Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Taking Lessons And Examples

Taking Lessons and Examples1-العبرة والاِعتبار

1 . Take lesson and you will be deterred [from evil].

1 ـ اِعْتَبِرْ تَزْدَجِرْ

2 . Take lesson and you will become content.

2 ـ اِعْتَبِرْ تَقْتَنِعْ

3 . Take lessons from [the lives of] those who preceded you before those who are after you take lessons from you.

3 ـ اِتَّعِظُوا مِمَّنْ كانَ قَبْلَكُمْ قَبْلَ أنْ يَتَّعِظَ بِكُمْ مَنْ بََعْدَكُمْ

4 . Take counsel from the examples [of others], learn lessons from the changing situations and take benefit from the Warners.

4 ـ اِتَّعِظُوا بِالعِبَرِ واعْتَبِروُا بِالغِيَرِ، وانْتَفِعُوا بِالنُّذُرِ

5 . Where are the ‘Amāliqa2 and the children of the ‘Amāliqa?

5 ـ أيْنَ العَمالِقَةُ وأبْناءُ العَمالِقَةِ؟ !

6 . Where are the tyrants and the children of the tyrants?

6 ـ أيْنَ الجَبابِرَةُ، وأبْناءُ الجَبابِرَةِ؟ !

7 . Where are the people of the cities of Rass who killed the Prophets and extinguished the light of the Messengers?

7 ـ أيْنَ أهْلُ مَدائِنِ الرَّسِّ، الَّذينَ قَتَلُوا النَّبِيِّينَ وأطْفَئُوا نُورَ المُرْسَلينَ؟ !

8 . Where are those who rallied the troops and inhabited the cities?

8 ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ عَسْكَرُوا العَساكِرَ ومَدَنُوا المَدائِنَ؟ !

9 . Where are those who said, “Who is more powerful than us and is greater in assemblage?”

9 ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ قالُوا مَنْ أشَدُّ مِنّا قُوَّةً وأعْظَمُ جَمْعاً؟ !

10 . Where are those who left the best heritage, were most just in their actions and had the biggest kingdoms?

10 ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ كانُوا أحْسَنَ آثاراً،وَ أعْدَلَ أفْعالاً، وأكْبَرَ مُلْكاً؟ !

11 . Where are those who vanquished the armies and travelled in the thousands?

11 ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ هَزَمُوا الجُيُوشَ، وسارُوا بِالأُلُوفِ؟ !

12 . Where are those who built kingdoms, paved passages, and aided the aggrieved and hosted guests?

12 ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ شَيَّدُوا المَمالِكَ، ومَهَّدُوا المَسالِكَ، وأغاثُوا المَهْلُوفَ، وَقَرَوُوا الضُّيُوفَ؟

13 . Where is the one who strived and struggled, and prepared and mobilized [all possible resources]?

13 ـ أيْنَ مَنْ سَعى واجْتَهَدَ، وأعَدَّ، واحْتَشَدَ؟ !

14 . Where is the one who built and erected, paved and prepared, accumulated and counted?

14 ـ أيْنَ مَنْ بَنى وَشَيَّدَ، وفَرَشَ ومَهَّدَ، وجَمَعَ وعَدَّدَ؟ !

15 . Where is Khosrau3 and Caesar and Tubba’4 and Himyar5 ?

15 ـ أيْنَ كِسْرى وَقَيْصَرُ وتُبَّعُ وحِمْيَرُ؟ !

16 . Where is the one who stored and amassed, and accumulated wealth upon wealth thereby multiplying it?

16 ـ أيْنَ مَنِ ادَّخَرَ واعْتَقَدَ، وجَمَعَ المالَ عَلَى المالِ فَأكْثَرَ؟ !

17 . Where is the one who fortified and strengthened, and adorned and decorated?

17 ـ أيْنَ مَنْ حَصَّنَ وأكَّدَ، وزَخْرَفَ ونَجَّدَ؟ !

18 . Where is the one who accumulated and increased, and stored and amassed, and considered the future of his son?

18 ـ أيْنَ مَنْ جَمَعَ فَأكْثَرَ، واحْتَقَبَ واعْتَقَدَ، ونَظَرَ بِزَعْمِهِ لِلْوَلَدِ؟ !

19 . Where are those who lived longer than you and left a greater heritage?

19 ـ أيْنَ مَنْ كانَ مِنْكُمْ أطْوَلَ أعْماراً وأعْظَمَ آثاراً؟ !

20 . Where are the ones who were larger in numbers, had stronger armies and had greater effect?

20 ـ أيْنَ مَنْ كانَ أعَدَّ عَديداً، وَأَكْنَفَ (إكْثَفَ)جُنُوداً، وأعْظَمَ آثاراً؟ !

21 . Where are the kings and Khosraus?

21 ـ أيْنَ المُلُوكُ والأكاسِرَةُ؟ !

22 . Where are the children of the Yellow6 and the pharaohs?

22 ـ أيْنَ بَنُو الأصْفَرِ والفَراعِنَةُ؟ !

23 . Where are those who ruled the extremities of this world?

23 ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ مَلَكُوا مِنَ الدُّنيا أقاصِيَها؟ !

24 . Where are those who used to humiliate their enemies and take possession of their forelocks [by enslaving them]?

24 ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ اسْتَذَلُّوا الأعْداءَ، ومَلَكُوا نَواصِيَها؟ !

25 . Where are those to whom the nations were subservient?

25 ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ دانَتْ لَهُمُ الأُمَمُ؟ !

26 . Where are those who attained their highest ambitions in this world?

26 ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ بَلَغُوا مِنَ الدُّنْيا أقاصِيَ الهِمَمِ؟ !

27 . Verily for those who remain [behind] there is an example in those who have passed.

27 ـ إنَّ لِلْباقِينَ بِالماضينَ مُعْتَبَراً

28 . Verily for the latter there is an admonishment in the former.

28 ـ إنَّ لِلآخِرِ بِالأوَّلِ مُزْدَجَراً

29 . Verily the passing away of those who depart is a lesson for the community that remains behind.

29 ـ إنَّ ذَهابَ الذّاهِبينَ لَعِبْرَةٌ لِلْقَوْمِ المُتَخَلِّفينَ

30 . Taking example yields [the fruit of] inerrancy.

30 ـ اَلاِعْتِبارُ يُثْمِرُ العِصْمَةَ

31 . Time shows you examples.

31 ـ اَلزَّمانُ يُريكَ العِبَـرَ

32 . Taking lesson is beneficial in [attaining] right guidance.

32 ـ الاِعْتِبارُ يُفيدُ الرَّشادَ

33 . When Allah loves a servant, He gives him direction through examples.

33 ـ إذا أحَبَّ اللّهُ عَبْداً وَعَظَهُ بِالعِبَرِ

34 . You have been left with examples from the vestiges of those who passed away before you, so take lesson from them.

34 ـ خُلِّفَ لَكُمْ عِبَرٌ مِنْ آثارِ الماضينَ قَبْلَكُمْ لِتَعْتَبِرُوا بِها

35 . Continually taking lessons leads to perspicacity and bears the fruit of restraint [from evil].

35 ـ دَوامُ الاِعْتِبارِ يُؤَدِّي إلَى الاِسْتِبْصارِ، ويُثْمِرُ الاِزْدِجارَ

36 . I am bound by responsibility for what I say and am answerable for it. Verily, one for whom examples [of the past] have clearly shown that which was before him of exemplary punishments [given by Allah to wrongdoers] is prevented by God-wariness from falling into dubious [and questionable] actions.

36 ـ ذِمَّتي بِما أقُولُ رَهينَةٌ، وأنَا بِهِ زَعيمٌ، إنَّ مَنْ صَـرَّحَتْ لَهُ العِبَرُ عمّا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ المَثُلاتِ، حَجَزَهُ التَّقْوى عَنْ تَقَحُّمِ الشُّبَهاتِ

37 . Attest to the truth that has passed and take lesson from what has elapsed of this world, because indeed its one phase resembles the other and its end catches up to its beginning.

37 ـ صَدِّقْ بِما سَلَفَ مِنَ الحَقِّ، واعْتَبِرْ بِما مَضى مِنَ الدُّنيا فَإنَّ بَعْضَها يُشْبِهُ بَعْضاً، وآخِرُها لاحِقٌ بِأوَّلِها

38 . The prolonged drawing of lessons [from the past] impels one to be precautious.

38 ـ طُولُ الاِعْتِبارِ يَحْدُو عَلَى الاِسْتِظْهارِ

39 . In every glance there is a lesson.

39 ـ في كُلِّ نَظْرَة عِبْرَةٌ

40 . In every lesson that is drawn there is discernment.

40 ـ في كُلِّ اعْتِبار اِسْتِبْصارٌ

41 . In the succession of days there is lesson for the creatures.

41 ـ في تَعاقُبِ الأيّامِ مُعْتَبَرٌ لِلأنامِ

42 . Successful is the one who has a habit of taking lesson [from the past] and a tendency towards being precautious.

42 ـ فازَ مَنْ كانَتْ شيمَتُهُ الاِعْتِبارَ، وسَجِيَّتُهُ الاِسْتِظْهارَ

43 . He who has been deterred [from evil] has taken lesson [from the past].

43 ـ قَدِ اعْتَبـَرَ مَنِ ارْتَدَعَ

44 . He who takes a lesson from the past [that has gone] has taken a lesson for the remaining [future].

44 ـ قَد اعْتَبَرَ بِالباقي مَنِ اعْتَبرَ بِالماضي

45 . Every day benefits you with lessons if you accompany it with contemplation.

45 ـ كُلُّ يَوْم يُفيدُكَ عِبَراً إنْ أصْحَبْتَهُ فِكْراً

46 . For the people of intelligence, what they are aware of is enough of a lesson for them.

46 ـ كَفى مُعْتَبَراً لأُولِي النُّهى ما عَرَفُوا

47 . Lessons [from events] have indeed become evident for you, and you have been deterred by what is in it of a deterrence; and after the Prophet of Allah, none have conveyed [the message] from Allah like the Warners.

47 ـ لَقَدْ جاهَرَتْكُمُ العِبَرُ، وزَجَرَكُمْ(وَ زُجِرْتُمْ بِما) ما فيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ، وما بَلَّغَ (يُبَلِّغُ) عَنِ اللّهِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللّهِ (رُسُلِ السَّماءِ إلاّ البَشَرُ) مِثْلُ النُّذُرِ

48 . If you took lessons from what has passed of your life, you would safeguard that which remains [of it].

48 ـ لَوِْ اعْتَبَرْتَ بِما أضَعْتَ مِنْ ماضي عُمْرِكَ لَحَفِظْتَ ما بَقِيَ

49 . One who takes lesson [from the past] is cautious.

49 ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ حَذِرَ

50 . One whose consideration [of past events from which he draws lessons] increases, his mistakes decrease.

50 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ اِعْتِبارُهُ قَلَّ عِثارُهُ

51 . One who takes a lesson from the vicissitudes of time is careful of [the evil of] others.

51 ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ بِتَصاريفِ الزَّمانِ حَذِرَ غَيْرَهُ

52 . One who does not take lesson from others does not take precaution for himself.

52 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْتَبِرْ بِغَيْرِهِ لَمْ يَسْتَظْهِرْ لِنَفْسِهِ

53 . One who takes admonishment from the examples [of the past] is deterred [from evil].

53 ـ مَنِ اتَّعَظَ بِالعِبَرِ اِرْتَدَعَ

54 . One who does not take a lesson from the passage of days is not deterred by reproach.

54 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْتَبِرْ بِتَصارِيفِ الأيّامِ لَمْ يَنْزَجِرْ بِالمَلامِ

55 . One who takes a lesson from vicissitudes does not rely on the peacefulness of time.

55 ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ بِالغِيَرِ لَمْ يَثِقْ بِمُسالَمَةِ الزَّمَنِ

56 . One who recognizes the lessons [of the past], it is as if he is living among the ancients.

56 ـ مَنْ عَرَفَ العِبْرَةَ فَكَأنَّما عاشَ فِي الأوَّلينَ

57 . One who does not take lesson from the vicissitudes of this world, advice has no effect on him.

57 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْتَبِرْ بِغِيَرِ الدُّنيا وصُرُوفِها لَمْ تَنْجَعْ فيهِ المَواعِظُ

58 . One who considers matters arrives at their [appropriate] criteria.

58 ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ الأُمُورَ وَقَفَ عَلى مَصادِقِها

59 . One who takes lesson from the vicissitudes of this world, his desires lessen.

59 ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ بِغِيَرِ الدُّنيا قَلَّتْ مِنْهُ الأطْماعُ

60 . How many the lessons are, and how few of them are learnt!

60 ـ ما أكْثَرَ العِبَرَ وأقَلَّ الاِعْتِبارَ

61 . There is no lesson to be taken for the one who has no restraint.

61 ـ لااِعْتِبارَ لِمَنْ لااِزدِجارَ لَهُ

62 . Taking lesson steers one towards right guidance.

62 ـ اَلاِعْتِبارُ يَقُودُ إلَى الرُّشْدِ

Notes

1. This refers to drawing lessons and examples from what happened to oneself or to others in the past.

2. These were strong and oppressive people from the children of ‘Amlīq, who was from the progeny of Nuḥ (‘a).

3. This was the title of Persian kings.

4. Kings of Yemen.

5. A father of one of the influential tribes of Yemen.

6. These were the rulers of Rome who were called ‘Yellow’ because (according to some reports) when the Romans lost a war to the Abyssinians, their womenfolk were ravaged and the children produced were of a yellowish skin colour.

Reprimand

Reprimand-العتاب

1 . Goodwill [and friendly admonishment] is the life of friendship [and affection].

1 ـ اَلْعِتابُ حَياةُ المَوَدَّةِ

2 . Too much reprimand indicates [one’s] suspicion.

2 ـ كَثْرَةُ العِتابِ تُؤْذِنُ بِالاِرْتيابِ

3 . He who seeks forgiveness (or is indigent) is not reprimanded.

3 ـ ما أُعْتِبَ مَنِ اغْتَفَرَ (افْتَقَرَ ).

4 . Do not reprimand the ignorant one as he will hate you, but reprimand the wise one as he will love you [for it].

4 ـ لاتُعاتِبِ الجاهِلَ فَيَمْقُتْكَ، وعاتِبِ العاقِلَ يُحْبِبْكَ

5 . Never be excessive in reprimanding, for indeed it brings about ill feelings and calls toward hatred; and seek to appease the one whom you hope to reprimand.

5 ـ لا تُكْثِرَنَّ العِتابَ، فَإنَّهُ يُورِثُ الضَّغينَةَ ويَدْعُو إلَى البَغْضاءِ، واسْتَعْتِبْ لِمَنْ رَجَوْتَ اِعْتابَهُ

6 . When you reprimand then leave some room [to make amends and do not be excessive in reprimanding].

6 ـ إذا عاتَبْتَ فَاسْتَبْقِ

Emancipation

Emancipation-العتق والإعتاق

1 . When you become the owner [of a slave], then emancipate [him].

1 ـ إذا مَلَكْتَ فَأعْتِقْ

Slip Up

Slip up-العَثْرَة

1 . The slip up of impudence cannot be pardoned.

1 ـ عَثْرَةُ الاِسْتِرْسالِ لاتُسْتَقالُ

Conceit

Conciet-العُجب

1 . The most alienating estrangement is conceit.

1 ـ أوْحَشُ الوَحْشَةِ العُجْبُ

2 . Conceit is destruction.

2 ـ اَلعُجْبُ هَلاكٌ

3 . Conceit is folly.

3 ـ اَلعُجْبُ حُمْقٌ

4 . Conceit is the cornerstone of foolishness.

4 ـ اَلعُجْبُ رَأسُ الحَماقَةِ

5 . Conceit is the cornerstone of ignorance.

5 ـ اَلعُجْبُ رَأسُ الجَهْلِ

6 . Conceit is the symbol of foolishness.

6 ـ اَلعُجْبُ عُنْوانُ الحَماقَةِ

7 . Self-admiration prevents growth.

7 ـ اَلإعْجابُ يَمْنَعُ الاِزدِيادَ

8 . Conceit is the most harmful associate.

8 ـ اَلعُجْبُ أضَرُّ قَرين

9 . Self-admiration is contrary to reason.

9 ـ اَلإعْجابُ ضِدُّ الصَّوابِ

10 . Conceit corrupts the intellect.

10 ـ اَلعُجْبُ يُفْسِدُ العَقْلَ

11 . Conceit prevents growth.

11 ـ اَلعُجْبُ يَمْنَعُ الاِزدِيادَ

12 . Becoming conceited because of a good deed nullifies it.

12 ـ اَلعُجْبُ بِالحَسَنَةِ يُحْبِطُها

13 . Conceit is the bane of dignity.

13 ـ اَلعُجْبُ آفَةُ الشَّـرَفِ

14 . Conceit manifests [one’s] shortcoming.

14 ـ اَلعُجْبُ يُظْهِرُ النَّقيصَةَ

15 . The admiration of a person for himself is folly.

15 ـ إعْجابُ المَرْءِ بِنَفْسِهِ حُمْقٌ

16 . Self-admiration is contrary to reason and the bane of the intellects.

16 ـ اَلإعْجابُ ضِدُّ الصَّوابِ وآفَةُ الألْبابِ

17 . When you wish your merits to be glorified among the people, then do not glorify yourself.

17 ـ إذا أرَدْتَ أنْ تَعْظُمَ مَحاسِنُكَ عِنْدَ النّاسِ، فَلا تَعْظُمْ في عَيْنِكَ

18 . When your self-importance is increased by the position [of authority] you are in, and this brings about arrogance or vanity in you, then look at the greatness of the authority of Allah and His power, the power which you do not even possess over yourself, for indeed this will mellow your recalcitrance, cure your vehemence and bring back to you that which had departed from you of your intellect.

18 ـ إذا زادَ عُجْبُكَ بِما أنْتَ فيهِ مِنْ سُلْطانِكَ، فَحَدَثَتْ لَكَ أُبَّهَةٌ أو مَخيلَةٌ، فَانْظُرْ إلى عِظَمِ مُلْكِ اللّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ، مِمّا لاتَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ، فَإنَّ ذلِكَ يُلَيِّنُ مِنْ جَماحِكَ، ويَكُفُّ عَنْ غَرْبِكَ، ويَفيءُ إلَيْكَ بِما عَزَبَ عَنْكَ مِنْ عَقْلِكَ

19 . By being pleased with oneself, vices and faults become manifest.

19 ـ بِالرِّضا عَنِ النَّفْسِ تَظْهَرُ السَّوْءاتُ والعُيُوبُ

20 . The fruit of conceit is hatred.

20 ـ ثَمَرَةُ العُجْبِ البَغْضاءُ

21 . The evil that befalls you is better than the good that makes you conceited.

21 ـ سَيِّئَـةٌ تَسُوؤُكَ خَيْـرٌ مِنْ حَسَنَة تُعْجِبُكَ

22 . One who admires himself will be ridiculed because of it.

22 ـ مَنْ أُعْجِبَ بِنَفْسِهِ سُخِرَ بِهِ

23 . One who admires his [own] opinion becomes abased (or goes astray).

23 ـ مَنْ أُعْجِبَ بِرَأْيِهِ ذَلَّ (ضَلَّ ).

24 . Whoever is proud [and pleased] with his action, his intellect gets afflicted.

24 ـ مَنْ أُعْجِبَ بِفِعْلِهِ أُصيبَ بِعَقْلِهِ

25 . One who admires his [own] speech, his intellect has departed.

25 ـ مَنْ أعْجَبَهُ قَوْلُهُ فَقدْ غَرَبَ عَقْلُهُ

26 . One whose self-admiration increases, his correctness reduces.

26 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ إعْجابُهُ قَلَّ صَوابُهُ

27 . One who becomes conceited by his action nullifies his reward.

27 ـ مَنْ أُعْجِبَ بِعَمَلِهِ أحْبَطَ أجْرَهُ

28 . One who admires his good state falls short of attaining good expediencies.

28 ـ مَنْ أُعْجِبَ بِحُسْنِ حالَتِهَ قَصَّرَ عَنْ حُسْنِ حيلَتِهِ

29 . Adversity does not descend upon the one who abandons conceit and lassitude.

29 ـ مَنْ تَرَكَ العُجْبَ والتَّوانِيَ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ بِهِ مَكْرُوهٌ

30 . No one admires his own opinion except the ignorant one.

30 ـ ما أُعْجِبَ بِرَأْيِهِ إلاّ جاهِلٌ

31 . Nothing damages [one’s] merits [and good deeds] like conceit.

31 ـ ما أضَـرَّ المَحاسِنَ كَالعُجْبِ

32 . What has the son of Adam to do with conceit? His beginning is foul semen and his end is a rotting corpse, and in between these he is a carrier of waste products.

32 ـ ما لابْنِ آدَمَ والعُجْبِ، وأوَّلُهُ نُطْفَةٌ مَذِرَةٌ وآخِرُهُ جيفَةٌ قَذِرَةٌ، وهُوَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ يَحْمِلُ العَذَرَةَ

33 . There is no alienation more desolating than conceit.

33 ـ لا وَحْشَةَ أوْحَشُ مِنَ العُجْبِ

34 . The self-admiration of a person is proof of his deficiency and a symbol of his weak intellect.

34 ـ إعْجابُ المَرْءِ بِنَفْسِهِ بُرْهانُ نَقْصِهِ، وعُنْوانُ ضَعْفِ عَقْلِهِ

35 . Keep away from self-conceit and love for praise, for these are the strongest opportunities for Satan.

35 ـ إيّاكَ والإعْجابَ وحُبَّ الإطْراءِ، فَإنَّ ذلِكَ مِنْ أوْثَقِ فُرَصِ الشَّيْطانِ

36 . Be careful not to be self-conceited, thereby making deficiency and enmity manifest upon [and against] you.

36 ـ إيّاكَ أنْ تُعْجِبَ بِنَفْسِكَ، فَيَظْهَرَ عَلَيْكَ النَّقْصُ والشَّنَ آنُ

37 . Be cautious not to consider the sin of others as great while you deem it to be small [when it comes] from yourself, or to consider your worship as abundant while you deem the same to be less when performed by others.

37 ـ إيّاكَ أنْ تَسْتَكْبِرَ مِنْ مَعْصِيَةِ غَيْرِكَ ما تَسْتَصْغِرُهُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ، أو تَسْتَكْثِرَ مِنْ طاعَتِكَ ما تَسْتَقِلُّهُ مِنْ غَيْرِكَ

The Self-Admiring One

The Self-Admiring one-المعجِب

1 . The self-admiring one has no intelligence.

1 ـ اَلمُعْجِبُ لاعَقْلَ لَهُ

2 . The self-admiring one has no [valid] opinion [as he never consults with anyone else].

2 ـ لَيْسَ لِمُعْجِب رَأيٌ

Inability

Inability-العجز

1 . Inability accompanied by espousing goodness is better than power accompanied by embarking on evil.

1 ـ اَلْعَجْزُ مَعَ لُزُومِ الخَيْـرِ خَيْـرٌ مِنَ القُدْرَةِ مَعَ رُكُوبِ الشَّـرِّ

2 . Inability is waste.

2 ـ اَلعَجْزُ إضاعَةٌ

3 . Inability is ruin.

3 ـ اَلعَجْزُ مَضْيَعَةٌ

4 . Inability is a cause of loss.

4 ـ اَلعَجْزُ سَبَبُ التَّضْييعِ

5 . Inability is the worst riding mount.

5 ـ اَلعَجْزُ شَـرُّ مَطِيَّة

6 . Inability bears the fruit of destruction.

6 ـ اَلعَجْزُ يُثْمِرُ الهَلَكَةَ

7 . Inability makes enemies covetous.

7 ـ اَلعَجْزُ يُطْمِعُ الأَعْداءَ

8 . The fruit of inability is losing what is sought.

8 ـ ثَمَرَةُ العَجْزِ فَوْتُ الطَّلَبِ

9 . Inability [and failure] is [in] occupying yourself with that which has been guaranteed for you instead of that which has been made obligatory upon you, and abandoning contentment with what you have been given.

9 ـ اَلعَجْزُ اِشْتِغالُكَ بِالمَضْمُونِ لَكَ عَنِ المَفْرُوضِ عَلَيْكَ وتَرْكُ القَناعَةِ بِما أُوتيتَ

The Powerless

The powerless-العاجز

1 . The most powerless of people are those who consider themselves the safest from sudden events and [from] the onslaught of their deaths.

1 ـ أعْجَزُ النّاسِ آمَنُهُمْ لِوُقُوعِ الحَوادِثِ، وهُجُومِ الأجَلِ

2 . Sometimes the powerless one acquires what he needs.

2 ـ رُبَّما أدْرَكَ العاجِزُ حاجَتَهُ

The Derriere

The Derriere-العجيزة

1 . The derriere is one of the two faces.

1 ـ اَلعَجيزَةُ أحَدُ الوَجْهَيْنِ

Haste And The Hasty

Haste and the hasty-العَجلة والعجول

1 . Haste is dispraised in every affair except in that which repels evil.

1 ـ اَلعَجَلَةُ مَذْمُومَةٌ في كُلِّ أمْر إلاّ فيما يَدْفَعُ الشَّـرَّ

2 . Beware of haste, for indeed it bears the fruit of regret.

2 ـ اِحْذَرُوا العَجَلَةَ فَإنَّها تُثْمِرُ النَّدامَةَ

3 . Keep away from haste, for verily it is the symbol of loss and regret.

3 ـ إيّاكَ والعَجَلَ، فَإنَّهُ عُنْوانُ الفَوْتِ والنَّدَمِ

4 . Keep away from haste, for surely it is associated with error.

4 ـ إيّاكَ والعَجَلَ فَإنَّهُ مَقْرُونٌ بِالعِثارِ

5 . Haste (or conceit) leads to error.

5 ـ اَلعَجَلُ (العُجْبُ) يُوجِبُ العِثارَ

6 . Haste prevents one from [successfully] achieving his goal.

6 ـ اَلعَجَلَةُ تَمْنَعُ الإصابَةَ

7 . Making haste before [having the] ability, causes distress.

7 ـ اَلعَجَلُ قَبْلَ الإمْكانِ يُوجِبُ الغُصَّةَ

8 . The fruit of haste is error.

8 ـ ثَمَرَةُ العَجَلَةِ العِثارُ

9 . Being hasty before [possessing the] ability is part of foolishness.

9 ـ مِنَ الحُمْقِ العَجَلَةُ قَبْلَ الإمْكانِ

10 . With haste, errors abound.

10 ـ مَعَ العَجَلِ يَكْثُرُ الزَّلَلُ

11 . The hasty one is in the wrong, even if he acquires [what he seeks].

11 ـ اَلعَجُولُ مُخْطِئٌ وإنْ مَلَكَ

12 . The one who rides on [the mount of] haste is on the verge of stumbling.

12 ـ راكِبُ العَجَلِ (العَجَلَةِ) مُشْف (مُشْرِف) عَلَى الكَبْوَةِ

13 . In haste there is error.

13 ـ فِي العَجَلِ عِثارٌ

14 . In haste there is regret.

14 ـ فِي العَجَلَةِ النَّدامَةُ

15 . It is seldom that the view of a hasty person turns out to be correct.

15 ـ قَلَّما يُصيبُ رَأيُ العَجُولِ

16 . It is seldom that the scheme of the hasty is successful or that the love of the one who is fed up lasts.

16 ـ قَلَّما تَنْجَحُ حيلَةُ العَجُولِ، أوْ تَدُومُ مَوَدَّةُ المَلُولِ

17 . Few are the ones who make haste and are not ruined by it.

17 ـ قَلَّ مَنْ عَجِلَ إلاّ هَلَكَ

18 . Everyone who is hastened asks for more time.

18 ـ كُلُّ مُعاجَل يَسْأَلُ الإنْظارَ

19 . Too much haste makes a person slip.

19 ـ كَثْرَةُ العَجَلِ يُزِلُّ الإنْسانَ

20 . A hasty person never gets praised [for his haste].

20 ـ لَنْ يُلْقَي العَجُولُ مَحْمُوداً

21 . One who makes haste, errs.

21 ـ مَنْ عَجِلَ زَلَّ

22 . One who is hasty makes mistakes.

22 ـ مَنْ يَعْجَلْ يَعْثُرْ

23 . One who makes haste, his errors increase?

23 ـ مَنْ عَجِلَ كَثُرَ عِثارُهُ

24 . One who acts hastily falls into error.

24 ـ مَنْ رَكِبَ العَجَلَ أدْرَكَ الزَّلَلَ

25 . One who is hasty regrets his haste.

25 ـ مَنْ عَجِلَ نَدِمَ عَلَى العَجَلِ

26 . One who acts hastily is made to stumble by error.

26 ـ مَنْ رَكِبَ العَجَلَ كَبابِهِ الزَّلَلُ

27 . One who acts hastily is bestridden by blame.

27 ـ مَنْ رَكِبَ العَجَلَ رَكِبَتْهُ المَلامَةُ

28 . There is no achievement for the hasty.

28 ـ لاإصابَةَ لِعَجُول

29 . Of all people, the one with the greatest regret and the most reproof is the hasty, rash person who is not subdued by his intellect until after his affair is lost.

29 ـ أشَدُّ النّاسِ نَدامَةً، وأكْثَرُهُمْ مَلامَةً، العَجِلُ النَّزِقُ الَّذي لايُدْرِكُهُ عَقْلُهُ، إلاّ بَعْدَ فَوْتِ أمْرِهِ

30 . Leave haste aside, for indeed the one who is hasty in matters neither attains what he seeks nor is his affair praised.

30 ـ ذَرِ العَجَلَ، فَإنَّ العَجِلَ فِي الأُمُورِ لايُدْرِكُ مَطْلَبَهُ وَلايُحْمَدُ أمْرُهُ

31 . The hasty one errs or is close to [erring].

31 ـ أخْطَأَ مُسْتَعْجِلٌ أوْ كادَ

The Denumerable

The Denumerable-المعدود

1 . Every denumerable thing can diminish.

1 ـ كُلُّ مَعْدُود مُنْتَقِصٌ