Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Giving And Withholding Charity

Giving and withholding charity-الإنْفاق والإمساك

1 . Beware of withholding [charity], for indeed you are [only] a treasurer for someone else in that which you withhold from what is in excess of your daily requirement.

1 ـ إيّاكَ والإمْساكَ فَإنَّ ما أمْسَكْتَهُ فَوْقَ قُوتِ يَوْمِكَ كُنْتَ فيهِ خازِناً لِغَيْرِكَ

2 . If you spend your wealth for the sake of Allah, then [know that] indeed Allah is quick in recompense.

2 ـ إنْ تَبْذُلُوا أمْوالَكُمْ في جَنْبِ اللّهِ فَإنَّ اللّهَ مُسْرِعُ الخَلَفَ

3 . When you are blessed with sustenance then give charity.

3 ـ إذا رُزِقْتَ فَأنْفِقْ

4 . When you are blessed with sustenance then give generously.

4 ـ إذا رُزِقْتَ فَأوْسِعْ

5 . Your garments are more lasting for you when worn by others rather than yourself.

5 ـ ثِيابُكَ عَلى غَيْرِكَ أبْقى لَكَ مِنْها عَلَيْكَ

6 . A dirham that benefits [others] is better than a dinar1 that throws one into ruin.

6 ـ دِرْهَمٌ يَنْفَعُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ دينار يَصْرَعُ

7 . The dirham of a poor man is purer in the sight of Allah than the dinar of the rich.

7 ـ دِرْهَمُ الفَقيرِ أزْكى عِنْدَ اللّهِ مِنْ دينارِ الغَنِيِّ

8 . Many a thing that is little grows and develops much more than that which is plenty.

8 ـ رُبَّ يَسير أنْمى مِنْ كَثير

9 . Little that belongs to you is better than plenty that belongs to others.

9 ـ قَلِيلٌ لَكَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثير لِغَيْرِكَ

10 . Nobody gains anything from his worldly life except that which he spends on others.

10 ـ لَيْسَ لأَحَد مِنْ دُنْياهُ إلاّ ما أنْفَقَهُ عَلى أُخْراهُ

11 . One who gives with a short arm is given with a long arm.2

11 ـ مَنْ يُعْطِ بِاليَدِ القَصيرَةِ يُعْطَ بِاليَدِ الطَّويلَةِ

12 . Verily you are more in need of giving charity from what you have earned than acquiring what you accumulate.

12 ـ إنَّكُمْ إلى إنْفاقِ مَا اكْتَسَبْتُمْ أحْوَجُ مِنْكُمْ إلَى اكْتِسابِ ما تَجْمَعُونَ

Notes

1. The dirham is a silver coin and the dinar is a gold coin (which is typically valued as ten times as much as the dirham).

2. Sayyid Raḍi (r) has explained the meaning of this aphorism thus: it means the human being gets much reward for the little charity that he gives. For the entire explanation refer to the commentary of Nahj al-Balāgha, Hikma no. 232

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy-النِّفاق

1 . Beware of hypocrisy, for indeed the two-faced person is not eminent in the sight of Allah.

1 ـ إيّاكَ والنِّفاقَ فَإنَّ ذَا الوَجْهَيْنِ لايَكُونُ وَجيهاً عِنْدَ اللّهِ

2 . Hypocrisy is the brother of polytheism.

2 ـ اَلنِّفاقُ أخُوالشِّرْكِ

3 . Hypocrisy is a disgraceful character.

3 ـ اَلنِّفاقُ شَيْنُ الأخْلاقِ

4 . Hypocrisy is the twin of disbelief.

4 ـ اَلنِّفاقُ تَوْأَمُ الكُفْرِ

5 . Hypocrisy corrupts [one’s] faith.

5 ـ اَلنِّفاقُ يُفْسِدُ الإيمانَ

6 . Hypocrisy is from the andirons of ignominy.

6 ـ اَلنِّفاقُ مِنْ أثافِي الذُّلِّ

7 . Hypocrisy is founded on falsehood.

7 ـ اَلنِّفاقُ مَبْنِيٌّ عَلَى المَيْنِ

8 . How reprehensible it is for a human being to have a sick interior and a beautiful exterior.

8 ـ ما أقْبَحَ بِالإنْسانِ باطِناً عَليلاً وظاهِراً جَميلاً

The Hypocrite

The Hypocrite-المنافق

1 . A hypocrite’s tongue pleases but his heart causes harm.

1 ـ اَلمُنافِقُ لِسانُهُ يَسُرُّ وقَلْبُهُ يَضُرُّ

2 . A hypocrite’s words are beautiful but his actions are a painful malady.

2 ـ اَلمُنافِقُ قَوْلُهُ جَمِيلٌ وفِعْلُهُ الدّاءُ الدّخِيلُ

3 . The hypocrite is a shameless, foolish, wretched sycophant.

3 ـ اَلمُنافِقُ وَقِحٌ غَبِيٌّ مُتَمَلِّقٌ شَقِيٌّ

4 . The hypocrite flatters himself but maligns others.

4 ـ اَلمُنافِقُ لِنَفْسِهِ مُداهِنٌ وَعَلَى النّاسِ طاعِنٌ

5 . The most obvious of hypocrite among the people is one who enjoins obedience [to Allah] but does not act upon it himself, and forbids sin but does not refrain from it himself.

5 ـ أظْهَرُ النّاسِ نِفاقاً مَنْ أمَرَ بِالطّاعَةِ ولَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِها، ونَهى عَنِ المَعْصِيَةِ ولَمْ يَنْتَهِ عَنْها

6 . Be cautious of the hypocrites for indeed they are misguided and misguide others, they have erred and make others err, their hearts are diseased while their outward appearance looks pure.

6 ـ اِحْذَرُوا أهْلَ النِّفاقِ، فَإنَّهُمْ الضَّالُّونَ المُضِلُّونَ، الزّالُّونَ المُزِلُّونَ، قُلُوبُهُمْ دَوِيَّةٌ، وَصِحافُهُمْ نَقِيَّةٌ

7 . The hypocrite is sceptical [and puts others in doubt].

7 ـ اَلمُنافِقُ مُريبٌ

8 . The hypocrite is sly, harmful and suspicious.

8 ـ اَلمُنافِقُ مَكُورٌ مُضِرٌّ، مُرْتابٌ

9 . I fear for you from every eloquent speaker who is a hypocrite at heart, he says what you know [to be good] but does what you dislike [and know to be bad].

9 ـ إنّي أخافُ عَلَيْكُمْ كُلَّ عَليمِ اللِّسانِ مُنافِقِ الجِنانِ، يَقُولُ ماتَعْلَمُونَ وَيَفْعَلُ ما تُنْكِرونَ

10 . He (‘a) described the hypocrites thus: they are jealous of [those in] comfort, intensify [the] distress [of the distressed] and destroy hopes [of the hopeful]. Their fallen victims are lying on every path, they have means to approach every heart and they have false tears for every [occasion of] grief.

10 ـ وقالَ ـ عَلَيْهِ السّلامُ ـ في وَصْفِ المنافِقينَ: حَسَدُ الرَّخاءِ ومُؤَكِّدُوا البَلاءِ، ومُقْنِطُوا الرَّجاءِ، لَهُمْ بِكُلِّ طَريق صَريعٌ، وإلى كُلِّ قَلْبِ شَفيعٌ، وَلِكُلِّ شَجْو دُمُوعٌ

11 . It is the habit of hypocrites to change their character [depending on their circumstances].

11 ـ عادَةُ المُنافِقينَ تَهْزيعُ الأخْلاقِ

12 . He (‘a) said about the hypocrites: They have indeed prepared for every truth a falsehood, and for every straight thing something crooked, and for every living thing a killer, and for every [closed] door a key, and for every night a lamp.

12 ـ وقالََ ـ عَلَيْهِ السّلامُ ـ في ذِكْرِ المُنافِقينَ: قَدْ أعَدُّوا لِكُلِّ حَقّ باطِلاً ولِكُلِّ قائِم مائِلاً ولِكُلِّ حَىّ قاتِلاً ولِكُلِّ باب مِفْتاحاً ولِكُلِّ لَيْل صَباحاً

13 . Every hypocrite is a sceptic [who puts doubts in the minds of the people].

13 ـ كُلُّ مُنافِق مُريبٌ

14 . One whose hypocrisy abounds, his sincerity will not be recognized.

14 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ نِفاقُهُ لَمْ يُعْرَفْ وِفاقُهُ

15 . How repulsive is it for a human being to agree externally while being hypocritical internally.

15 ـ ما أقْبَحَ بِالإنْسانِ ظاهِراً مُوافِقاً وباطِناً مُنافِقاً

16 . How repulsive it is for a human being to be two-faced.

16 ـ ما أقْبَحَ بِالإنْسانِ أنْ يَكُونَ ذا وَجْهَيْنِ

17 . The example of the hypocrite is that of a colocynth, its leaves are green but its taste is bitter.

17 ـ مَثَلُ المُنافِقِ كَالحَنْظَلَةِ الخَضِرَةِ أوْراقُها اَلمُرِّ مَذاقُها

18 . The hypocrisy of a person stems from the inferiority [and humiliation] he finds within himself.

18 ـ نِفاقُ المَرْءِ مِنْ ذُلّ يَجِدُهُ في نَفْسِهِ

19 . About the hypocrites [he (’a) said]: They are the congregation of Satan and the dwellers of hellfire. These are the party of Satan, and indeed it is the party of Satan who are the losers.

19 ـ في ذِكْرِ المُنافِقينَ: هُمْ لُمَّةُ الشَّيْطانِ وحُمَّةُ النِّيرانِ أُولئِكَ حِزْبُ الشَّيْطانِ اَلا إنَّ حِزْبَ الشَّيْطانِ هُمُ الخاسِرُونَ

20 . They walk stealthily and tread slowly, hiding behind trees. Their words are [like] a cure but their actions are incurable diseases. They exchange praise [with each other] and come near each other through (or are careful of) reward. They obtain what they covet by means of despair. When they talk they create doubts, they dissemble in their speech and when they speak they delude (or distort).

20 ـ يَمْشُونَ الخِفاءَ ويَدُبُّونَ الضَّرّاءَ قَوْلُهُمُ الدَّواءُ وفِعْلُهُمُ الدّاءُ العَياءُ يَتَقارَضُونَ الثَّناءَ ويَتَقارَبُونَ (يتراقبون) الجَزاءَ يَتَوَصَّلُونَ إلَى الطَّمَعِ بِاليَأْسِ وَيَقُولُونَ فَيُشَبِّهُونَ يُنافِقُونَ فِي المَقالِ ويَقُولُونَ فَيُوهِمُونَ (فَيُمَوِّهُون ).

21 . The [person who is] most severe in his hypocrisy is one who enjoins obedience but does not act upon it himself, and forbids sin but does not refrain from it himself.

21 ـ أشَدُّ النّاسِ نِفاقاً مَنْ أمَرَ بِالطّاعَةِ ولَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِها، ونَهى عَنِ المَعْصِيَةِ ولَمْ يَنْتَهِ عَنْها

Deficiency

Deficiency-المنقصة

1 . It suffices as a deficiency for a man to consider himself as great.

1 ـ كَفى بِالْمَرْءِ مَنْقَصَةً أنْ يُعَظِّمَ نَفْسَهُ

The Deficient

The Deficient-المنقوص

1 . The deficient one is he whose faults are hidden from him.

1 ـ اَلمَنْقُوصُ مَسْتُورٌ عَنْهُ عَيْبُهُ

Revenge

Revenge-الاِنتقام

1 . Rushing to take revenge is from the traits of the wicked.

1 ـ ألْمُبادَرَةُ إلَى الاِنْتِقامِ مِنْ شِيَمِ اللِّئامِ

2 . The most revolting act of a powerful person is revenge.

2 ـ أقْبَحُ أفْعالِ المُقْتَدِرِ اَلاِنْتِقامُ

3 . Evil retribution [and revenge] is from the vileness of victory.

3 ـ سُوءُ العُقُوبَةِ مِنْ لُؤْمِ الظَّفَرِ

4 . One who punishes the guilty [instead of forgiving him], his merit [and kindness] gets corrupted.

4 ـ مَنْ عاقَبَ المُذْنِبَ فَسَدَ فَضْلُهُ

5 . Whoever takes revenge on the wrongdoer nullifies his merit in this world and loses the reward of the Hereafter.

5 ـ مَنِ انْتَقَمَ مِنَ الجاني أبْطَلَ فَضْلَهُ فِي الدُّنْيا وفاتَهُ ثَوابُ الآخِرَةِ

6 . Being hasty in taking revenge is from the traits of the wicked.

6 ـ مُعاجَلَةُ الاِنْتِقامِ مِنْ شِيَمِ اللِّئامِ

Divine Wrath

Divine wrath-النّقم

1 . How is it that you are not kept awake by the [fear of] Allah’s punishments that befall you by night while you lie in the way of Allah’s wrath because of your disobedience to Him?!

1 ـ كَيْفَ لايُوقِظُكَ بَياتُ نِقَمِ اللّهِ وقَدْ تَوَرَّطْتَ بِمَعاصِيهِ مَدارِجَ سَطَواتِهِ؟ !

2 . How close is the punishment of Allah to the oppressors (or the unjust) and wrongdoers!

2 ـ ما أقْرَبَ النَّقِمَةَ مِنْ أهْلِ البَغْيِ(الظُّلْمِ) والعُدْوانِ

The Defaulters, The Iniquitous And The Transgressors

The Defaulters, The Iniquitous And The Transgressors -الناكثون والقاسطون والمارقون

1 . Indeed Allah has commanded me to fight against those who revolt and break pledges and create strife on the earth. As for the defaulters, I have fought them and as for the iniquitous, I have struggled against them and as for the transgressors, I have vanquished them. As for the Satan of the pit, I have dealt with him with an overpowering scream, until I heard the restless beating of his heart and the trembling of his chest.

1 ـ اَلا وقَدْ أمَرَنِيَ اللّهُ بِقِتالِ أهْلِ النَّكْثِ، والبَغْىِ، والفَسادِ فِي الأرْضِ، فَأمَّا النّاكِثُونَ فَقَدْ قاتَلْتُ، وأمَّا القاسِطُونَ فَقَدْ جاهَدْتُ، وأمَّا المارِقَةُ فَقَدْ دَوَّخْتُ، وأمّا شَيْطانُ الرَّدْهَةِ فَإنّي كُفيتُهُ بِصَعْقَة سَمِعْتُ لَها وَجيبَ قَلْبِهِ، وَرَجَّةَ صَدْرِهِ

Marriages

Marraiges-المناكح

1 . One who marries many women is engulfed by embarrassments.

1 ـ مَنْ أكْثَرَ المَناكِحَ غَشِيَتْهُ الفَضائِحُ

Talebearing

Talebearing-النميمة

1 . Beware of talebearing, for indeed it plants [the seed of] rancour and distances one from Allah and the people.

1 ـ إيّاكَ والنَّمِيمَةَ، فَإنَّها تَزْرَعُ الضَّغِينَةَ، وتُبَعِّدُ عَنِ اللّهِ وَالنّاسِ

2 . The worst [type of] truthful speech is gossip.

2 ـ أسْوَءُ الصِّدْقِ النَّمِيمَةُ

3 . Talebearing is the characteristic of a traitor.

3 ـ اَلنَّمِيمَةُ شيمَةُ المارِقِ

4 . Talebearing is an offense [and a sin] that cannot be forgotten.

4 ـ اَلنَّمِيمَةُ ذَنْبٌ لايُنْسى

5 . The worst trait is talebearing.

5 ـ بِئْسَ الشّيمَةُ النَّميمَةُ

6 . One who seeks to slander [others] by talebearing is fought by the near one and hated by the one who is far [from him].

6 ـ مَنْ سَعى بِالنَّميمَةِ حارَبَهُ القَريبُ ومَقَتَهُ البَعيدُ

7 . One who narrates to you [about others] narrates [to others] about you.

7 ـ مَنْ نَقَلَ إلَيْكَ نَقَلَ عَنْكَ

8 . Do not be quick in accepting the words of a talebearer, even if he resembles the good advisers, for indeed the slanderer oppresses the one whom he slanders [about] and deceives the one whom he slanders to.

8 ـ لاتَعْجِلَنَّ إلى تَصْديقِ واش وإنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِالنّاصِحينَ فَإنَّ السّاعِيَ ظالِمٌ لِمَنْ سَعى بِهِ غاشٌّ لِمَنْ سَعى إلَيْهِ

9 . Be neither scandalmongers nor revealers of others’ secrets.

9 ـ لاتَكُونُوا مَساييحَ ولامَذاييعَ

10 . Trustworthiness and talebearing do not go together.

10 ـ لاتَجْتَمِعُ أمانَةٌ ونَميمَةٌ

11 . Belie slander and talebearing, whether it is false or true.

11 ـ أكْذِبِ السِّعايَةَ والنَّميمَةَ باطِلَةً كانَتْ أوْ صَحيحَةً

12 . The slanderer is a liar to the one whom he spreads his slander and an oppressor to the one whom he slanders about.

12 ـ اَلسّاعي كاذِبٌ لِمَنْ سَعى إلَيْهِ ظالِمٌ لِمَنْ سَعى عَلَيْهِ

Struggle (Jihad)

Struggle (Jihad) الجهاد

1 . Whoever makes an effort to strive in obedience to Allah and His messenger, his soul shall be safe and sound [from the torments of the Hereafter] and his transaction will be profitable and gainful.

1 ـ إنَّ مَنْ بَذَلَ نَفْسَهُ في طاعَةِ اللّهِ ورَسُولِِهِ كانَتْ نَفْسُهُ ناجِيَةً سالِمَةً، وَصَفْقَتُهُ رابِحَةً غانِمَةً

2 . The first thing which you overcome through Jihād is through striving with your hands, then [if this is not possible] by your tongue, then [if this is not possible] with your hearts; and the one who neither supports good with his heart nor censures evil, is turned upside down (i.e. will face the wrath of Allah).

2 ـ إنَّ أوَّلَ ما تُغْلَبُونَ عَلَيهِ مِنَ الجِهادِ، جِهادٌ بِأيْديكُمْ، ثُمَّ بِألْسِنَتِكُمْ، ثُمَّ بِقُلُوبِكُمْ، فَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ بِقَلْبِهِ مَعْرُوفاً، وَلَمْ يُنْكِرْ مُنْكَراً، قُلِّبَ فَجُعِلَ أعْلاهُ أسْفَلَهُ

3 . Struggling [in the way of Allah] is the pillar of faith and the path of the felicitous.

3 ـ الجِهادُ عِمادُ الدّينِ، ومِنْهاجُ السُّعَداءِ

4 . The doors of the heavens are opened for those who strive [in the way of Allah].

4 ـ اَلمُجاهِدُونَ تُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ أبْوابُ السَّماءِ

5 . If the people who came before me complained about the injustice of their rulers, then today I complain about the injustice of my people; it is as if I am led and they are the leaders, [and] I am restrained and they are the restrainers.

5 ـ إنْ كانَتِ الرَّعايا قَبْلي تَشْكُوا حَيْفَ رُعاتِها فَإنِّي اليَوْمَ أشْكُو حَيْفَ رَعِيَّتي، كَأنِّي المَقُودُ وهُمُ القادَةُ، والمُوزَعُ وَهُمُ الوَزَعَةُ

6 . The reward for striving [in the way of Allah] is the greatest reward.

6 ـ ثوابُ الجِهادِ أعْظَمُ الثَّوابِ

7 . And [Allah has prescribed] Jihād as [a means of preserving the] honour of Islam.

7 ـ والجِهادَ عِزّاً لِلإسْلامِ

8 . Strong determination and lavishness do not go together.

8 ـ لا تَجْتَمِعُ عَزيمَةٌ ووَليمَةٌ

9 . The purification of the body is [in] striving and fasting.

9 ـ زَكوةُ البَدَنِ الجِهادُ والصِّيامُ

Struggling Against The Self (Jihad An-Nafs)

Struggling against the Self (Jihad an-Nafs) جهاد النفس

1 . Indeed Jihād is the price of Paradise, so the one who struggles against his self will acquire it, and this is the greatest reward of Allah for the one who is cognizant of it.

1 ـ ألا وإنَّ الجِهادَ ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ، فَمَنْ جاهَدَ نَفْسَهُ مَلَكَها، وهِيَ أكْرَمُ ثَوابِ اللّهِ لِمَنْ عَرَفَها

2 . The best Jihād is the struggle of a man against his [carnal] soul.

2 ـ أفْضَلُ الجِهادِ مُجاهَدَةُ المَرْءِ نَفْسَهُ

3 . The best Jihād is the struggle of the self against lustful desires, and its weaning away from the pleasures of this world.

3 ـ أفْضَلُ الجِهادِ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ عَنِ الهَوى، وفِطامُها عَنْ لَذّاتِ الدُّنيا

4 . The first thing that you disavow from Jihād is struggling against your selves.

4 ـ أوَّلُ ما تُنْكِرُونَ مِنَ الجِهادِ، جِهادُ أنْفُسِكُمْ

5 . The last things that you [should] lose are: the struggling against your selves and obedience to those who have authority among you.

5 ـ آخِرُ ما تَفْقِدُونَ مُجاهَدَةُ أهْوائِكُمْ وطاعَةُ أُولِي الأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ

6 . Indeed the best Jihād is the struggle of a man against his [carnal] soul.

6 ـ إنَّ أفْضَلَ الجِهادِ مُجاهَدَةُ الرَّجُلِ نَفْسَهُ

7 . Verily struggling against the self restrains it from sins and protects it from destruction.

7 ـ إنَّ مُجاهَدَةَ النَّفْسِ لَتَزِمُّها عَنِ المَعاصِي، وتَعْصِمُها عَنِ الرَّدى

8 . Verily the one who struggles with his [lower] self, in obedience to Allah and against disobedience to Him, has the status of a virtuous martyr in the sight of Allah.

8 ـ إنَّ المُجاهِدَ نَفْسَهُ عَلى طاعَةِ اللّهِ وَعَنْ مَعاصِيهِ، عِنْدَاللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ بَرّ شَهيد

9 . Indeed the one who struggles against his [lower] self, overcomes his anger and is careful in obeying [the commandments of] Allah, is raised by Allah, the Glorified, to the status of the one who fasts by day and stands in prayer by night, and is granted the rank of the patient soldier [who fights in His way].

9 ـ إنَّ المُجاهِدَ نَفْسَهُ، والمُغالِبَ غَضَبَهُ، والمُحافِظَ عَلى طاعَةِ رَبِّهِ، يَرْفَعُ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ لَهُ ثَوابَ الصَّائِمِ القائِمِ ويُنيلُهُ دَرَجَةَ المُرابِطِ الصّابِرِ

10 . Verily if you struggle against your [lower] self you will obtain the pleasure of Allah.

10 ـ إنَّكَ إنْ جاهَدْتَ نَفْسَكَ حُزْتَ رِضَى اللّهِ

11 . The fruit of struggle [against the self] is overpowering the self.

11 ـ ثَمَرَةُ المُجاهَدَةِ قَهْرُ النَّفْسِ

12 . Struggling against the self is the dowry for Paradise.

12 ـ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ مَهْرُ الجَنَّةِ

13 . Struggling against vain desires is the price of Paradise.

13 ـ جِهادُ الهَوى ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ

14 . Struggling against the self is the best Jihad.

14 ـ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ أفْضَلُ جِهاد

15 . Struggle against your [lower] self and seek repentance, you will be successful in the obedience of your Lord.

15 ـ جاهِدْ نَفْسَكَ، وَقَدِّمْ تَوْبَتَكَ، تَفُزْ بِطاعَةِ رَبِّكَ

16 . Struggle against your vain desires, overcome your anger and resist your bad habits, [by this] your soul will become pure, your intellect will become perfect and the reward of your Lord will be complete.

16 ـ جاهِدْ شَهْوَتَكَ، وغالِبْ غَضَبَك،وَخالِفْ سُوءَ عادَتِكَ، تَزْكُ نَفْسُكَ، ويَكْمُلْ عَقْلُكَ، وتَسْتَكْمِلْ ثَوابَ رَبِّكَ

17 . Fight against your [lower] self in obedience to Allah the way an enemy would fight his enemy, and overpower it the way a rival would overpower his opponent, for indeed the strongest person is the one who subdues his self.

17 ـ جاهِدْ نَفْسَكَ عَلى طاعَةِ اللّهِ مُجاهَدَة العَدُوِّ عَدُوَّهُ، وغالِبْها مُغالَبَةَ الضِّدِّ ضِدَّهُ، فَإنَّ أقْوىَ النّاسِ مَنْ قَوِيَ على نَفْسِهِ

18 . Struggle against your [lower] self and call it to account the way a partner would hold his partner accountable, and demand from it the right of Allah the way an adversary would demand from his foe, for verily the most felicitous of people is the one who undertakes to hold his self to account.

18 ـ جاهِدْ نَفْسَكَ وحاسِبْها مُحاسَبَةَ الشَّريكِ شَريكَهُ وطالِبْها بِحُقُوقِ اللّهِ مُطالَبَةَ الخَصْمِ خَصْمَهُ، فَإنَّ أسْعَدَ النّاسِ مَنِ انْتَدَبَ لِمحاسَبَةِ نَفْسِهِ

19 . Struggling against the [lower] self is the price of Paradise, so the one who struggles against it will acquire it, and this is the greatest reward of Allah for the one who is cognizant of it.

19 ـ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ، فَمَنْ جاهَدَها مَلَكَها وهِيَ أكْرَمُ ثَوابِ اللّهِ لِمَنْ عَرَفَها

20 . Struggling against the self with knowledge is a symbol of intelligence.

20 ـ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ بِالعِلْمِ عُنْوانُ العَقْلِ

21 . Fighting anger with forbearance is evidence of nobility.

21 ـ جِهادُ الغَضَبِ بِالحِلْمِ بُرْهانُ النُّبْلِ

22 . The most excellent Jihād is struggling against the self.

22 ـ خَيْرُ الجِهادِ جِهادُ النَّفْسِ

23 . The highest form of struggle is for a man to struggle against his self.

23 ـ غايَةُ المُجاهَدَةِ أنْ يُجاهِدَ المَرْءُ نَفْسَهُ

24 . It is sufficient for you, in your struggle against your [lower] self, that you always prevail over it and fight its vain desires.

24 ـ كَفاكَ في مُجاهَدَةِ نَفْسِكَ أنْ لاتَزالَ أبَداً لَها مُغالِباً، وعَلى أهْوِيَتِها مُحارِباً

25 . One who fights his [lower] self perfects his piety.

25 ـ مَنْ جاهَدَ نَفْسَهُ أَكْمَلَ التُّقى

26 . One who knows his self struggles against it.

26 ـ مَنْ عَرَفَ نَفْسَهُ جاهَدَها

27 . One who does not struggle against his self will not achieve victory.

27 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يُجاهِدْ نَفْسَهُ لَمْ يَنَلِ الفَوْزَ

28 . There is no struggle more worthy than struggling against the self.

28 ـ ما مِنْ جِهاد أفْضَلُ مِنْ جِهادِ النَّفْسِ

29 . Struggling against the self is a trait of the noble ones.

29 ـ مُجاهَدَةُ النَّفْسِ شيمَةُ النُّبَلاءِ

30 . Struggling against the self is a symbol of nobility.

30 ـ مُجاهَدَةُ النَّفْسِ عُنْوانُ النُّبْلِ

31 . Struggling against the self is the best Jihād.

31 ـ مُجاهَدَةُ النَّفْسِ أفْضَلُ جِهاد

32 . There is no Jihād like struggle against the self.

32 ـ لا جِهادَ كَجِهادِ النَّفْسِ

Ignorance

Ignorance الجَهْل

1 . Ignorance and miserliness are bad and harmful.

1 ـ اَلجَهْلُ،وَ البُخْلُ، مَساءَةٌ، ومَضَرَّةٌ

2 . Ignorance in a human being is more harmful than gangrene [is] to the body.

2 ـ اَلجَهْلُ فِي الإنْسانِ أضَرُّ مِنَ الآكِلَةِ فِي البَدَنِ

3 . Ignorance is a balky mount; whoever rides it stumbles and whoever accompanies it is led astray.

3 ـ اَلجَهْلُ مَطِيَّةٌ شَمُوسٌ، مَنْ رَكِبَها زَلَّ، ومَنْ صَحِبَها ضَلَّ

4 . Ignorance of merits is one of the grossest demerits.

4 ـ اَلجَهْلُ بِالفَضائِلِ مِنْ أقْبَحِ الرَّذائِلِ

5 . The greatest calamity is ignorance.

5 ـ أعْظَمُ المَصائِبِ الجَهْلُ

6 . The worst ailment is ignorance.

6 ـ أسْوَءُ السُّقْمِ(القِسْمِ) الجَهْلُ

7 . The greatest ignorance is the ignorance of a person about himself.

7 ـ أعْظَمُ الجَهْلِ جَهْلُ الإنْسانِ أمْرَ نَفْسهِ

8 . The greatest ignorance is making enmity with the powerful, befriending the immoral and trusting the traitor.

8 ـ أعْظَـمُ الجَهْلِ مُعاداةُ القادِرِ، ومُصـادَقَةُ الفاجِرِ، والثِّقَةُ بِالغادِرِ

9 . Ignorance is a curse.

9 ـ اَلجَهْلُ وَبالٌ

10 . Ignorance is [a form of] death.

10 ـ اَلجَهْلُ مَوتٌ

11 . People are enemies of that which they are ignorant of.

11 ـ اَلنَّاسُ أعْداءُ ما جَهِلُوا

12 . Ignorance is the most harmful foe.

12 ـ اَلجَهْلُ أنْكى عَدُوّ

13 . Ignorance makes one stumble.

13 ـ اَلجَهْلُ يُزِلُّ القَدَمَ

14 . Ignorance spoils the Hereafter.

14 ـ اَلجَهْلُ يُفْسِدُ المَعادَ

15 . Ignorance is the [primary] source of evil.

15 ـ اَلجَهْلُ مَعْدِنُ الشَّـرِّ

16 . Ignorance is an ailment and a chronic disease.

16 ـ اَلجَهْلُ داءٌ وعَياءٌ

17 . Ignorance attracts peril.

17 ـ اَلجَهْلُ يَجْلِبُ الغَرَرَ

18 . Ignorance is the root of all evil.

18 ـ اَلجَهْلُ أصْلُ كُلِّ شَـرّ

19 . Ignorance is the worst disease.

19 ـ اَلجَهْلُ أدْوَأُ الدّاءِ

20 . Ignorance corrupts all matters.

20 ـ اَلجَهْلُ فَسادُ كُلِّ أمْر

21 . Ignorance makes one stumble and brings regret.

21 ـ اَلجَهْلُ يُزِلُّ القَدَمَ، ويُورِثُ النَّدَمَ

22 . Ignorance causes the living to die and perpetuates misery.

22 ـ اَلجَهْلُ مُميتُ الأحْياءِ، وَمُخَلِّدُ الشَّقاءِ

23 . Verily you will not attain any goal by ignorance, nor will you achieve any goodness by means of it, nor will you realize any of your wishes in the Hereafter through it.

23 ـ إنَّكُمْ لَنْ تُحَصِّلُوا بِالجَهْلِ أرَباً، ولَنْ تَبْلُغُوا بِهِ مِنَ الخَيْرِ سَبَبَاً، وَلَنْ تُدْرِكُوا بِهِ مِنَ الآخِرَةِ مَطْلَباً

24 . It is through ignorance that every evil is instigated.

24 ـ بِالجَهْلِ يُسْتَثارُ كُلِّ شَرّ

25 . Many an ignorance is better than forbearance (or knowledge).

25 ـ رُبَّ جَهْل أنْفَعُ مِنْ حِلْم(عِلْم ).

26 . Ward off ignorance with knowledge.

26 ـ رُدُّوا الجَهْلَ بِالعِلْمِ

27 . Too much ignorance is destructive.

27 ـ زِيادَةُ الجَهْلِ تُرْدي

28 . The worst affliction is ignorance.

28 ـ شَـرُّ المَصائِبِ الجَهْلُ

29 . Counter ignorance with knowledge.

29 ـ ضادُّوا الجَهْلَ بِالعِلْمِ

30 . The outcome of ignorance is loss; and the joy of the envious does not last.

30 ـ عُقْبىَ الجَهْلِ مَضَرَّةٌ، وَالحَسُودُ لا تَدُومُ لَهُ مَسَرَّةٌ

31 . The pinnacle of ignorance is for a person to brag about his ignorance.

31 ـ غايَةُ الجَهْلِ تَـبَجُّجُ المَرْءِ بِجَهْلِهِ

32 . Many a revered person has been humiliated by his ignorance.

32 ـ كَمْ مِنْ عَزير أذَلَّهُ جَهْلُهُ

33 . Ignorance suffices as ignobility.

33 ـ كَفى بِالجَهْلِ ضِعَةً

34 . It suffices as ignorance for a person to be ignorant about himself.

34 ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ يَجْهَلَ نَفْسَهُ

35 . It suffices as ignorance for a person to be pleased with himself.

35 ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ يَرضى عَنْ نَفْسِهِ

36 . It suffices as ignorance for a person to laugh without [a reason for] amusement.

36 ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ يَضْحَكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ عَجَب

37 . It suffices as ignorance for a person to be ignorant of his limits [and standing in society].

37 ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ يَجْهَلَ قَدْرَهُ

38 . It suffices as ignorance for a person to be ignorant of his flaw.

38 ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ يَجْهَلَ عَيْبَهُ

39 . It suffices as ignorance for a person to be ignorant about his own faults and to malign people for that which he [himself] cannot turn away from.

39 ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ يَجْهَلَ عُيُوبَ نَفْسِهِ، ويَطْعَنَ عَلَى النّاسِ بِما لا يَسْتَطيعُ التَّحَوُّلَ عَنْهُ

40 . It suffices as ignorance for a person to forbid people from that which he performs himself.

40 ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ جَهْلاً أنْ يُنْكِرَ عَلَى النّاسِ ما يَأتي مِثْلَهُ

41 . The language of ignorance is impoliteness.

41 ـ لِسانُ الجَهْلِ الخُرْقُ

42 . One who gets uplifted by ignorance has opposed the intellect.

42 ـ مَنِ اسْتَطارَهُ الجَهْلُ فَقَدْعَصَى العَقْلَ

43 . One who fights his ignorance with his knowledge succeeds with the most felicitous victory.

43 ـ مَنْ قاتَلَ جَهْلَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ فازَ بِالحَظِّ الأسْعَدِ

44 . Being overcome by ignorance is one of the severest afflictions.

44 ـ مِنْ أشَدِّ المَصائِبِ غَلَبَةُ الجَهْلِ

45 . There is no poverty like ignorance.

45 ـ لا فَقْرَ كَالجَهْلِ

46 . With ignorance, no path is purified.

46 ـ لايَزْكُو مََعَ الجَهْلِ مَذْهَبٌ

47 . There is no poverty more severe than ignorance.

47 ـ لا فَقْرَ أشَدُّ مِنَ الجَهْلِ

48 . There is no abomination more disgraceful than ignorance.

48 ـ لاسَوْأةَ أشْيَنُ مِنَ الجَهْلِ

49 . There is no adversity more severe than ignorance.

49 ـ لامُصيبَةَ أشَدُّ مِنْ جَهْل

50 . The cornerstone of ignorance is animosity towards people.

50 ـ رَأسُ الجَهْلِ مُعاداةُ النّاسِ

The Ignorant And The Foolish

The Ignorant and the Foolish اَلجاهِلُ والجهول

1 . An ignorant person is never found to be anything but falling short or excessive.

1 ـ اَلجاهِلُ لَنْ يُلْقى أبَداً إلا مُفَرِّطاً، أو مُفْرِطاً

2 . Neither does an ignorant restrain himself [from wrongdoing] nor does he benefit from good advice.

2 ـ اَلجاهِلُ لايَرْتَدِعُ، وبِالمَواعِظِ لا يَنْتَفِعُ

3 . An ignorant person is one who obeys his vain desires in disobedience to his Lord.

3 ـ اَلجاهِلُ مَنْ أطاعَ هَواهُ في مَعصيَةِ رَبِّهِ

4 . The ignorant person feels aversion towards that which the wise person feels at ease with.

4 ـ اَلجاهِلُ يَسْتَوْحِشُ مِمّا يَأنَسُ بِه الحَكيْمُ

5 . The ignorant person does not understand the learned because he [himself] was never learned before.

5 ـ اَلجاهِلُ لايَعْرِفُ العالِمَ لأنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَبْلُ عالِماً

6 . An ignorant person does not recognize his failure and does not accept the [good] advice given to him.

6 ـ اَلجاهِلُ لا يَعْرِفُ تَقْصيرَهُ، وَلايَقْبَلُ مِنَ النَّصيحِ لهُ

7 . An ignorant person relies on his hopes and is negligent in his actions.

7 ـ اَلجاهِلُ يَعْتَمِدُ عَلى أمَلِهِ، ويُقَصِّرُ في عَمَلِهِ

8 . The ignorant person is like a rock through which water does not gush forth, and a tree, the branches of which do not become green, and a ground upon which foliage is not found.

8 ـ اَلجاهِلُ صَخْرَةٌ لا يَنْفَجِرُ ماؤُها، وَشَجَرَةٌ لايَخْضَرُّعُودُها، وأرضٌ لايَظهَرُ عُشْبُها

9 . An ignorant person is [like the] dead among the living.

9 ـ اَلْجاهِلُ مَيِّتٌ بَيْنَ الأحْياءِ

10 . The most wretched of all people is the ignorant one.

10 ـ أشْقَى النّاسِ اَلجاهِلُ

11 . An unremorseful sinner is the most ignorant person.

11 ـ أجْهَلُ النّاسِ مُسِيئٌ مُسْتَأنِفٌ

12 . The most ignorant person is one who is deceived by the praise of a flatterer who makes the ugly look appealing to him and makes him hate the [sincere] adviser.

12 ـ أجْهَلُ النّاسِ المُغْتَرُّ بِقَوْلِ مادِح مُتَمَلِّق، يُحَسِّنُ لَهُ القَبيحَ، ويُبَغِّضُ إلَيْهِ النَّصيْحَ

13 . The most hated creature in the sight of Allah is the ignorant person, because He deprived him of what He bestowed on His creation, and that is intellect.

13 ـ أبْغَضُ الخَلائِقِ إلَى اللّهِ تعالى، اَلجاهِلُ لأنَّهُ حَرَمَهُ ما مَنَّ بِهِ عَلى خَلْقِهِ، وهُوَ العَقْلُ

14 . Verily the ignorant is one whose ignorance leads astray and whose vain desires entice [towards evil]; so his speech is unhealthy and his action is blameworthy.

14 ـ إنَّ الجاهِلَ مَنْ جَهْلُهُ في إغْواء، ومَنْ هَواهُ في إغْراء، فَقَوْلُهُ سَقيمٌ، وفِعْلُهُ ذَميمٌ

15 . The ignorant one is perplexed.

15 ـ اَلجاهِلُ حَيْرانٌ

16 . The ignorant person inclines towards the one who is like him.

16 ـ اَلجاهِلُ يَميلُ (يَألِفُهُ مِثْلُهُ) إلى شِكْلِهِ

17 . Man is an enemy of that which he is ignorant of.

17 ـ المَرْءُ عَدُوُّ ما جَهِلَ

18 . The ignorant one does not restrain himself [from evil].

18 ـ اَلجاهِلُ لا يَرتَدِعُ

19 . An ignorant person is a slave to his passions.

19 ـ اَلجاهِلُ عَبْدُ شَهْوَتِهِ

20 . The ignorant person does not desist [from sinning].

20 ـ اَلجاهِلُ لا يَرْعَوي

21 . An ignorant person seeks to raise himself but ends up abasing himself.

21 ـ اَلجاهِلُ يَرْفَعُ نَفْسَهُ فَيَتَّضِعُ

22 . The ignorant person is one who is ignorant of his own capability.

22 ـ اَلجاهِلُ مَنْ جَهِلَ قَدْرَهُ

23 . An ignorant person is dead, even when he is alive.

23 ـ اَلجاهِلُ مَيِّتٌ وإنْ كانَ حَيّاً

24 . The correctness of an ignorant person is like the mistake of a learned person (i.e. it happens rarely).

24 ـ اَلجاهِلُ كَزَلَّةِ العالِمِ صَوابُهُ

25 . The ignorant person is deceived by [false] claims.

25 ـ اَلجاهِلُ مَنْ خَدَعَتْهُ المَطالِبُ

26 . The ignorant person is one who is ignorant about his [own] affair.

26 ـ اَلجاهِلُ مَنْ جَهِلَ أمْرَهُ

27 . The ignorant person is one who is deceived by his vain desires and his arrogance.

27 ـ اَلجاهِلُ مَنِ انْخَدَعَ لِهَواهُ (بِهواهُ) وغُروُرِهِ

28 . An ignorant person is one who takes his sincere advisor to be a deceiver.

28 ـ اَلْجاهِلُ مَنِ اسْتَغَشَّ النَّصيحَ

29 . When the ignorant one becomes stingy (or denies), he obtains [wealth] and when he obtains [wealth] (or professes belief in one God), he apostatizes.

29 ـ اَلْجاهِلُ إذا جَمَدَ(جحد) وَجَدَ، وإذا وَجَدَ (وَحَّدَ) ألْحَدَ

30 . Indeed the ignorant person is one who is enslaved by [worldly] pursuits.

30 ـ إنَّما الجاهِلُ مَنِ اسْتَعْبَدَتْهُ المَطالِبُ

31 . When an ignorant person grows older, his ignorance rises.

31 ـ إذا شابَ الجاهِلُ شَبَّ جَهْلُهُ

32 . The wealth of an ignorant person is in his worldly possessions and his hopes.

32 ـ ثَرْوَةُ الجاهِلِ في مالِهِ وَأمَلِهِ

33 . The reign of an ignorant person is like a stranger who [soon] moves to another place.

33 ـ دَوْلَةُ الجاهِلِ كَالغَريبِ المُتَحَرِّكِ إلَى النُّقْلَةِ

34 . Many an ignorant person is saved by his ignorance.

34 ـ رُبَّ جاهِل نَجاتُهُ جَهْلُهُ

35 . The slip-ups of an ignorant person are excusable.

35 ـ زَلَّةُ الجاهِلِ مَعْذُورَةٌ

36 . An ignorant king exposes his [own] flaws.

36 ـ سُلْطانُ الجاهِلِ يُبْدي مَعائِبَهُ

37 . The worst person you can accompany is an ignorant one.

37 ـ شَرُّ مَنْ صاحَبْتَ اَلجاهِلُ

38 . The correct [action] of an ignorant person is like the slip-up of an intelligent person.

38 ـ صَوابُ الجاهِلِ كَالزَّلَةِ مِنَ العاقِلِ

39 . The lost item of the ignorant person cannot be found.

39 ـ ضالَّةُ الجاهِلِ غَيْرُ مَوْجُود

40 . Obedience to the foolish is a sign of ignorance.

40 ـ طاعَةُ الجَهُولِ تَدُلُّ عَلَى الجَهْلِ

41 . Obedience to the foolish and being excessive [in speech or action] are two signs of ignorance.

41 ـ طاعةُ الجَهُولِ، وكَثْرَةُ الفُضُولِ تَدُلاّنِ عَلَى الجَهْلِ

42 . The habit of the inexperienced [and ignorant] ones is to cut off the elements of favour.

42 ـ عادَةُ الأغْمارِ قَطْعُ مَوادِّ الإحْسانِ

43 . The wealth of an ignorant person is in his worldly possessions.

43 ـ غِنَى الجاهِلِ بِمالِهِ

44 . The ignorant one is deceived by futile absurdities.

44 ـ غُرُورُ الجاهِلِ بِمُجالاتِ الباطِلِ

45 . Every ignorant person is prone to temptation.1

45 ـ كُلُّ جاهِل مَفْتُونٌ

46 . For the ignorant there is loss in every situation.

46 ـ لِلْجاهِلِ في كُلِّ حالَة خُسْرانٌ

47 . One who is ignorant is disregarded [by others].

47 ـ مَنْ جَهِلَ أُهْمِلَ

48 . When one is ignorant, his consideration is reduced.

48 ـ مَنْ جَهِلَ قَلَّ إعْتِبارُهُ

49 . One who is ignorant of [a branch of] knowledge is hostile towards it.

49 ـ مَنْ جَهِلَ عِلْماً عاداهُ

50 . One who does not know where he is placing his foot, trips.

50 ـ مَنْ جَهِلَ مَوْضِعَ قَدَمِهِ زَلَّ

51 . One who is ignorant makes many blunders.

51 ـ مَنْ جَهِلَ كَثُرَ عِثارُهُ

52 . One who is ignorant becomes self-conceited; and his ‘today’ is worse than his ‘yesterday’.

52 ـ مَنْ جَهِلَ اغْتَرَّ بِنَفْسِهِ وَكانَ يَوْمُهُ شَـرّاً مِنْ أمْسِهِ

53 . It is from the nature of the ignorant to get angry quickly, in every situation.

53 ـ مِنْ طَبايِعِ الجُهّالِ التَسَـرُّعُ إلَى الغَضَبِ في كُلِّ حال

54 . No one antagonizes the learned like the ignorant [do].

54 ـ ما ضادَّ العُلَماءَ كالجُهّالِ

55 . Woe be to the one who persists in his ignorance and blessed is the one who realizes [his mistake] and finds the right course.

55 ـ وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ تَمادى في جَهْلِهِ، وطُوبى لِمَنْ عَقَلَ واهْتَدى

56 . There is no independence for an ignorant person.

56 ـ لاغِنى لِجاهِل

57 . The ignorant one is not seen to be anything but immoderate (or excessive).

57 ـ لايُرَى الجاهِلُ إلاّ مُفَرِّطاً (مُفْرِطاً ).

58 . Nothing restrains the foolish except the edge of a sword.

58 ـ لايَرْدَعُ الجَهُولَ إلاّ حَدُّ الحُسامِ

59 . Disobey the ignorant and you will be safe.

59 ـ إعْصِ الجاهِلَ تَسْلَمْ

Notes

1. Or, if taken in the context of Q68:6: Every ignorant person is demented.