Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Dignity And Reputation

Dignity and Reputation-الأعراض

1 . Safeguard [your] reputations with wealth.

1 ـ حَصِّنُوا الأعْراضَ بِالأمْوالِ

2 . Nothing preserves reputations like turning away from vile traits and evil objectives.

2 ـ ما صانَ الأعْراضُ كَالإعْراضِ عَنِ الدَّنايا وسُوءِ الأغْراضِ

3 . Protect your reputations by spending your wealth generously.

3 ـ وَقُّوا أعْراضَكُمْ بِبَذْلِ أمْوالِكُمْ

4 . Abundance of wealth [that is attained] by the derogation of reputations is ignobility.

4 ـ وُفُورُ الأمْوالِ بِانْتِقاصِ الأعْراضِ لُؤْمٌ

5 . Plenitude of religion and dignity [that is acquired] through generously spending wealth is a sublime gift.

5 ـ وُفُورُ الدّينِ والعِرضِ بِابْتِذالِ الأمْوالِ مَوْهِبَةٌ سَنِيَّةٌ

6 . Protect your dignity with your worldly possessions and you will be honoured, do good to others and you will be served, show clemency and you will be put forward (or you will advance).

6 ـ وَقِّ عِرْضَكَ بِعَرَضِكَ تُـكْرَمْ، وتَفَضَّلْ تُخْدَمْ، واحْلُمْ تُقَدَّمْ

7 . The plenitude of dignity is [attained] through the generous spending of wealth, and the uprightness of religion is [realized] through devaluing this world.

7 ـ وُفُورُ العِرْضِ بِابْتِذالِ المالِ، وَصَلاحُ الدّينِ بِإفْسادِ الدُّنيا

8 . Nothing safeguards reputations like spending generously.

8 ـ ما حُصِّنَتِ الأعْراضُ بِمِثْلِ البَذْلِ

9 . Do not make your dignity a subject of the speech of every speaker [by engaging in shameful deeds].

9 ـ لاتَجْعَلْ عِرْضَكَ غَرَضاً لِقَوْلِ كُلِّ قائِل

10 . One who sacrifices his dignity is abased.

10 ـ مَنْ بَذَلَ عِرْضَهُ ذَلَّ

11 . One who sacrifices his dignity is humiliated.

11 ـ مَنْ بَذَلَ عِرْضَهُ حُقِّرَ

12 . One who preserves his dignity is revered.

12 ـ مَنْ صانَ عِرْضَهُ وُقِّرَ

13 . Whoever considers his dignity to be precious, money has of little value for him.

13 ـ مَنْ كَرُمَ عَلَيْهِ عِرْضُهُ هانَ عَلَيْهِ المالُ

Cognizance

Cognizance-المعرفة

1 . Cognizance is perplexity and being devoid of it is dim-sightedness.

1 ـ اَلمَعْرِفَةُ دَهَشٌ، والخُلُوُّ مِنْها غَطَشٌ

2 . The most excellent cognizance is the human being’s cognizance of himself.

2 ـ أفْضَلُ المَعْرِفَةِ، مَعْرِفَةُ الإنْسانِ نَفْسَهُ

3 . Of all the people, the most cognizant of himself is the most fearful of his Lord.

3 ـ أكْثَرُ النّاسِ مَعْرِفَةً لِنَفْسِهِ أخْوَفُهُمْ لِرَبِّهِ

4 . The person most cognizant of his age is the one who is not astonished by its events.

4 ـ أعْرَفُ النّاسِ بِالزَّمانِ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَعَجَّبْ مِنْ أحْداثِهِ

5 . Cognizance is the light of the heart.

5 ـ اَلمَعْرِفَةُ نُورُ القَلْبِ

6 . Cognizance is the successful attainment of [purification and] the sacred.

6 ـ اَلمَعْرِفَةُ اَلفَوْزُ بِالقُدْسِ

7 . Cognizance is the evidence of excellence (or nobility).

7 ـ اَلمَعْرِفَةُ بُرْهانُ الفَضْلِ(النُّبْلِ ).

8 . The fruit of cognizance is becoming averse to the evanescent abode.

8 ـ ثَمَرَةُ المََعْرِفَةِ العُزُوفُ عَنْ دارِ الفَناءِ

9 . Many a cognizance leads to misguidance.

9 ـ رُبَّ مَعْرِفَة أدَّتْ إلى تَضليل

10 . Allah is known by the revocation of resolutions, the undoing of binds and the relieving of hardship and affliction from the one whose intention is sincere.

10 ـ عُرِفَ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ بِفَسْخِ العَزائِمِ، وحَلِّ العُقُودِ وكَشْفِ الضُّـرِّ، وَالبَلِيَّةِ عَمَّنْ أخْلَصَ لَهُ النِّيَّةَ

11 . The pinnacle of cognizance is fear [of Allah].

11 ـ غايَةُ المَعْرِفَةِ اَلخَشْيَةُ

12 . The pinnacle of cognizance is for a person to know himself.

12 ـ غايَةُ المَعْرِفَةِ أنْ يَعْرِفَ المَرْءُ نَفْسَهُ

13 . It is a sufficient cognizance for a person to know himself.

13 ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ مَعْرِفَةً أنْ يَعْرِفَ نَفْسَهُ

14 . The conception of cognizance is through learning knowledge.

14 ـ لِقاحُ المَعْرِفَةِ دِراسَةُ العِلْمِ

15 . One whose cognizance is sound, his soul and his endeavour turns away from the evanescent world.

15 ـ مَنْ صَحَّتْ مَعْرِفَتُهُ اِنْصَرَفَتْ عَنِ العالَمِ الفاني نَفْسُهُ وَهِمَّتُهُ

16 . The cognizance of a scholar is the devoutness through which Allah is worshipped, through it the human being gains obedience in his lifetime and a beautiful remembrance after his death.

16 ـ مَعْرِفَةُ العالِمِ دينٌ يُدانُ، بِهِ يَكْسِبُ الإنْسانُ الطّاعَةَ في حَياتِهِ، وَجَميلَ الأُحْدُوثَةِ بَعْدَ وَفاتِهِ

17 . The smallest amount of cognizance leads to disinclination towards worldly pleasures (or corruption of one’s actions1 ).

17 ـ يَسيرُ المَعْرِفَةِ يُوجِبُ الزُّهْدَ (فَسادَ العَمَلِ) في الدُّنيا

18 . Meeting the people of cognizance is a means of strengthening the hearts and benefitting of wisdom.

18 ـ لِقاءُ أهْلِ المَعْرِفَةِ عِمارَةُ القُلُوبِ ومُسْتَفادُ الحِكْمَةِ

19 . One who is cognizant, refrains [from the forbidden].

19 ـ مَنْ عَرَفَ كَفَّ

20 . It behoves the one who knows Allah, the Glorified, to desire that which is with Him.

20 ـ يَنْبَغي لِمَنْ عَرَفَ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ أنْ يَرْغَبَ فيما لَدَيْهِ

21 . One who is cognizant of Allah, the Glorified, will never become wretched.

21 ـ مَنْ عَرَفَ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ لَمْ يَشْقَ أبَداً

22 . One who relies on personal opinion and analogy in trying to know Allah goes astray and matters become confusing for him.

22 ـ مَنِ اعْتَمَدَ عَلَى الرَّأْيِ والقِياسِ في مَعْرِفَةِ اللّهِ ضَلَّ، وتَشَعَّبَتْ عَلَيْهِ الأُمُورُ

23 . Cognizance of Allah, the Glorified, is the highest cognizance.

23 ـ مَعْرِفَةُ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ أعْلَى المَعارِفِ

24 . It behoves the one who is cognizant of Allah, the Glorified, not to make his heart devoid of hope in Him and fear of Him.

24 ـ يَنْبَغي لِمَنْ عَرَفَ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ أنْ لايَخْلُوَ قَلْبُهُ مِنْ رَجائِهِ وَخَوْفِهِ

25 . One who knows Allah believes in his oneness.2

25 ـ مَنْ عَرَفَ اللّهَ تَوَحَّدَ

26 . Whoever knows Allah, his cognizance is complete.

26 ـ مَنْ عَرَفَ اللّهَ كَمُلَتْ مَعْرِفَتُهُ

Notes

1. It is possible that the actions are corrupted because the cognizance is only little and thus incomplete.

2. Or: One who knows Allah opts to remain alone.

The Cognizant

The Cognizant-العارف

1 . Every cognizant one is sorrowful.

1 ـ كُلُّ عارِف مَهْمُومٌ

2 . Every cognizant one is averse [to the temporary pleasures of this world].

2 ـ كُلُّ عارِف عائِفٌ

3 . How can one know others when he is ignorant of himself?!

3 ـ كَيْفَ يَعْرِفُ غَيْرَهُ مَنْ يَجْهَلُ نَفْسَهُ؟ !

4 . The cognizant one is he who knows his soul and thus frees it and purifies it from all that distances it [from the Truth] and destroys it.

4 ـ اَلعارِفُ مَنْ عَرَفَ نَفْسَهُ فَأَعْتَقَها، ونَزَّهَها عَنْ كُلِّ ما يُبَعِّدُها وَيُوبِقُها

5 . The face of the cognizant one is cheerful and smiling while his heart is fearful and sad.

5 ـ اَلعارِفُ وَجْهُهُ مُسْتَبْشِرٌ مُتَبَسِّمٌ، وقَلْبُهُ وَجِلٌ مَحْزُونٌ

Glory And The Honoured One

Glory and the Honored One-العزّة والعزيز

1 . One who is given honour by Allah cannot be humiliated by any king.

1 ـ مَنْ تَعزَّزَ بِاللّهِ لَمْ يُذِلَّهُ سُلْطانٌ

2 . One who seeks honour through [anyone] other than Allah is abased.

2 ـ مَنِ اعْتَزَّ بِغَيْرِ اللّهِ ذَلَّ

3 . One who seeks glory through [anyone] other than Allah is destroyed by [the] glory.

3 ـ مَنِ اعْتَزَّ بِغَيْرِ اللّهِ أهْلَكَهُ العِزُّ

4 . One who seeks glory without having any right to it gets humiliated.

4 ـ مَنْ يَطْلُبِ العِزَّ بِغَيْرِ حَقّ يَذِلُّ

5 . One who seeks glory through [anything] other than truth, Allah humiliates him with [the] truth.

5 ـ مَنِ اعْتَزَّ بِغَيْرِ الحَقِّ أذَلَّهُ اللّهُ بِالحَقِّ

6 . There is no glory except through obedience [to Allah].

6 ـ لاعِزَّ إلاّ بِالطّاعَةِ

7 . The honoured is the one who becomes honoured through obedience [to Allah].

7 ـ اَلعَزيزُ مَنِ اعْتَزَّ بِالطّاعَةِ

8 . When you seek glory, then seek it through obedience [to Allah].

8 ـ إذا طَلَبْتَ العِزَّ فَاطْلُبْهُ بِالطّاعَةِ

9 . He whose neighbours are abased is not honoured.1

9 ـ ما عَزَّ مَنْ ذَلَّ جيرانُهُ

10 . Glory is the attainment of [the power to exact] revenge.

10 ـ اَلعِزُّ إدْراكُ الاِنْتِصارِ

11 . Every glory that is not endorsed by religion is a humiliation.

11 ـ كُلُّ عِزّ لايُؤَيِّدُهُ دينٌ مَذَلَّةٌ

Notes

1. Or: One who humiliates his neighbours is not honoured.

Seclusion

Seclusion-الاِعتزال

1 . In seclusion from the worldly people there is accumulation of goodness.

1 ـ فِي اعْتِزالِ أبْناءِ الدُّنيا جِماعُ الصَّلاحِ

2 . One who secludes [from the people] himself remains safe.

2 ـ مَنِ اعْتَزَلَ سَلِمَ

3 . One who tests [the people who love this world] secludes himself [from them].

3 ـ مَنِ اخْتَبـَرَ اِعْتَزَلَ

4 . One who secludes himself, his indifference towards the pleasures of this world becomes strong.

4 ـ مَنِ اعْتَزَلَ حَسُنَتْ زَهادَتُهُ

5 . Whoever secludes himself, his piety remains safeguarded?

5 ـ مَنِ اعْتَزَلَ سَلِمَ وَرَعُهُ

6 . One who secludes himself from the people is safe from their evil.

6 ـ مَنِ اعْتَزَلَ النّاسَ سَلِمَ مِنْ شَرِّهِمْ

7 . How good a worship seclusion is!

7 ـ نِعْمَ العِبادَةُ العُزْلَةُ

8 . One who isolates himself from the people preserves his religion.

8 ـ مَنِ انْفَرَدَ عَنِ النّاسِ صانَ دينَهُ

9 . One who isolates himself from the people becomes intimate with Allah, the Glorified.

9 ـ مَنِ انْفَرَدَ عَنِ النّاسِ أَنِسَ بِاللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ

10 . Safety is in solitude.

10 ـ اَلسَّلامَةُ فِي التَّفَرُّدِ

11 . Solitude is the comfort of the worshippers.

11 ـ اَلاِنْفِرادُ راحَةُ المُتَعَبِّدينَ

12 . One who isolates himself is spared from sorrows.

12 ـ مَنِ انْفَرَدَ كُفِيَ الأحْزانَ

13 . Continuous solitude is safer than mingling with the people.

13 ـ مُداوَمَةُ الوَحْدَةِ أسْلَمُ مِنْ خُلْطَةِ النّاسِ

14 . Seclusion is the best (or the fortification of) piety.

14 ـ اَلعُزْلَةُ حُسْنُ (حِصْنُ)التَّقْوى

15 . Seclusion is the best trait of the sagacious.

15 ـ اَلعُزْلَةُ أفْضَلُ شِيَمِ الأكْياسِ

Resolve

Resolve-العزم

1 . Whoever reveals his decision [to others], his judiciousness gets nullified.

1 ـ مَنْ أظْهَرَ عَزْمَهُ بَطَلَ حَزْمُهُ

2 . Whoever resolves to do evil, his arrow returns to him.

2 ـ مَنْ ساءَ عَزْمُهُ رَجَعَ عَلَيْهِ سَهْمُهُ

4 . Do not resolve upon that in which you find no clear guidance.

3 ـ لاتَعْزِمْ عَلى مالَمْ تَسْتَبِنِ الرُّشْدَ فيهِ

5 . There is no good in [making a] resolution without determination.1

4 ـ لاخَيْرَ في عَزْم بِلا حَزْم

Notes

1. Or: There is no good in making a decision without prudence.

Adversity

Adversity-العسر

1 . Adversity degrades morals and alienates friends.

1 ـ اَلعُسْرُ يَشينُ الأخْلاقَ، وَيُوحِشُ الرِّفاقَ

2 . Adversity is a reproach.

2 ـ العُسْرُ لُؤْمٌ

3 . Adversity corrupts morals.

3 ـ اَلعُسْرُ يُفْسِدُ الأخْلاقَ

Social Interaction And Mingling

Social Interaction and mingling-العشرة والخلطه

1 . ocial interaction with people of merits is enlivening for the hearts.

1 ـ مُعاشَرَةُ ذَوِي الفَضائِلِ حَياةُ القُلُوبِ

2 . Let not your family or those whom you love be the most miserable of people because of you.

2 ـ لايَكُنْ أهْلُكَ وذُو وُدِّكَ (ذُوُوكَ)أشْقَى النّاسِ بِكَ

3 . Do not alienate a person whose separation will harm you.

3 ـ لاتُوحِشَنَّ امْرَءً يَسُوءُكَ فِراقُهُ

4 . The one who mingles with people is afflicted by the evil associate and the hypocrisy of the enemy.

4 ـ يُبْتَلى مُخالِطُ النّاسِ بِقَرينِ السُّوءِ، ومداجاةِ العَدُوِّ

5 . Preserve [the respect of others] and your respect will be preserved.

5 ـ أبْقِ يُبْقَ عَلَيْكَ

6 . Mix sternness with gentleness, and be gentle as long as gentleness is more befitting.

6 ـ اِخْلِطِ الشِدَّةَ بِرِفْق، وارْفُقْ ما كانَ الرِّفْقُ أوْفَقَ

7 . Imbibe your heart with mercy for all the people and kindness towards them, and do not oppress them or be [like] a sword over them.

7 ـ أَشْعِرْ قَلْبَكَ الرَّحْمَةَ لَجَميعِ النّاسِ والإحْسانِ إلَيْهِمْ، وَلاتُنِلْهُمْ حَيْفاً، وَلاتَـكُنْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَيْفاً

8 . Remember you brother who is absent in the same way that which you would like him to remember you [in your absence] and keep away from what he dislikes; and disregard from him that which you would like him to disregard from you.

8 ـ أُذْكُرْ أخاكَ إذا غابَ بِالَّذي تُحِبُّ أنْ يَذْكُرَكَ بِهِ وإيّاكَ وَما يَكْرَهُ، وَدَعْهُ مِمّا تُحِبُّ أنْ يَدَعَكَ مِنْهُ

9 . Loathe from yourself what you loathe from others and like for people what you like for yourself.

9 ـ إسْتَقْبِـحْ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ ما تَسْتَقْبِحُهُ مِنْ غَيْرِكَ، وارْضَ لِلنّاسِ بِما تَرْضاهُ لِنَفْسِكَ

10 . Reduced mingling preserves religion and relieves one from having to associate with wicked people.

10 ـ قِلَّةُ الخُلْطَةِ تَصُونُ الدّينَ، وتُريحُ مِنْ مُقارَنَةِ الأشْرارِ

11 . Be equitable to people over yourself, your family, your near ones and those from whom you desire something, and be just with both enemy and friend.

11 ـ أنْصِفِ النّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ، وأهْلِكَ، وَخاصَّتِكَ، ومَنْ لَكَ فيهِ هَوًى، وأعْدِلْ فِي العَدُوِّ والصَّدِيقِ

12 . Be friendly with the one who is friendly with you, accept the excuse of the one who seeks your pardon and do good to the one who wrongs you.

12 ـ أجْمِلْ إدْلالَ مَنْ أدَلَّ عَلَيْكَ، واقْبَلْ عُذْرَ مَنِ اعْتَذَرَ إلَيْكَ، وأحْسِنْ إلى مَنْ أساءَ إلَيْكَ

13 . Guard well the sanctities [of such things that are sacrosanct] and draw near to the people of magnanimity, for indeed guarding the sanctities [and boundaries] demonstrates an honourable character and drawing near to the magnanimous indicates nobility of purpose.

13 ـ أحْسِن رِعايَةَ الحُرُماتِ، وأقْبِلْ عَلى أهْلِ المُرُوءاتِ، فَإنَّ رِعايَةَ الحُرُماتِ تَدُلُّ عَلى كَرَمِ الشِّيمَةِ، والإقبالَ عَلى ذَوِى المُرُوءاتِ يُعْرِبُ عَنْ شَرَفِ الهِمَّةِ

14 . Be merciful to the one who is under you and the one who is above you will be merciful to you; compare his forgetfulness with your forgetfulness and his disobedience with your disobedience to you Lord, and his need of your mercy to your need of the mercy of your Lord.

14 ـ اِرْحَمْ مَنْ دُونَكَ يَرْحَمْكَ مَنْ فَوْقَكَ وَقِسْ سَهْوَهُ بِسَهْوِكَ ومَعْصِيَتَهُ لَكَ بِمَعْصِيَتِكَ لِرَبِّكَ وفَقْرَهُ إلى رَحْمَتِكَ بِفَقْرِكَ إلى رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ

15 . Cling to the people of virtue and piety, and request them not compliment you, for indeed excessive praise brings one close to being deceived [about his true status] and being pleased with it causes the displeasure of Allah.

15 ـ اِلْصَقْ بِأهْلِ الخَيْرِ والوَرَعِ، وَرَضِّهِمْ عَلى أنْ لايُطْرُوكَ، فَإنَّ كَثْرَةَ الإطْراءِ تُدْني مِنَ الغِرَّةِ، والرِّضا بِذلِكَ يُوجِبُ مِنَ اللّهِ المَقْتَ

16 . Make your self a gauge between you and the other; love for him what you love for your self, and hate for him what you hate for it, and do good as you would like good to be done to you, and do not oppress just as you would like not to be oppressed.

16 ـ اِجْعَلْ نَفْسَكَ ميزاناً بَيْنَكَ وبَيْنَ غَيْرِكَ، وأحِبَّ لَهُ ما تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ، واكْرَهْ لَهُ ما تَـكْرَهُ لَها، وأحْسِنْ كَما تُحِبُّ أنْ يُحْسَنَ إلَيْكَ، ولاتَظْلِمْ كَما تُحِبُّ أنْ لاتُظْلَمَ

17 . Associate with people in the way that you would like them to associate with you, [by doing this] you will be safe from them and they will be safe from you.

17 ـ إصْحَبِ النّاسَ بِما تُحِبُّ أنْ يَصْحَبُوكَ تَأمَنْهُمْ ويَأمَنُوكَ

18 . Keep away from socializing with evil people for they are like fire - the one who comes in contact with it gets burnt.

18 ـ إيّاكَ ومُعاشَرَةَ الأشْرارِ، فَإنَّهُمْ كَالنّارِ مُباشَرَتُها تُحْرِقُ

19 . Keep away from socializing with those who look for the faults (or sins) of people, for indeed even their companion is not safe from them.

19 ـ إيّاكَ وَمُعاشَرَةَ مُتَتَبِّعي عُيُوبِ (الذُّنُوبِ) النّاسِ،فَإنَّهُ لَمْ يَسْلَمْ مُصاحِبُهُمْ مِنْهُمْ

20 . Be sure to keep away from that which angers your Lord and alienates people from you, for the one who angers his Lord is faced with annihilation and one who alienates people renounces freedom.

20 ـ إيّاكَ وما يُسْخِطُ رَبَّكَ، ويُوحِشُ النّاسَ مِنْكَ، فَمَنْ أسْخَطَ رَبَّهُ تَعَرَّضَ لِلْمَنِيَّةِ، ومَنْ أوْحَشَ النّاسَ تَـبَرَّأ مِنَ الحُرِّيَّةِ

21 . Be careful to keep away from turning your backs on each other, cutting off ties with each other, and abandoning the enjoining of good and prohibiting of evil [with respect to one another].

21 ـ إيّاكُمْ والتَّدابُـرَ، والتَّقاطُعَ، وتَرْكَ الأمْرِ بِالمَعْرُوفِ، والنَّهيِ عَنِ المُنْكَرِ

22 . The most deserving of those whom you love is the one who does not forsake you.

22 ـ أوْلى مَنْ أحْبَبْتَ مَنْ لايَقْلاكَ

23 . The most equitable conduct is for you to deal with people in the way you would like them to deal with you.

23 ـ أعْدَلُ السيرَةِ أنْ تُعامِلَ النّاسَ بِما تُحِبُّ أنْ يُعامِلُوكَ بِهِ

24 . The most unjust conduct is for you to seek equity from people while not dealing with them in the same way.

24 ـ أجْوَرُ السِّيرَةِ أنْ تَنْتَصِفَ مِنَ النّاسِ ولاتُعامِلَهُمْ بِهِ

25 . The most worthy of those whom you love is he whose benefit is for you and whose harm is for other than you.

25 ـ أحَقُّ مَنْ أحْبَبْتَهُ مَنْ نَفْعُهُ لَكَ وضَرُّهُ لِغَيْرِكَ

26 . Verily the best outward appearance [and demeanour] is that which makes you mingle with people and beautifies you among them and restrains their tongues from [speaking ill of] you.

26 ـ إنَّ أحْسَنَ الزِّىِّ ما خَلَطَكَ بِالنَّاسِ، وَجَمَّلَكَ بَيْنَهُمْ، وكَفَّ ألْسِنَـتَهُمْ عَنْكَ

27 . Make others incline towards you instead of distancing themselves from you.

27 ـ أقِمِ الرَّغْبَةَ إلَيْكَ مَقامَ الحُرْمَةِ بِكَ

28 . Man is the son of his time.1

28 ـ اَلْمَرْءُ اِبْنُ ساعَتِهِ

29 . Through good social interaction, affection lasts.

29 ـ بِحُسْنِ العِشْرَةِ تَدُومُ المَوَدَّةُ

30 . Through good social interaction friendships become intimate.

30 ـ بِحُسْنِ العِشْرَةِ تَأْنَسُ الرِّفاقُ

31 . By good social interaction ties (or companionship) last.

31 ـ بِحُسْنِ العِشْـرَةِ تَدُومُ الوُصْلَةُ (الصُحْبَةُ ).

32 . How evil an associate the spiteful person is!

32 ـ بِئسَ العَشيرُ الحَقُودُ

33 . Good social interaction causes affection to endure.

33 ـ حُسْنُ العِشْرَةِ يَسْتَديمُ المَوَدَّةَ

34 . Interact with people through their [norms of] etiquette but separate yourself from them in [your] actions.

34 ـ خالِقُوا النّاسَ بِأخْلاقِهِمْ وزايِلُوهُمْ فِي الأعْمالِ

35 . Interact with people in such a way that when you die, they weep over you and when you are absent, they yearn for your company.

35 ـ خالِطُوا النّاسَ مُخالَطَةً، إنْ مِتُّمْ بَكَوْا عَلَيْكُمْ وإنْ غِبْتُمْ حَنُّوا إلَيْكُمْ

36 . Interact with people through your tongues and your bodies, but part from them with your hearts and your actions.

36 ـ خالِطُوا النّاسَ بِألْسِنَتِكُمْ وأجْسادِكُمْ، وزايِلُوهُمْ بِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَأعْمالِكُمْ

37 . Many an associate is not a close friend.

37 ـ رُبَّ عَشير غَيْرُ حَبيب

38 . It is in times of trial that a man is [either] honoured or disgraced.

38 ـ عِنْدَ الاِمْتِحانِ يُكْرَمُ الرَّجُلِ أَوْيُهانُ

39 . Associate with the people of excellence and you will gain felicity and nobility.

39 ـ عاشِرْ أهْلَ الفَضْلِ تَسْعَدْ وتَنْبُلْ

40 . The development of the hearts is in socializing with people of intellect.

40 ـ عِمارَةُ القُلُوبِ في مُعاشَرَةِ ذَوِى العُقُولِ

41 . Cutting off [ties with] the ignorant is equivalent to establishing ties with the intelligent.

41 ـ قَطيعَةُ الجاهِلِ تَعْدِلُ صِلَةَ العاقِلِ

42 . The intelligent person [only] cuts off ties with you after failing to find any other way out.

42 ـ قَطيعَةُ العاقِلِ لَكَ بَعْدَ نَفاذِ الحيلَةِ فيكَ

43 . Get closer to the people in their morals and you will be safe from their malice [and evil].

43 ـ قارِبِ النّاسَ في أخْلاقِهِمْ تَأمَنْ غَوائِلَهُمْ

44 . Having many acquaintances is a tribulation, and socializing with the people is an ordeal.

44 ـ كَثْرَةُ المَعارِفِ مِحْنَةٌ، وخُلْطَةُ النّاسِ فِتْنَةٌ

45 . One whose social interaction increases, his piety (or reliability) decreases.

45 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَتْ خُلْطَتُهُ قَلَّتْ تَقِيَّتُهُ (ثِقَتُهُ ).

46 . One who mingles with the people is affected by their devices.

46 ـ مَنْ خالَطَ النّاسَ نالَهُ مَكْرُهُمْ

47 . Whoever mingles with the people, his piety decreases?

47 ـ مَنْ خالَطَ النّاسَ قَلَّ وَرَعُهُ

48 . One whose social interaction is good, his brother’s increase.

48 ـ مَنْ حَسُنَتْ عِشْرَتُهُ كَثُرَ إخْوانُهُ

49 . One who deals leniently with people enjoys [and benefits from] their company.

49 ـ مَنْ عامَلَ النَّاسَ بِالمُسامَحَةِ اِسْتَمْتَعَ بِصُحْبَتِهِمْ

50 . One whose being alive is not beneficial to you, then count him among the dead.

50 ـ مَنْ لَمْ تَنْفَعْكَ حَياتُهُ فَعُدَّهُ فِي المَوْتى

51 . Be good in your interactions, be patient in difficulties and be equitable when you have power.

51 ـ أحْسِنِ العِشْرَةَ، واصْبِرْ عَلَى العُسْرَةِ، وأنْصِفْ مَعَ القُدْرَةِ

52 . Be pleased for [other] people with that which pleases you, then you will be a [true] Muslim.

52 ـ اِرْضَ للنّاسِ بِما تَرْضاهُ لِنَفْسِكَ، تَكُنْ مُسْلِماً

Notes

1. Meaning that he is bound to follow the ways of the people of his time (and this is acceptable as long as it is not against the commandments of Allah).

The Lover

The Lover-العاشق

1 . Desires have rent asunder his intellect and killed his heart while his mind is infatuated with them.

1 ـ قَدْ خَرَقَتِ الشَّهَواتُ عَقْلَهُ، وأماتَتْ قَلْبَهُ، ووَلَّهَتْ عَلَيْها نَفْسَهُ

Seeking Protection From Allah

Seeking protection from Allah-الاِعتصام باللّه

1 . Whoever seeks protection from Allah, He saves him.

1 ـ مَنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِاللّهِ نَجّاهُ

2 . One who seeks protection from Allah is not harmed by Satan.

2 ـ مَنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِاللّهِ لَمْ يَضُـرَّهُ شَيْطانٌ

3 . Whoever clings to Allah, his wish is fulfilled [and his goal is achieved].

3 ـ مَنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِاللّهِ عَزَّ مَطْلَبُهُ

4 . Entrust your soul, in all your affairs, to your Lord, for indeed [by your so doing] you are turning to a secure refuge.

4 ـ اَلْجِئْ نَفْسَكَ فِي الأُمُورِ كُلِّها إلى إلهِكَ، فَإنَّكَ تُلْجِئُها إلى كَهْف حَريز

5 . Seek protection with Allah in all situations, for indeed you will be clinging to One, Glorified be He, who is a powerful protector.

5 ـ اِعْتَصِمْ في أحْوالِكَ كُلِّها بِاللّهِ، فَإنَّكَ تَعْتَصِمُ مِنْهُ سُبْحانَهُ بِمانِع عَزيز

6 . You must seek protection from Allah in all your affairs, for indeed this is a [means of] protection from everything.

6 ـ عَلَيْكَ بِالاِعْتِصامِ بِاللّهِ في كُلِّ أُمُورِكَ، فَإنَّها عِصْمَةٌ مِنْ كُلِّ شَـيْء

Preserving Oneself From Sin

Preserving oneself from sin-العصمة والإعتصام

1 . Preserving oneself from sin is a blessing.

1 ـ اَلعِصْمَةُ نِعْمَةٌ

2 . One who is inspired with preservation [from sin] is saved from error.

2 ـ مَنْ أُلْهِمَ العِصْمَةَ أمِنَ الزَّلَلَ

3 . Being unable to sin is [also] a form of preservation [against sin].

3 ـ مِنَ العِصْمَةِ تَعَذُّرُ المَعاصي

Destruction And Damage

Destruction and damage-العَطَب والمعاطب

1 . Sometimes there is destruction is under what is sought.

1 ـ رُبَّ عَطَب تَحْتَ طَلَب

2 . Embarking on acts that lead to [places of] destruction is the symbol of foolishness.

2 ـ رُكُوبُ المَعاطِبِ عُنْوانُ الحَماقَةِ

3 . Many a person is destroyed after having remained safe [and survived a disaster].

3 ـ رُبَّ عاطِب بَعْدَ السَّلامَةِ

Empathy

Empathy-العواطِف

1 . One whose empathy (or kind acts) increases, his acquaintances increases.

1 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَتْ عَواطِفُهُ (عَوارِفُهُ) كَثُرَتْ مَعارِفُهُ