Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

The Heart

The heart-القلب

1 . It is forbidden upon every heart which is inclined to this world that God-wariness should reside in it.

1 ـ حَرامٌ عَلى كُلِّ قَلْب مُتَوَلِّه بِالدُّنْيا أنْ يَسْكُنَهُ التَّقْوى

2 . Wage war against these hearts [and their desires], for indeed they are quick to stumble (or get obliterated).

2 ـ حارِبُوا هذِهِ القُلُوبَ فَإنَّها سَريعَةُ العِثارِ (الدِّثار ).

3 . Sadness of the hearts purges the sins.

3 ـ حُزْنُ القُلُوبِ يُمَحِّصُ الذُّنُوبَ

4 . When the heart is empty of God-wariness, it gets filled with the lures of this world.

4 ـ خُلُوُّ القَلْبِ مِنَ التَّقْوى يَمْلأُهُ مِنْ فِتَنِ الدُّنيا

5 . Humble your heart with certitude, make it acknowledge the transience of this life, and make it see the calamities of this world.

5 ـ ذَلِّلْ قَلْبَكَ بِاليَقينِ، وقَرِّرْهُ بِالفَناءِ، وبَصِّرْهُ فَجايِـعَ الدُّنْيا

6 . The adornment of the hearts is sincerity of faith.

6 ـ زينَةُ القُلُوبِ إخْلاصُ الإيمانِ

7 . The worst of hearts is the one that doubts in its faith.

7 ـ شَرُّ القُلُوبِ الشّاكُّ في إيمانِهِ

8 . Blessed are those whose hearts are broken for the sake of Allah.

8 ـ طُوبى لِلْمُنْكَسِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ مِنْ أجْلِ اللّهِ

9 . Blessed is the one who occupies his heart with reflection and his tongue with remembrance [of Allah].

9 ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ شَغَلَ قَلْبَهُ بِالفِكْرِ، ولِسانَهُ بِالذِّكْرِ

10 . Blessed is the one whose chest is void of rancour and whose heart is safe from deception.

10 ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ خَلا مِنَ الغِلِّ صَدْرُهُ وسَلِمَ مِنَ الغِشِّ قَلْبُهُ

11 . Blessed is one in whose heart the coolness [and tranquillity] of certitude is made to enter.

11 ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ بُوشِرَ قَلْبُهُ بِبَرْدِ اليَقينِ

12 . Purify your hearts from the filth of evil deeds and your good deeds will be multiplied.

12 ـ طَهِّرُوا قُلُوبَكُمْ مِنْ دَرَنِ السَّيِّئاتِ، تُضاعَفْ لَكُمُ الحَسَناتُ

13 . The strong muscles of the body and its height are of no benefit if the heart is empty.

13 ـ عِظَمُ الجَسَده وطُولُهُ لايَنْفَعُ إذا كانَ القَلْبُ خاوِياً

14 . Then listen attentively, O people, and open the ears of your hearts so that you may understand.

14 ـ فَاسْمَعُوا أيُّهَا النّاسُ وَعُوا، وأحْضِرُوا آذانَ قُلُوبِكُمْ تَفْهَمُوا

15 . So his appearance is [in] the form of a human being but his heart is the heart of a beast.

15 ـ فَالصُّورَةُ صُورَةُ إنْسان، والقَلْبُ قَلْبُ حَيَوان

16 . The heart of a fool is in his mouth and the tongue of the intelligent one is in his heart.

16 ـ قَلْبُ الأحْمَقِ في فيِهِ، ولِسانُ العاقِلِ فِي قَلْبِهِ

17 . The heart of a fool is behind his tongue, and the tongue of the intelligent one is behind his heart.

17 ـ قَلْبُ الأحْمَقِ وَراءَ لِسانِهِ، ولِسانُ العاقِلِ وَراءَ قَلْبِهِ

18 . The pure hearts of the servants are places that Allah, the Glorified, looks upon [with His mercy]; so whoever purifies his heart, He will look upon it.

18 ـ قُلُوبُ العِبادِ الطّاهِرَةُ مَواضِعُ نَظِرِ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ فَمَنْ طَهَّرَ قَلْبَهُ نَظَرَ إلَيْهِ

19 . There are some evil thoughts that come into the hearts, but the intellects deter one from [acting upon] them.

19 ـ لِلْقُلُوبِ خَواطِرُ سُوء، والعُقُولُ تَزْجُرُ عَنْها

20 . Your heart must submit to Allah, the Glorified, for one whose heart submits, all the other parts of his body also submit.

20 ـ لِيَخْشَعْ لِلّهِ سُبْحانَهُ قَلْبُكَ، فَمَنْ خَشَعَ قَلْبُهُ خَشَعَتْ جَميعُ جَوارِحِهِ

21 . Indeed there is a piece of flesh that has been placed inside this human being which is the most amazing thing in him, and that is his heart; it has sources of wisdom and things contrary to it. If hope enters it, covetousness humiliates it and if covetousness increases in it then greed destroys it. If despair takes control over it, grief kills it. If anger comes over it, its rage intensifies. If it is blessed with pleasure, it forgets precaution. If it is overcome by fear, it becomes preoccupied with caution. If peace prevails around it, it becomes neglectful. If a hardship befalls it, impatience disgraces it. If it gains wealth, affluence makes it oppressive. If it faces indigence, distress overtakes it. If hunger attacks it, weakness disables it. If its eating increases, the heaviness of his stomach pains it. Thus every curtailment is harmful to it and every excess is injurious to it.

21 ـ لَقَدْ عُلِّقَ بِنياطِ هذا الإنْسانِ بَضْعَةٌ هِيَ أعْجَبُ ما فيهِ وذلِكَ القَلْبُ، ولَهُ مَوادٌّ مِنَ الحِكْمَةِ وأضْدادٌ مِنْ خِلافِها فَإنْ سَنَحَ لَهُ الرَّجاءُ أذَلَّهُ الطَّمَعُ، وإنْ هاجَ بِهِ الطَّمَعُ أهْلَكَهُ الحِرْصُ وإنْ مَلَكَهُ اليَأْسُ قَتَلَهُ الأسَفُ،وإنْ عَرَضَ لَهُ الغَضَبُ اِشْتَدَّ بِهِ الغَيْظُ وإنْ أسْعَدَهُ الرِّضا نَسِيَ التَّحَفُّظَ، وإنْ غالَهُ الخَوْفُ شَغَلَهُ الحَذَرُ، وإنِ اتَّسَعَ لَهُ الأمْنُ اسْتَلَبَتْهُ الغِرَّةُ وإنْ أصابَتْهُ مُصِيبَةٌ فعضَحَهُ الجَزَعُ، وإنْ أفادَ مالاً أطْغاهُ الْغِنى، وإنْ عَضَّتْهُ الفاقَةُ شَغَلَهُ البَلاءُ، وإنْ جَهَدَهُ الجُوعُ قَعَدَ بِهِ الضَّعْفُ وإنْ أفْرَطَ بِهِ الشِّبَعُ كَظَّتْهُ البِطْنَةُ، فَكُلُّ تَقْصير بِهِ مُضِرٌّ، وكُلُّ إفْراط لَهُ مُفْسِدٌ

22 . One whose heart is dead enters the fire [of hell].

22 ـ مَنْ ماتَ قَلْبُهُ دَخَلَ النّارَ

23 . Whoever keeps knowledge about Allah in his heart has accommodated independence from the creation of Allah in it.

23 ـ مَنْ سَكَنَ قَلْبَهُ العِلْمُ بِاللّهِ سَكَنَهُ الغِنى عَن خَلْقِ اللّهِ

24 . Deaf is the heart that does not have an attentive ear.

24 ـ وُقِرَ قَلْبٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ أُذُنٌ واعِيَةٌ

25 . Nothing comes forth from a sound heart except the direct meaning.

25 ـ لايَصْدُرُ عَنِ القَلْبِ السَّليمِ إلاّ المَعْنَى المُسْتَقيمُ

26 . There is no good in a heart that does not surrender, an eye that does not shed tears and knowledge that does not benefit.

26 ـ لاخَيْرَ في قَلْب لايَخْشَعُ، وعَيْن لاتَدْمَعُ، وعِلْم لايَنْفَعُ

27 . Verily there are evil thoughts that come into the hearts but the intellects deters one from [acting upon] them.

27 ـ إنَّ لِلْقُلُوبِ خَواطِرَ سَوْء، والعُقُولُ تَزْجُرُ مِنْها

28 . Verily these hearts are receptacles, and the best of them are those that are most receptive to good.

28 ـ إنَّ هذِهِ القُلُوبَ أوْعِيَةٌ، فَخَيْرُها أوْعاها لِلْخَيْرِ

29 . Verily these hearts grow weary just like bodies become weary, so seek out wise sayings for them.

29 ـ إنَّ هذِهِ القُلُوبَ تَمِلُّ كَما تَمِلُّ الأبْدانُ، فابْتَغُوا لَها طَرائِفَ الحِكَمِ

30 . Verily hearts have desire and aversion, an advancing and a retreating, so approach them from whence they advance and desire, for indeed when the heart is forced [to do anything] it becomes blind.

30 ـ إنَّ لِلْقُلُوبِ شَهْوَةً وكِراهَةً، وإقْبالاً وإدْباراً، فَأتُوها مِنْ إقْبالِها، وَشَهْوَتِها، فَإنَّ القَلْبَ إذا أُكْرِهَ عَمِيَ

31 . The heart is a spring of wisdom and the ear is the place where it sinks [and enters] in.

31 ـ اَلقَلْبُ يَنْبُوعُ الحِكْمَةِ، والأُذُنُ مَغِيضُها

32 . Enliven your heart with exhortations and kill it with asceticism, strengthen it with certitude and humble it with the remembrance of death, make it see the transience of this life and show it the calamities of the world.

32 ـ أحْيِ قَلْبَكَ بِالمَوْعِظَةِ، وأمِتْهُ بِالزَّهادَةِ، وقَوِّهِ بِاليَقينِ، وذَلِّلْهُ بِذِكْرِ المَوْتِ،وَ قَرِّرْهُ بِالفَناءِ، وبَصِّرْهُ فَجائِعَ الدُّنْيا

33 . Indeed destitution is an affliction, and worse than destitution is sickness of the body, and worse than bodily ailment is the sickness of the heart.

33 ـ ألا وإنَّ مِنَ البَلاءِ اَلفاقَةَ، وأشَدُّ مِنَ الفاقَةِ مَرَضُ البَدَنِ، وأشَدُّ مِنْ مَرَضِ البَدَنِ مَرَضُ القَلْبِ

34 . Where are the hearts that have been presented to Allah and have been bound to the obedience of Allah?

34 ـ أيْنَ القُلُوبُ الَّتي وُهِبَتْ لِلّهِ وعُوقِدَتْ عَلى طاعَةِ اللّهِ

35 . The most rancorous heart is the heart of the spiteful.

35 ـ أشَدُّ الْقُلُوبِ غِلاًّ قَلْبُ الحَقُودِ

36 . The best of hearts is a heart that has been filled with understanding.

36 ـ أفْضَلُ القُلُوبِ قَلْبٌ حُشِيَ بِالفَهْمِ

37 . Verily the heart has an advancing and a retreating, so when it advances then make it bear the [performance of] supererogatory acts, but when it retreats then make it suffice with the obligatory acts.

37 ـ إنَّ لِلْقُلُوبِ إقْبالاً وإدْباراً، فَإذا أقْبَلَتْ فَاحْمِلُوها عَلَى النَّوافِلِ، وإذا أدْبَرَتْ فَاقْتَصِرُوا بِها عَلَى الفَرائِضِ

38 . The heart is the treasurer of the tongue.

38 ـ اَلْقَلْبُ خازِنُ اللِّسانِ

39 . The heart is the book of reflection.

39 ـ اَلقَلْبُ مُصْحَفُ الفِكْرِ

40 . The hearts are locks and their keys are inquiry.

40 ـ اَلْقُلُوبُ أقْفالٌ مَفاتِحُهَا السُّؤالُ

41 . Verily the heart of a youth is like an empty [cultivation] land, it accepts anything that is sown in it.

41 ـ إنَّما قَلْبُ الحَدَثِ كَالأرْضِ الخالِيَةِ، مَهْما أُلْقِيَ فيها مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْء قَبِلَتْهُ

42 . The hearts of men are wild, so whoever shows them affection [and tames them], they turn towards him.

42 ـ قُلُوبُ الرِّجالِ وَحْشِيَّةٌ، فَمَنْ تَألَّفَها أقْبَلَتْ إلَيْهِ

Little

Little-القليل

1 . Little that is continuous is better than a lot that is discontinuous.

1 ـ قَليلٌ يَدُومُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثير يَنْقَطِعُ

2 . Having less is all right, but being humiliated, never!

2 ـ اَلتَّقَلُّلُ ولا التَّذَلُّلْ

The Least

The least-أقل شيء

1 . he least of things [required for salvation] is truthfulness and trustworthiness.

1 ـ أقَلُّ شَيْء الصِّدْقُ والأمانَةُ

Being Less

Being less-القلّة

1 . One who is less [in generosity and affection] is abased.

1 ـ مَنْ قَلَّ ذَلَّ

Qunut (Raising Hands In Supplication)

Qunut (Raising hands in supplication)-القنوت

1 . Prolonged qunūt and prostration saves one from the punishment of hellfire.

1 ـ طُولُ القُنُوتِ والسُّجُودِ يُنْجي مِنْ عَذابِ النّارِ

Despair

Despair-القنوط والقانط

1 . I am amazed at the one who loses hope while he has with him salvation in the form of repentance.

1 ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يَقْنَطُ ومَعَهُ النَّجاةُ وهُوَ الاِسْتِغْفارُ

2 . Despair kills its owner.

2 ـ قَتَلَ القُنُوطُ صاحِبَهُ

3 . Every despairing one has lost hope.

3 ـ كُلُّ قانِط آئِسٌ

Contentment And The Contented

Contentment and the contented-القانع، والقناعة

1 . The contented one is saved from the woes of covetousness.

1 ـ اَلقانِعُ ناج مِنْ آفاتِ المَطامِعِ

2 . Be content and you will gain honour.

2 ـ اِقْنَعْ تَعُزُّ

3 . Be content with what you are given and you will be made sufficient.

3 ـ اِقْنَعْ بِما أُوتِيتَهُ، تَكُنْ مَكْفِيّاً

4 . Be content with little from your worldly possessions for the safety of your religion, for indeed the believer is satisfied with the little that he gets of this world.

4 ـ اِقْنَعُوا بِالقَليلِ مِنْ دُنْياكُمْ لِسَلامَةِ ديـنِكُمْ، فَإنَّ المُؤمِنَ اَلبُلْغَةُ اليَسيرَةُ مِنَ الدُّنْيا تُقْنِعُهُ

5 . The wealthiest of all people is the contented one.

5 ـ أغْنَى النّاسِ القانِعُ

6 . A slave is free as long as he is content and a freeman is a slave as long as he covets.

6 ـ اَلْعَبْدُ حُرٌّ ما قَنِعَ، الحُرُّ عَبْدٌ ما طَمِعَ

7 . Contentment is the helper of poverty.1

7 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ عُنْوانُ(عَوْنُ) الفاقَةِ

8 . Contentment is the most lasting honour.

8 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ أبْقى عِزّ

9 . The most at ease among the people is the contented one.

9 ـ اَلمُسْتَريحُ مِنَ النّاسِ اَلقانِعُ

10 . Contentment is the sign of the God-wary.

10 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ عَلامَةُ الأتْقياءِ

11 . Contentment is the [path to the] most comfortable lifestyle.

11 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ أهْنَأُ عَيْش

12 . Contentment is honour and prosperity.

12 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ عِزٌّ وغِناءٌ

13 . Contentment is a sword that does not get blunt.

13 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ سَيْفٌ لايَنْبُو

14 . Contentment is the cornerstone of prosperity.

14 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ رأسُ الغِنى

15 . Contentment leads to honour.

15 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ تُؤَدِّي إلَى العِزِّ

16 . Contentment and obedience bring about prosperity and honour.

16 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ والطّاعَةُ تُوجِبانِ الغِنى والعِزَّةَ

17 . Contentment is continence.

17 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ عَفافٌ

18 . Contentment is a blessing.

18 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ نِعْمَةٌ

19 . Contentment is honour.

19 ـ اَلقَناعَةُ عِزٌّ

20 . The contented one is rich, even if he is hungry and unclothed.

20 ـ اَلقانِعُ غَنِيٌّ، وإنْ جاعَ وعَرى

21 . There is no contentment with avarice.

21 ـ لاقَناعَةَ مَعَ شَرَه

22 . If you are content, you will gain honour.

22 ـ إنْ تَقْنَعْ تَعِزَّ

23 . Verily you are in greater need of being content with a little sustenance than being greedy of acquiring more.

23 ـ إنَّكُمْ إلَى القِناعَةِ بِيَسيرِ الرِّزْقِ أحْوَجُ مِنْكُمْ إلَى اكْتِسابِ الحِرْصِ فِي الطَّلَبِ

24 . Verily if you become contented you will gain independence [and affluence] and the burden of worldly provisions will become lighter for you.

24 ـ إنَّكُمْ إنْ قَنِعْتُمْ حُزْتُمْ الغَناءَ وخَفَّتْ عَلَيْكُمْ مُؤَنُ الدُّنيا

25 . When you are deprived, then be content [with what you have].

25 ـ إذا حُرِمْتَ فَاقْنَعْ

26 . When you seek wealth, then seek it through contentment.

26 ـ إذا طَلَبْتَ الغِنى فَاطْلُبْهُ بِالقَناعَةِ

27 . Through contentment there is honour.

27 ـ بِالقَناعَةِ يَكُونُ العِزُّ

28 . The fruit of contentment is prosperity.

28 ـ ثَمَرَةُ القَناعَةِ الغَناءُ

29 . The fruit of contentment is being moderate in earning [one’s livelihood] and refraining from asking [others].

29 ـ ثَمَرَةُ القَناعَةِ الإجْمالُ فِي المُكْتَسَبِ والعُزُوفُ عَنِ الطَّلَبِ

30 . The fruit of contentment is honour.

30 ـ ثَمَرَةُ القَناعَةِ العِزُّ

31 . The goodness of contentment stems from continence.

31 ـ حُسْنُ القَناعَةِ مِنَ العَفافِ

32 . It is enough of contentment for you to suffice with what Allah, the Glorified, has apportioned for you.

32 ـ حَسْبُكَ مِنَ القَناعَةِ غِناكَ بِما قَسَمَ لَكَ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ

33 . Preserving that which is in your possession is better for you than seeking that which is in someone else’s possession.

33 ـ حِفْظُ مافي يَدِكَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ طَلَبِ ما في يَدِ غَيْرِكَ

34 . Blessed is the one who covers himself with contentment and keeps away from extravagance.

34 ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ تَجَلْبَبَ بِالقُنُوعِ، وتَجَنَّبَ الإسْرافَ

35 . Blessed is the one who fears the punishment [of the Hereafter], works for the Reckoning, espouses continence, is content with what suffices [him] and is pleased with [the decree of] Allah, the Glorified.

35 ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ خافَ العِقابَ، وعَمِلَ لِلْحِسابِ،وَ صاحَبَ العَفافَ، وقَنِعَ بِالكَفافِ،وَ رَضِيَ عَنِ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ

36 . You must have contentment, for indeed there is nothing that wards off poverty more than it.

36 ـ عَلَيْكَ بِالقُنُوعِ فَلاشَيْءَ أدْفَعُ لِلْفاقَةِ مِنْهُ

37 . Contentment is proportionate to the degree of continence.

37 ـ عَلى قَدْرِ العِفَّةِ تَكُونُ القَناعَةُ

38 . In contentment there is prosperity.

38 ـ فِي القَناعَةِ الغَناءُ

39 . The one who is content has gained honour.

39 ـ قَدْ عَزَّ مَن قَنِعَ

40 . Contentment has been paired with prosperity.

40 ـ قُرِنَ القُنُوعُ بِالغَناءِ

41 . Every contented one is continent.

41 ـ كُلُّ قانِـع عَفيفٌ

42 . Contentment is enough of a possession.

42 ـ كَفى بِالقَناعَةِ مُِلْكاً

43 . Be contented and you will become rich.

43 ـ كُنْ قَنِعاً تَكُنْ غَنِيّاً

44 . Contentment will never be attained until greed is lost.

44 ـ لَنْ تُوجَدَ القَناعَةُ حَتّى يَفْقُدَ الحِرْصُ

45 . One who is not satisfied with the little that he gets has not adorned himself with contentment.

45 ـ لَمْ يَتَحَلَّ بِالقَناعَةِ مَنْ لَمْ يَكْتَفِ بِيَسيرِ ما وَجَدَ

46 . One who is content becomes rich [and independent].

46 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ غَنِيَ

47 . One who is content gets satiated.

47 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ شَبِـعَ

48 . One who makes himself content becomes contented.

48 ـ مَنْ تَقَنَّعَ قَنِعَ

49 . One who is content does not get depressed.

49 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ لَمْ يَغْتَمَّ

50 . Whoever is content, his worship becomes good.

50 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ حَسُنَتْ عِبادَتُهُ

51 . Whoever is content, his greed becomes less.

51 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ قَلَّ طَمَعُهُ

52 . One who is contented with the allotment of Allah becomes needless.

52 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ بِقِسْمِ اللّهِ اِسْتَغْنى

53 . One who is not satisfied with what has been decreed for him faces hardship.

53 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يُقَنِّعْ بِما قُدِّرَ لَهُ تَعَنّى

54 . One who lacks contentment is not made affluent by riches.

54 ـ مَنْ عَدِمَ القَناعَةَ لَمْ يُغْنِهِ المالُ

55 . One from whom contentment turns away is not enriched by wealth.

55 ـ مَنْ عَدَتْهُ القَناعَةُ لَمْ يُغْنِهِ المالُ

56 . One who is content with the sustenance of Allah has no need for the creation.

56 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ بِرِزْقِ اللّهِ اِسْتَغْنى عَنِ الخَلْقِ

57 . One who is granted contentment is preserved by it.

57 ـ مَنْ وُهِبَتْ لَهُ القَناعَةُ صانَتْهُ

58 . One whose soul is contented remains dignified even in hard times.

58 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَتْ نَفْسُهُ عَزَّ مُعْسِراً

59 . One who is contented is spared from the humility of asking [others].

59 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ كُفِيَ مَذَلَّةَ الطَّلَبِ

60 . Whoever clings to contentment, his poverty disappears.

60 ـ مَنْ لَزِمَ القَناعَةَ زالَ فَقْرُهُ

61 . One who desires the blessings of the Hereafter is contented with the little [he has] of this world.

61 ـ مَنْ رَغِبَ في نَعيمِ الآخِرَةِ قَنِعَ بِيَسيرِ الدُّنيا

62 . One who is contented with the allotment of Allah becomes needless of the people.

62 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ بِقِسْمِ اللّهِ اِسْتَغْنى عَنِ الخَلْقِ

63 . One who suffices with little becomes needless of plenty.

63 ـ مَنِ اكْتَقى بِاليَسيرِ اِسْتَغْنى عَنِ الكَثيرِ

64 . One of the most honourable morals is adorning oneself with contentment.

64 ـ مِنْ أكْرَمِ الخُلْقِ التَّحَلّي بِالقَناعَةِ

65 . Remaining contented is from the noble endeavours.

65 ـ مِنْ شَرَفِ الهِمَّةِ لُزُومُ القَناعَةِ

66 . How good it is for a person to be contented with little and generous with much!

66 ـ ما أحْسَنَ بِالإنْسانِ أنْ يَقْنَعَ بِالقَليلِ ويَجُودَ بِالجَزيلِ

67 . The best fortune is contentment.

67 ـ نِعْمَ الحَـظُّ القَناعَةُ

68 . The best attribute is contentment.

68 ـ نِعْمَ الخَليقَةُ القَناعَةُ

69 . One who has been granted contentment has acquired honour.

69 ـ نالَ العِزَّ مَنْ رُزِقَ القَناعَةَ

70 . There is no treasure like contentment.

70 ـ لاكَنْـزَ كَالقَناعَةِ

71 . Contentment is the better of the two riches.

71 ـ اَلْقَناعَةُ أفْضَلُ الغِنائَيْنِ

72 . Contentment is the better of the two forms of continence.

72 ـ اَلْقَناعَةُ أفْضَلُ العِفَّتَيْنِ

73 . Indeed contentment and overcoming lustful desires are from the greatest forms of abstinence.

73 ـ ألا وإنَّ القَناعَةَ، وغَلَبَةَ الشَّهْوَةِ مِنْ أكْبَرِ العِفافِ

74 . The most helpful thing in reforming the self is contentment.

74 ـ أعْوَنُ شَيْء عَلى صَلاحِ النَّفْسِ القَناعَةُ

75 . Verily in contentment there is prosperity.

75 ـ إنَّ فِي القُنُوعِ لَغَناءٌ

76 . Contentment enriches.

76 ـ اَلْقَناعَةُ تُغْني

77 . Every contented one is rich.

77 ـ كُلُّ قانِع غَنِيٌّ

78 . One whose contentment increases, his submissiveness [to the people] decreases.

78 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ قُنُوعُهُ، قَلَّ خُضُوعُهُ

79 . One who is content gains honour and becomes independent.

79 ـ مَنْ قَنِعَ عَزَّ واسْتَغْنى

80 . None has more honour than the contented one.

80 ـ لاأعَزَّ مِنْ قانِع

81 . Contentment is the symbol of satisfaction [with Allah’s decree].

81 ـ اَلقُنُوعُ عُنْوانُ الرِّضا

82 . The honour of contentment is better than the humiliation of subordination.

82 ـ عِزُّ القُنُوْعِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ذُلِّ الخُضُوعِ

83 . There is no wealth like contentment.

83 ـ لاغِنى كَالقُنُوْعِ

Notes

1. Meaning that it makes poverty easier to bear.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions-القنية والمقتنيات

1 . Acquisitions are [a cause of] sorrows.

1 ـ اَلْقِنْيَةُ أحْزانٌ

2 . Acquisitions are deprivation [from peace of mind].

2 ـ اَلْقِنْيَةُ سَلِبٌ

3 . Acquisitions bring about sadness.

3 ـ اَلْقِنْيَةُ (اَلفِتْنَةُ) تَجْلِبُ الحَزَنَ

4 . Acquisitions are a spring of sorrows.

4 ـ اَلْقِنْيَةُ يَنْبُوعُ الأحْزانِ

5 . Acquisitions are the spoils of disasters.

5 ـ اَلْقِنْيَةُ نَهْبُ الأحْداثِ

6 . The discarding of hardships [one endures for attaining worldly gain] is the best of acquisitions.

6 ـ اِطِّراحُ الكُلَفِ أشْرَفُ قِنْيَة

7 . To the extent of [one’s] acquisitions, sorrow and grief is multiplied.

7 ـ بِقَدْرِ القِنْيَةِ يَتَضاعَفُ اَلحُزْنُ والغُمُومُ

8 . The fruit of acquisitions is sorrow.

8 ـ ثَمَرَةُ المُقْتَنَياتِ الحُزْنُ