Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Foolishness

Foolishness الحُمْق

1 . Foolishness is occupying oneself with the superfluous and accompanying the ignorant.

1 ـ اَلْحُمْقُ اَلاِسْتِهْتارُ بِالفُضُولِ، ومُصاحَبَةُ الْجَهُولِ

2 . Foolishness is an ailment which cannot be remedied and a sickness that cannot be cured.

2 ـ اَلْحُمْقُ داءٌ لا يُداوى، ومَرَضٌ لا يَبْرَءُ

3 . The worst indigence is foolishness.

3 ـ أفْقَرُ الفَقْرِ الْحُمْقُ

4 . The most harmful thing is foolishness.

4 ـ أضَرُّ شَـيْء الحُمْقُ

5 . The height of foolishness is being beguiled [by the pleasures of this world].

5 ـ أحْمَقُ الْحُمْقِ الاِغْتِرارُ

6 . The greatest foolishness is exaggeration in praise and censure.

6 ـ أكْبَرُ الْحُمْقِ اَلإغْراقُ فِي المَدْحِ والذَّمِّ

7 . The greatest foolishness is being conceited in [the state of] poverty.

7 ـ أعْظَمُ الْحَماقَةِ اَلاِخْتِيالُ فِي الفاقَةِ

8 . Foolishness is a disgrace.

8 ـ اَلْحُمْقُ شَيْنٌ

9 . Foolishness is the most harmful companion.

9 ـ الْحُمْقُ أضَـرُّ الأصْحابِ

10 . Foolishness is the worst ailment.

10 ـ اَلْحُمْقُ أدْوَأُ الدّاءِ

11 . Foolishness leads to superfluity.

11 ـ اَلْحُمْقُ يُوجِبُ الفُضُولَ

12 . Foolishness is from the fruits of ignorance.

12 ـ اَلْحُمْقُ مِنْ ثِمارِ الْجَهْلِ

13 . Foolishness makes one a stranger in his own hometown.

13 ـ اَلْحُمْقُ فِي الوَطَنِ غُرْبَةٌ

14 . How bad an ailment foolishness is!

14 ـ بِئْسَ الدّاءُ الْحُمْقُ

15 . The poverty of foolishness is not alleviated by [material] wealth.

15 ـ فَقْرُ الْحُمْقِ لايُغْنيهِ الْمالُ

16 . Being conceited in poverty is the height of foolishness.

16 ـ مِنْ كَمالِ الْحَماقَةِ الاِخْتِيالُ فيِ الفاقَةِ

17 . Establishing brotherhood with the vicious is from the greatest [acts of] foolishness.

17 ـ مِنْ أعْظَمِ الْحُمْقِ مُواخاةُ الفُجّارِ

18 . Being audacious in front of the king is an act of foolishness.

18 ـ مِنَ الْحُمْقِ الدالَّةُ عَلَى السُّلْطانِ

19 . From the signs of foolishness are: being audacious without any means and boasting without [possessing] any nobility.

19 ـ مِنْ دَلائِلِ الْحُمْقِ دالَّةٌ بِغَيْرِ آلَة، وصَلَفٌ بِغَيْرِ شَرَف

20 . With foolishness, what is sought is not achieved.

20 ـ لايُدْرَكُ مَعَ الْحُمْقِ مَطْلَبٌ

21 . There is no ailment worse than foolishness.

21 ـ لاداءَ أدْوَأُ مِنَ الْحُمْقِ

23 . There is no poverty more severe than foolishness.

22 ـ لافاقَةَ أشَدُّ مِنَ الْحُمْْقِ

24 . Foolishness is wretchedness.

23 ـ اَلْحُمْقُ شَقاءٌ

The Fool

The Fool الأحمق

1 . The fool is a stranger in his [own] hometown, [and is] humiliated among his near ones.

1 ـ اَلأحْمَقُ غَرِيبٌ في بَلْدَتِهِ، مُهانٌ بَيْنَ أعِزَّتِهِ

2 . A fool does not improve by abasement and he is does not separate from fault and loss.

2 ـ اَلأحْمَقُ لايَحْسُنُ بِالهَوانِ، ولايَنْفَكُّ عَنْ نَقْص وخُسْران

3 . Be wary of the fool for verily, being amicable with him will bring you hardship (or exhaust you), agreeing with him will destroy you, disagreeing with him will cause you suffering and keeping his company will be [like] a curse upon you.

3 ـ إحْذَرِ الأحْمَقَ، فَإنَّ مُداراتَهُ تُعَنِّيكَ (تُعْيِيكَ)، ومُوافَقَتَهُ تُرْدِيكَ، وَمُخالَفَتَهُ تُؤْذِيكَ، ومُصاحَبَتَهُ وَبالٌ عَلَيْكَ

4 . The most foolish of all people is the one who thinks that he is the most intelligent of all people.

4 ـ أحْمَقُ النّاسِ مَنْ ظَنَّ أنَّهُ أعْقَلُ النّاسِ

5 . The most foolish of all people is the one who prevents good deeds and [then] seeks gratitude, and does evil and [then] expects the reward for [doing] good.

5 ـ أحْمَقُ النّاسِ مَنْ يَمْنَعُ الْبِرَّ، ويَطْلُبُ الشُّكْرَ، ويَفْعَلُ الشَّـرَّ، ويَتَوَقَّعُ ثَوابَ الخَيْـرِ

6 . The most foolish of all people is the one who censures others for a vice while he [himself] performs it.

6 ـ أحْمَقُ النّاسِ مَنْ أنْكَرَ عَلى غَيْرِهِ رَذِيلَةً وهُوَ مُقِيمٌ عَلَيْها

7 . The fool does not improve by being disgraced.

7 ـ اَلأحْمَقُ لا يَحْسُنُ بِالهَوانِ

8 . The remoteness of a fool is better than his nearness and his silence is better than his speech.

8 ـ بُعْدُ الأحْمَقِ خَيْـرٌ مِنْ قُرْبِهِ، وسُكُوتُهُ خَيْـرٌ مِنْ نُطْقِهِ

9 . The foolishness of a person is recognized by [his] cheerfulness in times of blessing and increased abjectness in times of tribulation.

9 ـ تُعْرَفُ حَماقَةُ الرَّجُلِ بِالأشَرِ فِي النِّعْمَةِ، وكَثْرَةِ الذُّلِّ فِي الْمِحْنَةِ

10 . The foolishness of a person is recognized in three things: in his talking about that which does not concern him, [in] his answering that which he was not asked and his recklessness in [his] affairs.

10 ـ تُعْرَفُ حِماقَةُ الرَّجُلِ في ثَلاث: في كَلامِهِ فِيما لا يَعْنِيهِ، وجَوابِهِ عَمّا لا يُسْئَلُ عَنْهُ، وتَهَوُّرِهِ فيِ الأُمُورِ

11 . Cutting off [ties with] the fool is judiciousness.

11 ـ قَطيعَةُ الأحْمَقِ حَزْمٌ

12 . Be cautious of the fool when you are in his company, of the vicious when you associate with him and of the oppressor when you deal with him.

12 ـ كُنْ عَلى حَذَر مِنَ الأحْمَقِ إذا صاحَبْتَهُ، ومِنَ الفاجِرِ إذا عاشَرْتَهُ، ومِنَ الظّالِمِ إذا عامَلْتَهُ

13 . For the fool there is an oath with every statement.1

13 ـ لِلأحْمَقِ مََعَ كُلِّ قَوْل يَمِينٌ

14 . Be careful not to love the fool, for he will surely harm you while he thinks that he is benefitting you and will annoy you while he thinks that he is pleasing you.

14 ـ إيّاكَ ومَوَّدَةَ الأحْمَقِ، فَإنَّهُ يَضُرُّكَ مِنْ حَيْثُ يَرى أنَّهُ يَنْفَعُكَ، وَيَسُوءُكَ وهُوَ يَرى انَّه يَسُـرُّكَ

15 . Keeping silent is the best response for a fool.

15 ـ السُّكُوتُ عَلَى الأحْمَقِ أفْضَلُ جَوابِهِ

16 . Increased fickleness is from the signs of a fool.

16 ـ مِنْ أماراتِ الأحْمَقِ كَثْرَةُ تَلَوُّنِهِ

17 . Putting up with a fool is a torment for the soul.

17 ـ مُقاساةُ الأحْمَقِ عَذابُ الرُّوحِ

18 . Never show respect to a fool, even if he is [apparently] great.

18 ـ لاتَعْظِمَنَّ الأحْمَقَ، وإنْ كانَ كَبيراً

Notes

1. i.e. he swears with every statement that he makes.

Tolerance

Tolerance الإحتمال

1 . Tolerance is proof of intelligence and a symbol of excellence.

1 ـ اَلاِحْتِمالُ بُرْهانُ الْعَقْلِ، وعُنْوانُ الفَضْلِ

2 . Tolerance is the ornament of companionship.

2 ـ اَلاِحْتِمالُ زَيْنُ الرِّفاقِ

3 . Tolerance is the embellishment of politics [and leadership].

3 ـ اَلاِحْتِمالُ زَيْنُ السِّياسَةِ

4 . Tolerance dignifies one’s status.

4 ـ اَلاِحْتِمالُ يُجِلُّ القَدْرَ

5 . Tolerance is a beautiful quality.

5 ـ الاِحْتِمالُ خُلْقٌ سَجِيحٌ

6 . Tolerating meanness (or annoyance) is from nobility of character.

6 ـ اِحْتِمالُ الدَّنِيَّةِ (اَلأذِيَّةِ) مِنْ كَرَمِ السَّجِيَّةِ

7 . By bearing the burden of provision (for the people), praises increase.

7 ـ بِتَحَمُّلِ المُؤَنِ تَـكْثُرُ المَحامِدُ

8 . Through increased tolerance, one’s merit (or intelligence) increases.

8 ـ بِكَثْرَةِ الاِحْتِمالِ يَكْثُرُ الْفَضْلُ (العَقْلُ ).

9 . Through tolerance and forbearance, people become your helpers and supporters.

9 ـ بِالاِحْتِمالِ والْحِلْمِ يَكُونُ لَكَ النّاسُ أنْصاراً وأعْواناً

10 . The forbearing one is recognized by his increased tolerance.

10 ـ بِكَثْرَةِ الاِحْتِمالِ يُعْرَفُ الْحَليمُ

11 . Be tolerant, [and] your status will become lofty.

11 ـ تَحَمَّلْ يَجِلَّ قَدْرُكَ

12 . Adopt tolerance, for verily it is [a means of] concealing faults.

12 ـ عَلَيْكَ بِالاِحْتِمالِ فَإنَّهُ سَتْـرُ الْعُيُوبِ

13 . One whose tolerance increases becomes noble.

13 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ حَمْلُهُ نَبُلَ

14 . One who does not bear the burden of providing for the people has prepared his power for its transference.

14 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَحْتَمِلْ مَؤُنَةَ النّاسِ فَقَدْ أهَّلَ قُدْرَتَهُ لاِنْتِقالِها

15 . It is part of honour to tolerate the wrongdoings of [one’s] brothers.

15 ـ مِنَ الْكَرَمِ اِحْتِمالُ جِناياتِ الإخْوانِ

16 . Tolerate that which comes your way, for indeed tolerance is a [means of] concealing faults and verily the wise one is half [the time] tolerant and half [the time] feigning negligence.

16 ـ اِحْتَمِلْ ما يَمُرُّ عَلَيْكَ، فَإنَّ الاِحْتِمالَ سَتْرُ الْعُيُوبِ، وإنَّ الْعاقِلَ نِصْفُهُ اِحْتِمالٌ، ونِصْفُهُ تَغافُلٌ

17 . Continually bearing the liabilities [of others] causes loftiness [of character].

17 ـ إدْمانُ تَحَمُّلِ المَغارِمِ يُوجِبُ الْجَلالَةَ

Vehemence

Vehemence1 الحَمِيَّة

1 . It is to the extent of one’s vehemence that one is protective of his honour.

1 ـ عَلى قَدْرِ الحَمِيَّةِ تَـكُونُ الغِيْرَةُ

2 . Allah! Allah! I warn you servants of Allah, against feeling proud of your bigotry and boasting over your ignorance, for indeed these are the fertilizers of enmity and the bellows of Satan.

2 ـ فَاللّهَ اللّهَ عِبادَ اللّهِ في كِبْرِ الْحَمِيَّةِ وفَخْرِ الْجاهِلِيَّةِ فَإنَّهُ مَلاقِحُ الشَّنَأنِ وَمَنافِجُ الشَّيْطانِ

3 . There is no vehemence in one who has no sense of honour.

3 ـ لاحَمِيَّةَ لِمَنْ لا أنَفَةَ لَهُ

Notes

1. In the sense of protecting one’s dignity and integrity.

Abstinence [From Food]

Abstinence [From Food] الحِمْيَةُ

1 . Fitness of the body is [in] abstinence from [harmful] foods.

1 ـ صَلاحُ البَدَنِ الحِمْيَةُ

2 . One who cannot patiently bear the agony of abstinence [from food], his sickness will be prolonged.

2 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَصْبِرْ عَلى مَضَضِ الْحِمْيَةِ طالَ سَقَمُهُ

Fulfilling Needs

Fulfilling Needs الحَوائج وقَضاؤها

1 . Verily the needs of the people that are addressed to you are a blessing from Allah upon you, so take advantage of them and do not be weary of them, lest they should turn into [divine] wrath.

1 ـ إنَّ حَوائِجَ النّاسِ إلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَةٌ مِنَ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاغْتَنِمُوها وَلا تَمَلُّوها فَتَتَحَوَّلَ نَقْماً

2 . Do not delay granting the needy to tomorrow, for you do not know what will happen to you and to him tomorrow.

2 ـ لاتُؤَخِّرْ إنالَةَ الْمُحْتاجِ إلى غَد، فَإنَّكَ لاتَدْرِي ما يَعْرِضُ لَكَ ولَهُ في غَد

3 . You must seek the fulfilment of your needs through people of honourable dispositions and origins, you will be successful [in getting what you need] with them, without any delay or any sense of obligation.

3 ـ عَلَيْكُمْ في قَضاءِ حَوائِجِكُمْ بِكِرامِ الأنْفُسِ والأُصُولِ تُنْجَحْ لَكُمْ عِنْدَهُمْ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَطال ولا مَنّ

4 . You must seek your needs from those who are honourable and of good origins, for they are more likely to fulfil them [quickly and without obligation] and they are purer in your eyes.

4 ـ عَلَيْكُمْ في طَلَبِ الْحَوائِجِ بِشِرافِ النُّفُوسِ ذَوِي الأُصُولِ الطَيِّبَةِ، فَإنَّها (فَإنَّهُ) عِنْدَهُمْ أقْصى وهِيَ (وَهُمْ) لَدَيْكُمْ (لَدَيْهِمْ) أزْكى

5 . I am amazed at the person who is approached by his Muslim brother in need and refuses to fulfil it, not deeming himself worthy of [doing] good; so assume that he does not desire any reward nor does he fear any punishment. Do they lack interest in [acquiring] noble traits?

5 ـ عَجِبْتُ لِرَجُل يَأتِيهِ أخُوهُ الْمُسْلِمُ فِي حاجَة، فَيَمْتَنِعُ عَنْ قَضائِها وَلايَرى نَفْسَهُ لِلْخَيْرِ أهْلاً، فَهَبْ أنَّهُ لاثَوابَ يُرْجى ولاعِقابَ يُتَّقى، أفَتَزهَدُونَ فِي مَكارِمِ الأخْلاقِ

6 . Not having your needs fulfilled is better than seeking them from those who are not worthy.

6 ـ فَوْتُ الحاجَةِ خَيْـرٌ مِنْ طَلَبِها مِنْ غَيْرِ أهْلِها

7 . Being generous with power [and fulfilling the needs of the people with it] is the alms-tax of power.

7 ـ بَذْلُ الجاهِ زَكوةُ الْجاهِ

8 . Expediting the release [of the needy from his need] is [a means of] success.

8 ـ تَعْجِيلُ السَّراحِ نَجاحٌ

9 . The fulfilling of needs is not made righteous except by three things: by considering it to be small such that it becomes great, by hiding it such that it is made apparent [by Allah] and by expediting it such that it becomes felicitous.

9 ـ لا يَسْتَقِيمُ قَضاءُ الحَوائِجِ إلاّ بِثَلاث: بِتَصْغِيرِها لِتَعْظُمَ، وسَتْرِها لِتَظْهَرَ، وتَعْجِيلِها لِتَهْنَأَ

10 . Everyone who has been given time [to do good before his death] gives excuses for postponement [of good deeds].

10 ـ كُلُّ مُؤَجَّل يَتَعَلَّلُ بِالتَّسْوِيفِ

11 . Turning away the needy is the cause of diminishment of affluence.

11 ـ سَبَبُ زَوالِ الْيَسارِ مَنْعُ الْمُحْتاجِ

Expressing Your Needs

Expressing Your Needs الإحتياجات

1 . Express your needs to whomever you wish and (you will) become his captive.

1 ـ إحْتَجْ إلى مَنْ شِئْتَ وَكُنْ (تَـكُنْ) أسِيْـرَهُ

2 . When you express your needs to someone, you abase yourself before him.

2 ـ مَنِ احْتَجْتَ إلَيْهِ هُنْتَ عَلَيْهِ

3 . One who seeks his needs from you, his obedience to you will be to the extent of his need from you.

3 ـ مَنِ احْتاجَ إلَيْكَ كانَتْ طاعَتُهُ لَكَ بِقَدْرِ حاجَتِهِ إلَيْكَ

4 . When someone turns to you with his needs, it becomes obligatory upon you to help him.

4 ـ مَنِ احْتاجَ إلَيْكَ وَجَبَ إسْعافُهُ عَلَيْكَ

How Are You?

How are you? كيف الحال؟

1 . (When he was asked ‘how are you O Amīr al-Mu’minīn?’, he replied: ) How would he be whom life is driving towards death, whose state of health can be changed to sickness at any moment and who can be approached [by death] from his place of safety?!

1 ـ (وَ قيلَ لَهُ ـ عَليهِ السَّلامُ ـ كَيفَ تَجِدُكَ يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ؟ فقال: كَيْفَ يَكُونُ (حالُ) مَنْ يَفْنى بِبَقائِهِ، ويَسْقَمُ بِصِحَّتِهِ ويُؤتى مِنْ مَأْمَنِهِ؟ !

The Perplexed

The Perplexed المتحيّر

1 . It is possible for the one who is perplexed and bewildered to be excused.

1 ـ قَدْ يُعْذَرُ المُتَحَيِّرُ الْمَبْهُوتُ

Recourse

Recourse الحيلة

1 . Subtlety in [seeking] recourse is the most advantageous of all ways.

1 ـ اَلتَّلَطُّفُ فِي الحِيْلَةِ أجْدى مِنَ الْوَسِيلَةِ

2 . For everything there is recourse.

2 ـ لِكُلِّ شَـيْء حِيلَةٌ

3 . One who neglects his recourse (or natural disposition) is made to rise [towards it] by tribulations.

3 ـ مَنْ قَعَدَ عَنْ حِيلَتِهِ (جِبِلَّتِهِ)، أقامَتْهُ الشَّدائِدُ

Life And Being Alive

Life and Being Alive الحيّ والحياة

1 . The living one is never satisfied [and always seeks more].

1 ـ اَلحَيُّ لا يَكْتَفِي

2 . The fruit of long life is illness and senility.

2 ـ ثَمَرَةُ طُولِ الْحَياةِ السُّقْمُ والْهَرَمُ

3 . The end of [this] life is death.

3 ـ غايَةُ الْحَياةِ الْمَوْتُ

4 . How close is life to death!

4 ـ ما أقْرَبَ الحَياةَ مِنَ المَوْتِ

5 . How near is the living one to the dead because he will soon join him!

5 ـ ما أقْرَبَ الحَيَّ مِنَ المَيِّتِ لِلِحاقِهِ بِهِ

6 . How far is the dead one from the living by his separation from him!

6 ـ ما أبْعَدَ المَيِّتَ مِنَ الحَيِّ لإنْقِطاعِهِ عَنْهُ

Modesty And Shame

Modesty and Shame الحياء

1 . Being ashamed in front of Allah, the Glorified, protects [one] from the punishment of hell.

1 ـ اَلْحَياءُ مِنَ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ تَقي عَذابَ النّارِ

2 . The most modest among you are the most forbearing among you.

2 ـ أحْياكُمْ أحْلَمُكُمْ

3 . The best of religious attires is modesty.

3 ـ أحْسَنُ مَلابِسِ الدِّينِ اَلحَياءُ

4 . The greatest modesty is your being ashamed in front of Allah.

4 ـ أفْضَلُ الْحَياءِ اِسْتِحْياؤُكَ مِنَ اللّهِ

5 . The best modesty is your being ashamed of yourself [in front of Allah].

5 ـ أحْسَنُ الْحَياءِ اِسْتِحْياؤُكَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ

6 . Verily modesty and chastity are from the characteristics of faith, and they are the traits of the free and the qualities of the virtuous.

6 ـ إنَّ الْحَياءَ والْعِفَّةَ مِنْ خَلائِقِ الإيمانِ، وإنَّهُما لَسَجِيَّةُ الأحْرارِ، وَشيمَةُ الأبـْرارِ

7 . Modesty is beautiful.

7 ـ اَلْحَياءُ جَميلٌ

8 . Modesty is preventive.

8 ـ اَلْحَياءُ مَحْرَمَةٌ

9 . Shame prevents livelihood.1

9 ـ اَلْحَياءُ يَمْنَعُ الرِّزْقَ

10 . Modesty is the key to (every) good.

10 ـ اَلْحَياءُ مِفْتاحُ (كُلِّ) الْخَيْـرِ

11 . Shame is accompanied by deprivation.

11 ـ اَلْحَياءُ مَقْرُونٌ بِالْحِرْمانِ

12 . Modesty is the lowering of one’s gaze.

12 ـ اَلْحَياءُ غَضُّ الطَّرْفِ

13 . Modesty is the perfection of honour.

13 ـ اَلْحَياءُ تَمامُ الْكَرَمِ

14 . Modesty is the partner of chastity.

14 ـ اَلْحَياءُ قَرِينُ الْعَفافِ

15 . Modesty is a beautiful quality.

15 ـ اَلْحَياءُ خُلْقٌ جَمِيلٌ

16 . Modesty is a pleasing characteristic.

16 ـ اَلْحَياءُ خُلْقٌ مَرْضِيٌّ

17 . Modesty is the perfection of honour and the best of traits.

17 ـ اَلْحَياءُ تَمامُ الكَرَمِ، وأحْسَنُ الشِّيَمِ

18 . Modesty prevents one from ugly actions.

18 ـ اَلْحَياءُ يَصُدُّ عَنْ فِعْلِ القَبيحِ

19 . Being ashamed in front of Allah effaces many of the sins [that one has committed].

19 ـ اَلْحَياءُ مِنَ اللّهِ يَمْحُو كَثيراً مِنَ الخَطايا

20 . Dress yourself with modesty, wear the armour of loyalty, safeguard brotherhood and reduce your conversations with women, [if you do all this] your eminence will become complete.

20 ـ تَسَرْبَلِ الْحَياءَ، وادَّرَِعِ الْوَفاءَ، واحْفَظِ الإخاءَ، وأقْلِلْ مُحادَثَةَ النِّساءِ يَكْمَلْ لَكَ السَّناءُ

21 . The fruit of modesty is chastity.

21 ـ ثَمَرةُ الْحَياءِ العِفَّةُ

22 . Three things that are not to be ashamed of [are]: for a person to serve his guest, and for him to stand up from his place for his father or his teacher, and [for him] to seek the right even if it is little.

22 ـ ثَلاثٌ لا يُسْتَحْيى مِنْهُنَّ: خِدْمَةُ الرَّجُلِ ضَيْفَهُ، وقِيامُهُ عَنْ مَجْلِسِهِ لأبيهِ ومُعَلِّمِهِ، وطَلَبُ الْحَقِّ وإنْ قَلَّ

23 . The shame of person feels from himself is the fruit of [his] faith.

23 ـ حَياءُ الرَّجُلِ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ ثَمَرَةُ الإيمانِ

24 . The source of chastity is modesty.

24 ـ سَبَبُ العِفَّةِ اَلْحَياءُ

25 . Espouse modesty, for it is the symbol of nobility.

25 ـ عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَياءِ فَإنَّهُ عُنْوانُ النُّبْلِ

26 . The pinnacle of modesty is for a man to feel ashamed of himself.

26 ـ غايَةُ الْحَياءِ أنْ يَسْتَحْيِيَ الْمَرْءُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ

27 . Shame has been paired with deprivation.

27 ـ قُرِنَ الْحَياءُ بِالْحِرْمانِ

28 . The increased modesty of a person is the sign of his faith.

28 ـ كَثْرَةُ حَياءِ الرَّجُلِ دَليلُ إيمانِهِ

29 . One who is shy is deprived.

29 ـ مَنِ اسْتَحْيا حُرِمَ

30 . Whoever has no modesty has no good in him.

30 ـ مَنْ لاحَياءَ لَهُ فَلا خَيْـرَ فيهِ

31 . One whose modesty is reduced, his piety is [also] reduced.

31 ـ مَنْ قَلَّ حَياؤُهُ قَلَّ وَرَعُهُ

32 . Whoever is clothed with the garment of modesty, his faults are hidden from the people.

32 ـ مَنْ كَساهُ الْحَياءُ ثَوْبَهُ خَفِيَ عَنِ النّاسِ عَيْبُهُ

33 . One who does not fear facing the people [after having been caught doing evil] does not fear Allah, the Glorified.

33 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَّقِ وُجُوهَ الرِّجالِ لَمْ يَتَّقِ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ

34 . One who is not ashamed of the people will not feel ashamed in front of Allah, the Glorified.

34 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَحْيِ مِنَ النّاسِ لَمْ يَسْتَحْيِ مِنَ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ

35 . That which is not appropriate for you to do in the open should not be done by you in private.

35 ـ ما لا يَنْبَغي أنْ تَفْعَلَهُ فيِ الْجَهْرِ فَلا تَفْعَلْهُ فيِ السِّـرِّ

36 . The best partner of generosity is modesty.

36 ـ نِعْمَ قَرينُ السَّخاءِ الْحَياءُ

37 . The best partner of faith is modesty.

37 ـ نِعْمَ قَرِينُ الإيمانِ اَلحَياءُ

38 . There is no [good] trait like modesty.

38 ـ لاشِيمَةَ كَالحَياءِ

Notes

1. Here shame is used in the negative sense of excessive bashfulness, timidity etc.

Narration And Transmission Of Information

Narration and Transmission of Information الإخباروالخبر والحديث

1 . Do not relate that which you have no knowledge about.

1 ـ لا تُخْبِرْ بِما لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ عِلْماً

2 . Never transmit information except from a reliable person otherwise you will become a liar, and if you transmit from other than him then surely telling lies is [a cause of] disgrace and dishonour.

2 ـ لا تُخْبِرَنَّ إلاّ عَنْ ثِقَة فَتَكُونَ كَذَّاباً، وإنْ أخْبَرتَ عَنْ غَيرِهِ فَإنَّ الكَذِبَ مَهانَةٌ وذُلٌّ

3 . Do not hasten to the people with that which they dislike so that they [begin to] speak about you that which they do not know.

3 ـ لاتُسْرِعْ إلَى النَّاسِ بِما يَكْرَهُونَ، فَيَقُولُوا فيكَ ما لايَعْلَمُونَ

4 . Analyze the information when you hear it with the analysis of understanding (i.e. in order to understand it), not the analysis of narration (i.e. in order to narrate it to others), for indeed the narrators of information are many but those who consider it carefully are few.

4 ـ اعْقِلُوا الخَبَرَ إذا سَمِعْتُمُوهُ عَقْلَ دِرايَة لا عَقْلَ رِوايَة، فَإنَّ رُواةَ العِلمِ كَثيرٌ، ورُعاتَهُ قَليلٌ

5 . Reports will never be accepted as true until [they are] verified by the eyes.

5 ـ لَنْ يُصْدَقَ الخَبَـرُ حتّى يَتَحَقَّقَ العَيانُ

Gauging People

Gauging People الإختبار

1 . Accompany [people] so that you may gauge [their true nature].

1 ـ اِصْحَبْ تَخْتَبِرْ

2 . One who gauges [the people] detests (or keeps away from) [them].

2 ـ مَنِ اخْتَـبَرَ قَلا(وَ هَجَرَ ).

3 . Being at ease with every person before gauging [them] is from lack of intellect.

3 ـ اَلطُمَأنِينَةُ إلى كُلِّ أحَد قَبْلَ الاِخْتِبارِ مِنْ قُصُورِ العَقْلِ

4 . One who feels at ease [with people] before gauging them, regrets.

4 ـ مَنِ اطْمَأنَّ قَبلَ الاِختِبارِ نَدِمَ

Deception And The Deceitful

Deception and the Deceitful الخُدعة والخديعة والخُداع

1 . Beware of [engaging in] deception, for verily deception is from the qualities of the vile.

1 ـ إيّاك َ والخَديعَةَ، فَإنَّ الخَديعَةَ مِنْ خُلْقِ اللَّئيمِ

2 . He who makes his intelligence follow deceptions has deluded it.

2 ـ غَرَّ عَقْلَهُ مَنْ أتْبَعَهُ الخُدَعَ

3 . One who tries to deceive Allah is [himself] deceived.

3 ـ مَنْ خادَعَ اللّهَ خُدِعَ

4 . The deceiver has no religion.

4 ـ لادينَ لِخَدَّاع

The Servant

The Servant الخادم

1 . Beat your servant when he disobeys Allah but forgive him when he disobeys you.

1 ـ اِضْرِب خادِمَكَ إذا عَصَى اللّهَ، واعْفُ عَنْهُ إذا عَصاكَ

The One Who Is Forsaken By Allah

The One who is forsaken by Allah1 الخذلان والمخذول

1 . From the signs of being forsaken by Allah is considering that which is evil as something good.

1 ـ مِنْ عَلاماتِ الخِذلانِ اِسْتِحْسانُ القَبيحِ

2 . One of the indications of being forsaken by Allah is taking the rights of [one’s] brothers lightly.

2 ـ مِنْ دَلائِلِ الخِذْلانِ الاِسْتِهانَةُ بِحُقُوقِ الإخوانِ

3 . Abandonment is a support for ignorance.

3 ـ اَلخِذلانُ مُمِدُّ الجَهْلِ

4 . The forsaken is he who has to ask for something from the ignoble.

4 ـ المَخْذولُ مَنْ لَهُ إلَى اللِّئامِ حاجَةٌ

Notes

1. Because of the evil actions that one performs. See Q3:160

Muteness

Muteness الخَرَس

1 . Muteness is better than lying.

1 ـ اَلخَرَسُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الكِذْبِ