Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Opportunity And Its Loss

Opportunity and its loss-الفرصة وفوتها

1 . Not everything that has gone comes back.

1 ـ لَيْسَ كُلُّ غائِب يَؤُُوُبُ

2 . One who takes advantage of [unexpected] opportunities remains safe from distress.

2 ـ مَنْ غافَصَ الفُرَصَ أمِنَ الغُصَصَ

3 . Whoever finds a place where sweet water enters and he can quench his thirst with it but does not take advantage of it, he will soon feel thirsty and seek it, but will not find it.

3 ـ مَنْ وَجَدَ مَوْرِداً عَذْباً يَرْتَوي مِنْهُ فَلَمْ يَغْتَنِمْهُ يُوشِكُ أنْ يَظْمَأَ ويَطْلُبَهُ فَلا يَجِدُهُ

4 . Many a lost thing is such that it cannot be regained.

4 ـ رُبَّ فائِت لايُدْرَكُ لِحاقُهُ

5 . It may be that he who strives and acts quickly is saved [and succeeds] while the slow seeker [only] hopes [to attain it in the future].

5 ـ رُبَّ ساع سَريع نَجا، وطالِب بَطيء رَجا

6 . The return of an opportunity [that is lost] is far off and unlikely.

6 ـ عَوْدُ الفُرْصَةِ بَعيدٌ مَرامُها

7 . Seize the opportunity when it arises, for indeed you will not get it [again] after you lose it.

7 ـ غافِصِ الفُرْصَةَ عِنْدَ إمْكانِها فَإنَّكَ غَيْرُ مُدْرِكِها بَعْدَ فَوْتِها

8 . Breathe before the necks are strangled, and yield before being driven violently.

8 ـ تَنَفَّسُوا قَبْلَ ضيقِ الخِناقِ، وانْقادُوا قَبْلَ عُنْفِ السِّياقِ

9 . Take the respite of the days, protect the boundaries of Islam, and anticipate the sudden attack of death.

9 ـ خُذُوا مَهَلَ الأيّامِ، وحُوطُواْ قَواصِيَ الإسْلامِ، وبادِرُوا هُجُومَ الحِمامِ

10 . May Allah have mercy on the one who takes the benefit of respite [and opportunity], hastens towards good deeds and cowers out of fear [of Allah].

10 ـ رَحِمَ اللّهُ امْرَءاً إغْتَنَمَ المَهَلَ، وبادَرَ العَمَلَ، وأَكْمَشَ مِنْ وَجَل

11 . Opportunity is quick to pass on and slow to return.

11 ـ اَلفُرْصَةُ سَريعَةُ الفَوْتِ، وبَطيئَةُ العَوْدِ

12 . The [passing of] hours diminishes lifetimes and bring [one] closer to annihilation.

12 ـ السّاعاتُ تَخْتَرِمُ الأعْمارَ، وتُدْنِي مِنَ البَوارِ

13 . Arrange an abode for yourself before your descent and prepare the dwelling before your arrival.

13 ـ اِرْتَدْ لِنَفْسِكَ قَبْلَ يَوْمِ نُزُولِكَ، ووَطِّ المَنْزِلَ قَبْلَ حُلُولِكَ

14 . Make your time of comfort a [means of] preparation for the days of your tribulation.

14 ـ اِجْعَل زَمانَ رَخائِكَ عُدَّةً لأيّامِ بَلائِكَ

15 . Opportunities are things that are [meant to be] seized.

15 ـ اَلفُرَصُ خُلَسٌ

16 . Loss [of opportunities] are [a cause of] distress.

16 ـ اَلفَوْتُ غُصَصٌ

17 . Opportunity is a booty.

17 ـ اَلفُرْصَةُ غُنْمٌ

18 . Loss [of opportunity leads to] burning regrets.

18 ـ اَلفَوْتُ حَسَراتٌ مُحْرِقاتٌ

19 . The lost [opportunity] does not return.

19 ـ اَلفائِتُ لايَعُودُ

20 . Losing an opportunity is distressful.

20 ـ إضاعَةُ الفُرْصَةِ غُصَّةٌ

21 . Times of happiness are short-lived.

21 ـ أوْقاتُ السُّرُورِ خُلْسَةٌ

22 . Opportunities pass by like the passing of clouds.

22 ـ اَلفُرَصُ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحابِ

23 . When what you want does not happen, then want what happens [and be satisfied with it].

23 ـ إذا لَمْ يَكُنْ ما تُريدُ فَأَرِدْ ما يَكُونُ

24 . When the opportunity arises, then seize it, for indeed wasting an opportunity leads to distress.

24 ـ إذا أمْكَنَتِ الفُرْصَةُ فَانْتَهِزْها، فَإنَّ إضاعَةَ الفُرْصَةِ غُصَّةٌ

25 . Seize good opportunities, for indeed they pass by [quickly] like the passing of clouds.

25 ـ اِنْتَهِزُوا فُرَصَ الخَيْرِ فَإنَّها تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحابِ

26 . The greatest distress is [caused by] loss of opportunities.

26 ـ أشَدُّ الغُصَصِ فَوْتُ الفُرَصِ

27 . Verily that which has passed from your day has gone, and that which remains from it is not certain, so take advantage of your [present] time by performing [good] actions.

27 ـ إنَّ ماضِيَ يَوْمِكَ مُنْتَقِلٌ، وباقِيَهُ مُتَّهِمٌ، فَاغْتَنِمْ وَقْتَكَ بِالعَمَلِ

28 . Verily opportunities pass away [quickly] like the clouds, so seize them when they arise in the gates of good, otherwise they will turn into regrets.

28 ـ إنَّ الفُرَصَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحابِ فَانْتَهِزُوها إذا أمْكَنَتْ في أبْوابِ الخَيْرِ وَإلاّ عادَتْ نَدَماً

29 . The fruit of loss [of opportunity] is regret.

29 ـ ثَمَرَةُ الفَوْتِ نَدامَةٌ

30 . For everything there is a passing away.

30 ـ لِكُلِّ شَيْء فَوْتٌ

31 . With loss there is regret.

31 ـ مَعَ الفَوْتِ تَكُونُ الحَسْرَةُ

32 . There is no regret like loss [of an opportunity].

32 ـ لاحَسْرَةَ كَالفَوْتِ

33 . Preparation does not benefit when the time has elapsed.

33 ـ لاتَنْفَعُ العُدَّةُ إذا مَا انْقَضَتِ المُدَّةُ

34 . What has passed of your day is lost, what is to come is uncertain; your time is a blessing, so make haste in it while you have the opportunity, and beware of relying on the future.

34 ـ ماضي يَوْمِكَ فائِتٌ، وآتيهِ مُتَّهَمْ، ووَقْتُكَ مُغْتَنَمٌ، فَبادِرْ فيهِ فُرْصَةَ الإمْكانِ، وإيّاكَ أنْ تَثِقَ بِالزَّمانِ

35 . In loss [of opportunity] there is regret and (or) blame.

35 ـ فِي الفَوْتِ حَسْرَةٌ و(أوْ)مَلامَةٌ

36 . In every moment there is loss.

36 ـ في كُلِّ وَقْت فَوْتٌ

37 . At times an opportunity may arise.1

37 ـ قَدْ تُصابُ الفُرْصَةُ

38 . You will never attain that which has been taken away from you so be moderate in your acquisition.

38 ـ لَنْ تُدْرِكَ ما زُوِيَ عَنْكَ فَأجْمِلْ فِي المُكْتَسَبِ

39 . Not every opportunity can be realized.

39 ـ لَيْسَ كُلُّ فُرْصَة تُصابُ

40 . One who lets an opportunity pass by is crippled by its loss.

40 ـ مَنْ قَعَدَ عَنِ الفُرْصَةِ أعْجَزَهُ الفَوْتُ

41 . Whoever delays taking an opportunity at the right time, then let him be sure that he will lose it.

41 ـ مَنْ أخَّرَ الفُرْصَةَ عَنْ وَقْتِها فَلْيَكُنْ عَلى ثِقَة مِنْ فَوْتِها

42 . One who seizes the opportunity is saved from distress.

42 ـ مَنْ ناهَزَ الفُرْصَةَ أمِنَ الغُصَّةَ

43 . Not everything that disappears comes back.

43 ـ ما كُلُّ غائِب يَؤُوبُ

44 . One who tarries lets [the opportunity] go.

44 ـ مَنْ تَقاعَسَ إعْتاقَ

Notes

1. Or: At times an opportunity is realized.

The Obligatory And Recommended Acts

The obligatory and recommended acts-الفرائِض والنوافل

1 . The one who seeks nearness [to Allah] by performing the obligatory and the recommended [acts], doubles his gain.

1 ـ المُتَقَرِّبُ بِأداءِ الفَرائِضِ والنَّوافِلِ مُتَضاعِفُ الأرْباحِ

2 . Verily Allah, the Glorified, has made the obligatory [acts] incumbent upon you, so do not neglect them; and has delimited boundaries for you, so do not transgress them; and has forbidden you from certain things, so do not violate them; and has remained silent about certain things, though not out of forgetfulness, so do not undertake them.

2 ـ إنَّ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَرائِضَ فَلا تُضَيِّعُوها، وحَدَّ لَكُمْ حُدُوداً فَلا تَعْتَدُوها، وَنَهاكُمْ عَنْ أشْياءَ فَلا تَنْتَهِكُوها،

وَسَكَتَ عَنْ أشْياءَ ولَمْ يَدَعْها نِسْياناً فَلا تَتَكَلَّفُوها

3 . Verily whoever busies himself with what is obligatory upon him instead of that which has been guaranteed for him, and is satisfied with what has been decreed for and against him; he will be the healthiest person in wellbeing, the most profiting from felicity and the most benefitting from happiness.

3 ـ إنَّ مَنْ شَغَلَ نَفْسَهُ بِالمَفْرُوضِ عَلَيْهِ عَنِ المَضْمُونِ لَهُ، ورَضِيَ بِالمَقْدُورِ عَلَيْهِ ولَهُ، كانَ أكْثَرَ النّاسِ سَلامَةً في عافِيَة، ورِبْحاً في غِبْطَة، وَغَنيمَةً في مَسَرَّة

4 . Verily if you were to occupy yourself with meritorious supererogatory acts instead of fulfilling the obligatory ones, then the merit you acquire will never make up for the religious obligation that you have neglected.

4 ـ إنَّكَ إنِ اشْتَغَلْتَ بِفَضائِلِ النَّوافِلِ عَنْ أداءِ الفَرائِضِ فَلَنْ يَقُومَ فَضْلٌ تَكْسِبُهُ بِفَرْض تُضَيِّعُهُ

5 . When recommended acts come in the way of obligatory actions, then abandon them.

5 ـ إذا أضَرَّتِ النَّوافِلُ بِالفَرائِضِ فَارْفُضُوها

6 . It is upon you to preserve every matter that you cannot be excused for neglecting.

6 ـ عَلَيْكَ بِحِفْظِ كُلِّ أمْر لاتُعْذَرُ بِإضاعَتِهِ

7 . Fulfilling the obligatory is from the most noble of actions.

7 ـ قَضاءُ اللَّوازِمِ مِنْ أفْضَلِ المَكارِمِ

8 . There is no worship like the performing of obligatory acts.

8 ـ لاعِبادَةَ كَأداءِ الفَرائِضِ

9 . No closeness is achieved through recommended actions if they hamper the obligatory actions.

9 ـ لاقُرْبَةَ بِالنَّوافِلِ إذا أضَرَّتْ بِالفَرائِضِ

10 . Do not perform a recommended act at the time of an obligatory one; start with the obligatory [prayer] and then pray whatever more you wish to.

10 ـ لاتَقْضِ نافِلَةً في وَقْتِ فَريضَة، إبْدَأْ بِالفَريضَةِ ثُمَّ صَلِّ ما بَدا لَكَ

Neglect

Neglect-التفريط

1 . Be wary of neglect for verily it causes censure.

1 ـ اِحْذَرُوا التَّفْريطَ فَإنَّهُ يُوجِبُ المَلامَةَ

2 . Neglect is an affliction of the capable.

2 ـ اَلتَفْريطُ مُصيبَةُ القادِرِ

3 . The fruit of neglect is censure.

3 ـ ثَمَرَةُ التَّفْريطِ مَلامَةٌ

4 . Counter neglect with judiciousness [and resoluteness].

4 ـ ضادُّوا التفْريطَ بِالحَزْمِ

Idleness

Idleness-الفَراغ

1 . From idleness comes inclination towards [vain] desire.

1 ـ مِنَ الفَراغِ تَكُونُ الصَّبْوَةُ

2 . With idleness there is inclination towards [vain] desire.

2 ـ مَعَ الفَراغِ تَكُونُ الصَّبْوَةُ

Separation And Isolation

Seperation and isolation-الفرقة والتفرقة

1 . Beware of separation [from the people], for indeed the one who is isolated from the people is [a target] for Satan.

1 ـ إيّاكَ والفُرْقَةَ، فَإنَّ الشّاذَّ مِنَ النّاسِ لِلشَّيْطانِ

2 . Beware of separation, for indeed the one who is isolated from the people of truth is [prey] for Satan just as the lonely sheep is [prey] for the wolf.

2 ـ إيّاكُمْ والفُرْقَةَ، فَإنَّ الشّاذَّ عَنْ أهْلِ الحَقِّ لِلشَّيْطانِ، كَما أنَّ الشّاذَّ مِنَ الغَنَمِ لِلذِّئْبِ

3 . The worst endeavour is separating two close friends.

3 ـ بِئْسَ السَّعْيُ اَلتَّفْرِقَةُ بَيْنَ الأليفَيْنِ

4 . For every gathering there is separation.

4 ـ لِكُلِّ جَمْع فُرْقَةٌ

5 . Remain with the community and eschew separation.

5 ـ اِلْـزَمُوا الجَماعَةَ، واجْتَنِبُوا الفُرْقَةَ

Fabrication Of Lies

Fabrication of lies-الاِفتراء

1 . Destroyed is the one who makes a [wrongful] claim, and unsuccessful is the one who fabricates [a lie].

1 ـ هَلَكَ مَنِ ادَّعى، وخابَ مَنِ افْتَرى

Corruption

Corruption-الفساد

1 . One who is pleased by corruption is displeased by the Hereafter.

1 ـ مَنْ سَرَّهُ الفَسادُ ساءَهُ المَعادُ

2 . There is no rectitude with corruption.

2 ـ لاصَلاحَ مَعَ إفْساد

3 . One who corrupts [his relationship] with Allah will not be upright with anyone.

3 ـ مَنْ فَسَدَ مَعَ اللّهِ لَمْ يَصْلُحْ مَعَ أحَد

4 . Do not corrupt the thing whose rectitude is important for you.

4 ـ لاتُفْسِدْ ما يَعْنيكَ صَلاحُهُ

Indolence And Lassitude

Indolence and lassitude-الفَشَلُ والفَتْرَة

1 . Indolence is deficiency.

1 ـ اَلفَشَلُ مَنْقَصَةٌ

2 . Cure the ailment of lassitude in your heart through determination and the slumber of negligence in your eyes through alertness.

2 ـ تَداوَمِنْ داءِ الفَتْرَةِ في قَلْبِكَ بِعَزيمَة، وَمِنْ كَرَى الْغَفْلَةِ في ناظِرِكَ بِيَقْظَة

Ignominy

Ignominy-الفضيحة

1 . The shame of ignominy embitters the sweetness of pleasure.

1 ـ عارُ الفَضيحَةِ يُكَدِّرُ حَلاوَةَ اللَّذَّةِ

Virtues And Vices

Virtues and vices-الفضائل والرَّذائِل

1 . Compel yourself to [acquire] virtues, for indeed you have a natural propensity for vices.

1 ـ أكْرِهْ نَفْسَكَ عَلَى الفَضائِلِ، فَإنَّ الرَّذائِلَ أنْتَ مَطْبُوعٌ عَلَيْها

2 . Ascending towards virtues is a hardship that saves.

2 ـ اَلاِرْتِقاءُ إلَى الفَضائِلِ صَعْبٌ مُنـْج

3 . Your knowledge conveys your merit and your generosity tells of your kindness.

3 ـ يُنْبِئُ عَنْ فَضْلِكَ عِلْمُكَ وعَنْ إفْضالِكَ بَذْلُكَ

4 . When you keep away from the forbidden, refrain from that which you are unsure about, fulfil that which is obligatory and perform the acts that are recommended, then you have perfected the virtues of faith.

4 ـ إذَا اتَّقَيْتَ المُحَرماتِ، وتَوَرَّعْتَ عَنِ الشُّبَهاتِ وأدَّيْتَ المَفْرُوضاتِ، وَتَنَفَّلْتَ بِالنَّوافِلِ فَقَدْ أكْمَلْتَ فِي الدِّينِ اَلفَضائِلَ

5 . The peak of [all] merits is controlling anger and eradicating lustful desires.

5 ـ رَأْسُ الفَضائِلِ مُلْكُ الغَضَبِ وإماتَةُ الشَّهْوَةِ

6 . During successive hardships the virtues of a person become manifest.

6 ـ عِنْدَ تَعاقُبِ الشَّدائِدِ تَظْهَرُ فَضائِلُ الإنْسانِ

7 . The symbol of a person’s merit is his intelligence and good character.

7 ـ عُنْوانُ فَضيلَةِ المَرْءِ عَقْلُهُ، وحُسْنُ خُلْقِهِ

8 . The highest of all merits is intelligence.

8 ـ غايَةُ الفَضائِلِ العَقْلُ

9 . The highest of all merits is knowledge.

9 ـ غايَةُ الفَضائِلِ العِلْمُ

10 . The merit of a man is known from his speech.

10 ـ فَضْلُ الرَّجُلِ يُعْرَفُ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ

11 . Merit is [acquired] by perfection [of character] and noble deeds, not through excessive wealth and eminent feats.

11 ـ اَلفَضِيلَةُ بِحُسْنِ الكَمالِ، وَمَكارِمِ الأفْعالِ، لابِكَثْرَةِ المالِ وجَلالَةِ الأعْمالِ

12 . Virtue is overcoming [one’s bad] habit.

12 ـ اَلفَضيلَةُ غَلَبَةُ العادَةِ

13 . The pride of a man is by his merit, not because of his origin [and lineage].

13 ـ فَخْرُ المَرْءِ بِفَضْلِهِ لابِأصْلِهِ

14 . The merit of a person is [lies in] doing good to others.

14 ـ فَضيلَةُ الإنْسانِ بَذْلُ الإحْسانِ

15 . He who overcomes his anger and controls the impulses of his lustful desires has acquired virtue.

15 ـ فازَ بِالفَضيلَةِ مَنْ غَلَبَ غَضَبَهُ، وَمَلَكَ نَوازِعَ شَهْوَتِهِ

16 . It suffices as a merit for a man to humble himself.

16 ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ فَضيلَةً أنْ يُنَقِّصَ نَفْسَهُ

17 . The perfection of virtues is [in] honourable qualities.

17 ـ كَمالُ الفَضائِلِ شَرَفُ الخَلائِقِ

18 . The human being has two merits: intellect and speech; he derives benefit through his intellect and benefits others by his speech.

18 ـ لِلإنْسانِ فَضيلَتانِ: عَقْلٌ، ومَنْطِقٌ، فَبِالعَقْلِ يَسْتَفيدُ، وبِالمَنْطِقِ يُفيدُ

19 . Lineage is not defined by the fathers and mothers, rather [it is defined] by the praiseworthy merits.

19 ـ لَيْسَتِ الأنْسابُ بِالآباءِ والأُمَّهاتِ لكِنَّها بِالفَضائِلِ المَحْمُوداتِ

20 . One whose merits are few, his means are weak.

20 ـ مَنْ قَلَّتْ فَضائِلُهُ ضَعُفَتْ وَسائِلُهُ

21 . From the best of merits is accepting the excuse of the wrongdoer.

21 ـ مِنْ أحْسَنِ الفَضْلِ قَبُولُ عُذْرِالجاني

22 . It is from the merit of a man not to put the one whom he has been forbearing with under obligation.

22 ـ مِنْ فَضْلِ الرَّجُلِ أنْ لا يَمُنَّ بِمَا احْتَمَلَهُ حِلْمُهُ

23 . Performing good deeds and spreading goodness are from the greatest virtues.

23 ـ مِنْ أفْضَلِ الفَضائِلِ اِصْطِناعُ الصَّنايِـعِ، وَبَثُّ المَعْـرُوفِ

24 . Through the gaining of merits the enemy is subdued.

24 ـ بِاكْتِسابِ الفَضائِلِ يُكْبَتُ المُعادي

25 . The consolidation of merits is in doing good to the freeman and being kind to the people of virtue.

25 ـ جِماعُ الفَضْلِ فِي اصْطِناعِ الحُرِّ، والإحْسانِ إلى أهْلِ الخَيْرِ

26 . Safeguarding the tongue and doing good to others are from the best merits of a human being.

26 ـ حِفْظُ اللِّسانِ وبَذْلُ الإحْسانِ مِنْ أفْضَلِ فَضائِلِ الإنْسانِ

27 . Become distinguished by virtues and renounce vices.

27 ـ كُنْ مُتَّصِفاً بِالفَضائِلِ، مُتَبَرِّءً مِنَ الرَّذائِلِ

28 . The best of virtues is granting the wishes and fulfilling the needs of the seeker and being moderate in what one seeks.

28 ـ أفْضَلُ الفَضائِلِ بَذْلُ الرَّغائِبِ، وإسْعافُ الطَّالِبِ والإجْمالُ فِي المَطالِبِ

29 . The best of virtues is establishing ties with the one who has distanced himself, being cordial with the one who is averse, and holding the hand of the one who stumbles.

29 ـ أفْضَلُ الفَضائِلِ صِلَةُ الهاجِرِ، وإيناسُ النّافِرِ، والأخْذُ بِيَدِ العاثِرِ

30 . Verily only the virtuous know the merit of the people of virtue.

30 ـ إنَّما يَعْرِفُ الفَضْلَ لأهْلِ الفَضْلِ أُولُوا الفَضْلِ

31 . Your virtue is proven by your action and your munificence by your open-handedness.

31 ـ يُسْتَدَلُّ عَلى فَضْلِكَ بِعَمَلِكَ، وَعَلى كَرَمِكَ بِبَذْلِكَ

The Superfluous

The superfluous-الفضول

1 . The worst thing which a person occupies his time with is the superfluous.

1 ـ شَرُّ ما شَغَلَ بِهِ المَرْءُ وَقْتَهُ الفُضُولُ

2 . The wastage of intellects is in seeking the superfluous.

2 ـ ضِياعُ العُقُولِ في طَلَبِ الفُضُولِ

3 . Whoever restrains himself from the superfluous, his view is harmonized by the intellects.

3 ـ مَنْ أمْسَكَ عَنِ الفُضُولِ عَدَّلَتْ رَأْيَهُ العُقُولُ

4 . Whoever occupies himself with the superfluous, the important matter that he hopes for eludes him.

4 ـ مَنِ اشْتَغَلَ بِالفُضُولِ فاتَهُ مِنْ مُهِمِّهِ المَأْمُولُ

Astuteness

Astuteness-الفِطْنَةُ

1 . Astuteness is [gained] through discernment.

1 ـ اَلفِطْنَةُ بِالبَصيرَةِ

2 . Astuteness is [a means of attaining] guidance.

2 ـ اَلفِطْنَةُ هِدايَةٌ

Loss

Loss-الفقد

1 . Loss is [a cause of] sorrows.

1 ـ اَلفَقْدُ أحْزانٌ

Poverty

Poverty-الفقر

1 . Poverty is beneficial for the believer, and gives him comfort from the jealousy of the neighbours, the flattery of the brothers and the domination of the ruler.

1 ـ اَلفَقْرُ صَلاحُ المُؤمِنِ، ومُريحُهُ مِنْ حَسَدِ الجيرانِ، وتَمَلُّقِ الإخْوانِ،وَ تَسَلُّطِ السُّلْطانِ

2 . Verily poverty is disgracer for the soul, a confounder of the intellect, and a bringer of sorrows.

2 ـ إنَّ الفَقْرَ مِذَلَّةٌ لِلنَّفْسِ، مِدْهَشَةٌ لِلْعَقْلِ، جالِبٌ لِلْهُمُومِ

3 . Poverty causes forgetfulness.

3 ـ اَلفَقْرُ يُنسي

4 . Poverty is the adornment of faith.

4 ـ اَلفَقْرُ زينَةُ الإيمانِ

5 . The grave is better than poverty.1

5 ـ اَلقَبْرُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الفَقْرِ

6 . Poverty with debt is [like] a red death.2

6 ـ اَلفَقْرُ مَعَ الدَّيْنِ اَلْمَوْتُ الأحْمَرُ

7 . Poverty disables the astute one from [presenting] his argument.

7 ـ اَلفَقْرُ يُخْرِسُ الفَطِنَ عَنْ حُجَّتِهِ

8 . Poverty in one’s homeland is like being a stranger in it.

8 ـ اَلفَقْرُ فِي الوَطَنِ غُرْبَةٌ

9 . Extreme poverty is better than disgraceful affluence.

9 ـ اَلفَقْرُ الفادِحُ أجْمَلُ مِنَ الغِنَى الفاضِحِ

10 . True poverty and wealth are [determined] after presenting [the account of] one’s deeds before Allah, the Glorified.

10 ـ اَلفَقْرُ والغِنى بَعْدَ العَرْضِ عَلَى اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ

11 . Love of poverty earns piety.

11 ـ حُبُّ الفَقْرِ يَكْسِبُ الوَرَعَ

12 . Many a poverty turns into with lasting affluence.

12 ـ رُبَّ فَقْر عادَ بِالغِنَى الْباقي

13 . The disadvantage of poverty is more praiseworthy than the arrogant insolence of wealth.

13 ـ ضَرَرُ الفَقْرِ أحْمَدُ مِنْ أشَرِ الغِنى

14 . Poverty of the soul is the worst poverty.

14 ـ فَقْرُ النَّفْسِ شَرُّ الفَقْرِ

15 . All [forms of] poverty can be redressed except the poverty of foolishness.

15 ـ كُلُّ فَقْر يُسَدُّ إلاّ فَقْرَ الحُمْقِ

16 . Whoever manifests his poverty, lowers his status.

16 ـ مَنْ أظْهَرَ فَقْرَهُ أذَلَّ قَدْرَهُ

17 . The hardships of poverty are preferable to facing humiliation.

17 ـ مُقاساةُ الإقْلالِ، ولامُلاقاةُ الإذلالِ

18 . There is no poverty with good management.

18 ـ لافَقْرَ مَعَ حُسْنِ تَدْبير

19 . The most apprising complaint is that which is enunciated by manifest affliction.

19 ـ أبْلَغُ الشَّكوى ما نَطَقَ بِهِ ظاهِرُ البَلْوى

20 . The little that one is in need of is better than the plenty that one is needless of.

20 ـ قَليلٌ يُفْتَقَرُ إلَيْهِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثير يُسْتَغْنى عَنْهُ

21 . There is no shame in being far away from one’s hometown; the only shame is being indigent in one’s one hometown.

21 ـ لَيْسَ فِي الغُرْبَةِ عارٌ، إنَّما العارُ فِي الوَطَنِ اَلاِفْتِقارُ

22 . One who pretends to be poor, becomes poor.

22 ـ مَنْ تَفاقَرَ اِفْتَقَرَ

23 . Displaying neediness gives rise to poverty.

23 ـ إظْهارُ التَّباوُسِ يَجْلِبُ الفَقْرَ

24 . Poverty with debt is the greatest wretchedness.

24 ـ اَلفَقْرُ مَعَ الدَّيْنِ اَلشَّقاءُ الأكْبَرُ

Notes

1. This is the poverty that one does not bear patiently and leads to wretchedness in this world and the next.

2. ‘Red death’ is a figure of speech that means a violent or bloody

death.

The Pauper

The pauper-الفقير وأقسامه

1 . The pauper who is satisfied is saved from the traps of Satan, whereas the rich person falls into his snares.

1 ـ اَلْفَقيرُ الرّاضي ناج مِنْ حَبائِلِ إبْلِيسَ، والغَنِيُّ واقِعٌ في حَبائِلِهِ

2 . The most hated of servants in the sight of Allah are: the pauper who is haughty, the elderly fornicator and the immoral scholar.

2 ـ أمْقَتُ العِبادِ إلَى اللّهِ اَلْفَقيرُ المَزْهُوُّ، والشَّيْخُ الزّانِ، والعالِمُ الفاجِرُ

3 . The most foolish of people is the arrogant pauper.

3 ـ أكْثَرُ النّاسِ حُمْقاً الفَقيرُ المُتَكَبِّرُ

4 . The richest people in the Hereafter are the poorest of them in this world.

4 ـ أغْنَى النّاسِ فِي الآخِرَةِ أفْقَرُهُمْ فِي ا لدُّنيا

5 . The poor person is [like] a stranger (or is scorned) in his hometown.

5 ـ اَلفَقيرُ فِي الوَطِنِ غُرْبَةٌ(مُمْتَهَنٌ ).

6 . The needy person is a stranger in his own homeland.

6 ـ اَلمُقِلُّ غَريبٌ في بَلْدَتِهِ

7 . One who sits in the company of the poor increases in [his] gratitude.

7 ـ جالِسِ الفُقَراءَ تَزْدَدْ شُكْراً

8 . Many a poor person is wealthier than all the rich people.

8 ـ رُبَّ فَقير أغْنى مِنْ كُلِّ غَنِىّ

9 . The wealth of a poor person is his contentment.

9 ـ غِنَى الفَقيرِ قَناعَتُهُ

10 . How many a poor person is needed by someone else.

10 ـ كَمْ مِنْ فَقِير يُفْتَقَرُ إلَيْهِ

11 . How many a poor person is rich and [how many] a rich person is needy.

11 ـ كَمْ مِنْ فَقير غَنِىّ وغَنِىّ مُفْتَقِر

12 . One who is overcome by poverty should frequently recite: There is no might and no power but by [the will of] Allah, the Most High, the Most Mighty.

12 ـ مَنْ ألَحَّ عَلَيْهِ الفَقْرُ فَلْيُكْثِرْ مِنْ قَوْلِ: لاحَوْلَ ولاقُوَّةَ إلاّ بِاللّهِ العَلِيِّ العَظيمِ

13 . It is obligatory on the poor that he should not put forward his request [to others] unless he has no other choice.

13 ـ مِنَ الواجِبِ عَلَى الفَقيرِ أنْ لايَبْذُلَ مِنْ غَيْرِاضْطِرار سُؤالَهُ

14 . The kings of this world and the Hereafter are the poor who are satisfied [with what they have].

14 ـ مُلُوكُ الدُّنْيا والآخِرَةِ الفُقَراءُ الرّاضُونَ

15 . The poorest of people is one who is stingy with himself despite [his] wealth and affluence, and leaves it behind for others [in the end].

15 ـ أفْقَرُ النّاسِ مَنْ قَتَّرَ عَلى نَفْسِهِ مَعَ الغِنى والسَّعَةِ، وخَلَّفَهُ لِغَيْرِهِ

16 . Many a poor person is mightier than a lion.

16 ـ رُبَّ فَقير أعَزُّ مِنْ أسَد

Anxiety

Anxiety الجزع

1 . Anxiety during hardship completes [and enhances] the calamity.

1 ـ اَلجَزَعُ عِنْدَ البَلاءِ مِنْ تَمامِ المِحْنَةِ

2 . Anxiety during adversity is severer than the adversity itself.

2 ـ اَلجَزَعُ عِنْدَ المُصيبَةِ أشَدُّ مِنَ المُصيبَةِ

3 . The adversity is one, but if you become anxious it becomes twofold.

3 ـ اَلمُصيبَةُ واحِدَةٌ، وإنْ جَزَعَتْ صارَتْ اِثْنَـتَيْنِ

4 . Adversity [endured] with patience is the better of the two adversities.

4 ـ اَلمُصيبَةُ بِالصَّبْرِ أعْظَمُ المُصيبَتَيْنِ

5 . Anxiety does not ward off destiny, rather it blocks recompense.

5 ـ اَلجَزَعُ لايَدْفَعُ القَدَرَ ولكِنْ يُحـْبِطُ الأجْرَ

6 . Anxiety during adversity increases it whereas patience ends it.

6 ـ اَلجَزَعُ عِنْدَ المُصيبَةِ يَزيدُها، والصَّبْرُ عَلَيْها يُبيدُها

7 . Overcome anxiety with patience, for anxiety voids recompense and magnifies the calamity.

7 ـ إغْلِبُوا الجَزَعَ بِالصَّبْرِ، فإنَّ الجَزَعَ يَحبِطُ الأجرَ، ويُعَظِّمُ الفَجيعَةَ

8 . Anxiety is [a cause of] destruction.

8 ـ اَلجَزَعُ هَلاكٌ

9 . Anxiety is one of the assistants of the [difficult] time.

9 ـ اَلجَزَعُ مِنْ أعوانِ الزَّمانِ

10 . Anxiety magnifies the calamity.

10 ـ اَلجَزَعُ يُعَظِّمُ المِحْنَةَ

11 . Anxiety is more exhausting than patience.

11 ـ 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 ـ إنْ كُنْتَ جازِعاً على كُلِّ ما يَفْلِتُ مِنْ يَدَيْكَ فَاجْزَعْ على مالَمْ يَصِلْ إلَيكَ

13 . With excessive anxiety, the calamity is magnified.

13 ـ بِكَثْرَةِ الجَزَعِ تَعْظُمُ الفَجيعَةُ

14 . Counter anxiety with patience.

14 ـ ضادُّوا الجَزَعَ بِالصَّبْرِ

15 . There is no recompense with anxiety.

15 ـ لَيْسَ مَعَ الجَزَعِ مَثُوبَةٌ

16 . Whoever becomes anxious, his adversity increases.

16 ـ مَنْ جَزَعَ عَظُمَتْ مُصيبَتُهُ

17 . One who is overcome by anxiety is deprived of the merit of patience.

17 ـ مَنْ ملَكَهُ الجَزَعُ حُرِمَ فَضيلَةَ الصَّبرِ

18 . One who becomes anxious has tormented himself, neglected the command of Allah, the Glorified, and sold off his reward.

18 ـ 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 ـ لاتَجزَعُوا مِنْ قَليلِ ماأكْرَهَكُمْ (كَرِهْتُم)، فَيُوقِعَكُمْ ذلِكَ في كَثير مِمّا تَـكْرَهُونَ

20 . Patience and anxiety do not go together.

20 ـ لا تَجْتَمِعُ الصَّبْرُ والجَزَعُ

Requital And Reward

Requital and Reward المجازاة والجزاء

1 . One who believes in [divine] requital does not choose [to do] anything but good.

1 ـ مَنْ صَدَّقَ بِالمُجازاةِ لَمْ يُؤْثِرْ غَيْرَ الحُسْنى

2 . One who is certain about requital does not choose [to do] anything but good.

2 ـ مَنْ أيْقَنَ بِالمُجازاةِ لَـمْ يُؤثِرْ غَيْـرَ الحُسْنى

3 . The reward is proportionate to the tribulation [endured].

3 ـ عَلى قَدْرِ البَلاءِ يَكُونُ الجَزاءُ

4 . The grant [of reward] from Allah is proportionate to the [sincerity of] intention.

4 ـ على قَدْرِ النِّيَّةِ تَـكُونُ مِنَ اللّهِ العَطِيَّةُ

5 . One who is not certain of the recompense [for actions], doubt has corrupted his certitude.

5 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يُوقِنْ بِالجَزاءِ أفْسَدَ الشَّكُّ يَقينَهُ

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 ـ لاتُسْرِعَنَّ إلى بادِرَة ولا تُعَجِّلَنَّ بِعُقُوبَة وَجَدْتَ عَنْها مَنْدُوحَةً فَإنَّ ذلِكَ مَنْهَكَةٌ لِلدّينِ مُقَرِّبٌ مِنَ الغِيَـرِ

7 . The quickest punishment is the punishment for transgression.

7 ـ إنَّ أعْجَلَ العُقُوبَةِ عُقُوبَةُ البَغْىِ

8 . Verily Allah, the Glorified, has ordained punishment for committing sins against Him in order to save His servants from His chastisement.

8 ـ إنَّ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ قَدْ وَضَعَ العِقابَ عَلى مَعاصِيهِ ذِيادَةً لِعِبادِهِ عَنْ نَقِمَتِهِ

9 . The punishment of noble ones is better than the forgiveness of the vile ones.

9 ـ عُقُوبَةُ الكِرامِ أحْسَنُ مِنْ عَفْوِ اللِّئامِ

10 . The punishment of the hot tempered, spiteful and jealous people starts from [within] themselves.

10 ـ عُقُوبَةُ الغَضُوبِ والحَقُودِ والحَسُودِ تُبْدَءُ بِأنْفُسِهِمْ

11 . The punishment of the intelligent is [in the form of] insinuation.

11 ـ عُقُوبَةُ العُقَلاءِ التَّلْويحُ

12 . The punishment of the ignorant is [in the form of open] declaration.

12 ـ عُقُوبَةُ الجُهَلاءِ التَّصْريحُ

13 . There is no protector for one who is sought by Allah [for punishment].

13 ـ لَيْسَ لِمَنْ طَلَبَهُ اللّهُ مُجيرٌ

14 . Whoever punishes the one who is apologetic has committed a grave injustice.

14 ـ مَنْ عاقَبَ مُعْتَذِراً عَظُمَتْ إساءَتُهُ

15 . One who punishes [a person] for [having committed] an offence has no merit.1

15 ـ مَنْ عاقَبَ بِالذَّنْبِ فَلا فَضْلَ لَهُ

16 . Not every sinner deserves to be punished.

16 ـ ما كُلُّ مُذْنِب يُعاقَبُ

17 . How repulsive is punishment [that is meted out] despite apology.

17 ـ ما أقْبَحَ العُقُوبَةَ مَعَ الاِعْتِذارِ

Notes

1. Rather, the merit is in forgiving.

The Body

The Body الجسد والأجسام

1 . Serving the body is granting it whatever it seeks of pleasures and desires and what it covets, but in [all] this is the destruction of the soul.

1 ـ خِدْمَةُ الجَسَدِ إعْطاؤُهُ ما يَسْتَدْعيهِ مِنَ المَلاذِّ والشَّهَواتِ والمُقْتَنَياتِ وَفي ذلِكَ هِلاكُ النَّفسِ

2 . Physical health is one of the most wholesome bounties.

2 ـ صِحَّةُ الأجْسامِ مِنْ أهْنَاِ الأقسامِ

3 . How can one be deceived by the health of a body that is prone to malady?

3 ـ كَيفَ يُغْتَرُّ بِسَلامَةِ جِسْم مُعَرَّض للآفاتِ

Antipathy

Antipathy الجفاء

1 . Beware of antipathy, for it corrupts brotherhood and makes one despised by Allah and the people.

1 ـ إيّاكَ والجَفاءَ، فَإنَّهُ يُفْسِدُ الإخاءَ، ويُمَقِّتُ إلَى اللّهِ والنّاسِ

2 . Antipathy is a disgrace and sinning is [a cause of] destruction.

2 ـ الجَفاءُ شَيْـنٌ، اَلمَعْصِيَةُ حَيْنٌ

3 . Antipathy spoils brotherhood.

3 ـ اَلجَفاءُ يُفْسِدُ الإخاءَ

Loftiness

Loftiness الجَلالة

1 . When acts of kindness increase and forbearance becomes strong, loftiness is attained.

1 ـ عِنْدَ كَثْرَةِ الإفْضالِ وشِدَّةِ الإحْتِمالِ تَتَحَقَّقُ الجَلالةُ

Intercourse

Intercourse الجِماعُ

1 . He (‘a) was asked about intercourse, so he said: [It is] shame that is lifted, loins that are joined and the closest thing to insanity. Persistence in it makes one senile and revival from it brings regret. When lawful, its fruit is a son who, if he lives, subjects [one] to trial and if he dies, causes sadness.

1 ـ سُئِلَ ـ عليه السّلام ـ عنِ الجِماعِ، فقال: حَياءٌ يُرْتَفَعُ، وعَوْراتٌ تَجْتَمِعُ، أشبَهُ شَْيء بِالجُنُونِ، اَلإصرارُ عَلَيْهِ هَرَمٌ، والإفاقَةُ مِنْهُ نَدَمٌ، ثَمَرَةُ حَلالِهِ الوَلَدُ، إنْ عاشَ فَتَنَ، وإنْ ماتَ حَزَنَ

Beauty

Beauty الجمال

1 . External beauty is [in possessing] good looks.

1 ـ اَلجَمالُ الظّاهِرُ حُسْنُ الصُّورَةِ

2 . Internal beauty is [in possessing] a good heart.

2 ـ اَلجَمالُ الباطِنُ حُسْنُ السَّريرَةِ

3 . The beauty of a man is his clemency.

3 ـ جَمالُ الرَّجُلِ حِلْمُهُ

4 . The beauty of a man is dignity.

4 ـ جَمالُ الرَّجُلِ الوَقارُ

5 . Beauty of the freeman is [in] keeping away from dishonour.

5 ـ جَمالُ الحُرِّ تَجَنُّبُ العارِ

6 . The purity of beauty is [in] chastity.

6 ـ زَكوةُ الجَمالِ العَفافُ

The Beautiful

The Beautiful الجميل

1 . One whose beautiful actions increase, the people unite in elevating him.

1 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ جَميلُهُ أجمَعَ النّاسُ على تَفْضيلِهِ

Grooming

Grooming التّجمّل

1 . Grooming oneself is an apparent [form of] magnanimity.

1 ـ التَّجَمُّلُ مُرُوءَةٌ ظاهِرَةٌ

2 . Self-grooming is a characteristic of the believers.

2 ـ اَلتَّجَمُلُ مِنْ أخْلاقِ المُؤمِنينَ

Moderation

Moderation المجمل

1 . Not everyone who is moderate in seeking [his livelihood] is deprived.1

1 ـ لَيْسَ كُلُّ مُجْمِل بِمَحْرُوم

Notes

1. This is half of a sentence from letter no. 31 of Nahj al-Balāgha.

Paradise And The People Of Paradise

Paradise and the People of Paradise الجنَّةُ وأهل الجنّة

1 . Paradise is the best place of return and hellfire is the worst place of residence.

1 ـ الجَنَّةُ خَيْرُ مَآل، والنّارُ شَرُّ مَقيل

2 . Indeed, I have not seen any place whose seeker is in slumber like Paradise and any place whose fleer is in slumber like hellfire.

2 ـ ألا وإنّي لَمْ أرَ كَالجَنَّةِ نامَ طالِبُها، ولا كالنَّارِ نامَ هارِبُها

3 . Verily the people of Paradise constitute all the believers who are easygoing and gentle.

3 ـ إنَّ أهلَ الجَنَّةِ كُلُّ مُؤْمِن هَين لَيْن

4 . Verily Allah, the Exalted, makes whomever He wishes, from those of his servants who posses sincere intentions and righteous hearts, enter Paradise.

4 ـ إنَّ اللّهَ تعالى يُدْخِلُ بِحُسْنِ النِّيَّةِ وصالِحِ السَّريرَةِ مَنْ يَشاءُ مِنْ عِبادِهِ الجَنَّةَ

5 . Paradise is the abode of peace.

5 ـ 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 ـ إنْ كُنْتُمْ راغِبينَ لامُحالَةَ، فَارْغَبُوا في جَنَّة عَرْضُهاَ السَّمواتِ والأرضِ

7 . Paradise is the reward of the obedient.

7 ـ اَلجَنَّةُ جَزاءُ المُطيعِ

8 . Paradise is the abode of the pious.

8 ـ اَلجَنَّةُ دارُ الأتْقياءِ

9 . Paradise is the goal of the foremost [in righteousness].

9 ـ اَلجَنَّةُ غايَةُ السّابِقينَ

10 . Paradise is the most excellent goal.

10 ـ اَلْجَنَّةُ أفْضَلُ غايَة

11 . Paradise is the returning place of the victorious.

11 ـ اَلجَنَّةُ مَ آلُ الفائِزِ

12 . Paradise is the reward of every righteous believer.

12 ـ اَلجَنَّةُ جَزاءُ كُلِّ مُؤْمِن مُحسِن

13 . Paradise is attained through keeping away from sins.

13 ـ نَيْلُ 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 ـ إنَّكَ لَنْ تَلِجَ الجَنَّةَ حتّى تَزْدَجِرَ عَنْ غَيِّكَ، وتَنْتَهِيَ، وتَرْتَدِعَ عَنْ مَعاصيكَ، وتَرعَوِيَ

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 with [divine] favour.

15 ـ إذا آمَنْتَ بِاللّهِ واتَّقَيْتَ مَحارِمَهُ أحَلَّكَ دارَ الأمانِ، وإذا أرْضَيْتَهُ تَغَمَّدَكَ بِالرِّضوانِ

16 . The price of Paradise is good deeds.

16 ـ ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ العَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ

17 . The price of Paradise is renunciation of the [pleasures of this] world.

17 ـ ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ الزُّهدُ في الدُّنيا

18 . The chiefs of the people of Paradise are the generous and the pious.

18 ـ سادَةُ أهلِ الجَنَّةِ اَلأسْخياءُ، والمُـتَّقُونَ

19 . The chiefs of the people of Paradise are the sincere ones.

19 ـ سادَةُ أهلِ الجَنَّةِ المُخْلِصُونَ

20 . The chiefs of the people of Paradise are the God-fearing and the virtuous.

20 ـ سادَةُ أهلِ الجَنَّةِ الأتْقياءُ الأبْرارُ

21 . Seeking Paradise without good deeds is foolishness.

21 ـ طَلَبُ الجَنَّةِ بِلا عَمَل حُمْقٌ

22 . Paradise is not achieved [simply] by wishing for it.

22 ـ لاتَحْصُلُ الجَنَّةُ بِالتَّمَنّي

23 . Neither a swindler nor one who put others under obligation, will enter Paradise.

23 ـ لايَدْخُلُ الجَنَّةَ خَبٌّ ولا مَنّانٌ

24 . None will be victorious in attaining Paradise except one whose heart is good and intention sincere.

24 ـ لايَفُوزُ بِالجَنَّةِ إلاّ مَنْ حَسُنَتْ سَريرَتُهُ وخَلُصَتْ نِيَّتُهُ

25 . Every bliss other than Paradise is derisory.

25 ـ كُلُّ نَعيم دُونَ الجَنَّةِ مَحْقُورٌ

26 . None will be victorious in attaining Paradise except the one who works hard for it.

26 ـ لَنْ يَفُوزَ بِالجَنَّةِ إلاّ السّاعي لَها

27 . None shall attain Paradise except the one who struggles against his [lower] self.

27 ـ لَنْ يَحُوزَ الجنَّةَ إلاَّ مَنْ جاهَدَ نَفْسَهُ

28 . One who yearns for Paradise forgets his [worldly] desires.

28 ـ مَنِ اشْتاقَ إلَى الْجَـنَّةِ سَلا عَنِ الشَّهواتِ

29 . Paradise is attained through abstaining from sins.

29 ـ نَيْلُ الجَنَّةِ بِالتَّنَزُّهِ عَنِ المَـآثِمِ

30 . One who shuns what is forbidden shall attain Paradise.

30 ـ نالَ الجَنَّةَ مَنِ اتَّقى 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 ـ هَيْهاتَ لايُخْدَعُ اللّهُ عَنْ جَنَّتِهِ، وَلا يُنالُ ما عِنْدَهُ إلاّ بِمَرضاتِهِ

32 . The delegation that enters Paradise is constantly showered with blessings.

32 ـ وَفْدُ الجَنَّةِ أبَداً مُنَعَّمُونَ

33 . Those who enter Paradise are in perpetual bliss.

33 ـ وارِدُ الجَنَّةِ مُخَلَّدُ النَّعْماءِ

Generosity

Generosity الجود

1 . Generosity for the sake of Allah is the worship of those who are close [to Allah].

1 ـ اَلجُودُ فِي اللّهِ عِبادَةُ المُقَرَّبينَ

2 . Generosity without fear or hope of recompense is true generosity.

2 ـ اَلجُودُ مِنْ غَيْرِ خَوْف ولارَجاءِ مُكافاة، حَقيقَةُ الجُودِ

3 . Give generously and you will be honoured.

3 ـ إسْمَحْ تُـكْرَمْ

4 . The most generous of you is the one who will gain the most.

4 ـ أسْمَحُكُمْ أرْبَحُكُمْ

5 . The most excellent of noble traits is generosity.

5 ـ أحْسَنُ المَكارِمِ الجُودُ

6 . The best generosity is to forgive after gaining the upper hand.

6 ـ أحْسَنُ الجُودِ عَفْوٌ بَعْدَ مَقْدُرَة

7 . The greatest generosity is being open-handed with whatever is available.

7 ـ أفْضَلُ الجُودِ بَذْلُ المَوْجُودِ

8 . The greatest generosity is delivering the rights to their [rightful] owners.

8 ـ أفْضَلُ الجُودِ إيصالُ الحُقُوقِ إلى أهْلِها

9 . The greatest generosity is giving despite [facing] hard times.

9 ـ أفْضَلُ الجُودِ ما كانَ عَنْ عُسْرَة

10 . Generosity is [true] leadership, sovereignty is [only] administration.

10 ـ اَلجُودُ رِياسَةٌ، اَلمُلْكُ سِياسَةٌ

11 . Generosity is a present honour.

11 ـ اَلجُودُ عِزٌّ مَوْجُودٌ

12 . Generosity is the protector of honour.

12 ـ اَلجُودُ حارِسُ الأعْراضِ

13 . The bane of generosity is poverty.

13 ـ آفَةُ الجُودِ الفَقْرُ

14 . The bane of generosity is wastefulness.

14 ـ آفَةُ الجُودِ التَّبْذيرُ

15 . Through generosity, authority is acquired.

15 ـ بِالجُودِ تَـكُوُنُ السِّيادَةُ

16 . Generosity stems from nobility of character.

16 ـ اَلجُودُ مِنْ كَرَمِ الطَّبيعَةِ

17 . Through generosity, men gain authority.

17 ـ بِالجُودِ تَسُودُ الرِّجالُ

18 . Through generosity, distinction is established and praise is acquired.

18 ـ بِالجُودِ يُبْتَنَي المَجْدُ وَيُجْتَلَبُ الحَمْدُ

19 . Be generous with whatever you have, [and] you will be praised.

19 ـ جُدْ بِما تَجِدْ تُحْمَدْ

20 . Be generous and you will gain authority; be patient and you will be triumphant.

20 ـ جُدْ تَسُدْ، وَاصْبِرْ تَظْفُرْ

21 . The generosity of the poor is the best generosity.

21 ـ جُودُ الفَقيرِ 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 ـ 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 ـ جُودُ الفَقيرِ يُجِلُّهُ، وبُخْلُ الغَنِيِّ يُذِلُّهُ

24 . Be generous with that which perishes and you will be compensated for it with that which lasts.

24 ـ جُودُوا بِما يَفْنى تَعْتاضُوا عَنْهُ بِما يَبْقى

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 ـ جُودُوا فيِ اللّهِ وجاهِدُوا أنْفُسَكُمْ عَلى طاعَتِهِ يُعْظِمْ لَكُمْ الجَزاءَ وَيُحْسِنْ لَكُمْ الحَباءَ

26 . Generosity is the practice of the honourable.

26 ـ سُنَّةُ الكِرامِ الجُودُ

27 . The highest extent of generosity is giving [from] whatever is available.

27 ـ غايَةُ الجُودِ بَذْلُ المَوْجُودِ

28 . One who is open-handed does good to others.

28 ـ مَنْ جادَ اصْطَنَعَ

29 . One who is generous gains authority.

29 ـ مَنْ جادَ سادَ

30 . One who does not show generosity is not praised.

30 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَجُِدْ لَمْ يُحْمَدْ

31 . How excellent is generosity when in straitened circumstances!

31 ـ 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 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْمَحْ وهُوَ مَحْمُودٌ سَمَحَ وهُوَ مَلُومٌ

33 . One who does not give generously does not gain authority.

33 ـ مَنْ لـَمْ يَسْمَحْ لـَمْ يَسُدْ

34 . The generosity of a man endears him to his rivals and his stinginess makes him hated by his [own] children.

34 ـ جُودُ الرَّجُلِ يُحَبِّبُهُ إلى أضْدادِهِ، وبُخْلُهُ يُبَغِّضُهُ إلى أوْلادِهِ

The Generous

The Generous الجواد

1 . The generous person is loved and praised, even if nothing of his generosity reaches his praiser, and the stingy person is the opposite of this.

1 ـ اَلجَوادُ مَحْبُوبٌ، مَحْمُودٌ، وإنْ لَمْ يَصِلْ مِنْ جُودِهِ إلى مادِحِهِ شَيْءٌ، والبَخِيْلُ ضِدُّ ذلِكَ

2 . The one who is generous is praised in this world and felicitous in the Hereafter.

2 ـ اَلجَوادُ فِي الدُّنْيا مَحْمُودٌ، وَفِي الآخِرَةِ مَسْعُودٌ

3 . Verily the masters of the people of this world (and the Hereafter) are the generous.

3 ـ إنَّما سادَةُ أهْلِ الدُّنْيا (والآخِرَةِ) الأجْوادُ

4 . Be generous with the truth and miserly with falsehood.

4 ـ كُنْ جَواداً بِالحَقِّ، بَخيلاً بِالباطِلِ

5 . Be [either] selflessly generous or moderate in giving but do not be from the third kind (i.e. the misers).

5 ـ كُنْ جَواداً مُؤْثِراً، أوْ مُقْتَصِداً مُقَدِرّاً، وإيّاكَ أنْ تَكُونَ الثّالِثَ

Proximity To Allah

Proximity to Allah جار اللّه وجواره

1 . One who is close to Allah is safe, while [one who is] His enemy is frightened.

1 ـ جارُ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ آمِنٌ، وعَدُوُّهُ خائِفٌ

2 . Proximity to Allah is granted to those who obey Him and keep away from disobedience to Him.

2 ـ جِوارُ اللّهِ مَبْذُولٌ لِمَنْ أطاعَهُ وتَجَنَّبَ مُخالَفَتَهُ

Neighbours

Neighbours الجيران

1 . The worst of neighbours is the wicked neighbour.

1 ـ بِئْسَ الجارُ جارُ السُّوءِ

2 . A wicked neighbour is the greatest adversity and the most serious tribulation.

2 ـ جارُ السُّوءِ أعْظَمُ الضَّـرّاءِ، وأشَدُّ البَلاءِ

3 . Be a neighbour to one from whose evil you are safe and whose goodness does not turn away from you.

3 ـ جاوِرْمَنْ تَأمَنُ شَـرَّهُ، وَلايَعْدُوكَ خَيْـرُهُ

4 . Ask about the neighbour before the house.

4 ـ سَلْ عَنِ الجارِ قَبْلَ الدّارِ

5 . Being a bad neighbour and offending the virtuous are the worst forms of vileness.

5 ـ سُوءُ الجَوارِ والإساءَةُ إلَى الأبْرارِ مِنْ أعْظَمِ اللُّؤمِ

6 . One who is neighbourly gets many neighbours.

6 ـ مَنْ حَسُنَ جَوارُهُ كَثُرَ جيرانُهُ

7 . One who is good to his neighbours gets many helpers.

7 ـ مَنْ أحْسَنَ إلى جيرانِهِ كَثُرَ خَدَمُهُ

8 . Taking care of one’s neighbour is an act of magnanimity.

8 ـ مِنَ الـمُرُوَّةِ تَعَهُّدُ الجيرانِ

Hunger

Hunger الجُوعُ

1 . Hunger is better than the humiliation of subjugation.

1 ـ اَلْجُوعُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ذُلِّ الخُضُوعِ

2 . Keeping oneself hungry is the most beneficial cure, whereas eating to one’s fill increases maladies.

2 ـ اَلتَّجَوُّعُ أنْفَعُ الدَّواءِ، اَلشِّبَعُ يُكْثِرُ الأدْواءَ

3 . Hunger is better than subjugation.

3 ـ اَلجُوعُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الخُضُوعِ

4 . Complement your food with hunger and discipline yourself with contentment.

4 ـ تَأَدَّمْ بِالجُوعِ وتَأَدَّبْ بِالقُنُوعِ

5 . The best condiment is hunger.

5 ـ نِعْمَ الإدامُ الجُوعُ

6 . How good an assistant of piety hunger is!

6 ـ نِعْمَ عَونُ الوَرَعِ التَّجَوُّعُ

7 . How good an assistant in cutting down the [desires of the carnal] self and breaking its [bad] habits hunger is!

7 ـ نِعْمَ العَونُ عَلى أشَـرِ(أسْرِ) النَّفْسِ وكَسْرِ عادَتِها التَّجَوُّعُ

High Rank

High Rank الجاهُ وذو الجاه

1 . The alms-tax of high rank [and power] is benefitting others with it.

1 ـ زَكوةُ الجاهِ بَذْلُهُ

2 . One of the obligations of a person who possesses a high rank is to use it to grant the [needs of] one who seeks from him.

2 ـ مِنَ الواجِبِ عَلى ذِي الجاهِ أنْ يَبْذُلَهُ لِطالِبِهِ

3 . One who benefits others with his high rank makes himself praiseworthy.

3 ـ مَنْ بَذَلَ جاهَهُ اسْتَحْمَدَ