوتُهُ الغِنی الَّذی إیّاهُ طَلَبَ فَیَعیشُ فِی الدُّنیا عَیْشَ الفُقَراءِ ویُحاسَبُ فِی الآخِرَةِ حِسابَ الأغْنیاءِ.

13. The avaricious has no friend.

13_ لَیْسَ لِشَحیح رَفیقٌ.

14. The miser has no close friend.

14_ لَیْسَ لِبَخیل حَبیبٌ.

15. He who is stingy to himself with his wealth is not successful and leaves behind his possessions for others.

15_ لَمْ یُوفَّقْ مَنْ بَخِلَ عَلی نَفْسِهِ بِخَیْرِهِ وخَلَّفَ مالَهُ لِغَیْرِهِ.

16. One who withholds his hand out of fear of poverty has [actually] hastened poverty.

16_ مَنْ قَبَضَ یَدَهُ مَخافَةَ الفَقْرِ فَقَدْ تَعَجَّلَ الفَقْرَ.

17. One who is stingy

p: 104

with his wealth is abased.

17_ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِمالِهِ ذَلَّ.

18. One who is miserly with that which he does not [even] possess, has exceeded in meanness.

18_ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِما لا یَمْلِکُهُ فَقَدْ بالَغَ فیِ الرَّذیلَةِ (بالرَّذیلة).

19. One who withholds his hand from [spending on] his family has only held back one hand from them but caused many hands to be withheld by them [against him].

19_ مَنْ یَقْبِضْ یَدَهُ عَنْ عَشیرَتِهِ، فَإنَّما یَقْبِضُ یَداً واحِداً عَنْهُمْ، ویَقْبِضُ عَنْهُ أیْدیَ کَثیرَةً مِنْهُمْ.

20. One who is stingy with his wealth towards himself, is generous with it to his wife’s [next] husband.

20_ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِمالِهِ علی نَفْسِهِ جادَ بِهِ علی بَعْلِ عِرْسِهِ.

21. He who is stingy to the one who needs what he possesses, Allah’s wrath upon him increases.

21_ مَنْ بَخِلَ علَی المُحْتاجِ بِما لَدَیْهِ کَثُرَ سَخَطُ اللّهِ علَیْهِ.

22. He who is stingy with his favours has not fastened his faith [and made it firm].

22_ ما عَقَدَ إیمانَهُ مَنْ بَخِ_لَ بإحْسانِهِ.

23. He who is stingy with his favours is not intelligent.

23_ ما عَقَلَ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِإحسانِهِ.

24. While passing by some filth in a cesspit, he (‘a) said: This is what you were competing for yesterday. And in another narration, he said: This is what the misers were stingy with.

24_ وقال _ علیه السّلام _: وَقَدْ مَرَّ بِقَذِر عَلی مَزْبَلَة: هذا ما کُنْتُمْ (عَلَیْهِ بالأمْسِ تَتَنافَسُونَ) تَتَنافَسُونَ فیهِ بِالأمْسِ وفی خبر آخر أنَّهُ قال: هذا ما بَخِلَ بِهِ الباخِلُونَ.

25. Woe to the miser who hastens towards the poverty which has fled from him and abandons the

p: 105

wealth that has sought him.

25_ وَیْحَ البَخیلِ المُتَعَجِّلِ الفَقْرَ الَّذی مِنهُ هَرَبَ، والتَّارِکِ الغِنَی الَّذی إیَّاهُ طَلَبَ.

26. Do not be stingy by acting tightfistedly; and do not waste by acting extravagantly.

26_ لاتَبْخَلْ فَتُقَتِّ_رَ ولا تُسْرِفْ فَتُفْرِطَ.

27. There is no magnanimity in a miser.

27_ لامُرُوَّةَ لِبَخیل.

28. Nothing holds back wealth except stinginess, and a miser is blameworthy and liable for punishment.

28_ لایُبْقِی المالَ إلاَّ البُخْلُ، والبَخیلُ مُعاقَبٌ مَلُومٌ.

29. A miser is rebuked in this world, and punished and chastised in the Hereafter.

29_ اَلباخِلُ فیِ الدُّنیا مَذْمُومٌ، وفیِ الآخِرَةِ مُعَذَّبٌ مَلُومٌ.

while you are alive before your death.

8_ بادِرْ غِناکَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِکَ، وحَیوتَکَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِکَ.

9. Take the initiative while the rest of your life is before you, and you have the ability to act by volition(1), and have the opportunity of repentance, and the possibility of abrogating your misdeeds.

9_ بادِرُوا فی مَهَلِ البَقِیَّةِ، وأنْفِ المَشیَّةِ، وانْتِظارِ التَّوبَةِ، وانْفِساخِ الحَوبَةِ.

10. Hasten to act while the bodies are healthy, the tongues are untied, the [cry of] repentance is heard and the deeds are accepted.

10_ بادِرُوا والأبْدانُ صَحیحَةٌ، والألْسُنُ مُطْلَقَةٌ، والتَّوبَةُ مَسْمُوعَةٌ، وَالأعْمالُ مَقْبُولَةٌ.

11. Hasten to act before [you are seized with] the seizing of the all-Powerful, the Omnipotent.

11_ بادِرُوا قَبْلَ أخْذَةِ العَزیزِ المُقْتَدِرِ.

12. Hasten to act before the narrowness and constriction [of the grave].

12_ بادِرُوا قَبْلَ الضَّنْکِ والمَضیقِ.

13. Hasten to act before the terror [of death] and the departure of your soul [from your body].

13_ بادِرُوا قَبْلَ الرَّوعِ والزُّهُوقِ.

14. Hasten towards good deeds before your deaths, and purchase what will remain for you [in the Hereafter] with what will depart from you [of this world].

14_ بادِروُا آجالَکُمْ بِأعْمالِکُمْ، وابتاعُوا ما یَبْقی لَکُمْ بِما یَزُولُ عَنْکُمْ.

15. Hasten [to do good] with your wealth before your deaths come upon you, so that it may purify you, set you aright and bring you closer [to Allah].

15_ بادِرُوا بِأمْوالِکُمْ قَبلَ حُلُولِ آجالِکُمْ تُزَکِّکُمْ وتُصْلِحْکُمْ وَتُزْلِفْکُمْ.

16. Hasten towards obedience [to Allah] and you will be felicitous.

16_ بادِرِ (باکِر) الطَّاعَةَ تَسْعَدْ.

17. Hasten towards good and you will be guided.

17_ بادِرِ الخَیْرَ تَرْشُدْ.

18. Hasten [to do good] before the coming

p: 107

of the hidden awaited one.

18_ بادِرُوا قَبْلَ قُدُومِ الغائبِ المُنْتَظَرِ.

19. Anticipate death and its throes, prepare for it before its arrival and get ready for it before it descends.

19_ بادِرُوا المَوْتَ وغَمَراتِهِ، ومَهِّدُوا لَهُ قَبْلَ حُلُولِهِ وأعِدُّوا لَهُ قَبْلَ نُزولِهِ.

20. Hasten [to act] in the period of guidance and repose of the bodies, and in your remaining lifetime, and while you have the ability to act by volition.

20_ بادِرُوا فی فَیْنَةِ الإرْشادِ، وراحَةِ الأجسادِ، ومَهَلِ البَقِیَّةِ، وأنْفِ المَشِیَّةِ.

21. Hasten in performing your good deeds and compete with your deaths, for you will be compensated for what you sent forward, rewarded for what you did beforehand and held accountable for what you left behind.

21_ بادِرُوا أعْمالَکُمْ، وسابِقُوا آجالَکُمْ، فَإنَّکُمْ مَدینُونَ بِما أسْلَفْتُمْ، وَمُجازَوْنَ بِما قَدَّمْتُمْ، ومُطالَبُونَ بِما خَلَّفْتُمْ.

22. Surpass your hope and anticipate the assault of death, for people are on the verge of having their hopes cut short and being surprised by death.

22_ بادِرُوا الأمَلَ، وسابِقُوا هُجومَ الأجَلِ، فَإنَّ النَّاسَ یُوشِکُ أنْ یَنْقَطِعَ بِهِمُ الأمَلُ، فَیَرْهَقُهُمُ الأجَلُ.

23. Hurry to take advantage of opportunity before it becomes [a cause of] distress.

23_ بادِرِ الفُرْصَةَ قَبْلَ أنْ تَ_کُونَ غُصَّةً.

24. Blessed is the one who hastens to perform good deeds before his means are cut short.

24_ طُوبی لِمَنْ بادَرَ صالِحَ العَمَلِ قَبْلَ أنْ تَنْقَطِعَ أسْبابُهُ.

25. Blessed is he who anticipates death, takes advantage of respite and prepares the provision of good deeds [for the Hereafter].

25_ طُوبی لِمَنْ بادَرَ الأجَلَ، واغْتَنَمَ المَهَلَ، وتَزَوَّدَ مِنَ العَمَلِ.

winter] at its onset and embrace it towards its ending, for it acts upon the bodies as it acts upon the branches its beginning scorches and its end causes leaves to grow.

1_ تَوَقُّو البَرْدَ فی أوَّلِهِ، وتَلَقَّوْهُ فی آخِرهِ، فَإنَّهُ یَفْعَلُ بِالأبْدانِ کَما یَفْعَلُ فِی الأغصانِ، أوَّلُهُ یُحْرِقُ، وآخِرُهُ یُورِقُ.

towards you with his cheerfulness will not be generous with his righteousness.

14_ مَنْ بَخِلَ عَلَیْکَ بِبِشْرِهِ لَمْ یَسْمَحْ بِبِرِّهِ.

15. One of the best righteous acts is being kind to the orphans.

15_ مِنْ أفْضَلِ البِرِّ بِرُّ الأیتامِ.

16. With righteousness, mercy flows forth abundantly.

16_ مَعَ البِرِّ تَدِرُّ الرَّحْمَةُ.

17. The righteous tongue rejects the foolishness of the ignorant.

17_ لِسانُ البَرِّیَأبی سَفَهَ الجُهّالِ.

18. One whose righteousness increases is praised.

18_ مَنْ کَثُرَ بِرُّهُ حُمِدَ.

19. Urging the self towards altruism is from the qualities of the righteous.

19_ مِنْ شِیَمِ الأبْرارِ حَمْلُ النُّفُوسِ عَلَی الإیثارِ.

can be given].

7_ اَلبِشْرُ أوَّلُ النَّوالِ.

8. Cheerfulness is the trait of the free.

8_ اَلبِشْرُ شیمَةُ الحُرِّ.

9. Cheerfulness makes companions affable.

9_ اَلبِشْرُ یُوْنِسُ الرِّفاقَ.

10. Cheerfulness renders goodness without any expense.

10_ اَلبِشْرُ إسْداءُ الصَّنیعَةِ بِغَیْرِ مَؤُنَة.

11. By cheerfulness and keeping a smiling face, the act of giving becomes virtuous.

11_ بِالبِشْرِ وبَسْطِ الوَجْهِ یَحْسُنُ مَوْقِعُ البَذْلِ.

12. Your cheerfulness is your first righteous act and your promise is your first gift.

12_ بِشْ_رُکَ أوَّلُ بِرِّکَ ووَعْدُکَ أوَّلُ عَطائِکَ.

13. Your cheerfulness shows the nobility of your soul and your humility points to your righteous character.

13_ بِشرُکَ یَدُلُّ علی کَرَمِ نَفْسِکَ، وتَواضُعُکَ یُنْبِئُ عَنْ شریفِ خُلْقِکَ.

14. Being cheerful is the first gift and the easiest [form of] generosity.

14_ حُسْنُ البِشرِ أوَّلُ العَطاءِ، وأسْهَلُ السَّخاءِ.

15. Cheerfulness is one of the two glad tidings.

15_ حُسْنُ البِشْر أحَدُ البِشارَتَیْنِ.

16. Cheerfulness is the disposition of all those who are [truly] free.

16_ حُسْنُ البِشْرِ شیمَةُ کُلِّ حُرّ.

17. Being cheerful is one of the signs of success.

17_ حُسْنُ البِشْرِ مِنْ عَلائِمِ النَّجاحِ.

18. The cause of affection is cheerfulness.

18_ سَبَبُ المَحَبَّةِ ألبِشْرُ.

19. Smiling with cheerfulness, [practicing] benevolence, [performing] righteous actions and bestowing greetings invites the love of the people.

19_ طِلاقَةُ الوَجهِ بِالبِشرِ والعَطیَّةِ وفِعْلِ البِرِّ وبَذْلِ التَّحیَّةِ داع إلی مََحَبَّةِ البَریَّةِ.

20. Increased cheerfulness is a sign of benevolence.

20_ کَثْرَةُ البِشرِ آیَةُ البَذْلِ.

21. A cheerful face is better than a serious, frowning face.

21_ وَجْهٌ مُسْتَبْشِرٌ خَیْرٌ مِنْ قَطْوب مُؤثِر.

22. Cheerfulness is one of the two gifts.

22_ اَلبِشْرُ أحَدُ العَطائَیْنِ.

23. Cheerfulness is a delightful countenance and a radiant disposition.

23_ اَلبِشْرُ مَنْظَرٌ مُونِقٌ،وَ خُلْقٌ مُشْرِقٌ.

24. Cheerfulness is

p: 111

kindness, frowning is meanness.

24_ اَلبِشرُ مَبَرَّةٌ، العُبُوسُ مَعَرَّةٌ.

25. Cheerfulness is the beginning of righteousness.

25_ اَلبِشرُ أوَّلُ البِرِّ.

26. Keeping a cheerful face is a trait of the free.

26_ الطَّلاقَةُ شیمَةُ الحُرِّ.

27. Cheerfulness is the first gift.

27_ اَلبِشرُ أوَّلُ النّائِلِ.

ما یُوجِبُ الفِتْنَةَ.

8. Sometimes the one who can see [also] loses his way.

8_ رُبَّما أخْطَأ البَصیرُ رُشْدَهُ.

9. Loss of eyesight is easier than loss of insight.

9_ فَقْدُ البَصََ_رِأهْوَنُ مِنْ فِقْدانِ البَصیرَةِ.

10. One who has lost his sight makes wrong judgments.

10_ فاقِدُ البَصَرِ فاسِدُ النَّظَرِ.

11. Indeed the secrets have been revealed for people of insight.

11_ قَدِ انْجابَتْ السَّرائِرُ لأهْلِ البَصائِ_رِ.

12. You are shown if you observe, made to hear if you listen, and guided if you seek guidance.

12_ لَقَدْ بُصِّرْتُمْ إنْ أبْصَرْتُمْ، واُسْمِعْتُمْ إنْ سَمِعْتُمْ، وهُدیتُمْ إنِاهتَدَیْتُمْ.

13. Whoever reflects with astuteness, wisdom gets established for him and he understands the lesson [of the past].

13_ مَنْ تَبَصَّ_رَ فیِ الفِطْنَةِ ثَبَتَتْ لَهُ الحِکْمَةُ وعَرِفَ العِبْرَةَ.

14. Eyesight is of no benefit if insight is blinded.

14_ نَظَرُ البَصَرِ لایُجدی إذا عَمِیَتِ البَصیرَةُ.

15. One who does not ponder has no insight.

15_ لابَصیرَةَ لِمَنْ لا فِکْرَ لَهُ.

16. The glance is a pathfinder of infatuations.

16_ اَللَّحْظُ رائِدُ الفِتَنِ.

17. Many a passion is aroused by a [single] glance.

17_ رُبَّ صَبابَة غُرِسَتْ مِنْ لَحْظَة.

18. The blinding of sight is better than a lot of gazing [at what is forbidden].

18_ عَمَی البَصَرِ خَیْرٌ مِنْ کَثیر مِنَ النَّظَرِ.

19. How many a passion has been aroused from a [single] glance!

19_ کَمْ مِنْ صَبابَة اکْتُسِبَتْ مِنْ لَحْظَة.

20. How many gazes have led to regret!

20_ کَمْ مِنْ نَظْرَة جَلَبَتْ حَسْرَةً.

21. A person’s glance is the scout of his heart.

21_ لَحْظُ الإنسانِ رائِدُ قَلْبِهِ.

22. One who glances [everywhere] freely, his regret increases.

22_ مَنْ أطْلَقَ طَرْفَهُ کَثُرَ أسَفُُهُ.

23. Vision is not attained by sight [alone], for sight

p: 113

can fool its possessor.

23_ لَیْسَ الرُّؤْیَةُ مَعَ الأبْصارِ، قَدْ تَکْذِبُ الأبْصارُ أهْلَها.

[fixed] circuit.

12_ لِلباطِلِ جَوْلَةٌ.

13. There is no joy in a flash of lightening for one who is immersed in darkness.

13_ لَیْسَ فیِ البَرْقِ اللاَّمِعِ مُسْتَمْتَعٌ لِمَنْ یَخُوضُ الظُّلْمَةَ.

14. One who embarks on falsehood, regrets.

14_ مَنْ رَکِبَ الباطِلَ نَدِمَ.

15. One whose falsehood increases, his truth will never be accepted.

15_ مَنْ کَثُرَ باطِلُهُ لَمْ یُتَّبَعْ حَقُّهُ.

16. One who rides on falsehood, his mount will destroy him.

16_ مَنْ رَکِبَ الباطِلَ أهْلَکَهُ مَرْکَبُهُ.

17. One who embarks on falsehood, his feet will slip.

17_ مَنْ رَکِبَ الباطِلَ زَلَّ قَدَمُهُ.

18. One whose goal is falsehood will not perceive the truth even if it is more manifest than the sun.

18_ مَنْ کانَ غَرَضُهُ الباطِلَ لَمْ یُدْرِکِ الحقَّ ولَوْ کانَ أشْهَرَ مِنَ الشَّمسِ.

19. One who supports falsehood, regrets.

19_ مَنْ نَصَرَ الباطِلَ نَدِمَ.

20. How ugly falsehood is!

20_ ما أقْبَحَ الباطِلَ.

21. The one who employs falsehood is chastised and condemned.

21_ مُسْتَعْمِلُ الباطِلِ مُعَذَّبٌ مَلُومٌ.

22. One who resorts to falsehood does not become powerful.

22_ لایَعِزُّ مَنْ لَجَأ إلَی الباطِلِ.

بَطْنُهُ وفَرْجُهُ.

5. The most detested servant in the sight of Allah, the Glorified, is the one whose concern (and effort) is [solely] for his stomach and his private parts.

5_ أمْقَتُ العِبادِ إلَی اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ مَنْ کانَ هَمُّهُ (هِمَّتُهُ) بَطْنُهُ وَفَرْجُهُ.

البِلادِ بَلَدٌ لا أمْنَ فیهِ وَلا خِصْبَ.

2. The worst homelands are those in which the inhabitants are not safe.

2_ شَ_رُّ الأوطانِ ما لَمْ یَأمَنْ (لایأمَنُ) فیهِ القُطَّانُ.

3. There is no country (or city) that has a greater right over you than another; the best country is the one that bears you.

3_ لَیْسَ بَلَدٌ أحَقُّ البِلادِ بِکَ مِنْ بَلَد، خَیْرُ البِلادِ ما حَمَلَکَ.

(i.e. animals with four legs) is their stomachs.

1_ إنَّ البَهائِمَ هَمُّها بُطُونُها.

2. Indeed the [only] concern of predators is attacking other animals.

2_ إنَّ السِّباعَ هَمُّها العُدْوانُ علی غَیْرِها.

Glorified, is granted something better than it by Allah.

1_ مَنْ تَرَکَ لِلّهِ سُبْحانَهُ شَیْئاً عَوَّضَهُ اللّهُ خَیْراً مِمّا تَرَکَ.

no good in this world except for two [types of] people: the person who makes amends for the sins that he commits, through repentance, and the person who struggles against his lower-self in obedience to Allah, the Glorified.

16_ لاخَیرَ فی الدُّنیا إلاّ لأحَدِ رَجُلَینِ: رَجُلٌ أذْنَبَ ذُنُوباً فَهُوَ یَتَدارَکُها بِالتَّوْبَةِ، ورَجُلٌ یُجاهِدُ نَفْسَهُ علی طاعةِ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ.

17. The smallest [amount of] repentance and seeking forgiveness purges sins and repeated misdeeds.

17_ یَسیرُ التَّوبَةِ والاستِغْفارِ یُمَحِّصُ المَعاصِیَ والإصْرارَ.

18. It is by returning [to Allah] that forgiveness is gained.

18_ مَعَ الإنابَةِ ت_َکُونُ المَغْفِرَةُ.

is indeed disgraceful and [is] a deficiency.

1_ اِحْذَروُا الجُبْنَ، فَإنَّهُ عارٌ، ومَنْقَصَةٌ.

2. Cowardice is an affliction and impuissance is feeble-mindedness.

2_ اَلجُبْنُ افَةٌ، اَلْعَجْزُ سَخافَةٌ.

3. Extreme cowardice stems from impuissance of the self and weakness of conviction.

3_ شِدَّةُ الجُبْنِ مِنْ عَجْزِ النَّفْسِ وَضَعْفِ الیَقینِ.

which taught you a lesson.

6_ خَیْرُ ما جَرَّبْتَ ما وَعَظَکَ.

7. In every experience there is an admonition.

7_ فی کُلِّ تَجْرِبَة مَوعِظَةٌ.

8. Experiences suffice as educators.

8_ کَفی بِالتَّجارِبِ مُؤَدِّباً.

9. One who experiences, increases in judiciousness.

9_ مَنْ یُجَرِّبْ یَزْدَدْ حَزْماً.

10. One whose experiences increase, his negligence decreases.

10_ مَنْ کَثُرَتْ تَجْرِبَتُهُ قَلَّتْ غِرَّتُهُ.

11. One who consolidates the experiences [he has had] will be safe from danger.

11_ مَنْ أحْکَمَ التَّجارِبَ سَلِمَ مِنَ المَعاطِبِ.

12. One who discards experiences becomes blind to the consequences [of his actions].

12_ مَنْ غَنِیَ عَنِ التَّجارِبِ عَمِیَ عَنِ العَواقِبِ.

13. Whoever preserves [and learns from his] experiences, his actions become correct.

13_ مَنْ حَفِظَ التَّجارِبَ أصابَتْ أفْعالُهُ.

14. One who lacks experience is [easily] deceived.

14_ مَنْ قَلَّتْ تَجْرِبَتُهُ خُدِعَ.

الأجرَ، ویُعَظِّمُ الفَجیعَةَ.

8. Anxiety is [a cause of] destruction.

8_ اَلجَزَعُ هَلاکٌ.

9. Anxiety is one of the assistants of the [difficult] time.

9_ اَلجَزَعُ مِنْ أعوانِ الزَّمانِ.

10. Anxiety magnifies the calamity.

10_ اَلجَزَعُ یُعَظِّمُ المِحْنَةَ.

11. Anxiety is more exhausting than patience.

11_ اَلجَزَعُ أتْعَبُ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ.

12. If you are [one who gets] anxious about all that has escaped from your hands, then be anxious about what has not reached you.

12_ إنْ کُنْتَ جازِعاً علی کُلِّ ما یَفْلِتُ مِنْ یَدَیْکَ فَاجْزَعْ علی مالَمْ یَصِلْ إلَیکَ.

13. With excessive anxiety, the calamity is magnified.

13_ بِکَثْرَةِ الجَزَعِ تَعْظُمُ الفَجیعَةُ.

14. Counter anxiety with patience.

14_ ضادُّوا الجَزَعَ بِالصَّبْرِ.

15. There is no recompense with anxiety.

15_ لَیْسَ مَعَ الجَزَعِ مَثُوبَةٌ.

16. Whoever becomes anxious, his adversity increases.

16_ مَنْ جَزَعَ عَظُمَتْ مُصیبَتُهُ.

17. One who is overcome by anxiety is deprived of the merit of patience.

17_ مَنْ ملَکَهُ الجَزَعُ حُرِمَ فَضیلَةَ الصَّبرِ.

18. One who becomes anxious has tormented himself, neglected the command of Allah, the Glorified, and sold off his reward.

18_ مَنْ جَزَعَ فَنَفْسَهُ عَذَّبَ، وأمْرَ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ أضاعَ، وثَوابَهُ باعَ.

19. Do not get anxious in the [face of] little that you dislike for it will put you in a lot of what you dislike.

19_ لاتَجزَعُوا مِنْ قَلیلِ ماأکْرَهَکُمْ (کَرِهْتُم)، فَیُوقِعَکُمْ ذلِکَ فی کَثیر مِمّا تَ_کْرَهُونَ.

20. Patience and anxiety do not go together.

20_ لا تَجْتَمِعُ الصَّبْرُ والجَزَعُ.

anything but good.

2_ مَنْ أیْقَنَ بِالمُجازاةِ لَ_مْ یُؤثِرْ غَیْ_رَ الحُسْنی.

3. The reward is proportionate to the tribulation [endured].

3_ عَلی قَدْرِ البَلاءِ یَکُونُ الجَزاءُ.

4. The grant [of reward] from Allah is proportionate to the [sincerity of] intention.

4_ علی قَدْرِ النِّیَّةِ تَ_کُونُ مِنَ اللّهِ العَطِیَّةُ.

5. One who is not certain of the recompense [for actions], doubt has corrupted his certitude.

5_ مَنْ لَمْ یُوقِنْ بِالجَزاءِ أفْسَدَ الشَّکُّ یَقینَهُ.

6. Never make haste in reacting harshly and never be quick to punish when there is an alternative, for this causes depletion of the faith and brings closer the transformations [of blessing into calamity].

6_ لاتُسْرِعَنَّ إلی بادِرَة ولا تُعَجِّلَنَّ بِعُقُوبَة وَجَدْتَ عَنْها مَنْدُوحَةً فَإنَّ ذلِکَ مَنْهَکَةٌ لِلدّینِ مُقَرِّبٌ مِنَ الغِیَ_رِ.

7. The quickest punishment is the punishment for transgression.

7_ إنَّ أعْجَلَ العُقُوبَةِ عُقُوبَةُ البَغْیِ.

8. Verily Allah, the Glorified, has ordained punishment for committing sins against Him in order to save His servants from His chastisement.

8_ إنَّ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ قَدْ وَضَعَ العِقابَ عَلی مَعاصِیهِ ذِیادَةً لِعِبادِهِ عَنْ نَقِمَتِهِ.

9. The punishment of noble ones is better than the forgiveness of the vile ones.

9_ عُقُوبَةُ الکِرامِ أحْسَنُ مِنْ عَفْوِ اللِّئامِ.

10. The punishment of the hot tempered, spiteful and jealous people starts from [within] themselves.

10_ عُقُوبَةُ الغَضُوبِ والحَقُودِ والحَسُودِ تُبْدَءُ بِأنْفُسِهِمْ.

11. The punishment of the intelligent is [in the form of] insinuation.

11_ عُقُوبَةُ العُقَلاءِ التَّلْویحُ.

12. The punishment of the ignorant is [in the form of open] declaration.

12_ عُقُوبَةُ الجُهَلاءِ التَّصْریحُ.

13. There is no protector for one who is sought by Allah [for punishment].

13_ لَیْسَ لِمَنْ طَلَبَهُ اللّهُ مُجیرٌ.

14. Whoever punishes the

p: 124

one who is apologetic has committed a grave injustice.

14_ مَنْ عاقَبَ مُعْتَذِراً عَظُمَتْ إساءَتُهُ.

15. One who punishes [a person] for [having committed] an offence has no merit.(1)

15_ مَنْ عاقَبَ بِالذَّنْبِ فَلا فَضْلَ لَهُ.

16. Not every sinner deserves to be punished.

16_ ما کُلُّ مُذْنِب یُعاقَبُ.

17. How repulsive is punishment [that is meted out] despite apology.

17_ ما أقْبَحَ العُقُوبَةَ مَعَ الاِعْتِذارِ.

regret. When lawful, its fruit is a son who, if he lives, subjects [one] to trial and if he dies, causes sadness.

1_ سُئِلَ _ علیه السّلام _ عنِ الجِماعِ، فقال: حَیاءٌ یُرْتَفَعُ، وعَوْراتٌ تَجْتَمِعُ، أشبَهُ شَْیء بِالجُنُونِ، اَلإصرارُ عَلَیْهِ هَرَمٌ، والإفاقَةُ مِنْهُ نَدَمٌ، ثَمَرَةُ حَلالِهِ الوَلَدُ، إنْ عاشَ فَتَنَ، وإنْ ماتَ حَزَنَ..

طالِبُها، ولا کالنَّارِ نامَ هارِبُها.

3. Verily the people of Paradise constitute all the believers who are easygoing and gentle.

3_ إنَّ أهلَ الجَنَّةِ کُلُّ مُؤْمِن هَین لَیْن.

4. Verily Allah, the Exalted, makes whomever He wishes, from those of his servants who posses sincere intentions and righteous hearts, enter Paradise.

4_ إنَّ اللّهَ تعالی یُدْخِلُ بِحُسْنِ النِّیَّةِ وصالِحِ السَّریرَةِ مَنْ یَشاءُ مِنْ عِبادِهِ الجَنَّةَ.

5. Paradise is the abode of peace.

5_ اَلجَنَّةُ دارُ الأمانِ.

6. If you must be desirous of something, then be desirous of a Paradise, the span of which covers the heavens and the earth.

6_ إنْ کُنْتُمْ راغِبینَ لامُحالَةَ، فَارْغَبُوا فی جَنَّة عَرْضُهاَ السَّمواتِ والأرضِ.

7. Paradise is the reward of the obedient.

7_ اَلجَنَّةُ جَزاءُ المُطیعِ.

8. Paradise is the abode of the pious.

8_ اَلجَنَّةُ دارُ الأتْقیاءِ.

9. Paradise is the goal of the foremost [in righteousness].

9_ اَلجَنَّةُ غایَةُ السّابِقینَ.

10. Paradise is the most excellent goal.

10_ اَلْجَنَّةُ أفْضَلُ غایَة.

11. Paradise is the returning place of the victorious.

11_ اَلجَنَّةُ مَ آلُ الفائِزِ.

12. Paradise is the reward of every righteous believer.

12_ اَلجَنَّةُ جَزاءُ کُلِّ مُؤْمِن مُحسِن.

13. Paradise is attained through keeping away from sins.

13_ نَیْلُ الجَنَّةِ بِالتَّنَزُّهِ عَنِ المَأثِمِ.

14. Verily you will not enter Paradise until you restrain yourself from misdeeds and stop [committing them]; and deter yourself from sins and desist [from them].

14_ إنَّکَ لَنْ تَلِجَ الجَنَّةَ حتّی تَزْدَجِرَ عَنْ غَیِّکَ، وتَنْتَهِیَ، وتَرْتَدِعَ عَنْ مَعاصیکَ، وتَرعَوِیَ.

15. If you believe in Allah and abstain from what He has forbidden, He will put you in the Abode of Peace, and if you please Him, He will cover you

p: 127

with [divine] favour.

15_ إذا آمَنْتَ بِاللّهِ واتَّقَیْتَ مَحارِمَهُ أحَلَّکَ دارَ الأمانِ، وإذا أرْضَیْتَهُ تَغَمَّدَکَ بِالرِّضوانِ.

16. The price of Paradise is good deeds.

16_ ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ العَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ.

17. The price of Paradise is renunciation of the [pleasures of this] world.

17_ ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ الزُّهدُ فی الدُّنیا.

18. The chiefs of the people of Paradise are the generous and the pious.

18_ سادَةُ أهلِ الجَنَّةِ اَلأسْخیاءُ، والمُ_تَّقُونَ.

19. The chiefs of the people of Paradise are the sincere ones.

19_ سادَةُ أهلِ الجَنَّةِ المُخْلِصُونَ.

20. The chiefs of the people of Paradise are the God-fearing and the virtuous.

20_ سادَةُ أهلِ الجَنَّةِ الأتْقیاءُ الأبْرارُ.

21. Seeking Paradise without good deeds is foolishness.

21_ طَلَبُ الجَنَّةِ بِلا عَمَل حُمْقٌ.

22. Paradise is not achieved [simply] by wishing for it.

22_ لاتَحْصُلُ الجَنَّةُ بِالتَّمَنّی.

23. Neither a swindler nor one who put others under obligation, will enter Paradise.

23_ لایَدْخُلُ الجَنَّةَ خَبٌّ ولا مَنّانٌ.

24. None will be victorious in attaining Paradise except one whose heart is good and intention sincere.

24_ لایَفُوزُ بِالجَنَّةِ إلاّ مَنْ حَسُنَتْ سَریرَتُهُ وخَلُصَتْ نِیَّتُهُ.

25. Every bliss other than Paradise is derisory.

25_ کُلُّ نَعیم دُونَ الجَنَّةِ مَحْقُورٌ.

26. None will be victorious in attaining Paradise except the one who works hard for it.

26_ لَنْ یَفُوزَ بِالجَنَّةِ إلاّ السّاعی لَها.

27. None shall attain Paradise except the one who struggles against his [lower] self.

27_ لَنْ یَحُوزَ الجنَّةَ إلاَّ مَنْ جاهَدَ نَفْسَهُ.

28. One who yearns for Paradise forgets his [worldly] desires.

28_ مَنِ اشْتاقَ إلَی الْجَ_نَّةِ سَلا عَنِ الشَّهواتِ.

29. Paradise is attained through abstaining from sins.

29_ نَیْلُ الجَنَّةِ بِالتَّنَزُّهِ عَنِ المَ_آثِمِ.

30. One who shuns what is forbidden shall attain Paradise.

30_

p: 128

نالَ الجَنَّةَ مَنِ اتَّقی عَنِ المَحارِمِ.

31. How impossible! Allah cannot be cheated of His Paradise, and none can attain what is with Him except by His pleasure.

31_ هَیْهاتَ لایُخْدَعُ اللّهُ عَنْ جَنَّتِهِ، وَلا یُنالُ ما عِنْدَهُ إلاّ بِمَرضاتِهِ.

32. The delegation that enters Paradise is constantly showered with blessings.

32_ وَفْدُ الجَنَّةِ أبَداً مُنَعَّمُونَ.

33. Those who enter Paradise are in perpetual bliss.

33_ وارِدُ الجَنَّةِ مُخَلَّدُ النَّعْماءِ.

Through generosity, authority is acquired.

15_ بِالجُودِ تَ_کُوُنُ السِّیادَةُ.

16. Generosity stems from nobility of character.

16_ اَلجُودُ مِنْ کَرَمِ الطَّبیعَةِ.

17. Through generosity, men gain authority.

17_ بِالجُودِ تَسُودُ الرِّجالُ.

18. Through generosity, distinction is established and praise is acquired.

18_ بِالجُودِ یُبْتَنَی المَجْدُ وَیُجْتَلَبُ الحَمْدُ.

19. Be generous with whatever you have, [and] you will be praised.

19_ جُدْ بِما تَجِدْ تُحْمَدْ.

20. Be generous and you will gain authority; be patient and you will be triumphant.

20_ جُدْ تَسُدْ، وَاصْبِرْ تَظْفُرْ.

21. The generosity of the poor is the best generosity.

21_ جُودُ الفَقیرِ أفْضَلُ الجُودِ.

22. Be generous with what is available, fulfil your promises and be loyal with the trusts [that have been entrusted to you].

22_ جُودُوا بِالمَوْجُودِ، وأنْجِزُوا الوُعُودَ، وأوْفُوا بِالعُهُودِ.

23. The generosity of a poor person dignifies him and the stinginess of a rich person debases him.

23_ جُودُ الفَقیرِ یُجِلُّهُ، وبُخْلُ الغَنِیِّ یُذِلُّهُ.

24. Be generous with that which perishes and you will be compensated for it with that which lasts.

24_ جُودُوا بِما یَفْنی تَعْتاضُوا عَنْهُ بِما یَبْقی.

25. Be generous for the sake of Allah and struggle against your selves in obedience to Him, He will [in return] magnify your reward and increase His favour upon you.

25_ جُودُوا فیِ اللّهِ وجاهِدُوا أنْفُسَکُمْ عَلی طاعَتِهِ یُعْظِمْ لَکُمْ الجَزاءَ وَیُحْسِنْ لَکُمْ الحَباءَ.

26. Generosity is the practice of the honourable.

26_ سُنَّةُ الکِرامِ الجُودُ.

27. The highest extent of generosity is giving [from] whatever is available.

27_ غایَةُ الجُودِ بَذْلُ المَوْجُودِ.

28. One who is open-handed does good to others.

28_ مَنْ جادَ اصْطَنَعَ.

29. One who is generous gains authority.

29_ مَنْ جادَ سادَ.

30. One who does

p: 130

not show generosity is not praised.

30_ مَنْ لَمْ یَجُِدْ لَمْ یُحْمَدْ.

31. How excellent is generosity when in straitened circumstances!

31_ ما أحْسَنَ الجُودَ مَعَ الإعْسارِ.

32. One who does not give generously while he is praised has to give away while he is dispraised.

32_ مَنْ لَمْ یَسْمَحْ وهُوَ مَحْمُودٌ سَمَحَ وهُوَ مَلُومٌ.

33. One who does not give generously does not gain authority.

33_ مَنْ ل_َمْ یَسْمَحْ ل_َمْ یَسُدْ.

34. The generosity of a man endears him to his rivals and his stinginess makes him hated by his [own] children.

34_ جُودُ الرَّجُلِ یُحَبِّبُهُ إلی أضْدادِهِ، وبُخْلُهُ یُبَغِّضُهُ إلی أوْلادِهِ.

وعَدُوُّهُ خائِفٌ.

2. Proximity to Allah is granted to those who obey Him and keep away from disobedience to Him.

2_ جِوارُ اللّهِ مَبْذُولٌ لِمَنْ أطاعَهُ وتَجَنَّبَ مُخالَفَتَهُ.

the carnal] self and breaking its [bad] habits hunger is!

7_ نِعْمَ العَونُ عَلی أشَ_رِ(أسْرِ) النَّفْسِ وکَسْرِ عادَتِها التَّجَوُّعُ.

opened for those who strive [in the way of Allah].

4_ اَلمُجاهِدُونَ تُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ أبْوابُ السَّماءِ.

5. If the people who came before me complained about the injustice of their rulers, then today I complain about the injustice of my people; it is as if I am led and they are the leaders, [and] I am restrained and they are the restrainers.

5_ إنْ کانَتِ الرَّعایا قَبْلی تَشْکُوا حَیْفَ رُعاتِها فَإنِّی الیَوْمَ أشْکُو حَیْفَ رَعِیَّتی، کَأنِّی المَقُودُ وهُمُ القادَةُ، والمُوزَعُ وَهُمُ الوَزَعَةُ

6. The reward for striving [in the way of Allah] is the greatest reward.

6_ ثوابُ الجِهادِ أعْظَمُ الثَّوابِ.

7. And [Allah has prescribed] Jihād as [a means of preserving the] honour of Islam.

7_ والجِهادَ عِزّاً لِلإسْلامِ.

8. Strong determination and lavishness do not go together.

8_ لا تَجْتَمِعُ عَزیمَةٌ ووَلیمَةٌ.

9. The purification of the body is [in] striving and fasting.

9_ زَکوةُ البَدَنِ الجِهادُ والصِّیامُ.

that you disavow from Jihād is struggling against your selves.

4_ أوَّلُ ما تُنْکِرُونَ مِنَ الجِهادِ، جِهادُ أنْفُسِکُمْ.

5. The last things that you [should] lose are: the struggling against your selves and obedience to those who have authority among you.

5_ آخِرُ ما تَفْقِدُونَ مُجاهَدَةُ أهْوائِکُمْ وطاعَةُ أُولِی الأَمْرِ مِنْکُمْ.

6. Indeed the best Jihād is the struggle of a man against his [carnal] soul.

6_ إنَّ أفْضَلَ الجِهادِ مُجاهَدَةُ الرَّجُلِ نَفْسَهُ.

7. Verily struggling against the self restrains it from sins and protects it from destruction.

7_ إنَّ مُجاهَدَةَ النَّفْسِ لَتَزِمُّها عَنِ المَعاصِی، وتَعْصِمُها عَنِ الرَّدی.

8. Verily the one who struggles with his [lower] self, in obedience to Allah and against disobedience to Him, has the status of a virtuous martyr in the sight of Allah.

8_ إنَّ المُجاهِدَ نَفْسَهُ عَلی طاعَةِ اللّهِ وَعَنْ مَعاصِیهِ، عِنْدَاللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ بَرّ شَهید.

9. Indeed the one who struggles against his [lower] self, overcomes his anger and is careful in obeying [the commandments of] Allah, is raised by Allah, the Glorified, to the status of the one who fasts by day and stands in prayer by night, and is granted the rank of the patient soldier [who fights in His way].

9_ إنَّ المُجاهِدَ نَفْسَهُ، والمُغالِبَ غَضَبَهُ، والمُحافِظَ عَلی طاعَةِ رَبِّهِ، یَرْفَعُ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ لَهُ ثَوابَ الصَّائِمِ القائِمِ ویُنیلُهُ دَرَجَةَ المُرابِطِ الصّابِرِ.

10. Verily if you struggle against your [lower] self you will obtain the pleasure of Allah.

10_ إنَّکَ إنْ جاهَدْتَ نَفْسَکَ حُزْتَ رِضَی اللّهِ.

11. The fruit of struggle [against the self] is overpowering the self.

11_ ثَمَرَةُ المُجاهَدَةِ قَهْرُ النَّفْسِ.

12. Struggling against

p: 135

the self is the dowry for Paradise.

12_ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ مَهْرُ الجَنَّةِ.

13. Struggling against vain desires is the price of Paradise.

13_ جِهادُ الهَوی ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ.

14. Struggling against the self is the best Jihad.

14_ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ أفْضَلُ جِهاد.

15. Struggle against your [lower] self and seek repentance, you will be successful in the obedience of your Lord.

15_ جاهِدْ نَفْسَکَ، وَقَدِّمْ تَوْبَتَکَ، تَفُزْ بِطاعَةِ رَبِّکَ.

16. Struggle against your vain desires, overcome your anger and resist your bad habits, [by this] your soul will become pure, your intellect will become perfect and the reward of your Lord will be complete.

16_ جاهِدْ شَهْوَتَکَ، وغالِبْ غَضَبَک،وَخالِفْ سُوءَ عادَتِکَ، تَزْکُ نَفْسُکَ، ویَکْمُلْ عَقْلُکَ، وتَسْتَکْمِلْ ثَوابَ رَبِّکَ.

17. Fight against your [lower] self in obedience to Allah the way an enemy would fight his enemy, and overpower it the way a rival would overpower his opponent, for indeed the strongest person is the one who subdues his self.

17_ جاهِدْ نَفْسَکَ عَلی طاعَةِ اللّهِ مُجاهَدَة العَدُوِّ عَدُوَّهُ، وغالِبْها مُغالَبَةَ الضِّدِّ ضِدَّهُ، فَإنَّ أقْویَ النّاسِ مَنْ قَوِیَ علی نَفْسِهِ.

18. Struggle against your [lower] self and call it to account the way a partner would hold his partner accountable, and demand from it the right of Allah the way an adversary would demand from his foe, for verily the most felicitous of people is the one who undertakes to hold his self to account.

18_ جاهِدْ نَفْسَکَ وحاسِبْها مُحاسَبَةَ الشَّریکِ شَریکَهُ وطالِبْها بِحُقُوقِ اللّهِ مُطالَبَةَ الخَصْمِ خَصْمَهُ، فَإنَّ أسْعَدَ النّاسِ مَنِ انْتَدَبَ لِمحاسَبَةِ نَفْسِهِ.

19. Struggling against the [lower] self is the price of Paradise,

p: 136

so the one who struggles against it will acquire it, and this is the greatest reward of Allah for the one who is cognizant of it.

19_ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ، فَمَنْ جاهَدَها مَلَکَها وهِیَ أکْرَمُ ثَوابِ اللّهِ لِمَنْ عَرَفَها.

20. Struggling against the self with knowledge is a symbol of intelligence.

20_ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ بِالعِلْمِ عُنْوانُ العَقْلِ.

21. Fighting anger with forbearance is evidence of nobility.

21_ جِهادُ الغَضَبِ بِالحِلْمِ بُرْهانُ النُّبْلِ.

22. The most excellent Jihād is struggling against the self.

22_ خَیْرُ الجِهادِ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ.

23. The highest form of struggle is for a man to struggle against his self.

23_ غایَةُ المُجاهَدَةِ أنْ یُجاهِدَ المَرْءُ نَفْسَهُ.

24. It is sufficient for you, in your struggle against your [lower] self, that you always prevail over it and fight its vain desires.

24_ کَفاکَ فی مُجاهَدَةِ نَفْسِکَ أنْ لاتَزالَ أبَداً لَها مُغالِباً، وعَلی أهْوِیَتِها مُحارِباً.

25. One who fights his [lower] self perfects his piety.

25_ مَنْ جاهَدَ نَفْسَهُ أَکْمَلَ التُّقی.

26. One who knows his self struggles against it.

26_ مَنْ عَرَفَ نَفْسَهُ جاهَدَها.

27. One who does not struggle against his self will not achieve victory.

27_ مَنْ لَمْ یُجاهِدْ نَفْسَهُ لَمْ یَنَلِ الفَوْزَ.

28. There is no struggle more worthy than struggling against the self.

28_ ما مِنْ جِهاد أفْضَلُ مِنْ جِهادِ النَّفْسِ.

29. Struggling against the self is a trait of the noble ones.

29_ مُجاهَدَةُ النَّفْسِ شیمَةُ النُّبَلاءِ.

30. Struggling against the self is a symbol of nobility.

30_ مُجاهَدَةُ النَّفْسِ عُنْوانُ النُّبْلِ.

31. Struggling against the self is the best Jihād.

31_ مُجاهَدَةُ النَّفْسِ أفْضَلُ جِهاد.

32. There is no Jihād like struggle against the self.

32_ لا جِهادَ

p: 137

کَجِهادِ النَّفْسِ.

القَدَمَ، ویُورِثُ النَّدَمَ.

22. Ignorance causes the living to die and perpetuates misery.

22_ اَلجَهْلُ مُمیتُ الأحْیاءِ، وَمُخَلِّدُ الشَّقاءِ.

23. Verily you will not attain any goal by ignorance, nor will you achieve any goodness by means of it, nor will you realize any of your wishes in the Hereafter through it.

23_ إنَّکُمْ لَنْ تُحَصِّلُوا بِالجَهْلِ أرَباً، ولَنْ تَبْلُغُوا بِهِ مِنَ الخَیْرِ سَبَبَاً، وَلَنْ تُدْرِکُوا بِهِ مِنَ الآخِرَةِ مَطْلَباً.

24. It is through ignorance that every evil is instigated.

24_ بِالجَهْلِ یُسْتَثارُ کُلِّ شَرّ.

25. Many an ignorance is better than forbearance (or knowledge).

25_ رُبَّ جَهْل أنْفَعُ مِنْ حِلْم(عِلْم).

26. Ward off ignorance with knowledge.

26_ رُدُّوا الجَهْلَ بِالعِلْمِ.

27. Too much ignorance is destructive.

27_ زِیادَةُ الجَهْلِ تُرْدی.

28. The worst affliction is ignorance.

28_ شَ_رُّ المَصائِبِ الجَهْلُ.

29. Counter ignorance with knowledge.

29_ ضادُّوا الجَهْلَ بِالعِلْمِ.

30. The outcome of ignorance is loss; and the joy of the envious does not last.

30_ عُقْبیَ الجَهْلِ مَضَرَّةٌ، وَالحَسُودُ لا تَدُومُ لَهُ مَسَرَّةٌ.

31. The pinnacle of ignorance is for a person to brag about his ignorance.

31_ غایَةُ الجَهْلِ تَ_بَجُّجُ المَرْءِ بِجَهْلِهِ.

32. Many a revered person has been humiliated by his ignorance.

32_ کَمْ مِنْ عَزیر أذَلَّهُ جَهْلُهُ.

33. Ignorance suffices as ignobility.

33_ کَفی بِالجَهْلِ ضِعَةً.

34. It suffices as ignorance for a person to be ignorant about himself.

34_ کَفی بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ یَجْهَلَ نَفْسَهُ.

35. It suffices as ignorance for a person to be pleased with himself.

35_ کَفی بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ یَرضی عَنْ نَفْسِهِ.

36. It suffices as ignorance for a person to laugh without [a reason for] amusement.

36_ کَفی بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ یَضْحَکَ مِنْ غَیْرِ عَجَب.

37. It suffices as ignorance

p: 139

for a person to be ignorant of his limits [and standing in society].

37_ کَفی بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ یَجْهَلَ قَدْرَهُ.

38. It suffices as ignorance for a person to be ignorant of his flaw.

38_ کَفی بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ یَجْهَلَ عَیْبَهُ.

39. It suffices as ignorance for a person to be ignorant about his own faults and to malign people for that which he [himself] cannot turn away from.

39_ کَفی بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ یَجْهَلَ عُیُوبَ نَفْسِهِ، ویَطْعَنَ عَلَی النّاسِ بِما لا یَسْتَطیعُ التَّحَوُّلَ عَنْهُ.

40. It suffices as ignorance for a person to forbid people from that which he performs himself.

40_ کَفی بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ یُنْکِرَ عَلَی النّاسِ ما یَأتی مِثْلَهُ.

41. The language of ignorance is impoliteness.

41_ لِسانُ الجَهْلِ الخُرْقُ.

42. One who gets uplifted by ignorance has opposed the intellect.

42_ مَنِ اسْتَطارَهُ الجَهْلُ فَقَدْعَصَی العَقْلَ.

43. One who fights his ignorance with his knowledge succeeds with the most felicitous victory.

43_ مَنْ قاتَلَ جَهْلَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ فازَ بِالحَظِّ الأسْعَدِ.

44. Being overcome by ignorance is one of the severest afflictions.

44_ مِنْ أشَدِّ المَصائِبِ غَلَبَةُ الجَهْلِ.

45. There is no poverty like ignorance.

45_ لا فَقْرَ کَالجَهْلِ.

46. With ignorance, no path is purified.

46_ لایَزْکُو مََعَ الجَهْلِ مَذْهَبٌ.

47. There is no poverty more severe than ignorance.

47_ لا فَقْرَ أشَدُّ مِنَ الجَهْلِ.

48. There is no abomination more disgraceful than ignorance.

48_ لاسَوْأةَ أشْیَنُ مِنَ الجَهْلِ.

49. There is no adversity more severe than ignorance.

49_ لامُصیبَةَ أشَدُّ مِنْ جَهْل.

50. The cornerstone of ignorance is animosity towards people.

50_ رَأسُ الجَهْلِ مُعاداةُ النّاسِ.

anything but falling short or excessive.

1_ اَلجاهِلُ لَنْ یُلْقی أبَداً إلا مُفَرِّطاً، أو مُفْرِطاً.

2. Neither does an ignorant restrain himself [from wrongdoing] nor does he benefit from good advice.

2_ اَلجاهِلُ لایَرْتَدِعُ، وبِالمَواعِظِ لا یَنْتَفِعُ.

3. An ignorant person is one who obeys his vain desires in disobedience to his Lord.

3_ اَلجاهِلُ مَنْ أطاعَ هَواهُ فی مَعصیَةِ رَبِّهِ.

4. The ignorant person feels aversion towards that which the wise person feels at ease with.

4_ اَلجاهِلُ یَسْتَوْحِشُ مِمّا یَأنَسُ بِه الحَکیْمُ.

5. The ignorant person does not understand the learned because he [himself] was never learned before.

5_ اَلجاهِلُ لایَعْرِفُ العالِمَ لأنَّهُ لَمْ یَکُنْ قَبْلُ عالِماً.

6. An ignorant person does not recognize his failure and does not accept the [good] advice given to him.

6_ اَلجاهِلُ لا یَعْرِفُ تَقْصیرَهُ، وَلایَقْبَلُ مِنَ النَّصیحِ لهُ.

7. An ignorant person relies on his hopes and is negligent in his actions.

7_ اَلجاهِلُ یَعْتَمِدُ عَلی أمَلِهِ، ویُقَصِّرُ فی عَمَلِهِ.

8. The ignorant person is like a rock through which water does not gush forth, and a tree, the branches of which do not become green, and a ground upon which foliage is not found.

8_ اَلجاهِلُ صَخْرَةٌ لا یَنْفَجِرُ ماؤُها، وَشَجَرَةٌ لایَخْضَرُّعُودُها، وأرضٌ لایَظهَرُ عُشْبُها.

9. An ignorant person is [like the] dead among the living.

9_ اَلْجاهِلُ مَیِّتٌ بَیْنَ الأحْیاءِ.

10. The most wretched of all people is the ignorant one.

10_ أشْقَی النّاسِ اَلجاهِلُ.

11. An unremorseful sinner is the most ignorant person.

11_ أجْهَلُ النّاسِ مُسِیئٌ مُسْتَأنِفٌ.

12. The most ignorant person is one who is deceived by the praise of a flatterer who makes the ugly look appealing

p: 141

to him and makes him hate the [sincere] adviser.

12_ أجْهَلُ النّاسِ المُغْتَرُّ بِقَوْلِ مادِح مُتَمَلِّق، یُحَسِّنُ لَهُ القَبیحَ، ویُبَغِّضُ إلَیْهِ النَّصیْحَ.

13. The most hated creature in the sight of Allah is the ignorant person, because He deprived him of what He bestowed on His creation, and that is intellect.

13_ أبْغَضُ الخَلائِقِ إلَی اللّهِ تعالی، اَلجاهِلُ لأنَّهُ حَرَمَهُ ما مَنَّ بِهِ عَلی خَلْقِهِ، وهُوَ العَقْلُ.

14. Verily the ignorant is one whose ignorance leads astray and whose vain desires entice [towards evil]; so his speech is unhealthy and his action is blameworthy.

14_ إنَّ الجاهِلَ مَنْ جَهْلُهُ فی إغْواء، ومَنْ هَواهُ فی إغْراء، فَقَوْلُهُ سَقیمٌ، وفِعْلُهُ ذَمیمٌ.

15. The ignorant one is perplexed.

15_ اَلجاهِلُ حَیْرانٌ.

16. The ignorant person inclines towards the one who is like him.

16_ اَلجاهِلُ یَمیلُ (یَألِفُهُ مِثْلُهُ) إلی شِکْلِهِ.

17. Man is an enemy of that which he is ignorant of.

17_ المَرْءُ عَدُوُّ ما جَهِلَ.

18. The ignorant one does not restrain himself [from evil].

18_ اَلجاهِلُ لا یَرتَدِعُ.

19. An ignorant person is a slave to his passions.

19_ اَلجاهِلُ عَبْدُ شَهْوَتِهِ.

20. The ignorant person does not desist [from sinning].

20_ اَلجاهِلُ لا یَرْعَوی.

21. An ignorant person seeks to raise himself but ends up abasing himself.

21_ اَلجاهِلُ یَرْفَعُ نَفْسَهُ فَیَتَّضِعُ.

22. The ignorant person is one who is ignorant of his own capability.

22_ اَلجاهِلُ مَنْ جَهِلَ قَدْرَهُ.

23. An ignorant person is dead, even when he is alive.

23_ اَلجاهِلُ مَیِّتٌ وإنْ کانَ حَیّاً.

24. The correctness of an ignorant person is like the mistake of a learned person (i.e. it happens rarely).

24_ اَلجاهِلُ کَزَلَّةِ العالِمِ صَوابُهُ.

25. The ignorant person

p: 142

is deceived by [false] claims.

25_ اَلجاهِلُ مَنْ خَدَعَتْهُ المَطالِبُ.

26. The ignorant person is one who is ignorant about his [own] affair.

26_ اَلجاهِلُ مَنْ جَهِلَ أمْرَهُ.

27. The ignorant person is one who is deceived by his vain desires and his arrogance.

27_ اَلجاهِلُ مَنِ انْخَدَعَ لِهَواهُ (بِهواهُ) وغُروُرِهِ.

28. An ignorant person is one who takes his sincere advisor to be a deceiver.

28_ اَلْجاهِلُ مَنِ اسْتَغَشَّ النَّصیحَ.

29. When the ignorant one becomes stingy (or denies), he obtains [wealth] and when he obtains [wealth] (or professes belief in one God), he apostatizes.

29_ اَلْجاهِلُ إذا جَمَدَ(جحد) وَجَدَ، وإذا وَجَدَ (وَحَّدَ) ألْحَدَ.

30. Indeed the ignorant person is one who is enslaved by [worldly] pursuits.

30_ إنَّما الجاهِلُ مَنِ اسْتَعْبَدَتْهُ المَطالِبُ.

31. When an ignorant person grows older, his ignorance rises.

31_ إذا شابَ الجاهِلُ شَبَّ جَهْلُهُ.

32. The wealth of an ignorant person is in his worldly possessions and his hopes.

32_ ثَرْوَةُ الجاهِلِ فی مالِهِ وَأمَلِهِ.

33. The reign of an ignorant person is like a stranger who [soon] moves to another place.

33_ دَوْلَةُ الجاهِلِ کَالغَریبِ المُتَحَرِّکِ إلَی النُّقْلَةِ.

34. Many an ignorant person is saved by his ignorance.

34_ رُبَّ جاهِل نَجاتُهُ جَهْلُهُ.

35. The slip-ups of an ignorant person are excusable.

35_ زَلَّةُ الجاهِلِ مَعْذُورَةٌ.

36. An ignorant king exposes his [own] flaws.

36_ سُلْطانُ الجاهِلِ یُبْدی مَعائِبَهُ.

37. The worst person you can accompany is an ignorant one.

37_ شَرُّ مَنْ صاحَبْتَ اَلجاهِلُ.

38. The correct [action] of an ignorant person is like the slip-up of an intelligent person.

38_ صَوابُ الجاهِلِ کَالزَّلَةِ مِنَ العاقِلِ.

39. The lost item of the ignorant person cannot be found.

39_ ضالَّةُ الجاهِلِ غَیْرُ

p: 143

مَوْجُود.

40. Obedience to the foolish is a sign of ignorance.

40_ طاعَةُ الجَهُولِ تَدُلُّ عَلَی الجَهْلِ.

41. Obedience to the foolish and being excessive [in speech or action] are two signs of ignorance.

41_ طاعةُ الجَهُولِ، وکَثْرَةُ الفُضُولِ تَدُلاّنِ عَلَی الجَهْلِ.

42. The habit of the inexperienced [and ignorant] ones is to cut off the elements of favour.

42_ عادَةُ الأغْمارِ قَطْعُ مَوادِّ الإحْسانِ.

43. The wealth of an ignorant person is in his worldly possessions.

43_ غِنَی الجاهِلِ بِمالِهِ.

44. The ignorant one is deceived by futile absurdities.

44_ غُرُورُ الجاهِلِ بِمُجالاتِ الباطِلِ.

45. Every ignorant person is prone to temptation.(1)

45_ کُلُّ جاهِل مَفْتُونٌ.

46. For the ignorant there is loss in every situation.

46_ لِلْجاهِلِ فی کُلِّ حالَة خُسْرانٌ.

47. One who is ignorant is disregarded [by others].

47_ مَنْ جَهِلَ أُهْمِلَ.

48. When one is ignorant, his consideration is reduced.

48_ مَنْ جَهِلَ قَلَّ إعْتِبارُهُ.

49. One who is ignorant of [a branch of] knowledge is hostile towards it.

49_ مَنْ جَهِلَ عِلْماً عاداهُ.

50. One who does not know where he is placing his foot, trips.

50_ مَنْ جَهِلَ مَوْضِعَ قَدَمِهِ زَلَّ.

51. One who is ignorant makes many blunders.

51_ مَنْ جَهِلَ کَثُرَ عِثارُهُ.

52. One who is ignorant becomes self-conceited; and his ‘today’ is worse than his ‘yesterday’.

52_ مَنْ جَهِلَ اغْتَرَّ بِنَفْسِهِ وَکانَ یَوْمُهُ شَ_رّاً مِنْ أمْسِهِ.

53. It is from the nature of the ignorant to get angry quickly, in every situation.

53_ مِنْ طَبایِعِ الجُهّالِ التَسَ_رُّعُ إلَی الغَضَبِ فی کُلِّ حال.

54. No one antagonizes the learned like the ignorant [do].

54_ ما ضادَّ العُلَماءَ کالجُهّالِ.

55. Woe be to the one who persists in his ignorance and blessed is

p: 144

the one who realizes [his mistake] and finds the right course.

55_ وَیْلٌ لِمَنْ تَمادی فی جَهْلِهِ، وطُوبی لِمَنْ عَقَلَ واهْتَدی.

56. There is no independence for an ignorant person.

56_ لاغِنی لِجاهِل.

57. The ignorant one is not seen to be anything but immoderate (or excessive).

57_ لایُرَی الجاهِلُ إلاّ مُفَرِّطاً (مُفْرِطاً).

58. Nothing restrains the foolish except the edge of a sword.

58_ لایَرْدَعُ الجَهُولَ إلاّ حَدُّ الحُسامِ.

59. Disobey the ignorant and you will be safe.

59_ إعْصِ الجاهِلَ تَسْلَمْ.

also said in his description of hellfire: Its pits are engulfed [with fire], its sides are pitch-dark, its vessels are scorching hot and everything about it is horrid.

5_ وقالَ _ عَلیه السّلام _ فی وَصْفِ النّارِ: غَمِرٌ قَرارُها، مُظْلِمَةٌ أقْطارُها، حامِیَةٌ قُدُورُها، فَظیعَةٌ أُمُورُها.

    6. None will be saved from the fire of hell except the one who abandons its actions (i.e. the actions that lead to it).

6_ لَنْ یَنْجُوَ مِنَ النّارِ إلاّ التّارِکُ عَمَلَها.

    7. This tender skin does not have the tolerance to withstand the fire [of hell].

7_ لَیْسَ لِهذا الجِلْدِ الرَّقیقِ صَبْرٌ عَلَی النّارِ.

    8. One who is afraid of hellfire keeps away from that which has been forbidden.

8_ مَنْ أشْفَقَ مِنَ النّارِ اجْتَنَبَ المُحَرَّماتِ.

    9. The inmates of hell are eternally tormented.

9_ وَفْدُ النّارِ أبَداً مُعَذَّبُونَ.

    10. The one who enters hellfire is forever wretched.

10_ وارِدُ النّارِ مَؤَبَّدُ الشَّقاءِ.

    11. The fuel of hellfire on the Day of Judgment will comprise of every rich person who was miserly towards the poor with his wealth and every learned scholar who sold his Hereafter for the world.

11_ وَقُودُ النّارِ یَوْمَ القِیمَةِ کُلُّ غَنِیّ بَخِلَ بِمالِهِ عَلَی الفُقَراءِ، وَکُلُّ عالِم باعَ الدّینَ بِالدُّنیا.

    12. Be wary of the fire whose heat is intense, whose pit is deep and whose ornaments are made of [molten] iron.

12_ إحْذَرُوا ناراً حَرُّها شَدیدٌ وقَعْرُها بَعیدٌ وحُلِیُّها حَدیدٌ.

    13. Be wary of the fire whose tumultuous blaze is ready, its flames are intense and its torment is forever renewed.

13_ إحْذَرُوا ناراً لَحیبُها عَتیدٌ و

p: 146

لَهَبُها شَدیدٌ وعَذابُها أبَداً جدیدٌ.

    14. Hellfire is the final end of the extremists.

14_ النّار غایَةُ المُفْرِطینَ.

forbids you [from evil].

2_ مَنْ أَحَبَّکَ نَهاکَ.

3. One who loves something speaks about it constantly.

3_ مَنْ أَحَبَّ شَیْئاً لَهِجَ بِذِکْرِهِ.

4. Indeed only he who does not flatter you loves you, and only he who does not let you hear [his praise] praises you.

4_ إنَّما یُحِبُّکَ مَنْ لایَتَمَلَّقُکَ ویُثْنی عَلَیْکَ مَنْ لایُسْمِعُکَ.

5. Let the most beloved person to you and the one who has the greatest status in your eyes be the one who strives hardest in benefiting people.

5_ لِیَکُنْ أحَبُّ النَّاسِ إلَیْکَ وأخْظاهُمْ لَدَیْکَ أکْثَرُهُمْ سَعْیاً فی مَنافِعِ النّاسِ.

6. Let the most beloved person to you be the compassionate adviser.

6_ لِیَکُنْ أحَبُّ النّاسِ إلَیْکَ المُشْفِقُ النّاصِحُ.

argument may get support.

1_ قَدْ یَسْتَظْهِرُ المُحْتَجُّ.

2. One who argues by truth, succeeds.

2_ مَنِ احْتَجَّ بِالحَقِّ فَلَجَ.

and cause your hearts to be more tranquil.

6_ غُضُّواالأبْصارَ فی الحُرُوبِ، فَإنَّهُ أرْبَطُ لِلْجَأْشِ، وأسْکَنُ لِلْقُلوُبِ.

7. Put the armoured man forward and the unarmoured one behind, and grit your teeth because this will make the swords skip off the skulls.

7_ قَدِّمُوا الدّارِعَ، وأخِّرُوا الحاسِرَ، وعَضُّوا عَلَی الأضْراسِ، فَإنَّهُ أنْبا لِلسُّیُوفِ عَنِ الْهامِ.

8. He who is frightened by what is in front of him retreats [and flees].

8_ وَمَنْ هالَهُ مابَیْنَ یَدَیْهِ نَ_کَصَ عَلی عَقِبَیْهِ.

9. Defend [yourselves] with the edge of blades, charge forward [against the enemy] with your swords, give up your lives [for the sake of Allah] and walk towards death with calm.

9_ نافِحُوا بِالظُّبی، وَصِلُوا السُّیُوفَ بالخُطی، وطیبُوا عَنْ أنْفُسِکُمْ نَفْساً، وامْشُوا إلَی المَوْتِ مَشْیاً سَجْحاً.

10. By the one who splits the seed and creates the human being! They did not accept Islam, rather they succumbed to it [to remain safe] and hid their disbelief; and when they found supporters for it, they brought forth in the open that which they had hidden and made manifest that which they had concealed.

10_ والَّذی فَلَقَ الحَبَّةَ وبَ_رَأَ النَّسَمَةَ، ما أسْلَمُوا، ولکِنِ اسْتَسْلَمُوا، وَأسَ_رُّوا الکُفْرَ، فَلَمّا وَجَدُوا أعْواناً عَلَیْهِ أعْلَنُوا ما کانُوا أسَ_رُّوا، وأظْهَرُوا ما کانُوا أبْطَنُوا.

11. I swear by Allah! Even if you run away from the sword of this transitory world you will not be safe from the swords of the Hereafter. You are the foremost among the Arabs and the greatest figures [of the community], so be ashamed of fleeing [from the battlefield], for certainly in it is a

p: 150

covering of disgrace and [a cause of] entry into hellfire.

11_ وأیْمُ اللّهِ لَئِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنْ سَیْفِ العاجِلَةِ لاتَسْلَمُوا مِنْ سُیُوفِ الآخِرَةِ، وأنْتُمْ لَهامیمُ العَرَبِ، والسَّنامُ الأعْظَمُ، فَاسْتَحْیُوا مِنَ الفِرارِ، فَإنَّ فیهِ ادِّراعُ العارِ، ووُلُوجُ النّارِ.

12. Do not fight against the one who seeks refuge in religion, for one who combats religion is ruined.

12_ لاتُحارِبْ مَنْ یَعْتَصِمُ بِالدّینِ، فَإنَّ مُغالِبَ الدّینِ مَحْرُوبٌ.

13. Do not combat the one who seeks the support of truth, for the one who fights the truth is [always] defeated.

13_ لاتُغالِبْ مَنْ یَسْتَظْهِرُ بِالحَقِّ، فَإنَّ مُغالِبَ الحَقِّ مَغْلُوبٌ.

14. Never seek to challenge anyone in combat, but if you are challenged, then respond; for the one who seeks it is an aggressor, and the aggressor is struck down.

14_ لاتَدْعُوَنَّ إلی مُبارَزَة، وإنْ دُعیتَ إلَیْها فَأجِبْ، فَإنَّ الدّاعِیَ إلَیْها باغ، والباغی مَصْ_رُوعٌ.

15. Do not let the fleeing which is followed by return and the retreat that is followed by attack bear down on you. Give the swords their due right and prepare a place for the fallen [soldiers](1). Embolden yourselves to charge with intensity and strike with full force, and silence the voices, as this dispels cowardice.

15_ لاتَشْتَدَّنَّ عَلَیْکُمْ فَرَّةٌ بَعْدَها کَرَّةٌ، ولا جَوْلَةٌ بَعْدَها صَوْلَةٌ، وأعْطُوا السُّیُوفَ حُقُوقَها، وقِصُّوا (وَ وَطِّنُوا للجُنُوبِ)لِلْحَرْبِ مَصارِعَها، واذْمِرُوا أنْفُسَکُمْ عَلَی الطَّعْنِ الدَّعْسِ_یِّ والضَّ_رْبِ الطِّلَخْفی، وأمیتُوا الأصْواتَ، فَإنَّهُ أطْرَدُ لِلْفَشَلِ.

16. Keep on enduring and remain firm, until the pillar of truth illuminates upon you while you have the upper hand, and Allah is with you, and never will He stint [the reward of] your

p: 151

deeds.

16_ صَمْداً صَمْداً، حَ_تّی یَنْجَلی لَکُمْ عَمُودُ الحَقِّ، وأنْتُمُ الأعْلَوْنَ، واللّهُ مَعَکُمْ، ولَنْ یَتِرَکُمْ أعْمالَکُمْ.

17. Defend your religion with the edge of blades, charge forward [against the enemy] with your swords and seek the help of Allah you will gain victory and [His] assistance.

17_ ضارِبُوا عَنْ دینِکُمْ بالظُّبی، وَصِلُوا السُّیُوفَ بِالخُطاءِ، وَانْتَصرُوا بِاللّهِ تَظْفَرُوا وتُنْصَرُوا.

18. Give up your lives [for the sake of Allah] willingly and walk towards death with ease.

18_ طیبُوا عَنْ أنْفُسِکُمْ نَفْساً وامْشُوا إلَی المَوْتِ مَشْیاًسَجْحاً.

19. The survivors of war grow larger in number and have more children.

19_ بَقِیَّةُ السَّیْفِ أنْمی عَدَداً وأکْثَرُ وَلَداً.

20. Many a war is more beneficial than peace.

20_ رُبَّ حَرْب أعْوَدُ مِنْ سِلْم.

21. Sometimes you may be attacked from within your sanctuary.

21_ رُبَّما أُتِیْتَ مِنْ مَأْمَنِکَ.

22. The best of arsenals is seeking support [from Allah].

22_ أفْضَلُ العُدَدِ الإسْتِظْهارُ.

23. Verily in fleeing [from the battlefield] there is the wrath of Allah, the Glorified, persistent disgrace and lasting shame; and certainly one who flees does not prolong his life, nor does he delay his day [of death].

23_ إنَّ فِی الفِرارِ مَوْجِدَةَ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ، والذُّلَّ اللاّزِمَ، والعارَ الدّائِمَ، وإنَّ الفارَّ غَیْرُ مَزید فی عُمْرِهِ، ولا مُؤَخِّرٌ عَنْ یَوْمِهِ.

24. Your intellects have decreased and your judgments have become fatuous. You are thus targets for the archer, morsels for the eater and easy prey for the hunter.

24_ خَفَّتْ عُقُولُکُمْ، وسَفِهَتْ حُلُومُکُمْ، فَأنْتُمْ غَرَضٌ لِنابِل (عَرَضٌ لِنائِل)، وأُکْلَة لآکِل، وَفَریسَةٌ لِصائِل.

25. Keep returning to fight and be ashamed of fleeing [from the battlefield], for it is a disgrace for

p: 152

the progenies and [a cause of entry into] hellfire on the Day of Reckoning.

25_ عاوِدُوا الکَرَّ، واسْتَحْیُوا مِنَ الفَرِّ، فَإنَّهُ عارٌ فِی الأعْقابِ، وَنارٌ یَوْمَ الحِسابِ.

26. Grit your back teeth, for this makes the swords skip off the skull.

26_ عَضُّوا عَلَی النَّواجِدِ، فَإنَّهُ أنْبا لِلْسُّیُوفِ عَنِ الْهامِ.

27. Fleeing [from the battle field] is one of the two humiliations.

27_ اَلْفِرارُ أحَدُ الذُلَّیْنِ.

28. Be ashamed of fleeing [from battle], for it is a disgrace for the progenies and [a cause of entry into] hellfire on the Day of Reckoning.

28_ اِسْتَحْیُوا مِنَ الفِرارِ، فَإنَّهُ عارٌ فِی الأَعْقابِ، ونارٌ یَوْمَ الحِسابِ.

29. Twist the sides of the spears [while attacking], for this makes the spearheads move with more force.

29_ اِلْتَوُوا فی أطْرافِ الرِّماحِ فَإنَّهُ أمْوَرُ لِلأَسِنَّةِ.