Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Vain Desire

Vain desire-الهوى

1 . Overcome your vain desires and flee from them, for indeed if they capture you they will take you into the farthest depths of destruction.

1 ـ اِغْلِبُوا أهْوائَـكُمْ، وهارِبُوها، فَإنَّها إنْ تُقَيِّدْكُمْ تُورِدْكُمْ مِنَ الهَلَكَةِ أبْعَدَ غايَة

2 . Beware of allowing vain desire to gain control over you for indeed its beginning is temptation and its end is tribulation.

2 ـ إيّاكُمْ وتَمَكُّنَ الهَوى مِنْكُمْ، فَإنَّ أوَّلَهُ فِتْنَةٌ، وآخِرَهُ مِحْنَةٌ

3 . Indeed, the thing I fear most for you is [the result of your] following vain desires and having lengthy aspirations.

3 ـ اَلا وإنَّ أخْوَفَ ما أخافُ عَلَيْكُمْ اِتِّباعُ الهَوى، وطُولُ الأمَلِ

4 . Vain desire destroys.

4 ـ اَلْهَوى يُرْدي

5 . Vain desires are passions of youth.

5 ـ اَلْهَوى صَبْوَةٌ

6 . Vain desire is the enemy of reason.

6 ـ اَلْهَوى عَدُّوُ العَقْلِ

7 . Vain desire is the bane of the intellects.

7 ـ اَلْهَوى آفَةُ الألْبابِ

8 . Vain desire is an obeyed enemy.

8 ـ اَلْهَوى عَدُوٌّ مَتْبُوعٌ

9 . Verily if you follow your vain desire, it will make you deaf and blind, ruin your place of [final] return and destroy you.

9 ـ إنَّكَ إنْ أطَعْتَ هَواكَ أصَمَّكَ وأعْماكَ وأفْسَدَ مُنْقَلَبَكَ وَأرْداكَ

10 . Verily if you allow vain desire rule over you, it will deafen you, blind you and destroy you.

10 ـ إنَّكُمْ إنْ أمَّرْتُمْ عَلَيْكُمُ الهَوى أصَمَّكُمْ، وأعْماكُمْ، وَأرْداكُمْ

11 . The bane of the intellect is vain desire.

11 ـ آفَةُ العَقْلِ اَلْهَوى

12 . When your vain desires overcome you, they drag you into places of destruction.

12 ـ إذا غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أهْوائُـكُمْ أوْرَدَتْكُمْ مَوارِدَ الهَلَكَةِ

13 . Oppose vain desire and you will be safe; turn away from this world and you will benefit.

13 ـ خالِفِ الهَوى تَسْلَمْ، وأعْرِضْ عَنِ الدُّنْيا تَغْنَمْ

14 . May Allah have mercy upon the person who fights his vain desire and breaks loose from the entanglements of this world.

14 ـ رَحِمَ اللّهُ امْرَءاً غالَبَ الهَوى وأفْلَتَ مِنْ حَبائِلِ الدُّنْيا

15 . The cornerstone of religion is opposing vain desire.

15 ـ رَأْسُ الدّينِ مُخالَفَةُ الهَوى

16 . The cornerstone of reason is struggling against vain desire.

16 ـ رَأْسُ العَقْلِ مُجاهَدَةُ الهَوى

17 . Deterring [the self from] vain desire is a trait of the intelligent ones.

17 ـ رَدْعُ الهَوى شيمَةُ العُقَلاءِ

18 . The cause of corruption of the intellect is vain desire.

18 ـ سَبَبُ فَسادِ العَقْلِ اَلهَوى

19 . The cause of corruption of faith is vain desire.

19 ـ سَبَبُ فَسادِ الدّينِ اَلْهَوى

20 . Counter vain desire with the reason.

20 ـ ضادُّوا الهَوى بِالعَقْلِ

21 . Blessed is the one who endures [the temptations of] his vain desire, rejects his [false] aspiration, hits the target and acquires recompense.

21 ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ كابَدَ هَواهُ، وكَذَّبَ مُناهُ، وَرَمى غَرَضاً، وأحْرَزَ عِوَضاً

22 . Yielding to vain desire corrupts the intellect.

22 ـ طاعَةُ الهَوى تُفْسِدُ العَقْلَ

23 . Submitting to vain desire causes ruin.

23 ـ طاعَةُ الهَوى تُرْدي

24 . Vain desire is victorious over the one who is led by his lust.

24 ـ ظَفِرَ الهَوى بِمَنِ انْقادَ لِشَهْوَتِهِ

25 . He who overcomes his vain desire is victorious in attaining the Paradise of the [everlasting] Abode.

25 ـ ظَفِرَ بِجَنَّةِ المَأْوى مَنْ غَلَبَ الهَوى

26 . The delusions of vain desire beguile.

26 ـ غُرُورُ الهَوى يَخْدَعُ

27 . Being overcome by vain desire corrupts [one’s] faith and reason.

27 ـ غَلَبَةُ الهَوى تُفْسِدُ الدّينَ وَالعَقْلَ

28 . Combat vain desire just as an adversary would combat his adversary, and battle it the way an enemy would battle his enemy, [if successful] you may gain mastery over it.

28 ـ غالِبِ الهَوى مُغالَبَةَ الخَصْمِ خَصْمَهُ، وحارِبْهُ مُحارَبَةَ العَدُوِّ عَدُوَّهُ لَعَلَّكَ تَمْلِكْهُ

29 . In succumbing to vain desire there is every [form of] deviation.

29 ـ في طاعَةِ الهَوى كُلُّ الغَوايَةِ

30 . He who overcomes his vain desire and controls the urges of his [carnal] soul is successful.

30 ـ فازَ مَنْ غَلَبَ هَواهُ، ومَلَكَ دَواعِيَ نَفْسِهِ

31 . Indeed the one who is deceived by the temptations of [his] vain desire has gone astray.

31 ـ قَدْ ضَلَّ مَنِ انْخَدَعَ لِدَواعِى الهَوى

32 . Combat your vain desire with your intellect and you will acquire right guidance.

32 ـ قاتِلْ هَواكَ بِعَقْلِكَ، تَمْلِكْ رُشْدَكَ

33 . Combat your vain desire with your knowledge and your anger with your forbearance.

33 ـ قاتِلْ هَواكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وغَضَبَكَ بِحِلْمِكَ

34 . Be a conqueror of your vain desire and a seeker of your salvation.

34 ـ كُنْ لِهَواكَ غالِباً، ولِنَجاتِكَ طالِباً

35 . If vain desire were to be lifted, the insincere person would despise [and feel ashamed of] his [own] action.

35 ـ لَوِارْتَفَعَ الهَوى لأَنِفَ غَيْرُ المُخْلصِ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ

36 . One who is controlled by his vain desire goes astray.

36 ـ مَنْ مَلَكَهُ هَواهُ ضَلَّ

37 . Whoever yields to his vain desire is destroyed.

37 ـ مَنْ أطاعَ هَواهُ هَلَكَ

38 . Whoever overcomes his vain desire is honoured.

38 ـ مَنْ يَغْلِبُ هَواهُ يَعِزَّ

39 . Whoever controls his vain desire acquires intelligence [and wisdom].

39 ـ مَنْ مَلَكَ هَواهُ مَلَكَ النُّهى

40 . Whoever agrees with his vain desire opposes his rectitude [and reason].

40 ـ مَنْ وافَقَ هَواهُ خالَفَ رُشْدَهُ

41 . One whose vain desire is strong, his resolve becomes weak.

41 ـ مَنْ قَوِيَ هَواهُ ضَعُفَ عَزْمُهُ

42 . Whoever embarks on his vain desire slips.

42 ـ مَنْ رَكِبَ هَواهُ زَلَّ

43 . Whoever follows his vain desire destroys himself.

43 ـ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ هَواهُ أرْدى نَفْسَهُ

44 . Whoever opposes his vain desire has followed [the path of] knowledge.

44 ـ مَنْ خالَفَ هَواهُ أطاعَ الْعِلْمَ

45 . One who proceeds with vain desire falls into destruction.

45 ـ مَنْ جَرى مَعَ الهَوى عَثَرَ بِالرَّدى

46 . With vain desire there is no [reason and] intellect.

46 ـ لاعَقْلَ مَعَ هَوىً

47 . Whoever embarks on vain desire is afflicted by blindness.

47 ـ مَنْ رَكِبَ الهَوى أدْرَكَ العَمى

48 . There is no faith with vain desire.

48 ـ لادينَ مَعَ هَوىً

49 . Whoever yields to his vain desire has sold his Hereafter for his worldly life.

49 ـ مَنْ أطاعَ هَواهُ باعَ آخِرَتَهُ بِدُنْياهُ

50 . One whose vain desire overpowers his intellect is overcome by disgrace.

50 ـ مَنْ غَلَبَ هَواهُ عَلى عَقْلِهِ ظَهَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ الفَضائِحُ

51 . Whoever wishes to attain lofty stations should overcome his vain desire.

51 ـ مَنْ أحَبَّ نَيْلَ الدَّرَجاتِ العُلى فَلْيَغْلِبِ الهَوى

52 . One who is controlled by vain desire does not accept the advice of any sincere adviser.

52 ـ مَنْ مَلَكَهُ الهَوى لَمْ يَقْبَلْ مِنْ نَصُوح نُصُحاً

53 . One whose actions are free from vain desire, his effect [and result] is good in every matter.

53 ـ مَنْ عَرِيَ عَنِ الهَوى عَمَلُهُ، حَسُنَ أثَرُهُ في كُلِّ أمْر

54 . Whoever follows his vain desire, it blinds him, deafens him, humiliates him and misguides him.

54 ـ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ هَواهُ أعْماهُ، وأصَمَّهُ، وأذَلَّهُ، وأضَلَّهُ

55 . Whoever is led by his vain desire, Satan prevails upon him.

55 ـ مَنِ اسْتَقادَهُ هَواهُ اِسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِ الشَّيْطانُ

56 . Whoever looks with the eye of his vain desire falls into temptation and wrongdoing, and deviates and turns away from the clear open path.

56 ـ مَنْ نَظَرَ بِعَيْنِ هَواهُ اِفْتَتَنَ وجارَ، وعَنْ نَهْجِ السَّبيلِ زاغَ وَحارَ

57 . Nothing opposes reason like vain desire.

57 ـ ما ضادَّ العَقْلَ كَالهَوى

58 . Nothing destroys religion like vain desire.

58 ـ ما أهْلَكَ الدّينَ كَالهَوى

59 . Vain desire is a riding mount that throws down its rider.

59 ـ مَرْكَبُ الهَوى مَرْكَبٌ مُرْد

60 . Opposing vain desire is a cure for the intellect.

60 ـ مُخالَفَةُ الهَوى شِفاءُ العَقْلِ

61 . The one who is overpowered by vain desire is always wretched and forever enslaved.

61 ـ مَغْلُوبُ الهَوى دائِمُ الشَّقاءِ مُؤَبَّدُ الرِّقِّ

62 . He is drawing in large buckets [from the well] of his vain desire and exerting a lot of efforts for his worldly life.1

62 ـ ماتِحاً في عَرْبِ هَواهُ كادِحاً سَعْياً لِدُنْياهُ

63 . Following vain desire is indeed a good aide to Satan.

63 ـ نِعْمَ عَوْنُ الشَّيْطانِ اِتِّباعُ الهَوى

64 . Ruined is the one who is led astray by vain desire and pulled by Satan towards the path of blindness.

64 ـ هَلَكَ مَنْ أضَلَّهُ الهَوى، واسْتَقادَهُ الشَّيْطانُ إلى سَبيلِ العَمى

65 . Your vain desire is a greater enemy towards you than all [other] enemies, so overpower it otherwise it will destroy you.

65 ـ هَواكَ أعْدى عَلَيْكَ مِنْ كُلِّ عَدُوّ فَأغْلِبْهُ وإلاّ أهْلَكَكَ

66 . Never let your vain desire relegate your knowledge.

66 ـ لايُبْعِدَنَّ هَواكَ عِلْمَكَ

67 . Do not follow [your] vain desire, for whoever follows his vain desire becomes disconcerted.

67 ـ لاتَتَّبِعِ الهَوى، فَمَنْ تَبِـعَ هَواهُ اِرْتَبَكَ

68 . Do not incline towards your ignorant people (or your ignorance) and do not follow your vain desires, for indeed the one who alights at this stop is on the brink of a collapsing bank.

68 ـ لاتَرْكَنُوا إلى جُهّالِكُمْ (جِهالَتِكُمْ) ولاتَنْقادُوا لأهْوائِكُمْ، فَإنَّ النّازِلَ بِهذا المَنْزِلِ عَلى شَفا جُرُف هار

69 . Vain desire is the greater of the two enemies.

69 ـ اَلْهَوى أعْظَمُ العَدُوَّيْنِ

70 . Vain desire is a worshipped deity.

70 ـ اَلْهَوى إلهٌ مَعْبُودٌ

71 . Because of succumbing to vain desire and misguidance, [only a] few will be saved from hellfire.

71 ـ اَلنّاجُونَ مِنَ النّارِ قَلِيلٌ لِغَلَبَةِ الهَوى والضَّلالِ

72 . Control your vain desire and be stingy with yourself [by keeping away] from those things that are forbidden for you, for indeed being stingy with oneself is the essence of honour.

72 ـ اِمْلِكْ عَلَيْكَ هَواكَ، وشُحَّ بِنَفْسِكَ عَمّا لايَحِلُّ لَكَ فَإنَّ الشُّحَّ بِالنَّفْسِ حَقيقَةُ الكَرَمِ

73 . Be cautious of the vain desire that pulls the souls down, dropping them [to the lowest levels], and causes them to become more distanced from [the place of] success [and prosperity].

73 ـ اِحْذَرُوا هَوىً، هَوى بِالأَنْفُسِ هُوِيّاً، وأبْعَدَها عَنْهُ قَرارَةَ الفَوْزِ قَصِيّاً

74 . The smallest vain desire can corrupt the intellect.

74 ـ يَسيرُ الهَوى يُفْسِدُالعَقْلَ

75 . There is no damage [and loss] greater than [what is brought about by] vain desire.

75 ـ لاتَلَفَ أعْظَمُ مِنَ الهَوى

76 . The most destructive thing is vain desire.

76 ـ أهْلَكُ شَيْء الهَوى

77 . Beware of yielding to vain desire, for indeed it leads [one] towards every [form of] tribulation.

77 ـ إيّاكَ وطاعَةَ الهَوى، فَإنَّهُ يَقُودُ إلى كُلِّ مِحْنَة

78 . The best of people is one who struggles against his vain desire.

78 ـ أفْضَلُ النّاسِ مَنْ جاهَدَهَواهُ

79 . The beginning of vain desire is temptation and its end is tribulation.

79 ـ أوَّلُ الهَوى فِتْنَةٌ وآخِرُهُ مِحْنَةٌ

80 . Vain desire is the partner of blindness.

80 ـ اَلْهَوى شَريكُ العَمى

81 . Vain desire is a hidden ailment.

81 ـ اَلْهَوى داءٌ دَفينٌ

82 . Vain desire is a bane of the intellects.

82 ـ اَلْهَوى آفَةُ الألْبابِ

83 . Vain desire is a pernicious associate.

83 ـ اَلْهَوى قَرينٌ مُهْلِكٌ

84 . Vain desire is the opposite of reason.

84 ـ اَلْهَوى ضِدُّ العَقْلِ

85 . Vain desire is the foundation of tribulations.

85 ـ اَلْهَوى أُسُّ المِحَنِ

86 . Vain desire is the riding mount of temptations.

86 ـ اَلْهَوى مَطِيَّةُ الفِتَنِ

87 . Vain desire is a [cause of one’s] fall to the lowest of the low.

87 ـ اَلْهَوى هَوِيٌّ إلى أسْفَلِ سافِلينَ

88 . Do not be a slave to vain desires and coveted objects.

88 ـ لاتَكُونُوا عَبيدَ الأهْواءِ والمَطامِعِ

89 . There is no enemy like vain desire.

89 ـ لاعَدُوَّ كَالهَوى

90 . Vain desire is a riding mount of temptation.

90 ـ اَلْهَوى مَطِيَّةُ الْفِتْنَةِ

Notes

1. Taken from Khutba no. 83 of Nahj al-Balāgha where the human being and his life on this earth is beautifully described.

Dread And Awe

Dread and awe-الهيبة

1 . Dread is [a cause of] failure.

1 ـ اَلْهَيْبَةُ خَيْبَةٌ

2 . Dread is accompanied by failure.

2 ـ اَلْهَيْبَةُ مَقْرُونَةٌ بِالخَيْبَةِ

3 . The bane of awe is jest.

3 ـ آفَةُ الهَيْبَةِ المَزاحُ

4 . Dread has been paired with failure.

4 ـ قُرِنَتِ الهَيْبَةُ بِالخَيْبَةِ

Loss Of Hope

Loss of Hope1-اليَأْس

1 . Loss of hope [in others] is one of the two successes.

1 ـ اَلْيَأسُ أحَدُ النُّجْحَيْنِ

2 . The root of sincerity is losing hope [and desire] in that which others possess.

2 ـ أَصْلُ الإخْلاصِ اَلْيَأسُ مِمّا في أيْدِي النّاسِ

3 . Verily the most honourable of all people is one who loses hope [in others], espouses contentment and piety and is devoid of greed and covetousness, for indeed covetousness and greed are a ready indigence and verily loss of hope [in others] and contentment are a manifest affluence.

3 ـ إنَّ أكْرَمَ النّاسِ مَنِ اقْتَنَى الْيَأْسَ، ولَزِمَ القُنُوعَ والوَرَعَ، وبَرِيَ مِنَ الحِرْصِ والطَّمََعِ، فَإنَّ الطَّمَعَ والحِرْصَ اَلْفَقْرُ الحاضِرُ، وإنَّ الْيَأسَ والقَناعَةَ الغِنىَ الظّاهِرُ

4 . Loss of hope [in others] is freedom.

4 ـ اَلْيَأسُ حُرٌّ

5 . Loss of hope [in others] is liberty.

5 ـ اَلْيَأسُ عِتْقٌ

6 . Loss of hope [in this world] is a solace.

6 ـ اَلْيَأسُ مَسْلاةٌ

7 . Loss of hope [in this world] is a ready affluence.

7 ـ اَلْيَأسُ غِناءٌ حاضِرٌ

8 . With loss of hope [in others] comes honour.

8 ـ اَلْعِزُّ مَعَ اليَأسِ

9 . Loss of hope [in others] comforts the soul.

9 ـ اَلْيَأسُ يُريحُ النَّفْسَ

10 . Loss of hope [in others] is a renewed liberty.

10 ـ اَلْيَأسُ عِتْقٌ مُجَدَّدٌ

11 . Loss of hope [in others] is a comforting liberty.

11 ـ اَلْيَأسُ عِتْقٌ مُريحٌ

12 . Loss of hope [in others] exalts the prisoner.

12 ـ اَلْيَأسُ يُعِزُّ الأسيرَ

13 . Loss of hope [in others] is better than entreating the people [for what you need].

13 ـ اَلْيَأسُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ التَّضَرُّعِ إلَى النّاسِ

14 . Through loss of hope [in others] there is [attainment of] self-sufficiency.

14 ـ بِالْيَأسِ يَكُونُ الغَناءُ

15 . Adorn yourself with loss of hope in that which people possess and you will become safe from their malice and you will acquire their affection.

15 ـ تَحَلَّ بِالْيَأسِ مِمّا في أيْدِي النّاسِ، تَسْلَمْ مِنْ غَوائِلِهِمْ، وتُحْرِزِ المَوَدَّةَ مِنْهُمْ

16 . Hastening the loss of hope [in others] is one of the two triumphs.

16 ـ تَعْجيلُ اليَأسِ أحَدُ الظَّفَرَيْنِ

17 . The virtue of loss of hope [in others] is better than the humiliation of asking [for their help].

17 ـ حُسْنُ اليَأسِ أجْمَلُ مِنْ ذُلِّ الطَّلَبِ

18 . Loss of hope may [indeed] be an achievement [in times] when covetousness is destructive.

18 ـ قَدْ يَكُونُ اليَأسُ إدْراكاً إذا كانَ الطَّمَعُ هَلاكاً

19 . One who loses hope in a thing forgets about it.

19 ـ مَنْ أَيِسَ مِنْ شَيْء سَلا عَنْهُ

20 . The bitterness of despair is better than turning entreatingly towards the people.

20 ـ مَرارَةُ اليَأْسِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ التَّضَرُّعِ إلَى النّاسِ

21 . The beginning of sincerity is losing hope in that which people possess.

21 ـ أَوَّلُ الإخْلاصِ اَلْيَأسُ مِمّا في أيْدِي النّاسِ

Notes

1. The concept of losing hope here is one where hope is not placed in the help (and possessions) of creastures, rather one places his hope only in Allah.

Orphans

Orphans-الأيتام

1 . Be good to your orphans, help your poor folk and be kind to the weak amongst you.

1 ـ بَـرُّوا أيْتامَكُمْ، وواسَوْا فُقَرائَـكُمْ، وارْفُقُوا بِضُعَفائِكُمْ

2 . Whoever oppresses an orphan has severed his ties with his children.

2 ـ مَنْ ظَلَمَ يَتيماً عَقَّ أوْلادَهُ

3 . Whoever takes care of the orphans, his children will be cared for.

3 ـ مَنْ رَعَى الأيْتامَ رُعِيَ في بَنيهِ

4 . The one who takes charge of caring for the orphans and the needy is considered [to be] among the honourable ones in the sight of Allah.

4 ـ كافِلُ اليَتيمِ والمِسْكينِ عِنْدَ اللّهِ مِنَ المُكْرَمينَ

5 . One who takes charge of caring for the orphans is favoured in the sight of Allah.

5 ـ كافِلُ اليَتيمِ اَثيْرٌ عِنْدَ اللّهِ

Alertness And Vigilance

Alertness and vigilance -اليقظة والتيقّظ في الدين

1 . Vigilance in religion is a blessing for the one whom it is bestowed upon.

1 ـ اَلتَّيَقُّظُ فِي الدّينِ نِعْمَةٌ عَلى مَنْ رُزِقَهُ

2 . Alertness is illumination, negligence is delusion.

2 ـ اَلْيَقْظَةُ نُورٌ، اَلْغَفْلَةُ غُرُورٌ

3 . Alertness is perspicacity.

3 ـ اَلْيَقْظَةُ اِسْتِبْصارٌ

4 . Indeed you have been alerted so become vigilant, and you have been guided so follow the guidance.

4 ـ قَدْ يُقِّظْتُمْ فَتَـيَقَّظُوا، وهُديتُمْ فَاهْتَدُوا

5 . One who does not take support through vigilance will not benefit from [the presence of] guards.

5 ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَظْهِرْ بِاليَقْظَةِ لَمْ يَنْتَفِعْ بِالحَفَظَةِ

6 . Alertness is [a cause of] grief.

6 ـ اَلْيَقْظَةُ كَرَبٌ

7 . Recover, O listener, from your stupor, and wake up from your heedlessness, and curb (or cut short) your haste [towards sins].

7 ـ أفِقْ أَيُّهَا السّامِعُ مِنْ سَكْرَتِكَ، واسْتَيْقِظْ مِنْ غَفْلَتِكَ، وَاحْتَصِرْ(اِخْتَصِرْ) مِنْ عَجَلَتِكَ

8 . Is there nobody who will wake up from his [slumber of] negligence before his time [on this earth] ends?

8 ـ اَلا مُسْتَيْقِظٌ مِنْ غَفْلَتِهِ قَبْلَ نَفادِ مُدَّتِهِ