Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

The Learned Scholars

The Learned Scholars-الفقه والفقهاء

1 . The true scholar is one who neither makes people lose hope in the mercy of Allah nor cause them to despair of the comfort of Allah.

1 ـ اَلفَقِيهُ كُلُّ الفَقيهِ مَنْ لَمْ يُقَنِّطِ النّاسَ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللّهِ ولَمْ يُؤْيِسْهُمْ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللّهِ

2 . The bane of scholars is not safeguarding themselves [from error].

2 ـ آفَةُ الفُقَهاءِ عَدَمُ الصِّيانَةِ

3 . When the elevated one becomes learned, he shows humility.

3 ـ إذا تَفَقَّهَ الرَّفيعُ تَواضَعَ

4 . When the vile one becomes a scholar, he considers himself to be above [others].

4 ـ إذا تَفَقَّهَ الوَضيعُ تَرَفَّعَ

5 . When you [wish to] learn, then become learned in the religion of Allah.

5 ـ إذا فَقِهْتَ فَتَفَقَّهْ في دينِ اللّهِ

Thinking And The Thinker

Thinking and the thinker-الفكر والمتفكّر

1 . Think and you will perceive.

1 ـ أفْكِرْ تَسْتَبْصِرْ

2 . The root of wisdom is reflection, and its fruit is wellbeing.

2 ـ أصْلُ العَقْلِ الفِكْرُ، وثَمَرَتُهُ السَّلامَةُ

3 . The root of safety from error is thinking before acting, and reflecting before speaking.

3 ـ أصْلُ السَّلامَةِ مِنَ الزَّلَلِ، اَلفِكْرُ قَبْلَ الفِعْلِ، والرَّوِيَّةُ قَبْلَ الكَلامِ

4 . Verily the one who observes with his heart and acts with foresight begins his action by first looking at [the consequence of] his action, is it his favour or against him; if it is in his favour then he goes ahead with it and if it is against him then he holds back from [doing] it.

4 ـ إنَّ النّاظِرَ بِالقَلْبِ، اَلعامِلَ بِالبَصَرِ، يَكُونُ مُبْتَدَأُ عَمَلِهِ أنْ يَنْظُرَ عَمَلَهُ، عَلَيْهِ، أمْ لَهُ، فَإنْ كانَ لَهُ، مَضى فيهِ وإنْ كانَ عَلَيْهِ، وَقَفَ عَنْهُ

5 . Thinking guides, truth saves.

5 ـ اَلفِكْرُ يَهْدي، اَلصِّدْقُ يُنْجي

6 . Contemplation is worship.

6 ـ اَلفِكْرُ عِبادَةٌ

7 . Contemplation is [a means to] right guidance, heedlessness is [a cause of] loss.

7 ـ اَلفِكْرُ رُشْدٌ، اَلغَفْلَةُ فَقْدٌ

8 . Contemplation illuminates the mind.

8 ـ اَلفِكْرُ يُنيرُ اللُبَّ

9 . The benefit of thinking is finding solutions.

9 ـ اَلحِيلَةُ فائِدَةُ الفِكْرِ

10 . Thinking guides [one] towards the way of right guidance.

10 ـ اَلفِكْرُ يَهْدي إلَى الرَّشادِ

11 . Thinking is the recreation of the God-fearing.

11 ـ اَلفِكْرُ نُزْهَةُ المُتَّقينَ

12 . Contemplation leads to gaining wisdom.

12 ـ اَلفِكْرُ يُفيدُ الحِكْمَةَ

13 . Thought is a gleaming mirror.

13 ـ اَلفِكْرَةُ مِراةٌ صافِيَةٌ

14 . Thinking is the polish of the minds.

14 ـ اَلفِكْرُ جَلاءُ العُقُولِ

15 . Thinking about the bounties of Allah is the best worship.

15 ـ التَّفَكُّرُ في آلاءِ اللّهِ نِعْمَ العِبادَةُ

16 . Thinking outside [the bounds of] wisdom is folly.

16 ـ اَلفِكْرُ في غَيْرِ الحِكْمَةِ هَوَسٌ

17 . Thinking about good [action] invites one to act upon it.

17 ـ اَلفِكْرُ فِي الخَيْرِ يَدْعُو إلَى العَمَلِ بِهِ

18 . Thinking about the consequences saves one from places of destruction.

18 ـ اَلفِكْرُ فِي العَواقِبِ يُنْجي مِنَ المَعاطِبِ

19 . When you precede all your actions with thought [and deliberation], your outcomes will be good in all matters.

19 ـ إذا قَدَّمْتَ الفِكْرَ في جَميعِ أفْعالِكَ حَسُنَتْ عَواقِبُكَ في كُلِّ أمْر

20 . By thinking, deliberation is improved.

20 ـ بِالفِكْرِ تَصْلُحُ الرَّوِيَّةُ

21 . By repeated thinking [and contemplation], doubt is dispelled.

21 ـ بِتَكَرُّرِ الفِكْرِ يَنْجابُ الشَّكُّ

22 . Through contemplation the darkness [and ambiguity] of matters get clarified.

22 ـ بِالفِكْرِ تَنْجَلي غَياهِبُ الأُمُورِ

23 . By repeated thinking the outcomes become sound.

23 ـ بِتَكْرارِ الفِكْرِ تَسْلَمُ العَواقِبُ

24 . By considering the consequences, one is saved from harm.

24 ـ بِالنَّظَرِ فِي العَواقِبِ تُؤْمَنُ المَعاطِبُ

25 . Distinguishing the everlasting from the perishing is from the noblest discernment.

25 ـ تَمْييزُ الباقي مِنَ الفاني مِنْ أشْرَفِ النَّظَرِ

26 . Think before you decide, consult before you proceed and ponder before you rush forward.

26 ـ تَفَكَّرْ قَبْلَ أنْ تَعْزِمَ، وشاوِرْ قَبْلَ أنْ تُقْدِمع، وتَدَبَّرْ قَبْلَ أنْ تَهْجُمَ

27 . Your thinking leads to your gaining insight, and acquiring lessons [from the past].

27 ـ تَفَكُّرُكَ يُفيدُكَ الاِسْتِبْصارَ، ويُكْسِبُكَ الاِعْتِبارَ

28 . The fruit of reflection is wellbeing.

28 ـ ثَمَرَةُ الفِكْرِ اَلسَّلامَةُ

29 . Continuous reflection and caution protects from error and saves from the vicissitudes of time.

29 ـ دَوامُ الفِكْرِ وَالحَذَرِ يُؤْمِنُ الزَّلَلَ ويُنْجي مِنَ الغِيَرِ

30 . May Allah have mercy on the person who reflects and then takes lesson, and who takes lesson and hence perceives [the reality of things].

30 ـ رَحِمَ اللّهُ امْرَءاً تَفَكَّرَ فَاعْتَـبَـرَ، واعْتَبـَرَ فَأبْصَرَ

31 . The cornerstone of insight is contemplation.

31 ـ رَأْسُ الاِسْتِبْصارِ الفِكْرَةُ

32 . Deliberate before acting and you will be saved from error.

32 ـ رَوِّ قَبْلَ العَمَلِ تَنْجُ مِنَ الزَّلـَلِ

33 . Deliberate before [taking] action [and] you will not be criticized for what you do.

33 ـ رَوِّ قَبْلَ الفِعْلِ لاتُعابُ بِما تَفْعَلُ

34 . The deliberation of the slow is better than the impulsiveness of the hasty.

34 ـ رَوِيَّةُ المُتَأنّي أفْضَلُ مِنْ بَديهَةِ العَجِلِ

35 . Lengthy contemplation makes the end results praiseworthy and prevents the corruption of matters.

35 ـ طُولُ الفِكْرِ يُحْمِدُ العَواقِبَ،وَ يَسْتَدْرِكُ فَسادَ الأُمُورِ

36 . Lengthy contemplation improves the outcomes of planning.

36 ـ طُولُ التَّفْكيرِ يُصْلِحُ عَواقِبَ التَّدبيرِ

37 . Lengthy consideration equals [benefitting from] the opinion of the advisor.

37 ـ طُولُ التَّفْكيرِ يَعْدِلُ رَأْيَ المُشيرِ

38 . You must reflect, as this is [means of] a guidance from error and a rectifier of deeds.

38 ـ عَلَيْكَ بِالفِكْرِ فَإنَّهُ رُشْدٌ مِنَ الضَّلالِ ومُصْلِحُ الأعْمالِ

39 . The thought of an intelligent person is guidance.

39 ـ فِكْرُ العاقِلِ هِدايَةٌ

40 . The thought of an ignorant person is misguidance.

40 ـ فِكْرُ الجاهِلِ غِوايَةٌ

41 . Thinking for a short while is better than prolonged worship.

41 ـ فِكْرُ ساعَة قَصيرَة خَيْرٌ مِنْ عِبادَة طَويلَة

42 . Your contemplation guides you to the right path and motivates you to improve your Hereafter.

42 ـ فِكْرُكَ يَهْديكَ إلَى الرَّشادِ، ويَحْدُوكَ عَلى إصْلاحِ المَعادِ

43 . A man’s thinking is a mirror that shows him his good actions from his bad ones.

43 ـ فِكْرُ المَرْءِ مِرْآةٌ تُريهِ حُسْنَ عَمَلِهِ مِنْ قُبْحِهِ

44 . The merit of thinking and understanding is more beneficial than the merit of revision and study.

44 ـ فَضْلُ فِكْر وتَفَهُّم أنْجَعُ مِنْ فَضْلِ تَكْرار ودِراسَة

45 . Your thinking about worship prompts you to act upon it.

45 ـ فِكْرُكَ فِي الطَّاعَةِ يَدْعُوكَ إلَى العَمَلِ بِها

46 . Your thinking about sin drives you to fall into it.

46 ـ فِكْرُكَ فِي المَعْصِيَةِ يَحْدُوكَ عَلَى الوُقُوعِ فيها

47 . So think, O people, and observe; take lesson and seek advice, and acquire provisions for the Hereafter, [for by this] you will attain felicity.

47 ـ فَتَفَكَّرُوا أيُّهَا النّاسُ وتَبَصَّرُوا، واعْتَبِرُوا واتَّعِظُوا، وتَزَوَّدُوا لِلآخِرَةِ تَسْعَدُوا

48 . Measure and then cut, think and then speak, verify and then act.

48 ـ قَدِّرْ ثُمَّ اقْطَعْ، وَفَكِّرْ ثُمَّ انْطِقْ، وتَبَيَّنْ ثُمَّ اعْمَلْ

49 . How can the thought of one who is always sated be pure?

49 ـ كَيْفَ تَصْفُو فِكْرَةُ مَنْ يَسْتَديمُ الشِّبَعَ

50 . Contemplation is sufficient for right guidance.

50 ـ كَفى بِالفِكْرِ رُشْداً

51 . Not everyone who shoots hits the target.

51 ـ لَيْسَ كُلُّ مَنْ رَمى يُصيبُ

52 . One who ponders [about the past] learns a lesson [from it].

52 ـ مَنْ تَأمَّلَ اعْتَـبَـرَ

53 . One whose thinking is prolonged, his observation becomes good.

53 ـ مَنْ طالَ فِكْرُهُ حَسُنَ نَظَرُهُ

54 . One whose thinking increases, his end result becomes good.

54 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَتْ فِكْرَتُهُ حَسُنَتْ عاقِبَتُهُ

55 . One whose thought is prolonged, his discernment becomes good.

55 ـ مَنْ طالَتْ فِكْرَتُهُ حَسُنَتْ بَصيرَتُهُ

56 . One who puts his mind to work arrives at the correct answer.

56 ـ مَنْ أعْمَلَ فِكْرَهُ أصابَ جَوابُهُ

57 . One who thinks before acting, his accuracy increases.

57 ـ مَنْ فَكَّرَ قَبْلَ العَمَلِ كَثُرَ صَوابُهُ

58 . One whose thinking is weak, his inattention [and gullibility] is strong.

58 ـ مَنْ ضَعُفَتْ فِكْرَتُهُ قَوِيَتْ غِرَّتُهُ

59 . One who reflects on the essence of Allah apostatizes.

59 ـ مَنْ تَفَكَّرَ في ذاتِ اللّهِ تَزَنْدَقَ

60 . One who thinks about the consequences is saved from [places of] destruction.

60 ـ مَنْ فَكَّرَ فِي العَواقِبِ أمِنَ المَعاطِبَ

61 . One who thinks a lot about sins is pulled towards [committing] them.

61 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ فِكْرُهُ فِي المَعاصِي دَعَتْهُ إلَيْها

62 . One who thinks a lot about [worldly] pleasures is overpowered by them.

62 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ فِكْرُهُ فِي اللَّذّاتِ غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْهِ

63 . One who reflects, perceives the outcomes.

63 ـ مَنْ فَكَّرَ أبْصَرَ العَواقِبَ

64 . One who keeps his mind’s eye awake reaches the height of his endeavour.

64 ـ مَنْ أسْهَرَ عَيْنَ فِكْرَتِهِ بَلَغَ كُنْهَ هِمَّتِهِ

65 . One who reflects on the majesty of Allah loses hope.

65 ـ مَنْ تَفَكَّرَ في عَظَمَةِ اللّهِ أبْلَسَ

66 . One who thinks and reflects learns a lesson from everything.

66 ـ مَنْ كانَتْ لَهُ فِكْرَةٌ فَلَهُ في كُلِّ شَيْء عِبْرَةٌ

67 . He who excels in thinking never gets humiliated.

67 ـ ما ذَلَّ مَنْ أحْسَنَ الفِكْرَ

68 . There is no worship like contemplation.

68 ـ لاعِبادَةَ كَالتَّفْكيرِ

69 . There is no [means to] right guidance like reflection.

69 ـ لارُشْدَ كَالفِكْرِ

70 . One who does not take lessons [from the past] does not reflect.

70 ـ لافِكْرَ لِمَنْ لاَاعْتِبارَ لَهُ

71 . Thinking about the consequences [of one’s action] saves one from unpleasant calamities.

71 ـ اَلفِكْرُ فِي العَواقِبِ يُؤْمِنُ مَكْرُوهَ النَوائِبِ

72 . Thinking is one of the two means of guidance.

72 ـ اَلفِكْرُ أحَدُ الهِدايَتَيْنِ

73 . Thinking about the kingdom of the heavens and earth is the worship of the sincere ones.

73 ـ اَلتَّفَكُّرُ في مَلَكُوتِ السَّماواتِ وَالأرْضِ عِبادَةُ المُخْلَصينَ

74 . Thinking about a matter before undertaking it saves one from error.

74 ـ اَلفِكْرُ فِي الأمْرِ قَبْلَ مُلابَسَتِهِ يُؤْمِنُ الزَّلَلَ

75 . Thinking leads to taking lesson, saves one from missteps and bears the fruit of precaution.

75 ـ اَلفِكْرُ يُوجِبُ الاِعْتِبارَ، ويُؤْمِنُ العِثارَ، ويُثْمِرُ الاِسْتِظْهارَ

76 . Reflect and you will awaken [and become alert].

76 ـ اِفْكِرْ تُفِقْ

77 . Contemplation guides [one] to the right path.

77 ـ اَلفِكْرُ يَهْدي إلَى الرُّشْدِ

Successfulness

Sucessfulness-الفلاح

1 . One who is pleased by that which harms him will not be successful.

1 ـ لايُفْلِحُ مَنْ يَسُرُّهُ ما يُضِرُّهُ

2 . The successful one is he who [either] spreads his wings1 or remains peaceful and enjoys ease.

2 ـ المُفْلِحُ مَنْ نَهَضَ بِجَناح، أوِ اسْتَسْلَمَ فَاسْتَراحَ

Notes

1. Meaning takes power through the support of those who are ready to fight alongside him for rightful cause.

Leaving The Matter To Allah

Leaving the matter to Allah-تفويض الأمر إلى اللّه

1 . Whoever leaves his matter to Allah, He resolves it (for him).

1 ـ مَنْ فَوَّضَ أمْرَهُ إلَى اللّهِ سَدَّدَهُ

Understanding

Understanding-الفَهْم

1 . Understanding is [achieved] though intelligence.

1 ـ اَلْفَهْمُ بِالفِطْنَةِ

2 . Understanding is a sign of knowledge.

2 ـ اَلفَهْمُ آيَةُ العِلْمِ

3 . One who tries to understand, understands.

3 ـ مَنْ تَفَهَّمَ فَهِمَ

4 . One who tries to understand increases [his understanding].

4 ـ مَنْ تَفَهَّمَ اِزْدادَ

5 . One who understands learns the depth of knowledge.

5 ـ مَنْ فَهِمَ عَلِمَ غَوْرَ العِلْمِ

6 . One who is not granted understanding by Allah, the Glorified, does not benefit from the advice of any adviser.

6 ـ مَنْ عَدِمَ الفَهْمَ عَنِ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ لَمْ يَنْـتَفِعْ بِمَوْعِظَةِ واعِظ

7 . One who possesses understanding does not become needy.

7 ـ مَاافْتَقَرَ مَنْ مَلَكَ فَهْماً

Graves

Graves-القبور

1 . Stay near (or pass by) the graves and you will learn a lesson.

1 ـ جاوِرِ(جاوِزِ) القُبُورَ تَعْتَبِرْ

2 . How excellent a son-in-law the grave is!1

2 ـ نِعْمَ الصِّهْرُ القَبْرُ

Notes

1. In the period of Jāhiliyya the Arabs would bury their daughters alive and say “We have married them to the grave.” Later, in the time of Islam, this expression was used in a general sense to remind people that they will eventually die and be lowered into their graves.

Facing Issues

Facing issues-اِسْتقبال الاُمُور

1 . One who faces [and anticipates] issues [with thought and reflection], perceives.

1 ـ مَنِ اسْتَقْبَلَ الأُمُورَ أبْصَرَ

Turning Towards Allah

Turning towards Allah-الإقبال والإقبال على اللّه

1 . Verily if you turn towards Allah you have progressed, and if you turn away from Him, you have regressed.

1 ـ إنَّكُمْ إنْ أقْبَلْتُمْ عَلَى اللّهِ أقْبَلْتُمْ، وإنْ أدْبَرْتُمْ عَنْهُ أدْبَرْتُمْ

2 . By turning towards [Allah] misfortunes are warded off.

2 ـ بِالإقْبالِ تُطْرَدُ النُّحُوسُ

3 . Making a good choice, doing good to the freemen and taking adequate precaution [or support] are from the signs of turning [to Allah].

3 ـ حُسْنُ الاِخْتيارِ، واِصْطِناعُ الأحْرارِ، وفَضْلُ الاِسْتِظْهارِ، مِنْ دَلائِلِ الإقْبالِ

4 . For every advance [and progress] there is a retreat [and a regress].

4 ـ لِكُلِّ إقْبال إدْبارٌ

5 . One of the signs of turning [towards Allah] is doing good to the people.

5 ـ مِنْ عَلاماتِ الإقْبالِ اِصْطِناعُ الرِّجالِ

6 . From the signs of turning [to Allah] are: correctness of speech and kindness in actions.

6 ـ مِنْ عَلاماتِ الإقْبالِ: سَدادُ الأقْوالِ، والرِّفْقُ فِي الأفْعالِ

Martyrdom In The Way of Allah

Martyrdom in the way of Allah-القتل في سَبيل اللّه

1 . Verily the most honourable of deaths is martyrdom. By He in whose hand my soul is, one thousand strikes with the sword are indeed easier [for me] than dying on the bed.

1 ـ إنَّ أكْرَمَ المَوتِ القَتْلُ، والَّذي نَفْسي بِيَدِهِ لألْفُ ضَرْبَة بِالسَّيْفِ أهْوَنُ (عَلَيَّ) مِنْ ميتَة عَلَى الفِراشِ

Plunging In

Plunging in-الاقتحام

1 . One who plunges into the depths of the sea, drowns.

1 ـ مَنِ اقْتَحَمَ اللُّجَجَ غَرِقَ

Power And Might

Power and might-القدرة والاقتدار

1 . Dominating the weak and the slave are from the exigencies (or wickedness) of power.

1 ـ اَلتَّسَلُّطُ عَلَى الضَّعيفِ والمَمْلُوكِ مِنْ لُزُومِ (لُؤْمِ) القُدْرَةِ

2 . Power manifests the praiseworthy and blameworthy qualities [of an individual].

2 ـ اَلْقُدْرَةُ تُظْهِرُ مَحْمُودَ الخِصالِ ومَذْمُومَها

3 . The bane of power is withholding favour.

3 ـ آفَةُ القُدْرَةِ مَنْعُ الإحْسانِ

4 . The bane of might is aggression and defiance.

4 ـ آفَةُ الاِقْتِدارِ اَلبَغْيُ والعُتُوُّ

5 . Power makes one forget [about] self-preservation.

5 ـ اَلْقُدْرَةُ تُنْسِى الحَفيظَةَ

6 . When power increases, desire decreases.

6 ـ إذا كَثُرَتِ القُدْرَةُ قَلَّتِ الشَّهْوَةُ

7 . When [one’s] capability is reduced, the offering of excuses increases.

7 ـ إذا قَلَّتِ المَقْدُرَةُ كَثُرَ التَّعَلُّلُ بِالمَعاذِيرِ

8 . The alms-tax of power is even-handedness.

8 ـ زَكاةُ القُدْرَةِ الإنْصافُ

9 . One of the best actions of the powerful person is for him to show forbearance when he is angry.

9 ـ مِنْ أحْسَنِ أفْعالِ القادِرِ أنْ يَغْضِبَ فَيَحْلُمَ

Status And Worth

Status and worth-القَدْر

1 . One who does not know his worth, transgresses his limits.

1 ـ مَنْ جَهِلَ قَدْرَهُ عَدا طَوْرَهُ

2 . One who remains within his rank [and does not overstep his limits] is honoured by the people.

2 ـ مَنْ وَقَفَ عِنْدَ قَدْرِهِ أكْرَمَهُ النّاسُ

3 . One who oversteps his limits is humiliated by the people.

3 ـ مَنْ تَعَدّى حَدَّهُ أهانَهُ النّاسُ

4 . One who is ignorant about the place where he steps is made to stumble by the reasons of his regret.

4 ـ مَنْ جَهِلَ مَوْضِعَ قَدَمِهِ عَثُرَ بِدَواعِي نَدَمِهِ

5 . One who limits himself to his [rightful] status, it will be more lasting for him.

5 ـ مَنِ اقْتَصَرَ عَلى قَدْرِهِ كانَ أبْقى لَهُ

6 . One who is ignorant of his own worth does not know anyone’s worth.

6 ـ مَنْ جَهِلَ قَدْرَهُ جَهِلَ كُلَّ قَدْر

7 . One who knows his worth is not disparaged among the people.

7 ـ مَنْ عَرَفَ قَدْرَهُ لَمْ يُضَعْ بَيْنَ النّاسِ

8 . He who knows his worth does not get ruined.

8 ـ ما هَلَكَ مَنْ عَرَفَ قَدْرَهُ

9 . He who oversteps his limits has not used his intellect.

9 ـ ما عَقَلَ مَنْ عَدا طَوْرَهُ

10 . How good it is for a servant to know his status and not to overstep his limits!

10 ـ نِعِمّا لِلْعَبْدِ أنْ يَعْرِفَ قَدْرَهُ، ولايَتَجاوَزَ حَدَّهُ

11 . Ruined is the one who does not know his status.

11 ـ هَلَكَ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ قَدْرَهُ

12 . Do not do that which will degrade your status.

12 ـ لاتَفْعَلْ ما يَضَعُ قَدْرَكَ

13 . There is no ignorance greater than transgressing [beyond] one’s status.

13 ـ لاجَهْلَ أعْظَمُ مِنْ تَعَدِّي القَدْرِ

14 . One who transgresses his limits and his status has no intelligence.

14 ـ لاعَقْلَ لِمَنْ يَتَجاوَزُ حَدَّهُ وَقَدْرَهُ

15 . May Allah have mercy on the one who knows his status and does not overstep his limits.

15 ـ رَحِمَ اللّهُ امْرَءً عَرَفَ قَدْرَهُ،وَ لَمْ يَتَعَدَّ طَوْرَهُ

16 . Do not rush to [occupy] the highest place in a gathering, for indeed the position that you are raised to is better than the position that you are lowered from.

16 ـ لاتُسْرِعَنَّ إلى أرْفَعِ مَوْضِع فِي المَجْلِسِ، فَإنَّ المَوْضِعَ الَّذي تُرْفَعُ إلَيْهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ المَوْضِعِ الَّذي تُحَطُّ عَنْهُ

Undertaking

Undertaking-الإقدام

1 . Do not undertake that which you are afraid of being incapable of.

1 ـ لاتُقْدِمْ عَلى ما تَخْشَى العَجْزَ عَنْهُ

2 . Do not close a door which you are unable to open.

2 ـ لاتُغْلِقْ باباً يُعْجِزُكَ اِفْتِتاحُهُ

To Follow

To follow-الاقتداء

1 . When you are high, do not think of the one who is below you from the ignorant ones, rather follow [the example of] those who are above you from among the scholars.

1 ـ إذا عَلَوْتَ فَلا تُفَكِّرْ فيمَنْ دُونَكَ مِنَ الجُهّالِ، ولكِنِ اقْتَدِ بِمَنْ فَوْقَكَ مِنَ العُلَماءِ

2 . When you are unable to understand something with your intellect then follow the opinion of the intelligent one and he will remove your ignorance about it.

2 ـ إذا أنْكَرْتَ مِنْ عَقْلِكَ شَيْئاً فَاقْتَدِ بِرَأْيِ عاقِل يُزيلُ ما أنْكَرْتَهُ