Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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   الحَسَدُ يَأْكُلُ الحَسَناتِ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الحَطَبَ، وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِى‏ءُ الخَطِيْئَةَ كَما يُطْفِى‏ءُ الماءُ النَّارَ.

Jealousy eats away good deeds just as fire eats away firewood, and charity puts out (the flames of) sins just as water puts out fire.

   الحَسَدُ يُفْسِدُ الإيمَانَ كَمَا يُفْسِدُ الصَّبِرُ العَسَلَ.

Jealousy ruins (one's) faith Just as aloe decays honey.

   رَأى عِيْسَى بْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَجُلاً يَسْرِقُ فَقَالَ لَهُ: أسَرَقْتَ؟ قَالَ: كَلاّ وَالَّذي لا إلهَ إلاّ هُوَ، وَقَالَ عِيْسَى: آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَذَبَتْ عَيْنِي.

Jesus, son of Mary beheld a man stealing (something)."Did you steal anything"?, he asked him. "No, by the God save Him no god exists". The man retorted. "I believe in God and my eyes have erred". Jesus asserted.

   الجِنُّ لا تُخَبِّلُ أحَداً في بَيْتِهِ عَتِيْقٌ مِنَ الخَيْلِ.

Jins will not make idiot those who have horses of noble birth at home.

   صِلْ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ وَأعْطِ مَنْ حَرَمَكَ وَاعْفُ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ.

Join the one who has renounced you, do good to the one who has deprived you and forgive the one who has oppressed you.

   صِلْ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ وَأحْسِنْ إلى مَنْ أسَاءَ اِلَيْكَ، وَقُلِ الحَقَّ وَلَوْ عَلى نَفْسِكَ.

Join the one who has renounced you, do good to the one who has wronged you and tell the truth, though it might be against you.

   الأكْلُ مَعَ الخَادِمِ مَنِ التَّوَاضُعِ.

Joining a servant's meal shows one's humility.

   ثَلاثُ لا يَجُوزُ اللَّعِبُ فِيْهِنَّ: الطَّلاقُ؛ وَالنِّكاحُ؛ وَالعِتْقُ.

Joking is not allowed in the following three: divorce, marriage, and emancipation of slaves.

   العَدْلُ حَسَنٌ وَلكِنْ في الأُمَرَاءِ أحْسَنُ. السَّخَاءُ حَسَنٌ وَلكِنْ في الأغْنِيَاءِ أَحْسَنُ. الوَرَعُ حَسَنٌ وَلكِنْ في العُلَمَاءِ أَحْسَنُ. الصَّبْرُ حَسَنٌ وَلكِنْ في الفُقَرَاءِ أَحْسَنُ. التَّوْبَةُ حَسَنٌ وَلكِنْ في الشَّبَابِ أَحْسَنُ. الحَيَاءُ حَسَنٌ وَلكِنْ في النِّسَاءِ أَحْسَنُ.

Justice is good but it's better with rulers, generosity is good but it's better with the rich, abstinence is good but it's better with the learned, patience is good but it's better with the poor, penitence is good but it's better with the youth, and chastity is good but it's better with women.

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   الكَيِّسُ مَنْ دَانَ نَفْسَهُ وَعَمِلَ لِمَا بَعْدَ المَوْتِ، وَالعَاجِزُ مَنْ اتَّبَعَ نَفْسَهُ هَوَاهَا وَتَمَنَّى عَلَى اللَّهِ الأمَانِيَّ

Keen is the one who rules over his (evil) soul and makes provisions for the Hereafter, and weak is the one who obeys his carnal desires and asks God for (unrealizable) longings.

   اِتَّقِ المَحَارِمَ تَكُنْ أَعْبَدَ النَّاسِ؛ وَارْضَ بِمَا قَسَمَ اللَّهُ لَكَ تَكُنْ أَغْنَى النَّاسِ.

Keep away form the unlawful to be the most (obedient) servant of God, and be convinced with your destined share to be needless of all people.

   اِتَّقُوا صَاحِبَ الْجُذَامِ كَمَا يُتَّقَى السَّبُعُ؛ اِذا هَبَطَ وَادِيَاً فَاهْبِطُوا غَيْرَهُ.

Keep away from a leprous as you do from a wild animal. Should he settle somewhere, you do settle somewhere else.

   اِتَّقُوا الظُّلْمَ؛ فَاِنَّ الظُلْمَ ظُلُماتٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ.

Keep away from oppression, for it will bring (you) darkness in the Day of Judgement.

   اِتَّقُوا الدُّنْيا؛ وَاتَّقُوا النِّسَاءَ؛ فَاِنَّ اِبْلِيْسَ طَلّاعٌ رَصَّادٌ؛ وَمَا هُوَ بِشَيْى‏ءٍ مِنْ فُخُوخِهِ بِأَوْثَقَ لِصَيْدِهِ فِي الْاَتْقِيَاءِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ.

Keep away from the (material) world and women, for Satan lies is ambush in all mastery, and none of his traps is more reliable than women to hunt holders of piety.

   اِحْذَرُوا زَلَّةَ الْعَالِمِ؛ فَاِنَّ زَلَّتَهُ تُكَبْكِبُهُ في النَّارِ.

Keep away from the slips of an scholar, for it will cause him fall into the Fire.

   اِتَّقُوا الدُّنْيا؛ فَوَالَّذيْ نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ اِنَّها لاَسْحَرُ مِنْ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ.

Keep away from the world (materiality), for I swear by Him who has authority over my soul that it is more sorcerous than Gog and Magog.

   بُلُّوْا أَرْحَامَكُمْ وَلَوْ بِالسَّلام.

Keep close connections with your relatives even through greeting.

   جالِسِ الاَبْرارَ فَاِنَّكَ اِذا فَعَلْتَ خَيْرَاً حَمَدُوُكَ؛ وَاِنْ أَخْطَأَتَ لَمْ يُعَنِّفُوُكَ.

Keep company with good people, for if you do good, they will praise you, and if you do evil, they will not be hard on you.

   خَالِطُوْا النَّاسَ بِأَخْلاقِهِمْ، وَخَالِفُوهُمْ في أعْمَالِهِمْ.

Keep company with people for (the sake of) their good manners, and keep distance with them for (evil) deeds.

   اِذا رَأَيْتُمْ أَهْلَ الْجُوعِ وَالتَّفَكُّرِ فَادْنُوا مِنْهُمْ؛ فَاِنَّ الْحِكْمَةَ تَجْرِي عَلى أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ.

Keep company with the hungry and learned men, for wisdom flows out through their tongues.

   صُوْمُوْا تَصِحُّوْا.

Keep fast and be healthy.

   نَحِّ الأَذَى عَنْ طَرِيْقِ المُسْلِمِيْنَ.

Keep harms away from Muslim's path.

   اِذا غَضِبْتَ فَاسْكُتْ.

Keep silent when you get angry.

   عَلَيْكُمْ بِاصْطِنَاعِ المَعْرُوْفِ فَاِنَّهُ يَمْنَعُ مَصَارِعَ السُّوْءِ، وَعَليْكُمْ بِصَدَقَةِ السِّرِّ؛ فَاِنَّهَا تُطْفِي غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

Keep up with good deeds, for it saves you from bad falls, and give covert alms, for it puts out the wrath of God, the Greatest and the most Powerful.

   اِمْلِكْ يَدَكَ.

Keep your hands under control.

   اِحْفَظْ وِدَّ أبِيْكَ لا تَقْطَعْهُ فَيُطْفِى‏ءُ اللَّهُ نُوْرَكَ.

Keep your relationship with your father intact and do not cut it off; otherwise, God will make your (spiritual) light vanish.

   اِمْلِكْ عَلَيْكَ لِسَانَكَ.

Keep your tongue under control.

   اِحْتَرِسُوا مِنَ النَّاسِ بِسُوءِ الظَّنِّ.

Keep yourself intact by being suspicious about people.

   مَنْ لَمْ تَنْتَفِعْ بِدِيْنِهِ وَلا دُنْياهُ فَلا خَيْرَ لَكَ في مُجَالَسَتِهِ؛ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُوجِبْ لَكَ فَلا تُوجِبْ لَهُ وَلا كَرَامَةً.

Keeping company is void with the one who avails you no worldly or otherworldly gain, and do not observe respect for the one who is not respectful to you, and there is no greatness for such a person.

   مِنْ كُنُوزِ البِرِّ كِتْمَانُ المَصَائِبِ وَالأمْرَاضِ وَالصَّدَقَةِ.

Keeping disasters, diseases and alms in secret is among the treasures of goodness.

   السُّكُوتُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ اِمْلاءِ الشَّرِّ.

Keeping silent is better than dictating evil.

   ثَلاثٌ مِنْ أَبْوابِ البِرِّ: سَخاءُ النَّفْسِ؛ وَطِيْبُ الكَلامِ؛ وَالصَّبْرُ عَلَى الاَذَى.

Kindness requires the following three: self- sacrifice, using good words, and tolerating (others') bothering.

   بِرُّ الوَالِدَيْنِ يُجْزِى‏ءُ عَنِ الجِهَادِ.

Kindness to parents is tantamount to struggling in the way of God (Jihad).

   بِرُّ الوَالِدَيْنِ يَزِيْدُ في العُمْرِ، وَالكِذْبُ يَنْقُصُ الرِّزْقَ؛ وَالدُّعَاءُ يَرُدُّ القَضَاءَ.

Kindness to parents prolongs one's life, telling lie reduces one's sustenance and praying wards off (bad) accidents.

   البِرُّ لا يَبْلَى وَالذَّنْبُ لا يُنْسى؛ وَالدَّيَّانُ لا يَمُوتُ؛ اِعْمَلْ ما شِئْتَ فَكَما تَدِيْنُ تُدَانُ.

Kindness will not fade away, badness will in the minds stay, and the Just God will not die. Do, therefore, what you can do, for the like of it will be given back to you.

   الرَّحِمِ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالعَرْشِ يَقُوْلُ: مَنْ وَصَلَنِي وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ قَطَعَنِي قَطَعَهَ اللَّهُ.

Kinship hangs from heavens, saying, "God will extend His bond to whoever keeps me intact, and disconnects His link with whoever severs me".

   الرَّحِمُ شِجْنَةٌ مِنَ الرَّحْمنِ، فَمَنْ وَصَلَهَا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ قَطَعَهَا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ.

Kinship is a divine link. Whoever keeps it intact, will enjoy God's bond, and whoever severs it, will lose it.

   لِلْرَّحِمِ لِسَانٌ عِندَ المِيْزَانِ تَقُوْلُ: يَا رَبِّ مَنْ قَطَعَنِي فَاقْطَعْهُ؛ وَمَنْ وَصَلَنِي فَصِلْهُ.

Kinship will have a tongue in the Day of Judgment, saying, "O God! Whoever cut me off, cut him off, and whoever kept me intact, keep him intact (today)."

   أَلا اِنَّ الْغَضَبَ جَمْرَةٌ تُوقَدُ في جَوْفِ ابْنِ

Know for sure that anger is a fire burning in man's heart. Don't you see the redness of his eyes and the

آدَمَ، ألا تَرَوْنَ اِلى حُمْرَةِ عَيْنَيْهِ وَانْتِفَاخِ أَوْدَاجِهِ؛ فَاِذا وَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ شَيْئَاً مِنْ ذلِكَ فَالاَرْضَ الاَرْضَ.

inflammation of his veins when he is cross. When one of you happens to experience such a feeling, you should better take a sitting position.

   أَلا اِنَّ النَّاسَ مِنْ آدَمَ؛ وَآدَمُ مِنْ تُرَابٍ؛ وَأَكْرَمُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاهُمْ.

Know for sure that people are Adam's offspring, and Adam was created from soil. Verily, the most honored of them are the most virtuous.

   أَلا لا يَخْلُوَنَّ رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَةٍ اِلاّ كانَ ثَالِثُهُمَا الشَّيْطَانَ.

Know for sure that Satan is the third party to the illegitimate privacy of a man and a woman.

   أَلا اِنَّ بَنِي آدَمَ خُلِقُوا عَلى طَبَقَاتٍ شَتَّى؛ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يُولَدُ مُؤْمِنَاً وَيَحْيَا مُؤْمِنَاً وَيَمُوتُ مُؤْمِنَاً، وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يُولَدُ كافِرَاً وَيَحْيَا كافِرَاً وَيَمُوتُ كافِرَاً، وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يُولَدُ كافِرَاً وَيَحْيَا كافِرَاً وَيَمُوتُ مُؤْمِنَاً.

Know for sure that sons of Adam have been created into different classes: some are born believers, living and dying as believers; some are born disbelievers, living and dying as disbelievers; and some are born disbelievers, living as disbelievers but dying as believers.

   اِخْتَبِرُوا النَّاسَ بِأَخْدَانِهِم؛ فَاِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يُخَادِنُ مَنْ يُعْجِبُهُ.

Know people by knowing their friends, for men love the like of themselves.

   أَلا وَاِنَّ في الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً اِذا صَلُحَتْ صَلُحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَاِذا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، ألا وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ.

Know that in man's body there is a lump of flesh which corrupts or rectifies the whole body, being it corrupt or rectified respectively. That is man's heart.

   أَلا اِنَّ خَيْرَ التُّجَّارِ مَنْ كانَ حَسَنَ الْقَضَاء حَسَنَ الطَّلَبِ، وَشَرَّ التُّجَارِ مَنْ كانَ سَيِّى‏ءَ الْقَضَاءِ سَيِّى‏ءَ الطَّلَبِ، فَاِذا كانَ الرَّجُلُ حَسَنَ الْقَضَاءِ سَيِّى‏ءَ الطَّلَبِ؛ أَوْ كانَ سَيِّى‏ءَ الْقَضَاءِ

Know that the best businessman is the one who is good both in paying debts and demanding credits, and the worst is the one who is bad in both. If a man is good in the former but bad in the latter or vice versa, that is something in its own right.

حَسَنَ الطَّلَبِ فَاِنَّهَا بِهَا.

   أَلا اِنَّ خَيْرَ الرِّجَالِ مَنْ كانَ بَطي‏ءَ الْغَضَبِ سَريعَ الرِّضَا، وَشَرَّ الرِّجَالِ مَنْ كانَ سَريعَ الْغَضَبِ بَطي‏ءَ الرِّضَا، فَاِذا كانَ الرَّجُلُ بَطي‏ءَ الْغَضَبِ بَطي‏ءَ الْفَي‏ء؛ وَسَريعَ الْغَضَبِ سَريعَ الْفَي‏ء فَاِنَّهَا بِهَا.

Know that the best of men is the one who becomes enraged hardly and gets pleased easily, and the worst of them is the one who gets pleased hardly and become enraged easily. If a man hardly becomes enraged and hardly gets pleased or easily becomes enraged and easily gets pleased, that is something in its own right.

   أَلا اِنَّ عَمَلَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ حَزْنٌ بِرَبْوَةٍ؛ ألا اِنَّ عَمَلَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ سَهْلٌ بِسَهْوَةٍ.

Know that those who will reside in Paradise climb a hard rocky mountainous road (in this world), and those who will dwell in Hell tread an easy path on the steeps of a non- mountainous land.

   لِيَرُدَّكَ عَنِ النَّاسِ مَا تَعْرِفُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ، وَاخْزُنْ لِسَانَكَ إلاّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ، فَاِنَّكَ بِذلِكَ تَغْلِبُ الشَّيْطَانَ.

Knowing your faults should stop you recounting people's faults. Control your tongue, save for well- wishing, for this can make you defeat Satan.

   العَالِمُ وَالعِلْمُ في الجَنَّةِ، فَاِذا لَمْ يَعْمَلِ العَالِمُ بِمَا يَعْلَمُ كانَ العِلْمُ وَالعَمَلُ في الجَنَّةِ، وَكَانَ العَالِمُ في النَّارِ.

Knowledge and the learned dwell in Paradise and thus, if the learned do not act upon their knowledge, action and knowledge will in Paradise dwell, and the learned in Hell.

   العِلْمُ وَالمَالٌ يَسْتُرَانِ كُلَّ عَيْبٍ؛ وَالجَهْلُ وَالفَقْرُ يَكْشِفَانِ كُلَّ عَيْبٍ.

Knowledge and wealth keep all faults covert, but ignorance and poverty make them overt.

   العِلْمُ خَلِيْلُ المُؤْمِنِ، وَالحِلْمُ وَزيرُهُ، وَالعَقْلُ دَلِيْلُهُ، وَالعَمَلُ قَائِدُهُ، وَالرِّفْقُ والِدُهُ، وَالبِرُّ أخُوْهُ وَالصَّبْرُ أمِيْرُ جُنُوْدِهِ.

Knowledge is a believer's friend, fortitude being his minister, intellect being his guide, action being his leader, moderateness being his father, kindness being his brother, and patience being the commander of his army.

   ضَالَّةُ المُؤْمِنِ العِلْمُ، كُلَّمَا قَيَّدَ حَدِيْثَاً

Knowledge is a believer's lost one.

طُلِبَ إليْهِ آخَرُ.

Whenever he learns a bit of it, he demands another.

   اِنَّمَا العِلْمُ بِالتَّعَلُّمِ، وَاِنَّمَا الحِلْمُ بِالتَّحَلُّمِ، وَمَنْ يَتَحَرَّ الخَيْرَ يُعْطَهُ؛ وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ الشَّرَّ يُوْقَهُ.

Knowledge is acquired through learning and forbearance is achieved through practicing it. Whoever seeks good will be offered good and whoever fears evil will be saved from it.

   العِلْمُ أفْضَلُ مِنَ العَمَلِ، وَخَيْرُ الأعْمَالِ أوْسَطُهَا.

Knowledge is better than deed, and the best of all deeds is a moderate one.

   العِلْمُ ثَلاثَةٌ: كِتَابٌ نَاطِقٌ، وَسُنَّةٌ مَاضِيَةٌ، وَ"لا أدْرِي".

Knowledge is of three kinds: a manifest book, a practiced tradition and "I don't know".

   العِلْمُ عِلْمَانِ: فَعِلْمٌ في القَلْبِ فَذلِكَ العِلْمُ النَّافِعُ، وَعِلْمٌ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ فَذلِكَ حُجَّةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى ابْنِ آدَمَ.

Knowledge is of two kinds: the one lying in man's heart, i.e. beneficial knowledge, and the one being on (the tip of) one's tongue and, thus, being God's proof for Adam's sons.

   العِلْمُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ العَمَلِ، وَمِلاكُ الدِّينِ الوَرَعُ، وَالعَالِمُ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ.

Knowledge is superior to deed, religion is founded on abstinence, and a (true) scholar is he who practices what he knows.

   العِلْمُ أفْضَلُ مِنَ العِبَادَةِ وَمِلاكُ الدِّيْنِ الوَرَعُ.

Knowledge is superior to worship, and abstinence is the basis of religion.

   العِلْمُ مِيْرَاثِي وَمِيْرَاثُ الأنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِي.

Knowledge is the heritage of me and my predecessors (in prophethood).

   العِلْمُ حَيَاةُ الإسْلامِ وَعِمَادُ الإيمَانِ، وَمَنْ عَلِمَ عِلْمَاً أتَمَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ أجْرَهُ، وَمَنْ تَعَلَّمَ فَعَمِلَ عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ.

Knowledge is the spirit of Islam and the pillar of faith, and God will give perfect reward to he who acquires some sort of knowledge, and if he happens to practice it, He will let him know what heknows not.

   العِلْمُ خَزَائِنُ وَمِفْتَاحُهَا السُّؤَالُ؛ فَسَلُوْا

Knowledge is treasures, and the key to them is asking. So, question to gain God's Mercy, for God rewards four

يَرْحَمكُمُ اللَّهُ فَاِنَّهُ يُوجِرُ فِيْهِ أرْبَعَة: السَّائِلَ وَالمُعَلِّمَ وَالمُسْتَمِعَ وَالُمحِبَّ لَهُمْ.

groups in so far as knowledge is concerned: seekers of knowledge, teachers, listeners, and those who love the first three groups.

   العِلْمُ لا يَحِلُّ مَنْعُهُ.

Knowledge should not be stopped (being learned or taught)

   عِلْمٌ لا يَنْفَعُ كَنْزٌ لا يُنْفَقُ مِنْهُ.

Knowledge without use is like unto a treasure untouched.

   عِلْمٌ لا يَنْفَعُ كَكَنْزٍ لا يُنْفَقُ مِنْهُ، وَعَلى كُلِّ شَي‏ءٍ زَكَاةٌ؛ وَزَكَاةُ الجَسَدِ الصِّيَامُ.

Knowledge without use is like unto untouched treasure. For everything there is a poor- rate, and for the body, fasting.

L

   الغَنَمُ بَرَكَةٌ.

Lambs are blessings (of God.)

   الضِّحْك ضِحْكَانِ: ضِحْكٌ يُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ؛ وَضِحْكٌ يَمْقُتُهُ اللَّهُ، فَأَمَّا الضِّحْكُ الَّذِي يُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ فَالرَّجُلُ يَكْشِرُ في وَجْهِ أخِيْهِ شَوْقَاً اِلى رُؤْيَتِهِ، وَأمَّا الضِّحْكُ الَّذي يَمْقُتُهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالى فَالرَّجُلُ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِالكَلِمَةِ الجَفَاءِ وَالباطِلِ لِيَضْحَكَ أوْ يُضْحِكَ؛ يَهْوي بِهَا في جَهَنَّمَ سَبْعِيْنَ خَرِيْفَاً.

Laughing is of two kinds- that which God likes, i.e. a man's smiling at his brother's face out of pleasure to see him, and that which the Exalted God dislikes, i.e. a man's saying something false or unjust to laugh or make people laugh and thus, falling to Hell for seventy autumns.

   اِرْمُوا وَارْكَبُوا؛ وَأَنْ تَرْمُوا أَحَبُّ اِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ تَرْكَبُوا؛ كُلُّ شَيْى‏ءٍ يَلْهُو بِهِ الرَّجُلُ باطِلٌ اِلاّ رَمْى الرَّجُلِ بِقَوْسِهِ؛ أَوْ تَأْديبِهِ فَرَسَهُ؛ أَوْ مُلاعَبَتِهِ امْرَأَتَهُ، فَاِنَّهُنَّ مِنَ الْحَقِّ، وَمَنْ تَرَكَ الرَّمْىَ بَعْدَ مَا عَلِمَهُ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِي عَلَّمَهُ.

Learn shooting and horsemanship, but I love you shoot more than ride on horseback. Whatever makes you busy is idle, save shooting an arrow, training your horse or playing with your wives. All these are among your rights, and whoever abandons shooting after having learned it, is guilty of ingratitude to his teacher.

   تَعَلَّمُوْا ما شِئْتُمْ أَنْ تَعْلَمُوا؛ فَلَنْ يَنْفَعَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِالعِلْمِ حَتَّى تَعْمَلُوا بِمَا تَعْلَمُونَ.

Learn whatever you like, for God will not let you avail yourself of your knowledge unless you put it to practice.

   مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَتَعَلَّمُ العِلْمَ في صِغَرِهِ كَالنَّقْشِ عَلى الحَجَرِ؛ وَمَثَلُ الَّذِي يَتَعَلَّمُ العِلْمَ في كِبَرِهِ كَالَّذِي يَكْتُبُ عَلَى المَاءِ.

Learning in childhood is like unto carving (something) on stone, and learning in old age resembles writing on water.

   مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ أنْ يُعَلَّمَ الرَّجُلُ العِلْمَ؛ فَيَعْمَلَ بِهِ وَيُعَلِّمَهُ.

Learning knowledge, putting it to practice and teaching it to others is a form of charity for man.

   دَعُوْا النَّاسَ يَرْزُقِ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ.

Leave people on their own, (for) God bestows sustenance on some through others.

   دَعُوْا الدُّنْيَا لِأَهْلِهَا. مَنْ أخَذَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فَوْقَ مَا يَكْفِيْهِ أخَذَ حَتْفَهُ وَهُوَ لا يَشْعُرُ.

Leave the world to the secular, (for) whoever takes of the world beyond his need, is unknowingly ruining himself (indeed).

   أُتْرُكُوا الدُّنْيا لِأَهْلِها؛ فَاِنَّهُ مَنْ أَخَذَ مِنْها فَوْقَ مَا يَكْفِيهِ أَخَذَ مِنْ حَتْفِهِ وَهُوَ لا يَشْعُرُ.

Leave the world to the seekers of the world, for those who pick up from it beyond their need, are surely trying to ruin themselves, but they know it not, indeed.

   كَفَى بِالمَرْءِ اِثْمَاً أنْ يُضِيْعَ مَنْ يَقُوْتُ.

Leaving a receiver of daily bread on his own suffices to make the provider sinful.

   قَرْضُ الشَّي‏ءِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدَقَتِهِ.

Lending something is better than giving it in charity.

   قَرْضُ مَرَّتَيْنِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةِ مَرَّةٍ.

Lending something twice is better than giving it in charity once.

   ما كَانَ الرِّفْقُ في شَي‏ءٍ اِلاّ زَانَهُ، وَلا نُزِعَ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ اِلاّ شَانَهُ.

Leniency decorates its host but degrades it, taking distance with it.

   السَّمَاحُ رِبَاحٌ، وَالعُسْرُ شُؤْمٌ.

Leniency leads to covetousness, and severity to inauspiciousness.

   سَاُحَدِّثُكُمْ بِاُمُورِ النَّاسِ وَأخْلاقِهِمْ: الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ سَريعَ الغَضَبِ سَريعَ الفَيْ‏ءِ فَلا لَهُ وَلا عَلَيْهِ كَفَافَاً، وَالرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ بَعِيْدَ الغَضَبِ سَرِيْعَ الفَيْ‏ءِ فَذاكَ لَهُ وَلا عَلَيْه، وَالرَّجُلُ يَقْتَضِي الَّذِي لَهُ وَيَقْضِي الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ، فَذاكَ لا لَهُ وَلا عَلَيْهِ، وَالرَّجُلُ يَقْتَضِي

Let me inform you of people's affairs and manners: He who is quickly raised to anger but quickly cools down is neither good nor bad, he who is hardly raised to anger and quickly cools down is good not bad, he who claims his rights and pays his debts is neither good nor bad, and he who claims his rights but postpones securing people's rights is bad, not

الَّذي لَهُ وَيَمْطُلُ النَّاسَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ فَذاكَ عَلَيْهِ وَلا لَهُ.

good.

   لا تَمْنَعَنَّ أحَدَكُمْ مَهابَةُ النَّاسِ أنْ يَقُومَ بِالْحَقِّ اِذا عَلِمَهُ

Let not people's awe make you ignore the observance of the rights you know about.

   اِحْذَرْ أَنْ يُرَى عَلَيْكَ آثَارُ المُحْسِنِيْنَ؛ وَأَنْتَ تَخْلُوُ مِنْ ذلِكَ فَتُحْشَرَ مَعَ المُرَآئِيْنَ.

Let not the signs of the kind appear in you, without yourself being kind; for you'll be a company to hypocrites (in the Hereafter).

   دَعُوْا النَّاسَ يُصِيْبُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَاِنِ اسْتَنْصَحَ أحَدُكُمْ أخَاهُ فَلْيَنْصَحْهُ.

Let people avail themselves of one another, and when one of you counsels his brother, to him should the latter his views offer.

   خَلِّلُوْا بَيْنَ أصَابِعِكُمْ، لا يُخَلِّلِ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهَا بِالنَّارِ.

Let water flow amiss your fingers in ablution so that God might keep Fire from flowing there.

   سَافِرُوا مَعَ ذَوِي الجُدُوْدِ وَذَوِي المَيْسَرَةِ.

Let your fellow travelers be lucky, well- to- do people.

   اِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالى يُحِبُّ الْمُدَاوَمَةَ عَلَى الاِخَاءِ الْقَدِيْمِ فَدَاوِمُوْا.

Let your time- aged friendship continue, for God the Exalted loves this continuation.

   سَخَافَةٌ بِالمَرْءِ أنْ يَسْتَخْدِمَ ضَيْفَهُ.

Light- minded is the one who makes his (her) guest serve him (her).

   نَوِّرُوا بِالفَجْرِ فَاِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلأَجْرِ.

Light up lanterns early in the morning, for it brings you the greatest of rewards.

   قَلِيْلٌ تُؤَدِّي شُكْرَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثِيْرٍ لا تُطِيْقُهُ،

Little (wealth) for which one can thank (God) is better than a lot for which one falls short in so doing.

   كُنْ في الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيْبٌ أُوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيْلٍ، وَعُدْ نَفْسَكَ مِنْ أصْحَابِ القُبُوْرِ.

Live as a stranger or wayfarer in this world, and see yourself among the dwellers of graves.

   كُونُوا في الدُّنْيا أضْيَافَاً، وَاتَّخِذُوا

Live as guests in this world, consider mosques as your houses, make your hearts accustomed to leniency, think

المَسَاجِدَ بُيُوْتَاً، عَوِّدُوا قُلُوبَكُمُ الرِّقَّةَ وَأكْثِرُوا التَّفَكُّرَ وَالبُكَاءَ وَلا تَخْتَلِفَنَّ بِكُمُ الأهْوَاءُ تَبْنُونَ مَا لا تَسْكُنُوْنَ، وَتَجْمَعُوْنَ مَا لا تَأْكُلُونَ وَتَأْمُلُونَ مَا لا تُدْرِكُونَ.

and bewail a lot, and try to be not deviated by carnal desires. Many a building you make wherein you will not reside, many a kind of food stuff you prepare which you will not be able to eat, and many a yearning you have which you will not be able to realize!

   عِشْ مَا شِئْتَ فَاِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ، وَأحْبِبْ مَا أحْبَبْتَ فَاِنَّكَ مُفَارِقُهُ، وَاعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ فَاِنَّكَ مَجْزِيٌّ بِهِ.

Live as long as you wish, for you will finally perish, love whoever wants your heart, for from him you'll finally depart, and do whatever you wish to do, for it will finally come back to you.

   الوَحْدَةُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ جَلِيْسِ السُّوْءِ؛ وَالجَلِيْسُ الصَّالِحُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الوَحْدَةِ؛ وَاِمْلاءُ الخَيْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ السُّكُوتِ؛ وَالسُّكُوتُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ اِمْلاءِ الشَّرِّ.

Loneliness is better than having a bad companion, and a good companion is better than loneliness. Uttering good words is better than silence, and silence is better than uttering bad words.

   حُبُّ الثَّنَاءِ مِنَ النَّاسِ يُعْمِي وَيُصِمُّ.

Longing for people's praise blinds one's eyes and deafens one's ears.

   اِطَّلِعْ في الْقُبُورِ وَاعْتَبِرْ بِالنُّشُورِ.

Look at the graves (of men) and from the resurrection (of the dead) learn a lesson.

   أُنْظُرُوا اِلى مَنْ هُوَ أَسْفَلُ مِنْكُمْ وَلا تَنْظُرُوا اِلى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكُمْ؛ فَاِنَّهُ أَجْدَرُ؛ وَأَنْ لا تَزْدَرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ.

Look at those who are lower that you (in material possessions), not at those who are higher, and thus you (can) better appreciate God's blessings.

   أُنْظُرْ فَاِنَّكَ لَسْتَ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْ أَحْمَرَ وَلا أَسْوَدَ اِلاّ أَنْ تَفْضُلَهُ بِتَقْوَى.

Look! You are not superior to the black or red in anything but piety.

   النَّظَرُ إلَى المَرْأَةِ الحَسْنَاءِ وَالخُضْرَةِ يَزِيْدانِ في البَصَرِ.

Looking (dispassionately) at beautiful women and at green grass strengthens eyesight.

   حُسْنُ الظَّنَّ مِنْ حُسْنِ العِبادَةِ.

Looking at the bright side of everything comes from proper worshipping.

   مَنْ نَظَرَ في كِتَابِ أخِيْهِ بِغَيْرِ اِذْنِهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا يَنْظُرُ في النَّارِ.

Looking at the letter of one's brother without his permission is looking at Hell indeed.

   اِذا لَمْ تَسْتَحْي فَاصْنَعْ مَا شِئْتَ.

Lose your modesty and do whatever you want to.

   خابَ عَبْدٌ وَخَسِرَ لَمْ يَجْعَلِ اللَّهُ تَعَالى في قَلْبِهِ رَحْمَةً لِلْبَشَرِ.

Loser is the one in whose heart the Exalted God has not placed sympathy towards other human beings.

   اِذا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا حَمَاهُ الدُّنْيا كَمَا يَظَلُّ أَحَدُكُمْ يَحْمِيْ سَقِيمَهُ الْمَاءَ.

Loving a servant, God deprives him (her) of the world, just as you deprive your patients of drinking water.

   إذا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ عَبْدَاً اِبْتَلاهُ لِيَسْمَعَ تَضَرُّعَهُ.

Loving a servant, God puts him (her) to test to see him (her) supplicating.

   اِذا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ عَبْدَاً اِبْتَلاهُ؛ وَاِذا أَحَبَّهُ الْحُبَّ الْبالِغَ اِقْتَنَاهُ؛ قَالُوا مَا اِقْتِنَاؤُهُ؟ قَالَ: لا يَتْرُكُ لَهُ مَالاً وَلا وَلَدَاً.

Loving a servant, God puts him (her) to test, and loving him (her) more, He chooses the servant for Himself. "How?," the people demanded. The Holy Prophet replied: "By leaving him (her) without property and heir."

   اِذا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ عَبْدَاً قَذَفَ حُبَّهُ في قُلُوبِ الْمَلائِكَةِ؛ وَاِذا أَبْغَضَ اللَّهُ عَبْدَاً قَذَفَ بُغْضَهُ في قُلُوبِ الْمَلائِكَةِ؛ ثُمَّ يَقْذِفُهُ في قُلُوبِ الآدَمِيِّينَ.

Loving a servant, God throws His love for him in the angels' hearts, and detesting him, He sets His hatred in their hearts as well as in men's hearts.

   الغِنَاءُ يُنْبِتُ النِّفَاقَ في القَلْبِ كَمَا يُنْبِتُ المَاءُ الزَّرْعَ.

Lustful music makes hypocrisy in one's heart show, just as water makes sown seeds grow.

   الكِذْبُ يُسَوِّدُ الوَجْهَ، وَالنَّمِيْمَةُ عَذَابُ القَبْرِ.

Lying darkens one's face, and tale bearing entails chastisement in the grave.