Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Fear

Fear الخوف والخشية

1 . Fear [of Allah] is the imprisonment of the self from sins and its impediment from vices.

1 ـ الخَوْفُ سِجْنُ النَّفْسِ عَنِ الذُّنُوبِ، ورادِعُها عَنِ المَعاصي

2 . Fear of Allah in this world makes one safe from fear of Him in the Hereafter.

2 ـ الخَوْفُ مِنَ اللّهِ في الدُّنيا، يُؤْمِنُ الخَوْفَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنْهُ

3 . Fear [Allah] and you will be feared by the people.1

3 ـ إرْهَبْ تُحذَرْ

4 . Fear [Allah] and you will be feared; and do not act jokingly such that you are belittled.

4 ـ إرْهَبْ تُحْذَر، ولا تَهْزِلْ فَتُحْتَقَرْ

5 . The most fearful [of Allah] among you are the ones who know [Him] the most.

5 ـ أخْوَفُكُمْ أعْرَفُكُمْ

6 . Fear [of Allah] is security.

6 ـ اَلخَوْفُ أمانٌ

7 . Fear of the punishment of Allah is a quality of the God-wary.

7 ـ اَلخَشْيَةُ مِنْ عَذابِ اللّهِ شِيمَةُ المُتَّقينَ

8 . Fear [of Allah] is the gown of the Gnostics.

8 ـ اَلخَوْفُ جِلْبابُ العارِفينَ

9 . Fear [of Allah] is the distinguishing feature of the believers.

9 ـ اَلوَجَلُ شِعارُ المُؤْمِنينَ

10 . When you fear the Creator, you flee towards Him.

10 ـ إذا خِفْتَ الخالِقَ فَرَرْتَ إلَيهِ

11 . The fruit of fear is security.

11 ـ ثَمَرَةُ الخَوْفِ الأمْنُ

12 . Fear your Lord and seek His mercy, He will save you from that which you fear [in this world] and will bestow [upon you] what you hope for.

12 ـ خَفْ رَبَّكَ، وارْجُ رَحْمَتَهُ، يُؤْمِنْكَ مِمَّا تَخافُ وَيُنِلْكَ ما رَجَوْتَ

13 . Fear [Allah] and you will be safe, and do not [wait to] be safe so that you may fear [Him].

13 ـ خَفْ تَأمَنْ ولا تَأمَنْ فَتَخَفْ

14 . Fear your Lord with a fearing that distracts you from hope of His mercy, and have hope of His mercy with the hoping of one who does not feel safe from His fear.

14 ـ خَفْ رَبَّكَ خَوْفاً يَشْغَلُكَ عَنْ رَجائِهِ، وارْجُهُ رَجاءَ مَنْ لا يَأمَنُ خَوْفَهُ

15 . The best action is striking a balance between hope [of His mercy] and fear [of His wrath].

15 ـ خَيْرُ الأعمالِ اِعْتِدالُ الرَّجاءِ والخَوْفِ

16 . Fear Allah with the fearing of one who busies his mind with contemplation, for indeed fear [of Allah] is the best place to find security and is a restraint for the self from vices.

16 ـ خَفِ اللّهَ خَوْفَ مَنْ شَغَلَ بِالفِكْرِ قَلْبَهُ، فَإنَّ الخَوْفَ مَظِنَّةُ الأمْنِ، وَسِجنُ (وَشَجْنُ) النَّفسِ عَنِ المَعاصي

17 . Fear of Allah is the consolidation of faith.

17 ـ خَشْيَةُ اللّهِ جِماعُ الإيمانِ

18 . Fear of Allah brings security for the one who is filled with it.

18 ـ خَوْفُ اللّهُ يَجْلُبُ لِمُسْتَشْعِرِهِ الأمانَ

19 . Fear Allah and He will protect you, and do not feel safe from Him [to the extent that you begin committing sins] so that He punishes you.

19 ـ خَفِ اللّهَ يُؤمِنْكَ، ولا تأمَنْهُ فَيُعَذِّبَكَ

20 . Many a fear turns into security.

20 ـ رُبَّ خَوْف يَعُودُ بِالأمانِ

21 . There is many a frightening thing that you are not cautious of.

21 ـ رُبَّ مَخُوف لاتَحْذَرُهُ

22 . Blessed be the one who is careful of [not disobeying] his Lord and afraid of his sin.

22 ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ راقَبَ رَبَّهُ وخافَ ذَنْبَهُ

23 . Blessed be the one who enjoins upon himself the fear of his Lord and obeys Him in secret and in the open.

23 ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ ألْزَمَ نَفْسَهُ مَخافَةَ رَبِّهِ، وأطاعَهُ فِي السِّـرِّ والجَهرِ

24 . Blessed be the one who fills himself with fear [of Allah], belies [false] hopes and eschews missteps.

24 ـ طُوبى لِمَنِ اسْتَشْعَرَ الوَجَلَ، وكَذَّبَ الأمَلَ وتَجَنَّبَ الزَّلَلَ

25 . Blessed be the one who fears Allah and thus becomes safe [from chastisement in the Hereafter].

25 ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ خافَ اللّهَ فَأمِنَ

26 . I am amazed at the one who knows Allah, how can his fear [of Him] not become intensified?!

26 ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ عَرَفَ اللّهَ كَيفَ لا يَشْتَدُّ خَوْفُهُ

27 . I am amazed at the one who is incapable of warding off that which comes upon him, how does he feel safe from the one whom (or the thing which) he is afraid of?!

27 ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يَعْجُزُ عَنْ دَفْعِ ما عَراهُ كَيفَ يَقَعُ لَهُ الأمْنُ مِمَّن (ممَّا)يَخشاهُ

28 . Fear [of Allah] is sufficient as knowledge.

28 ـ كَفى بِالخَشْيَةِ عِلْماً

29 . Just as you hope, fear.

29 ـ كَما تَرْجُو خَفْ

30 . One who fears [Allah] is safe.

30 ـ مَنْ خافَ أمِنَ

31 . One who fears [Allah] gets up [to worship Him] in the night.

31 ـ مَنْ خافَ أدْلَجَ(أدَّلَجَ ).

32 . Whoever fears Allah, his knowledge is complete.

32 ـ مَنْ خَشِيَ اللّهَ كَمُلَ عِلْمُهُ

33 . Whoever fears Allah, his [other] fears are reduced.

33 ـ مَنْ خافَ اللّهَ قَلَّتْ مَخافَتُهُ

34 . One whose fear [of Allah] increases, his affliction is reduced.

34 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَتْ مَخافَتُهُ قَلَّتْ آفَتُهُ

35 . One who fears Allah does not quench his anger [by taking revenge].

35 ـ مَنْ خافَ اللّهَ لَمْ يَشْفِ غَيْظَهُ

36 . One who fears his Lord refrains from being unjust [to anyone].

36 ـ مَنْ خافَ رَبَّهُ كَفَّ عَنْ ظُلْمِهِ

37 . One whose fear [of Allah] reduces, his affliction increases.

37 ـ مَنْ قَلَّتْ مَخافَتُهُ كَثُرَتْ آفَتُهُ

38 . One who does not truly fear Allah will not gain His security.

38 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَصْدُق مِنَ اللّهِ خَوْفُهُ لَمْ يَنَلْ مِنْهُ الأمانُ

39 . One who fears Allah is protected by Allah, the Glorified, from everything.

39 ـ مَنْ خافَ اللّهَ آمَنَهُ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْء

40 . The best form of worship is fear [and awe] of Allah.

40 ـ نِعْمَ العِبادَةُ الخَشْيَةُ

41 . The best barrier from sins is fear [of Allah].

41 ـ نِعْمَ الحاجِزُ عَنِ المعاصي الخَوْفُ

42 . The best means of [arriving at] security is fear [of Allah].

42 ـ نِعْمَ مَطِيَّةُ الأمْنِ الخَوْفُ

43 . Let no fearful one fear anything other than his sins.

43 ـ لايَخَفْ خائِفٌ إلاّ ذَنْبَهُ

44 . Do not fear anything other than your sins.

44 ـ لا تَخَفْ إلاّ ذَنْبَكَ

45 . There is no knowledge like the fear [and awe] of Allah.

45 ـ لاعِلمَ كالخَشْيَةِ

46 . Fear [and awe] of Allah is the attribute of the felicitous.

46 ـ اَلخَشْيَةُ شيمَةُ السُّعَداءِ

47 . One who fears the threat of Allah [to the evildoers] brings close to himself that which is far.

47 ـ مَنْ خافَ الوَعيدَ قَرَّبَ على نَفْسِهِ البَعيدَ

48 . Fear [of Allah] is a backing.

48 ـ الخَوْفُ اِسْتِظْهارٌ

49 . One who fears [divine] punishment desists from evil actions.

49 ـ مَنْ خافَ العِقابَ اِنْصَرَفَ عَنِ السَّيـِّئاتِ

Notes

1. Or in another reading: Fear [Allah] and you will be cautious [not to disobey Him].

Fearing Other Than Allah

Fearing Other than Allah الخوف من غير اللّه

1 . Whenever you fear the created [as opposed to the Creator], you flee from him.

1 ـ إذا خِفْتَ المَخْلُوقَ فَرَرْتَ مِنْهُ

2 . When you are frightened of something then jump into it, for indeed the difficulty of safeguarding yourself from it is greater than [that of] entering into it.

2 ـ إذا هِبْتَ أمْراً فَقَعْ فيهِ، فإنَّ شِدَّةَ تَوَقّيهِ أشَدُّ مِنَ الوُقُوعِ فيهِ

3 . He (‘a) said about the one whom he censured: …he has made his fear of men ready currency while his fear of the Creator a mere guarantee or promise [to be carried out later].

3 ـ وقال ـ عليه السّلام ـ في حَقِّ مَنْ ذَمَّهُ: جَعَلَ خَوْفَهُ مِنَ العِبادِ نَقْداً، ومِنْ خالِقِهِمْ (خالِقهِ) ضَماناً (ضِماراً) وَوَعْداً

4 . One who fears the people, Allah, the Glorified, makes him afraid of everything.

4 ـ مَنْ خافَ النَّاسَ أخافَهُ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْء

The Fearful

The Fearful الخائف

1 . The fearful one has no life.

1 ـ اَلخائِفُ لا عَيْشَ لَهُ

2 . How many a fearful person has been taken to a place of safety by his fear.

2 ـ كَمْ مِنْ خائِف وَفَدَ بِهِ خَوفُهُ على قَرارَةِ الأمْنِ

3 . One who fears, fails.

3 ـ مَنْ هابَ خابَ

Frightening Others

Frightening Others الإخافة

1 . One who does not frighten others will never be frightened [by anyone].

1 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يُخِفْ أحَداً لَمْ يَخَفْ أبَداً

2 . One who frightens you [from committing sins] in order to protect you [from punishment] is better than one who gives you a [false] sense of security on order that you may become frightened.

2 ـ مَنْ أخافَكَ لِكَى يُؤْمِنَكَ خَيْـرٌ لَكَ مِمَّنْ يُؤْمِنُكَ لِكَىْ يُخيفَكَ

The Frustrated

The Frustrated الخائب

1 . For the frustrated and hopeless one there is the anguish of ruin [and loss].

1 ـ لِلْخائِبِ الآئِسِ مَضَضُ الهَلاكِ

Good

Good الخير

1 . Good does not perish.

1 ـ اَلخَيرُ لا يَفْنى

2 . Good is easier [to do] than an evil action.

2 ـ اَلخَيْـرُ أسْهَلُ مِنْ فِعلِ الشَّـرِّ

3 . The bane of goodness is an evil companion.

3 ـ آفَةُ الخَيْرِ قَرينُ السُّوءِ

4 . When you make the intention of doing good, then execute it.

4 ـ إذا عَقَدْتُمْ على عَزائِمِ خَيْر فَامْضُوها

5 . When you witness [a] good [deed] then take to it.

5 ـ إذا رَأيْتُمُ الخَيـْرَ فَخُذُوا بهِ

6 . Three things consolidate that which is good: bestowing favours, guarding [one’s] sureties and keeping ties with near relatives.

6 ـ ثَلاثٌ هُنَّ جِماعُ الخَيرِ: إسْداءُ النِّعَمِ، ورِعايَةُ الذِّمَمِ، وصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ

7 . Consolidation of good is in acting on that which lasts and making light of that which perishes.

7 ـ جِماعُ الخَيرِ فيِ العَمَلِ بِما يَبْقى، والاسْتِهانَةِ بِما يَفنى

8 . Reform the evildoer with your good actions and guide [others] towards good by your beautiful [and kind] words.

8 ـ أصلِح المُسيئَ بِحُسْنِ فِعالِكَ ودُلَّ عَلَى الخَيـْرِ بِجَميلِ مَقالِكَ

9 . Do good and do not consider any of it insignificant, for verily little of it is plenty and its doer is happy [in the Hereafter].

9 ـ اِفْعَلِ الخَيرَ ولا تُحَقِّرْ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً، فَإنَّ قَليلَهُ كَثيرٌ وفاعِلَهُ مَحبُورٌ

10 . Increase your gladness for that which you have sent forth of good deeds and [increase] your sadness for that which you have missed from it.

10 ـ أكثِرْ سُرُورَكَ على ما قَدَّمْتَ مِنَ الخَيرِ، وحُزْنَكَ على ما فاتَ مِنْهُ

11 . The good deed that brings the quickest reward is piety.

11 ـ أعْجَلُ الخَيـْرِ ثَواباً البِرُّ

12 . Verily that which you send forth of good actions will be preserved for you and that which you delay [or postpone] will benefit other than you.

12 ـ إنَّ ما تُقَدِّمُ مِنْ خَيْر يَكُنْ لَكَ ذُخْرُهُ، وما تُؤَخِّـرُهُ يَكُنْ لِغَيْرِكَ خَيْرُهُ

13 . Indeed the best of good deeds are giving charity anonymously, being good with your parents and keeping ties with near relations.

13 ـ إنَّ أفْضَلَ الخَيْرِ صَدَقَةُ السِّـرِّ، وبِرُّ الوالِدَيْنِ، وصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ

14 . Do good and do not commit evil acts, for the one who performs a good deed is better than it and the one who commits an evil act is more evil than it.

14 ـ اِفعَلِ الخَيـْرَ، ولا تَفْعَلِ الشَّـرَّ، فَخَيـْرٌ مِنَ الخَيْرِ مَنْ يَفْعَلُهُ، وشَرٌ مِنَ الشَّـرِّ مَنْ يَأتيهِ بِفِعْلِهِ

15 . Do good deeds as much as you can, for better than the good deed is the one who does it.

15 ـ اِفْعَلُوا الخَيْرَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ، فَخَيْرٌ مِنَ الخَيرِ فاعِلُهُ

16 . Indeed, the most perceptive of seers is one whose gaze penetrates into good actions.

16 ـ ألا إنَّ أبْصَرَ الأبْصارِ، مَنْ نَفَذَ فِي الخَيْرِ طَرْفُهُ

17 . The consolidation of good is in seeking advice and acting upon words of the sincere adviser.

17 ـ جِماعُ الخَيْرِ فِي المُشاوَرَةِ، والأخْذِ بِقَولِ النَّصيحِ

18 . The consolidation of good is in making friendship for the sake of Allah and making enmity for the sake of Allah; [in] loving for the sake of Allah and hating for the sake of Allah.

18 ـ جِماعُ الخَيْرِ فِي المُوالاةِ فِي اللّهِ، والمُعاداةِ فِي اللّهِ، والمَحَبَّةِ فِي اللّهِ، والبُغْضِ فِي اللّهِ

19 . Consolidation of good is in [performing] virtuous actions.

19 ـ جِماعُ الخَيرِ في أعمالِ البِرِّ

20 . Sometimes good may come upon you from where you least expect it.

20 ـ رُبَّ خَيْر وافاكَ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا تَرْقَبُهُ

21 . Whoever wears [the garment of] virtue disrobes himself of evil.

21 ـ مَنْ لَبِسَ الخَيْرَ تَعَرَّى مِنَ الشَّـرِّ

22 . One who does good has [actually] started with [gaining its benefit] himself.

22 ـ مَنْ فَعَلَ الخَيْرَ فَبِنَفْسِهِ بَدَأ

23 . One who plants good, reaps reward.

23 ـ مَن زَرَعَ خَيْراً حَصَدَ أجْراً

24 . Whoever does not know how to distinguish good from evil, then he is [actually] from the beasts.

24 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفِ الخَيْرَ مِنَ الشَّـرِّ فَهُوَ مِنَ البَهائِمِ

25 . One who does not know the benefit of a good action will not be capable of performing it.

25 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ مَنْفِعَةَ الخَيرِ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ عَلَى العَملِ بِهِ

26 . One who sends forth a good deed will find it [in the Hereafter].

26 ـ مَنْ قَدَّمَ خَيْراً وَجَدَهُ

27 . One who is falls short in performing good deeds, loses and regrets.

27 ـ مَنْ قَصَـرَّ عَنْ فِعْلِ الخَيْرِ خَسـِرَ ونَدِمَ

28 . From the signs of goodness is refraining from harming others.

28 ـ مِنْ أماراتِ الخَيْرِ الكَفُّ عَنِ الأذى

29 . The good deed that is followed by hellfire is not a good deed.

29 ـ ما خَيْرٌ بَعْدَهُ النّارُ بِخَيْر

30 . Never count as evil that through which you realized good.

30 ـ لاتَعُدَّنَّ شَرّاً ما أدْرَكْتَ بِهِ خَيْراً

31 . Do not perform any good action in order to show off and do not abandon it out of shame.

31 ـ لاتَعْمَلْ شَيْئاً مِنَ الخَيرِ رِياءً، ولا تَتْرُكْهُ حَياءً

32 . None of you should ever say: ‘indeed there is one who is more worthy of doing the good action than me,’ for it will, by Allah, become that way. Verily for good and evil there are adherents, so whenever you leave it, its adherents perform it in your place.

32 ـ لايَقُولَنَّ أحَدُكُمْ إنَّ أحَداً أولى بِفِعْلِ الخَيْرِ مِنّي فَيَكونَ واللّهِ كَذلِكَ، إنَّ لِلْخَيرِ والشَّـرِّ أهْلاً فَمَهْما تَرَكْتُمُوهُ كَفاكُمُوهُ أهْلُهُ

33 . That which you send forth of good deeds is [preserved] with the One who does not diminish [its] reward and that which you commit from evil actions is [preserved] with the One who is not incapable of [meting out] punishment.

33 ـ ما قَدَّمْتَهُ مِنْ خَير فَعِندَ مَنْ لا يَبْخَسُ الثَّوابَ، ومَا ارْتَكَبْتَهُ مِنْ شَرّ فَعِندَ مَنْ لا يُعْجِزُهُ العِقابُ

34 . The essential prerequisite of good action is taking the initiative in [performing] it.

34 ـ مِلاكُ الخَيْرِ مُبادَرَتُهُ

35 . The basis of every good deed is obedience to Allah, the Glorified.

35 ـ مِلاكُ كُلِّ خَيْر طاعَةُ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ

36 . The key to goodness is renouncing evil.

36 ـ مِفْتاحُ الخَيْرِ التَّبَـرّي مِنَ الشَّـرِّ

37 . An evil [action] that does not last is better than a good [deed] that does not last.

37 ـ شَرٌّ لايَدُومُ خَيْرٌ مِن خَيْر لا يَدُومُ

38 . The one who seeks goodness through evil action, his mind and senses are corrupt.

38 ـ طالِبُ الخَيْرِ بِعَمَلِ الشَّـرِّ فاسِدُ العَقْلِ والحِسِّ

39 . He who seeks good will triumph by it.

39 ـ ظَفَرَ بِالخَيْرِ مَنْ طَلَبَهُ

40 . The determination to do good extinguishes the fire of evil.

40 ـ عَزيمَةُ الخَيرِ تُطْفِىءُ نارَ الشَّـرِّ

41 . The planter of the tree of good reaps the sweetest fruit.

41 ـ غارِسُ شَجَرةِ الخَيْرِ تَجْتَنيها أحْلى ثَمَرَة

42 . You will never realize good until you renounce evil.

42 ـ لَنْ تَتَحَقَّقَ الخَيرَ حتّى تَتَبَـرَّأ مِنَ الشَّـرِّ

43 . There is nothing better than [a] good [deed] except its reward.

43 ـ لَيْسَ بِخَير مِنَ الخَيرِ إلاَّ ثَوابُهُ

44 . Goodness is not in having more wealth and children, rather goodness is only in possessing more knowledge and greater forbearance.

44 ـ لَيْسَ الخَيـْرُ أن يَكْثُرَ مالُكَ ووَلَدُكَ، إنَّما الخَيْرُ أنْ يَكْثُرَ عِلْمُكَ، وَيَعْظُمَ حِلْمُكَ

45 . One who advances good, gains.

45 ـ مَنْ قَدَّمَ الخَيرَ غَنِمَ

46 . The doer of [a] good [deed] is better than it.

46 ـ فاعِلُ الخَيرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ

47 . The good action is a lasting store and a pure fruitage.

47 ـ فِعْلُ الخَيْرِ ذَخيرَةٌ باقِيَةٌ، وثَمَرَةٌ زاكِيَةٌ

48 . Send forth good actions and you will gain [in the Hereafter]; purify your actions [by performing them sincerely for Allah] and you will be felicitous.

48 ـ قَدِّمُوا خَيراً تَغْنَمُوا، وأخْلِصُوا أعْمالَكُمْ تَسْعَدُوا

49 . Indeed, being a follower in good is [much] better for you than being a leader in evil.

49 ـ لأن تَـكُونَ تابِعاً لِلخَيْرِ خَيرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أنْ تَـكُونَ مَتْبُوعاً فِي الشَّـرِّ

50 . Nobody will ever be given the reward of a good action except the one who performs it.

50 ـ لَنْ يُجزى جَزاءَ الخَيْرِ إلاَّ فاعِلُهُ

Good Of This World And The Hereafter

Good of this World and the Hereafter خير الدنيا والآخرة

1 . Four [qualities] are such that whoever they have been given to has been given the good of this world and the Hereafter: truthful speech, fulfilling the trust, abstinence from consuming what is forbidden and good character.

1 ـ أرْبَعٌ مَنْ اُعْطِيَهُنَّ فَقَدْ اُعْطِيَ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيا وَالآخِرَةِ: صِدْقُ حَديث، وَأداءُ أمانَة، وعِفَّةُ بَطْن، وحُسْنُ خُلق

2 . Three [traits] are such that whoever possesses them has been bestowed with the good of this world and the Hereafter. They are: being satisfied with what has been decreed [by Allah], patience in the face of hardship and thankfulness in times of ease [and prosperity].

2 ـ ثَلاثٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فيهِ فَقَدْ رُزِقَ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيا وَالآخِرَةِ: هُنَّ الرِّضا بِالقَضاءِ، وَالصَّبْرُ عَلَى البَلاءِ، وَالشُّكْرُ فِي الرَّخاءِ

Seeking What Is Best

Seeking What is Best الاستخارة

1 . Seek what is best and do not chose what you want, for how many a person who has chosen what he wanted and found his own destruction in it!

1 ـ اِسْتَخِرْ ولا تَتَخَيَّرْ، فَكَمْ مَنْ تَخَيَّرَ أمْراً كانَ هَلاكُهُ فيهِ

2 . When you embark on something, seek what is best from it.

2 ـ إذا أمْضَيْتَ فَاسْتَخِرْ

3 . He who seeks what is best [in his actions] does not regret.

3 ـ ما نَدِمَ مَنِ اسْتَخارَ

The Virtuous

The Virtuous الأخيار

1 . The practice of the virtuous ones is polite speech and spreading peace.

1 ـ سُنَّةُ الأخْيارِ لِينُ الكَلامِ، وإفْشاءُ السَّلامِ

Choice

Choice الاختيار

1 . One whose choice is bad, his results become ugly.

1 ـ مَنْ ساءَ اِخْتيارُهُ قَبُحَتْ آثارُهُ

2 . Some bad choices are seeking to overpower one’s equals and making enmity with people.

2 ـ مِنْ سُوءِ الاختيارِ مُغالَبَةُ الأكْفاءِ، ومُعاداةُ الرِّجالِ

3 . One of the best choices is accompanying the virtuous.

3 ـ مِنْ أحْسَنِ الاخْتيارِ صُحْبَةُ الأخيارِ

4 . Some of the bad choices are fighting [and seeking to overpower] one’s equals, unveiling an enemy and showing hostility towards one who is able to do harm.

4 ـ مِنْ سُوءِ الاخْتيارِ مُغالَبَةُ الأكْفاءِ، ومُكاشَفَةُ الأعْداءِ ومُناواةُ مَنْ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الضَّـرّاءِ

5 . One of the most excellent choices and best precautions [and supports] is for you to be just in your ruling (or judgment) and to carry it out among the special and the ordinary [people] equally.

5 ـ مِنْ أفْضَلِِ الاختيارِ وأحسَنِ الاستظْهارِ أنْ تَعْدِلَ فِي الحُكْمِ (القَضاءِ)، وتُجرِيَهُ فِي الخاصَّةِ والعامَّةِ عَلَى السَّواءِ

6 . From the best of choices is adorning oneself with selflessness.

6 ـ مِنْ أفْضَلِ الاخْتيارِ التَّحَلّي بِالإيثارِ

7 . From the good choices [one makes] is keeping company with the virtuous and keeping a distance from the wicked.

7 ـ مِنْ حُسْنِ الاخْتيارِ مُقارَنَةُ الأخْيارِ، ومُفارَقَةُ الأشرارِ

8 . The worst choice is being satisfied with deficiency.

8 ـ بِئْسَ الاخْتيارُ الرِّضا بِالنَّقْصِ

The Choice Of Allah

The Choice of Allah اختيار اللّه

1 . Whoever does not get reformed by that which Allah has chosen [for him] will not be reformed by what he chooses for himself.

1 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَصْلُحْ عَلَى اخْتيارِ اللّهِ لَمْ يَصْلُحْ عَلَى اخْتيارِهِ لِنَفْسِهِ

Treachery And Disloyalty

Treachery and Disloyalty الخيانة

1 . Keep away from treachery for it is [a cause of] turning away from Islam.

1 ـ جانِبُوا الخِيانَةَ فَإنَّها مُجانَبَةُ الإسلامِ

2 . The cornerstone of hypocrisy is treachery.

2 ـ رَأسُ النِّفاقِ الخِيانَةُ

3 . The peak of ingratitude is disloyalty.

3 ـ رَأسُ الكُفْرِ الخِيانَةُ

4 . The highest form of treachery is the treachery of a beloved friend and the breaking of pledges.

4 ـ غايَةُ الخِيانَةِ خِيانَةُ الخِلِّ الوَدُودِ ونَقْضُ العُهُودِ

5 . One who acts with treachery has done injustice to the trust [that was entrusted to him].

5 ـ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِالخِيانَةِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ الأمانَةَ

6 . From the most grievous forms of treachery is being treacherous with trusts or deposits [that one has been entrusted with].

6 ـ مِنْ أفْحَشِ الخِيانَةِ خِيانَةُ الوَدائِعِ

7 . Do not act treacherously towards one who trusts you, even if he is disloyal with you, and do not disgrace your enemy, even if he disgraces you.

7 ـ لا تَخُنْ مَنِ ائْتَمَنَكَ وإنْ خانَكَ، ولا تَشِنْ عَدُوَّكَ وإنْ شانَكَ

8 . Treachery and brotherhood do not go together.

8 ـ لاتَجْتَمِعُ الخِيانَةُ، والاُخُوَّةُ

9 . Keep away from treachery for it is the worst offence, and verily the treacherous one is surely punished with fire for his treachery.

9 ـ إيّاكَ والخيانَةَ، فَإنَّها شَرُّ مََعصِيَة، وإنَّ الخائنَ لَمُعَذَّبٌ بِالنّارِ على خيانَتِهِ

10 . The worst treachery is treachery against the nation.

10 ـ أعْظَمُ الخِيانَةِ خِيانَةُ الأُمَّةِ

11 . Treachery is betrayal.

11 ـ الْخِيانَةُ غَدْرٌ

12 . Treachery is the brother of dishonesty.

12 ـ اَلخِيانَةُ أخُُ الكِذْبِ

13 . Treachery is the double of deceit.

13 ـ اَلخيانَةُ صِنْوُ الإفْكِ

14 . Treachery is the cornerstone of hypocrisy.

14 ـ اَلخيانَةُ رَأْسُ النِّفاقِ

15 . Treachery is an indication of lack of piety and absence of religiosity.

15 ـ اَلخيانَةُ دَليلٌ على قِلَّةِ الوَرَعِ، وعَدَمِ الدِّيانَةِ

16 . When treacheries (or offenses) become manifest, blessings are taken away.

16 ـ إذا ظَهَرَتِ الخِياناتُ (الجناياتُ) اِرْتَفَعَتِ البَرَكاتُ

17 . Unwelcome are the faces that are not seen except in every evil situation.

17 ـ لامَرحَباً بِوُجوه لا تُرى إلاّ عِنْدَ كُلِّ سُوء

The Treacherous

The Treacherous الخائن والمزيع

1 . The treacherous person is one who busies himself with other than his self and his ‘today’ is worse than his ‘yesterday’.

1 ـ الخائِنُ مَنْ شَغَلَ نَفْسَهُ بِغَيرِ نَفْسِِهِ، وكانَ يَوْمُهُ شَـرّاً مِنْ أمْسِهِ

2 . The enticer [towards deviance] and the treacherous one are alike.1

2 ـ المُزيعُ والخائِنُ سَواءٌ

3 . The treacherous person has no loyalty in him.

3 ـ اَلخائِنُ لا وَفاءَ لَهُ

4 . From the signs of being forsaken [by Allah] is considering the treacherous to be trustworthy.

4 ـ مِنْ عَلاماتِ الخِذْلانِ ايتِمانُ الخُوّانِ

Notes

1. Or in another reading: The discloser [of secrets] and the treacherous one are alike.

The Diligent And The Hardworking

The Diligent and the Hardworking الدائب والكادح

1 . Many a diligent person also loses (or causes loss).

1 ـ رُبَّ دائب مُضَيِّع

2 . Many a person toils for the one who is not grateful to him.

2 ـ رُبَّ كادِح لِمَنْ لايَشْكُرُهُ

Following Up Matters

Following up Matters استدبار الأُمور

1 . One who follows up [and thinks about] matters [that have passed], gets perplexed.

1 ـ مَنِ اسْتَدْبَـرَ الأُمُورَ تَحَيَّرَ