Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

The Human Being

The human being-الْمَرْء والرجل

1 . A person is in the position where he places his soul through his devotion and obedience, so if he purifies it, it becomes pure and if he sullies it, it becomes sullied.

1 ـ اَلْمَرْءُ حَيْثُ وَضَعَ نَفْسَهُ بِرِياضَتِهِ وطاعَتِهِ، فَإنْ نَزَهَها تَنَزَّهَتْ، وإنْ دَنَسَها تَدَنَّسَتْ

2 . A person is in the position that he chooses for his soul. If he preserves it, it becomes elevated and if he does not preserve it, it becomes abased.

2 ـ اَلرَّجُلُ حَيْثُ اخْتارَ لِنَفْسِهِ إنْ صانَها اِرْتَفَعَتْ، وَإنِ ابْتَذَلَها اِتَّضَعَتْ

3 . A person is [gauged] by his two small parts: his heart and his tongue. If he battles, he fights with his heart and if he speaks, he speaks by his articulation.

3 ـ اَلْمَرْءُ بِأصْغَرَيْهِ: بِقَلْبِهِ، ولِسانِهِ، إنْ قاتَلَ قاتَلَ بِجَنان، وإنْ نَطَقَ نَطَقَ بِبَيان

4 . The human being changes in three instances: when he is close to kings, when he gains positions of authority and when he becomes wealthy. So whoever does not change in these conditions, then he is one who possesses a strong intellect and an upright character.

4 ـ اَلْمَرْءُ يَتَغَيَّرُ في ثَلاث: اَلقُرْبُ مِنَ المُلُوكِ، والوِلاياتُ، والغَناءُ مِنَ الفَقْرِ، فَمَنْ لَمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ في هذِهِ فَهُوَ ذُو عَقْل قَويم، وخُلْق مُسْتَقيم

5 . A man is [to be gauged] by his astuteness not by his appearance.

5 ـ اَلْمَرْءُ بِفِطْنَتِهِ لابِصُورَتِهِ

6 . A person is [valued] by his endeavour [and effort], not by his [material] acquisition.

6 ـ اَلْمَرْءُ بِهِمَّتِهِ لابِقُنْيَتِهِ

7 . A man is [gauged] by his endeavour.

7 ـ اَلْمَرْءُ بِهِمَّتِهِ

8 . A person is [judged] by [what is in] his heart.

8 ـ اَلرَّجُلُ بِجَنانِهِ

9 . A person is [gauged] by his faith.

9 ـ اَلْمَرْءُ بِإيمانِهِ

10 . The distinction of a man is [by] his wealth but his honour is [by] his religion.

10 ـ حَسَبُ الرَّجُلِ مالُهُ، وكَرَمُهُ دينُهُ

11 . The distinction of a man is his intellect and his magnanimity is [by] his [good] character.

11 ـ حَسَبُ الرَّجُلِ عَقْلُهُ، ومُرُوءَتُهُ خُلْقُهُ

12 . The distinction of a person is [by] his knowledge and his beauty is his intellect.

12 ـ حَسَبُ المَرْءِ عِلْمُهُ، وجَمالُهُ عَقْلُهُ

13 . The evidence of a person’s roots is his action.

13 ـ دَليلُ أصْلِ المَرْءِ فِعْلُهُ

14 . The value of every person [gauged by] is what he knows.

14 ـ قيمَةُ كُلِّ امْرِء ما يَعْلَمُ

15 . The value of every person is his intellect.

15 ـ قيمَةُ كُلِّ امْرِء عَقْلُهُ

16 . A person’s worth is based on the extent of his merit.

16 ـ قَدْرُ المَرْءِ عَلى قَدْرِ فَضْلِهِ

17 . The worth of every person is [measured by] that which he does well.

17 ـ قَدْرُ كُلِّ امْرِء ما يُحْسِنُهُ

18 . Every person has a need (or for every affair there is [a proper] etiquette).

18 ـ لِكُلِّ امْرِء (أمْر أدَبٌ) أرَبٌ

19 . The good and evil of every person, and the purity or impurity of his origin is evinced by what he manifests of his actions.

19 ـ يُسْتَدَلُّ عَلى خَيْرِ كُلِّ امْرِء، وشَرِّهِ، وطَهارَةِ أصْلِهِ وخُبْثِهِ، بِما يَظْهَرُ مِنْ أفْعالِهِ

20 . When the virtues of a man are more than his vices, then that [person] is ideal, and when his virtues and vices are equal then he has protected himself [from destruction], but if his vices are more than his virtues then he is doomed.

20 ـ إذا كانَتْ مَحاسِنُ الرَّجُلِ أكْثَرَ مِنْ مَساويهِ فَذلِكَ الكامِلُ،وَ إذا كانَ مُتَساوِيَ المَحاسِنِ والمَساوي فَذلِكَ المُتَماسِكُ، وإنْ زادَتْ مَساويهِ عَلى مَحاسِنِهِ فَذلِكَ الْهالِكُ

21 . The evil man does not think positively about anyone because he does not see anyone but through the depiction of his own soul.

21 ـ اَلرَّجُلُ السُّوءُ لايَظُنُّ بِأحَد خَيْراً، لأنَّهُ لايَراهُ إلاّ بِوَصْفِ نَفْسِهِ

22 . The worst person is he who sells his religion for the worldly life of others.

22 ـ بِئْسَ الرَّجُلُ مَنْ باعَ دينَهُ بِدُنْيا غَيْرِهِ

23 . At times people are deceived.

23 ـ قَدْ تُخْدَعُ الرِّجالُ

24 . A person is weighed by his speech and valued by his action, so say that which is weighty and do that which has great value.

24 ـ اَلمَرْءُ يُوزَنُ بِقَوْلِهِ، ويُقَوَّمُ بِفِعْلِهِ، فَقُلْ ما تَرَجَّحَ زِنَتُهُ، وافْعَلْ ما تَجِلُّ قيمَتُهُ

25 . A person’s value is indicated by his knowledge and intellect.

25 ـ يُنْبِيُ عَنْ قيمَةِ كُلِّ امْرِي عِلْمُهُ وعَقْلُهُ

26 . Every person is answerable for what is in his possession and his family.

26 ـ كُلُّ امْرِء مَسْؤُلٌ عَمّا مَلَكَتْ يَمينُهُ وعِيالِهِ

Magnanimity

Magnanimity-المُروءة

1 . Magnanimity is a person’s eschewal of that which dishonours him and his earning that which embellishes him.

1 ـ اَلْمُـرُوءَةُ اجْتِنابُ الرَّجُلِ ما يَشِينُهُ واكْتِسابُهُ ما يَزينُهُ

2 . Magnanimity is [displaying] equity when in authority, showing forgiveness despite having the power [to take revenge] and being financially supportive [to those in need] in one’s society (or in times of hardship).

2 ـ اَلْمُرُوءَةُ اَلْعَدْلُ فِي الإمْرَةِ، والعَفْوُمَعَ القُدْرَةِ، والمُواساةُ فِي العِشْرَةِ (العُسْرَةِ ).

3 . Magnanimity is spreading goodness and being hospitable to guests.

3 ـ اَلْمُرُوءَةُ بَثُّ المَعْرُوفِ، وقِرَى الضُّيُوفِ

4 . Magnanimity is a title that encompasses all the [other] merits and virtues.

4 ـ اَلْمُروءَةُ اسْمٌ جامِعٌ لِسائِرِ الفَضائِلِ والمَحاسِنِ

5 . The most honourable magnanimity is loyal brotherhood.

5 ـ أشْرَفُ اَلْمُرُوءَةِ حُسْنُ الأُ خُوَّةِ

6 . The best magnanimity is preserving goodwill [and affection].

6 ـ أحْسَنُ الْمُرُوءَةِ حِفْظُ الوُدِّ

7 . The root of magnanimity is modesty and its fruit is chastity.

7 ـ أصْلُ المُرُوءَةِ اَلْحَياءُ، وثَمَرَتُها العِفَّةُ

8 . The most honourable magnanimity is controlling one’s anger and killing one’s lustful desires.

8 ـ أشْرَفُ المُرُوءَةِ مِلْكُ الغَضَبِ، وإماتَةُ الشَّهْوَةِ

9 . The most excellent magnanimity is tolerating the offenses of one’s brothers.

9 ـ أفْضَلُ المُرُوءَةِ اِحْتِمالُ جِناياتِ الإخْوانِ

10 . The most excellent magnanimity is for a man to preserve his dignity.

10 ـ أفْضَلُ المُرُوءَةِ اِسْتِبْقاءُ الرَّجُلِ ماءَ وَجْهِهِ

11 . The beginning of magnanimity is obedience to Allah and its end is keeping away from vile traits.

11 ـ أوَّلُ المُرُوءَةِ طاعَةُ اللّهِ، وآخِرُها التَّنَزُّهُ عَنِ الدَّنايا

12 . The beginning of magnanimity is [having] a cheerful mien and its end is being affectionate towards the people.

12 ـ أوَّلُ المُرُوءَةِ طَلاقَةُ الوَجْهِ، وآخِرُها التَّوَدُّدُ إلَى النّاسِ

13 . The beginning of magnanimity is cheerfulness and its end is persistence in righteousness.

13 ـ أوَّلُ المُرُوءَةِ َالبِشْرُ،وَ آخِرُهااِسْتِدامَةُ البِرِّ

14 . The most excellent magnanimity is modesty, and its fruit is chastity.

14 ـ أفْضَلُ المُرُوءَةِ اَلْحَياءُ، وثَمَرَتُهُ العِفَّةُ

15 . The most excellent magnanimity is financially supporting your brothers with [your] wealth, and treating them as your equals in status.

15 ـ أفْضَلُ المُرُوءَةِ مُواساةُ الإخْوانِ بِالأمْوالِ، ومُساواتُهُمْ فِي الأحْوالِ

16 . Magnanimity is fulfilling one’s promise.

16 ـ اَلمُرُوءَةُ إنْجازُ الوَعْدِ

17 . Magnanimity is eschewing vile traits.

17 ـ اَلمُرُوءَةُ اِجْتِنابُ الدَّنِيَّةِ

18 . Concealing [one’s] poverty and sickness is part of magnanimity.

18 ـ إخْفاءُ الفاقَةِ والأمْراضِ مِنَ المُرُوءَةِ

19 . Magnanimity is bereft and devoid of every [form of] vulgarity.

19 ـ اَلمُرُوءَةُ مِنْ كُلِّ خَناء عَرِيَّةٌ بَرِيَّةٌ

20 . Magnanimity impels [one] towards noble traits.

20 ـ اَلمُرُوءَةُ تَحُثُّ عَلَى المَكارِمِ

21 . There is no magnanimity like remaining free from sins.

21 ـ لامُرُوَّةَ كَالتَّنزُُّهُ عَنِ المَ آثِمِ

22 . Magnanimity is contentment and tolerance (or patience).

22 ـ اَلمُرُوءَةُ القَناعَةُ والتَّحَمُّلُ (التَجَمُّلُ ).

23 . Magnanimity prevents every vileness.

23 ـ اَلمُرُوءَةُ تَمْنَعُ مِنْ كُلِّ دَنِيَّة

24 . Magnanimity is being free from every [form of] wickedness.

24 ـ اَلمُرُوءَةُ مِنْ كُلِّ لُؤْم بَرِيَّةٌ

25 . Magnanimity is being free from vulgarity and disloyalty.

25 ـ اَلمُرُوءَةُ بَرِيَّةٌ مِنَ الخَناءِ والغَدْرِ

26 . There is magnanimity in three things: lowering one’s gaze, lowering one’s voice and walking with modesty.

26 ـ ثَلاثٌ فيهِنَّ المُرُوءَةُ: غَضُّ الطَّرْفِ، وغَضُّ الصَّوْتِ، وَمَشْيُ القَصْدِ

27 . Three things are the consolidators of magnanimity: Giving without being asked, being faithful without having made a promise and being generous despite having less.

27 ـ ثَلاثٌ هُنَّ جِماعُ المُرُوءَةِ: عَطاءٌ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْئَلَة، ووَفاءٌ مِنْ غَيْرِ عَهْد، وَجُودٌ مَعَ إقْلال

28 . Three things amount to magnanimity: generosity despite poverty [and hardship], tolerance of everything other than humiliation and refraining from asking others.

28 ـ ثَلاثَةٌ هُنَّ المُرُوءَةُ: جُودٌ مَعَ قِلَّة، واحْتِمالٌ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَذَلَّة، وتَعَفُّفٌ عَنِ المَسْئَلَةِ

29 . The completeness of magnanimity is for you not to do in private what you would feel ashamed of doing in front of others.

29 ـ جِماعُ المُرُوءَةِ أنْ لاتَعْمَلَ فِي السِّرِّ ما تَسْتَحْيي مِنْهُ فِي العَلانِيَةِ

30 . Two qualities have in them the consolidation of magnanimity: a person’s eschewing that which disgraces him and his acquiring that which embellishes him.

30 ـ خَصْلَتانِ فيهِما جِماعُ المُرُوءَةِ: اِجْتِنابُ الرَّجُلِ ما يَشينُهُ، واكْتِسابُهُ ما يَزينُهُ

31 . One’s magnanimity is to the extent of the nobility of his soul.

31 ـ عَلى قَدْرِ شَرَفِ النَّفْسِ تَكُونُ المُرُوءَةُ

32 . He who is not careful of his obligation towards his friends and does not treat his enemies justly cannot be attributed with magnanimity.

32 ـ لَمْ يَتَّصِفْ بِالمُرُوَّةِ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْعَ ذِمَّةَ أوْلِيائِهِ ويُنْصِفْ أعْدائَهُ

33 . If magnanimity was not difficult to acquire and heavy to bear, the wicked and ignorant ones would not have left from it anything even for a single night, but its acquisition is difficult and its burden is heavy, so the wicked and ignorant turned away from it and the honourable and virtuous ones adopted it.

33 ـ لَوْ أنَّ المُرُوَّةَ لَمْ تَشْتَدَّ مَؤُنَتُها، ويَثْقُلُ مَحْمِلُها ما تَرَكَ اللِّئامُ الأغْمارُ مِنْها مَبيتَ لَيْلَة، ولكِنَّهَا اشْتَدَّتْ مَؤُنَتُها، وثَقُلَ مَحْمِلُها، فَحادَ عَنْها اللِّئامُ الأغْمارُ، وحَمَلَهاَ الكِرامُ الأخْيارُ

34 . Part of magnanimity is going beyond one’s [normal] capacity in working for [the pleasure of] Allah.

34 ـ مِنَ المُرُوءَةِ العَمَلُ لِلّهِ فَوْقَ الطّاقَةِ

35 . Lowering the gaze and walking with modesty are part of magnanimity.

35 ـ مِنَ المُرُوءَةِ غَضُّ الطَّرْفِ ومَشْيُ القَصْدِ

36 . Obedience to Allah and good estimation are part of magnanimity.

36 ـ مِنَ المُرُوَّةِ طاعَةُ اللّهِ، وحُسْنُ التَّقْديرِ

37 . Keeping away from the forbidden is one of the conditions of magnanimity.

37 ـ مِنْ شَرائِطِ المُرُوَّةِ التَّنَزُّهُ عَنِ الحَـرامِ

38 . From the completeness of magnanimity is for one to feel ashamed of himself.

38 ـ مِنْ تَمامِ المُرُوءَةِ أنْ تَسْتَحْيِيَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ

39 . Magnanimity is one of the most excellent religious teachings and there is no good in a religion which has no magnanimity in it.

39 ـ مِنْ أفْضَلِ الدّينِ المُرُوَّةُ ولاخَيْرَ في دين لَيْسَ لَهُ (فيهِ) مُرُوَّةٌ

40 . Staying clear of vile traits is from the completeness of magnanimity.

40 ـ مِنْ تَمامِ المُرُوَّةِ التَّنَزُّهُ عَنِ الدَّنِيَّةِ

41 . Keeping ties with near relatives is from the most excellent magnanimity.

41 ـ مِنْ أفْضَلِ المُرُوَّةِ صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ

42 . Maintaining resoluteness [and judiciousness] is from the most excellent magnanimity.

42 ـ مِنْ أفْضَلِ المُرُوَّةِ صِيانَةُ الحَزْمِ

43 . It is from the completeness of magnanimity for you to forget your right upon others while recalling their right upon you.

43 ـ مِنْ تَمامِ المُرُوَّةِ أنْ تَنْسَى الحَقَّ لَكَ، وتَذْكُرَ الحَقَّ عَلَيْكَ

44 . It is from magnanimity for you to go out of your way when you are asked [for something] and to lighten [your requests] when you ask [someone for anything].

44 ـ مِنَ المُرُوَّةِ أنَّكَ إذا سُئِلْتَ أنْ تَتَكَلَّفَ وإذا سَأَلْتَ أنْ تُخَفِّفَ

45 . It is part of magnanimity for you to be moderate and not extravagant, and to keep the promises you make.

45 ـ مِنَ المُرُوَّةِ أنْ تَقْتَصِدَ فَلا تُسْرِفَ، وتَعِدَ فَلا تُخْلِفَ

46 . Bearing the offences of one’s brothers is from magnanimity.

46 ـ مِنَ المُرُوَّةِ اِحْتِمالُ جِناياتِ الإخْوانِ (المَعْرُوفِ ).

47 . Nobody has carried a burden heavier than magnanimity.

47 ـ ما حَمَلَ الرَّجُلُ حَمْلاً أثْقَلَ مِنَ المُرُوَّةِ

48 . With affluence, magnanimity becomes manifested.

48 ـ مَعَ الثَّرْوَةِ تَظْهَرُ المُرُوَّةُ

49 . The magnanimity of a person is to the extent of his intellect.

49 ـ مُرُوَّةُ الرَّجُلِ عَلى قَدْرِ عَقْلِهِ

50 . The magnanimity of a person is [gauged by] the truthfulness of his speech.

50 ـ مُرُوَّةُ الرَّجُلِ صِدْقُ لِسانِهِ

51 . A person’s magnanimity is in his tolerance of his brothers’ mistakes.

51 ـ مُرُوَّةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي احْتِمالِ عَثَراتِ إخْوانِهِ

52 . The basis of magnanimity is truthful speech and doing good to others.

52 ـ مِلاكُ المُرُوَّةِ صِدْقُ اللِّسانِ وبَذْلُ الإحْسانِ

53 . The establishment of magnanimity is in struggling with your brother to make him obey Allah, the Glorified, and restraining him from disobeying Him, and increasing your censure [of him] for it.

53 ـ نِظامُ المُرُوَّةِ في مُجاهَدَةِ أخيكَ عَلى طاعَةِ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ، وصَدِّهِ عَنْ مَعاصيهِ، وأنْ تُـكْثِرَ عَلى ذلِكَ مَلامَهُ،(وَأنْ تَكَثَّر عَلى ذلِكَ مَلامُهُ ).

54 . Magnanimity is not perfected except for the intelligent one.

54 ـ لاتَكْمُلُ المُرُوَّةُ إلاّ لِلَبيب

55 . There is no magnanimity like keeping clear of sins.

55 ـ لامُرُوَّةَ كَالتَّنَزُّهِ عَنِ المَ آثِمِ

56 . There is no magnanimity in one who has no determination.

56 ـ لامُرُوَّةَ لِمَنْ لاهِمَّةَ لَهُ

57 . Magnanimity is not completed except by bearing the hardships of good acts.

57 ـ لاتَكْمُلُ المُرُوَّةُ إلاّ بِاحْتِمالِ جِناياتِ المَعْرُوفِ

58 . Magnanimity is evinced by increased modesty, generous giving and refraining from harming others.

58 ـ يُسْتَدَلُّ عَلَى المُرُوَّةِ بِكَثْرَةِ الحَياءِ، وبَذْلِ النَّدى، وكَفِّ الأذى

59 . The magnanimity of a person is evinced by [his] spreading goodness, granting favours and abandoning [putting others under] obligation.

59 ـ يُسْتَدَلُّ عَلى مُرُوَّةِ الرَّجُلِ بِبَثِّ المَعْرُوفِ، وَبَذْلِ الإحْسانِ، وتَرْكِ الاِمْتِنانِ

Sickness

Sickness-المرض

1 . Sickness is [a form of] confinement of the body.

1 ـ اَلمَرَضُ حَبْسُ البَدَنِ

2 . There are two things that should not be scorned: sickness and the poor relative.

2 ـ شَيْئانِ لايُؤْنَفُ مِنْهُما: اَلمَرَضُ، وذُوالقَرابَةِ المُفْتَقِرِ

3 . One who hides his sickness from the physicians has betrayed his body.

3 ـ مَنْ كَتَمَ الأطِبّاءَ مَرَضَهُ خانَ بَدَنَهُ

4 . Whoever conceals his hidden ailment, his physician becomes incapable of curing him.

4 ـ مَنْ كَتَمَ مَكْنُونَ دائِهِ عَجَزَ طَبيبُهُ عَنْ شِفائِهِ

5 . Sickness in one of the two confinements.

5 ـ اَلمَرَضُ أحَدُ الحَبْسَيْنِ

Disputation And Argument

Disputation and argument-المراء والجدال

1 . Disputation is the seed of evil.

1 ـ اَلمِراءُ بَذْرُ الشَّرِّ

2 . Argument in religion corrupts certitude.

2 ـ اَلْجَدَلُ فِي الدّينِ يُفْسِدُ اليَقينَ

3 . The fruit of disputation is hatred.

3 ـ ثَمَرَةُ المِراءِ الشَّحْناءُ

4 . Too much disputation is the cause of hatred [and enmity].

4 ـ سَبَبُ الشَّحْناءِ كَثْرَةُ المِراءِ

5 . One should not dispute with six types of people: the jurist, the leader, the low, the lewd, the woman and the child.

5 ـ سِتَّةٌ لايُمارُونَ: اَلْفَقيهُ وَالرَّئيسُ وَالدَّنيُّ والبَذيُّ والمَرْأَةُ وَالصَّبيُّ

6 . One whose disputation increases does not remain safe from error.

6 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ مِراؤُهُ لَمْ يَأْمَنِ الغَلَطَ

7 . Whoever accustoms himself to disputation, it becomes his habit.

7 ـ مَنْ عَوَّدَ نَفْسَهُ المِراءَ صارَ دَيْدَنَهُ

8 . One who makes disputation his habit will not turn his night into day [and will remain in the darkness of ignorance].

8 ـ مَنْ جَعَلَ دَيْدَنَهُ المِراءَ لَمْ يُصْبِحْ لَيْلَهُ

9 . One whose false disputations increase, his blindness from the truth persists.

9 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ مِرائُهُ بِالْباطِلِ دامَ عَماؤُهُ عَنِ الحَقِّ

10 . One who disputes with a fool has no intelligence.

10 ـ مَنْ مارَى السَّفيهَ فَلا عَقْلَ لَهُ

11 . With excessive disputation, there can be no affection.

11 ـ لامَحَبَّةَ مَعَ كَثْرَةِ مِراء

Joking

Joking-المزاح

1 . Joking is a [cause of] separation that is followed by rancour.

1 ـ اَلمُزاحُ فِرْقَةٌ تَتْبَعُها ضَغِْينَةٌ

2 . Beware of recalling that which was funny in the speech [of others], even if you narrate it from someone else.

2 ـ إيّاكَ أنْ تَذْكُرَ مِنَ الكَلامِ (ماكانَ) مُضْحِكاً، وإنْ حَكَيْتَهُ عَنْ غَيْرِكَ

3 . Excessiveness in joking is foolishness.

3 ـ اَلإفْراطُ فِي المَزْحِ خُرْقٌ

4 . Abandon [excessive] joking for indeed it is the conception of rancour.

4 ـ دَعِ المُزاحَ فَإنَّهُ لِقاحُ الضَّغينَةِ

5 . In impudence and excessive joking there is foolishness.

5 ـ فيِ السَّفَهِ وكَثْرَةِ المُزاحِ الخُرْقُ

6 . Too much joking diminishes one’s reverence [and dignity].

6 ـ كَثْرَةُ المُزاحِ تُسْقِطُ الهَيبَةَ

7 . Too much joking takes away prestige and brings about enmity [and rancour].

7 ـ كَثْرَةُ المُزاحِ تُذْهِبُ البَهاءَ وتُوجِبُ الشَّهْناءَ

8 . Everything has a seed, and the seed of enmity is joking.

8 ـ لِكُلِّ شَيْء بَذْرٌ، وبَذْرُ العَداوَةِ المُزاحُ

9 . One who jokes [excessively] is taken lightly.

9 ـ مَنْ مَزَحَ اُسْتُخِفَّ بِهِ

10 . One whose joking increases is deemed ignorant.

10 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ مُزاحُهُ اُسْتُجْهِلَ

11 . One whose joking is excessive is considered a fool.

11 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ مُزاحُهُ اُسْتُحْمِقَ

12 . One whose joking increases, his reverence [and dignity] decreases.

12 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ مُزاحُهُ قَلَّتْ هَيْبَتُهُ

13 . One whose joking increases, his dignity diminishes.

13 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ مَزْحُهُ قَلَّ وَقارُهُ

14 . Whoever jokes excessively will never be without one who bears a grudge against him and one who takes him lightly.

14 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ مُزاحُهُ لَمْ يَخْلُ مِنْ حاقِد عَلَيْهِ ومُسْتَخِفّ بِهِ

15 . Any time a person makes a joke, he parts with a portion of his intellect.

15 ـ ما مَزَحَ امْرُءٌ مَزْحَةً إلاّ مَجَّ مِنْ عَقْلِهِ مَجَّةً

16 . Do not make fun of a noble person such that he ends up bearing a grudge against you.

16 ـ لاتُمازِحِ الشَّريفَ فَيَحْقِدَ عَلَيْكَ

17 . Never make fun of a friend thereby turning him into an enemy, or of an enemy thereby making him [want to] destroy you.

17 ـ لاتُمازِحَنَّ صَديقاً فَيُعادِيَكَ، ولاعَدُوّاً فَيُرْدِيَكَ

Walking

Walking-المَشي

1 . Keep walking in your customary way (or with your ailment1 ) as long as you can.

1 ـ اِمْشِ بِدَأْبِكَ(بِدائِكَ) ما مَشى بِكَ

Notes

1. This is how it appears in Nahj al-Balāgha.

Delay

Delay-المطل

1 . Delay and obligation are the spoilers of [the] favour [one does to others].

1 ـ اَلمَطَلُ والمَنُّ مُنَكِّدَا الإحْسانِ

2 . Delay [in giving] is one of the two refusals.

2 ـ اَلمَطَلُ أحَدُ المَنْعَيْنِ

3 . Delay [and procrastination] is a chastisement of the soul.

3 ـ اَلمَطَلُ عَذابُ النَّفْسِ

Scheming

Scheming-المكر

1 . Scheming and malice are things that keep faith away.

1 ـ اَلْمَكْرُ والغُلُّ مُجانِبَا الإيمانِ

2 . Beware of scheming, for indeed scheming [and plotting] is a blameworthy quality.

2 ـ إيّاكَ والمَكْرَ، فَإنَّ الْمَكْرَ لَخُلْقٌ ذَميمٌ

3 . Scheming is wickedness, deception is evil.

3 ـ اَلمَكْرُ لُؤْمٌ، اَلخَديعَةُ شُؤْمٌ

4 . Scheming is the practice of the mutinous.

4 ـ اَلمَكْرُ شيمَةُ المَرَدَةِ

5 . Scheming is the trait of the wicked.

5 ـ اَلمَكْرُ سَجِيَّةُ اللِّئامِ

6 . Scheming against one who trusts in you is ingratitude [and betrayal].

6 ـ اَلمَكْرُ بِمَنِ ائْتَمَنَكَ كُفْرٌ

7 . The bane of cleverness is scheming.

7 ـ آفَةُ الذُّكاءِ اَلْمَكْرُ

8 . The cornerstone of wisdom is eschewing deceptions.

8 ـ رَأْسُ الحِكْمَةِ تَجَنُّبُ الخُدَعِ

9 . Many a plotter has been struck down by his own stratagem.

9 ـ رُبَّ مُحْتال صَرَعَتْهُ حيلَتُهُ

The Devising Of Allah

The devising of Allah-مكر اللّه

1 . One who feels secure from the devising of Allah is destroyed.

1 ـ مَنْ أمِنَ مَكْرَ اللّهِ هَلَكَ

2 . One who feels secure from the devising [of Allah] meets with harm.

2 ـ مَنْ أمِنَ المَكْرَ لَقِيَ الشَّـرَّ

The Schemer And Plotter

The schemer and the plotter-الماكر والمكور

1 . The one who always hatches plots [against others] is a devil.

1 ـ اَلمَكُورُ شَيْطانٌ

2 . The one who is always scheming [against others] is a devil in the form of a human being.

2 ـ اَلْمَكُورُ شَيْطانٌ في صُورَةِ الإنْسانِ

3 . One who schemes is afflicted by his own scheming.

3 ـ مَنْ مَكَرَ حاقَ بِهِ مَكْرُهُ

4 . Whoever schemes against people, Allah, the Glorified, turns his scheme back on him.

4 ـ مَنْ مَكَرَ بِالنَّاسِ رَدَّ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ مَكْرَهُ في عُنُقِهِ

5 . There is no trustworthiness in the schemer.

5 ـ لاأمانَةَ لِمَكُور

6 . Evil scheming does not beset anyone but those who practice it.

6 ـ لايَحيقُ المَكْرُ السَّيئُ إلاّ بِأهْلِهِ

Flattery

Flattery-المَلَق

1 . Beware of flattery, for indeed flattery is not from the characteristics of faith [and the faithful].

1 ـ إيّاكَ والمَلَقَ، فَإنَّ المَلَقَ لَيْسَ مِنْ خَلائِقِ الإيمانِ

2 . Flattery is not part of the character of Prophets.

2 ـ لَيْسَ المَلَقُ مِنْ خُلْقِ الأنْبِياءِ

3 . One whose flattery increases, his [sincere] joyfulness is not recognized.

3 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ مَلَقُهُ لَمْ يُعْرَفْ بِشْرُهُ

4 . Verily only the one who does not flatter you [truly] adores you, and [only] one who does not make you hear his praise for you [truly] praises you.

4 ـ إنَّما يُحِبُّكَ مَنْ لايَتَمَلَّقُكَ ويُثْني عَلَيْكَ مَنْ لايَسْمَعُكَ