Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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   اِقْرَؤُا الْقُرْآنَ وَاعْمَلُوا بِهِ؛ وَلا تَجْفُوا عَنْهُ؛ وَلا تَغْلُوا فِيهِ؛ وَلا تَأْكُلُوا بِهِ؛ وَلا تَسْتَكْثِرُوا بِهِ.

Read the Quran and act upon it. Do not leave it, do not exaggerate about it, do not earn your living through it, and do not seek superiority (abundance) by means of it.

   اِقْرَؤُا الْقُرْآنَ مَا ائْتَلَفَتْ عَلَيْهِ قُلُوبُكُمْ فَاِذا اخْتَلْفَتُمْ فِيهِ فَقُومُوا.

Read the Quran as long as your hearts are in agreement with each other in respect to it, but as soon as disagreement arose among you, rise up.

   اِقْرَءِ الْقُرْآنَ مَا نَهَاكَ فَاِذا لَمْ يَنْهَكَ فَلَسْتَ تَقْرَؤُهُ.

Read the Quran if it keeps you away from evil; if (you feel) it doesn't, you are not a true reader of it.

   اِقْرَؤُا الْقُرْآنَ فَاِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالى لا يُعَذِّبُ قَلْبَاً وَعَى الْقُرْآنَ.

Read the Quran, for the Exalted God does not torture the heart which has perceived it.

   الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الصَّدَمَةِ الأُوْلَى.

Real patience is realized when one suffers a calamity for the first time.

   مَنِ اسْتَعَاذَكُمْ بِاللَّهِ فَأَعِيْذُوهُ، وَمَنْ سَأَلَكُمْ بِاللَّهِ فَأعْطُوْهُ، وَمَنْ دَعَاكُمْ فَأَجِيْبُوهُ، وَمَنْ أتَى اِلَيْكُمْ مَعْرُوْفَاً فَكَافِئُوْهُ؛ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوهُ فَادْعُوْا لَهُ حَتَّى تَعْلَمُوْا أنَّكُمْ قَدْ كَافَأْتُمُوْهُ.

Receive the one who takes refuge in you in the name of God, give something to the one who begs you in the name of God, accept the invitation of the one who invites you, and be kind to the one who is kind to you; if you cannot do so, pray for him instead as long as you make sure you have made up his kindness.

   لا يَحْتَكِرُ إلاّ خَاطِى‏ءٌ.

Receiving alms is not permissible for the wealthy, nor is it for the high- minded.

   اِبْتَغُوا الرَّفْعَةَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؛ تَحْلُمُ عَمَّنْ جَهِلَ

Recompense rudeness with forbearance and deprivation with

عَلَيْكَ؛ وَتُعْطِي مَنْ حَرَمَكَ.

munificence to gain dignity before God.

   أَصْلِحْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ تَعْنِي الْكِذْبَ.

Reconcile people even through telling (a harmless) lie.

   سَدِّدُوْا وَقَارِبُوْا.

Rectify yourself and seek proximity (to God).

   الحُمْرَةُ مِنْ زِيْنَةِ الشَّيْطانِ

Redness is the beauty of Satan.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالدَّيْنَ؛ فَاِنَّهُ هَمٌّ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَذَلَّةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ.

Refrain from adultery, for it takes away the brightness of countenance, cuts off (the adulterer's) sustenance, makes the Merciful (God) furious and causes eternal punishment.

   اِحْذَرُوا الْبَغْىَ؛ فَاِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ عُقُوبَةٍ هِيَ أَحْضَرُ مِنْ عُقُوبَةِ الْبَغْيِ.

Refrain from aggression, for its punishment is the most immediate.

   اِجْتَنِبِ الْغَضَبَ.

Refrain from anger.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالْشُّحَّ؛ فَاِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِالشُّحِّ، أَمَرَهُمْ بِالبُخْلِ فَبَخِلُوْا؛ وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالقَطِيْعَةِ فَقَطَعُوْا؛ وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالفُجُوْرِ فَفَجَرُوْا.

Refrain from avarice, for it ruined your predecessors. It led them to misery and they became misers, it led them to breaking the bonds of kinship and they did so, and it led them to wickedness and they became wicked.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالغِيْبَةَ؛ فَاِنَّ الغِيْبَةَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الزِّنَا، اِنَّ الرَّجُلَ قَدْ يَزْنِي وَيَتُوبُ فَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَاِنَّ صَاحِبَ الغِيبَةِ لا يُغْفَرُ لَهُ حَتَّى يَغْفِرَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ.

Refrain from backbiting, for it is worse than adultery. Verily, when someone commits adultery and repents, God accepts his repentance, but a backbiter will not be forgiven until he is first forgiven by the backbited.

   اِيَّاكَ وَقَرِيْنَ السُّوْءِ؛ فَاِنَّكَ بِهِ تُعْرَفُ.

Refrain from bad friends, for you are identified through them.

   اِيَّاكَ وَالسُّؤَالَ؛ فَاِنَّهُ ذُلٌّ حَاضِرٌ؛ وَفَقْرٌ تَتَعَجَّلُهُ.

Refrain from begging, for it is immediate meanness, and the poverty towards which you haste.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالدَّيْنَ؛ فَاِنَّهُ هَمٌّ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَذَلَّةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ.

Refrain from borrowing, for it leads to the sorrow of night and meanness of day.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالمَدْحَ؛ فَاِنَّهُ الذَّبْحُ.

Refrain from eulogy, for it is like unto cutting off one's head.

   اِيَّاكَ وَمُصَاحِبَةَ الاَحْمَقِ؛ فَاِنَّهُ يُرِيْدُ أَنْ يَنْفَعَكَ فَيَضُرَّكَ.

Refrain from foolish friends, for they'll cause you evil, though good they intend.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالغُلُوَّ في الدِّينِ؛ فَاِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِالغُلُوِّ في الدِّيْنِ.

Refrain from going to extremes in matters religious, for it ruined your predecessors.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالطَّمَعَ؛ فَاِنَّهُ هُوَ الْفَقْرُ الحَاضِرُ.

Refrain from greed, for it is immediate poverty.

   اِحْذَرُوا الشَّهْوَةَ الْخَفِيَّةَ: الْعَالِمُ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَجْلُسَ اِلَيْهِ.

Refrain from hidden passion: it is when a scholar likes people to sit in his presence.

   اِيَّاكَ وَمُصَاحَبَةَ الكَذَّابِ؛ فَاِنَّهُ كَسَرَابٍ يُقَرِّبُ اِلَيْكَ البَعِيْدَ؛ وَيُبَعِّدُ اِلَيْكَ القَرِيْبَ.

Refrain from liars, for they are mirage in resemblance, drawing near you what's far in distance and brining what is remote to your presence.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالهَوَى؛ فَاِنَّ الهَوَى يُعْمِي وَيُصِمُّ.

Refrain from lust, for it makes man blind and deaf.

   اِيَّاكَ وَمُحَقَّرَاتِ الذُّنُوبِ؛ فَاِنَّ لَهَا مِنَ اللَّهِ طَالِبَاً.

Refrain from minor sins, for God will call you to account for them.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحَقَّرَاتِ الذُّنُوبِ؛ فَإنَّمَا مَثَلُ مُحَقَّرَاتِ الذُّنُوبِ كَمَثَلِ قَوْمٍ نَزَلُوْا بَطْنَ وَادٍ فَجَاءَ ذا بِعُودٍ؛ وَجَاءَ ذا بِعُوْدٍ حَتَّى حَمَلُوا مَا أنْضَجُوا بِهِ خُبْزَهُمْ، وَإنَّ مُحَقَّرَاتِ الذُّنُوْبِ مَتَى يُؤْخَذْ بِهَا صَاحِبُهَا تُهْلِكْهُ.

Refrain from minor sins, for they are like unto a group of people landing in valley, each gathering little pieces of wood which might finally make a huge heap for baking bread. Minor sins, too, will (finally) be so great to cause one's ruin when he is called to account.

   اِتَّقُوا الشُّحَّ؛ فَاِنَّ الشُّحَّ أَهْلَكَ مَنْ كانَ قَبْلَكُمْ وَحَمَلَهُمْ عَلى أنْ سَفَكُوا دِماءَهُمْ وَاسْتَحَلُّوا مَحَارِمَهُمْ.

Refrain from misery, for it led to the ruin of predecessors and caused them to shed the blood of one another and to consider the unlawful as lawful.

   اِيَّاكَ وَاللَّجَاجَةَ؛ فَاِنَّ أَوَّلَهَا جَهْلٌ وَآخِرَهَا نَدَامَةٌ.

Refrain from obstinacy, for it begins with ignorance and ends in repentance.

   أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنِ الزُّوْرِ.

Refrain from polytheism and telling lie.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالحُمْرَةَ؛ فَاِنَّهَا أَحَبُّ الزِّيِنَةِ اِلَى الشَّيْطَانِ.

Refrain from red color, for it is the most favorite ornament to Satan.

   اِيَّاكَ وَالتَّسْوِيْفَ بِأَمَلِكَ؛ فَإِنَّكَ لِيَوْمِكَ وَلَسْتَ بِمَا بَعْدُ، فَإِنْ يَكُ غَدٌ لَكَ فَكُنْ فِي الغَدِ كَمَا كُنْتَ فِي اليَوْمِ، وَإنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ غَدٌ لَكَ؛ لَمْ تَنْدَمْ عَلى مَا فَرَّطْتَ فِي اليَوْمِ.

Refrain from slackness, for you live for today, not for tomorrow. Should there be a tomorrow, pass it as you do today, and should there be no tomorrow, you will not regret today's slackness.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالعِضَةَ؛ النَّمِيْمَةَ القَالَةَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ.

Refrain from talebearing, causing disunity and spreading rumors among people.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَمَحَادَثَةَ النِّسَاءِ؛ فَاِنَّهُ لا يَخْلُو رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَةٍ لَيْسَ لَهَا مَحْرَمٌ اِلاّ هَمَّ بِهَا.

Refrain from talking to women (in privacy), for a stranger having a private meeting with a woman will assuredly be stirred to avail himself of her.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالكِذْبَ؛ فَاِنَّ الكِذْبَ لا يَصْلُحُ لا بِالجِدِّ وَلا بِالْهَزْلِ، وَلا يَعِدِ الرَّجُلُ صَبِيَّهُ لا يَفِي لَهُ، وَاِنَّ الكِذْبَ يَهْدِي اِلَى الفُجُورِ، وَاِنَّ الفُجُورَ يَهدِي اِلَى النَّارِ، وَاِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي اِلَى البِرِّ، وَاِنَّ البِرَّ يَهْدِي اِلَى الجَنَّةِ.

Refrain from telling lie, being it serious or joking. You should not give a promise to your child and break it afterwards. Telling lie leads people to wickedness and wickedness brings them the Fire (of Hell), while honesty leads them to goodness and goodness guides them to Paradise.

   اِيَّاكُم وَالكِذْبَ؛ فَاِنَّ الكِذْبَ مُجَانِبٌ لِلاِيْمَانِ.

Refrain from telling lie, for it is not in agreement with faith.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَخَضْرَاءَ الدِّمَنِ؛ قِيْلَ: وَمَا خَضْرَاءُ الدِّمَنِ؟ قَالَ: المَرْأةُ الحَسْنَاءُ في مَنْبَتِ سُوْءٍ.

Refrain from the dirty green. "What is it?" They asked. "It is a beautiful woman in a bad family." replied the Holy Prophet.

   أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ قَلِيْلٍ مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيْرُهُ.

Refrain from the little of the much, which makes you drunk.

   اِيَّاكَ وَخَصْلَتَيْنِ: الضَّجَرَ وَالْكَسَلَ؛ فَاِنَّكَ اِنْ ضَجَرْتَ لَمْ تَصْبِرْ عَلى حَقٍّ؛ وَاِنْ كَسِلْتَ لَمْ تُؤَدِّ حَقَّاً.

Refrain from two traits: weariness and laziness. Verily, the former makes you intolerable of truth and the latter stops you acting upon it.

   اِجْتَنِبُوا الْتَّكَبُّرَ؛ فَاِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لا يَزَالُ يَتَكَبَّرُ حَتَّى يَقُولَ اللَّهُ تَعَالى: أُكْتُبُوا عَبْدِي هذا فِي الْجَبَّارِيْنَ.

Refrain from vanity, for as soon as one gets accustomed to it, the Exalted God says: "Reckon him among the refractory."

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالكِبْرَ؛ فَاِنَّ اِبْلِيْسَ حَمَلَهُ الكِبْرُ عَلى أنْ لا يَسْجُدَ لِآدَمَ، وَاِيَّاكُمْ وَالحِرْصَ؛ فَاِنَّ آدَمَ حَمَلَهُ الحِرْصُ عَلى أنْ يَأْكُلَ مَنِ الشَّجَرَةِ، وَاِيَّاكُمْ وَالحَسَدَ؛ فَاِنَّ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ اِنَّمَا قَتَلَ أحَدُهُما صَاحِبَهُ حَسَدَاً فَهُنَّ أصْلُ كُلِّ خَطِيْئَةٍ.

Refrain from vanity, for it induced Satan to avoid prostrating to Adam. Refrain from greed, for it made Adam eat the fruit of the (forbidden) tree. Refrain from jealousy, for it caused Cain to kill Abel. Verily, these are the origins of all vices.

   اِجْتَنِبُوا كُلَّ مُسْكِرٍ.

Refrain from whatever makes you drunk.

   اِيَّاكَ وَمَا يَسُوءُ الاُذُنَ.

Refrain from whatever sounds bad for (your) ears.

   اِيَّاكَ وَكُلَّ أمْرٍ يُعْتَذَرُ مِنْهُ.

Refrain from whatever you have to pardon for.

   اِيَّاكُمْ وَالخَمْرَ؛ فَاِنَّ خَطيئَتَهَا تُفَرِّعُ الخَطَايَا

Refrain from wine, for its sin gives birth to (other) sins, just as its tree

كَمَا أَنَّ شَجَرَتَهَا تُفَرِّعُ الشَّجَرَ.

gives birth to new vines.

   أَمِطِ الأذَى عَنْ طَرِيْقِ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ تَكْثُرْ حَسَنَاتُكَ.

Release Muslims, from their trouble and let Your good deeds increase.

   كَفَى بِالمَرْءِ سَعَادَةً أنْ يُوثَقَ بِهِ في أمْرِ دِيْنِهِ وَدُنْيَاهُ.

Reliance on man in worldly and otherworldly affairs suffices to show his prosperity.

   رَأْسُ الدِّيْنِ الوَرَعُ.

Religion (faith) starts with abstinence.

   لا دِيْنَ إِلاّ بِمُرُوَّةٍ.

Religion is not strengthened, save with manliness.

   الغَيْرَةُ مِنَ الإيمَانِ وَالمِذَاءُ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ.

Religious zeal originates from faith, and debauchery from hypocrisy.

   رَوِّحُوْا القُلُوْبَ سَاعَةً بِسَاعَةٍ.

Relive your hearts time and again (by remembering God).

   أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ الْمَوْتِ؛ فَاِنَّهُ يُمَحِّصُ الذُّنُوبَ؛ وَيُزَهِّدُ فيَ الدُّنْيا؛ فَانْ ذَكَرْتُمُوهُ عِنْدَ الغِنَى هَدَمَهُ؛ وَاِنْ ذَكَرَتُمُوهُ عِنْدَ الْفَقْرِ أَرْضَاكُمْ بِعَيْشِكُمْ.

Remember death all the time, for it purifies you of your sins and reduces your greed for the world. If you remember death when you are rich, it reduces the worth of wealth, and if you remember it when you are poor, it causes you to be pleased with your life.

   أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرَ الْمَوْتِ فَاِنَّ ذِكْرَهُ يُسَلِّيكَ مِمَّا سِوَاهُ.

Remember death all the time, for it relieves your other sufferings.

   أَكْثِرُوا مِنْ ذِكْرِ هَادِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ؛ فَاِنَّهُ لا يَكُونُ في كَثِيْرٍ اِلاّ قَلَّلَهُ وَلا في قَلِيْلٍ اِلاّ أجزَلَهُ.

Remember death all the time, for its remembrance makes abundance to seem little, and little to seem enough.

   أَللَّهَ أَللَّهَ فيمَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ نَاصِرٌ اِلاّ اللَّهُ.

Remember God as to the one who has no helper save Him.

   أَللَّهَ أَللَّهَ فيمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ، أَلْبِسُوا

Remember God in treating your servants. Dress them, feed them and

ظُهُورَهُمْ، وَأَشْبِعُوا بُطُونَهُمْ، وَأَلِينُوا لَهُمُ الْقَوْلَ.

talk to them gently.

   تَعَرَّفْ اِلَى اللَّهِ في الرَّخَاءِ يَعْرِفْكَ في الشِّدَّةِ.

Remember God when you are at ease, and He will remember you in hardships.

   أُذْكُرِ اللَّهَ فَاِنَّهُ عَوْنٌ لَكَ عَلى مَا تَطْلُبُ.

Remember God, for He is your supporter in (all) affairs.

   أُذْكُرُوا مَحَاسِنَ مَوْتَاكُمْ؛ وَكُفُّوْا عَنْ مَسَاوِيهِمْ.

Remember the good deeds of your dead ones and connive at their evil actions.

   اِذا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَذْكُرَ عُيُوبَ غَيْرِكَ فَاذْكُرْ عُيُوبَ نَفْسِكَ.

Remember your own faults when you want to mention others'.

   ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ شِفَاءُ القُلُوْبِ.

Remembering God heals (people's) hearts.

   الذِّكْرُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ.

Remembering God weighs over giving charity.

   النَّدَمُ تَوْبَةٌ؛ وَالتَّائِبُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ كَمَنْ لا ذَنْبَ لَهُ.

Remorse is just as repentance, and whoever repents for his sins is like unto a sinless person.

   اِعْزِلِ الاَذَى عَنْ طَرِيقِ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ.

Remove obstacles from the path of Muslims.

   جَدِّدُوْا اِيْمانَكُمْ؛ أَكْثِرُوْا مِنْ قَوْلِ »لا اِلهَ اِلاّ اللَّهُ«.

Renew your faith by expressing, "There is no god but Allah," time and again.

   اِذا عَمِلْتَ سَيِّئَةً فَأَحْدِثْ عِنْدَها تَوْبَةً، السِّرُّ بِالسِّرِّ وَالْعَلانِيَةُ بِالْعَلانِيَةِ.

Repent after committing a bad deed - hiddenly for a covert sin and openly for an overt one.

   تُوبُوْا اِلَى رَبِّكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَمُوتُوْا؛ وَبَادِرُوْا بِالأعْمَالِ الزَّاكِيَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُشْغَلُوْا.

Repent to your Lord before death, and do good before life involvements stop you doing so.

     كَفَّارَةُ الذَّنْبِ النَّدَامَةُ، وَلَوْ لَمْ تُذْنِبُوْا لأتَى اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُذْنِبُونَ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ.

Repentance expiates sins. If you did not commit sins, God would create other people to commit sins to be forgiven by Him.

   التَّوْبَةُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ أَنْ لا تَعُودَ اِلَيْهِ.

Repentance from a sin is to stop committing that sin again.

   لِلْتَّوْبَةِ بَابٌ بِالْمَغْرِبِ مَسِيْرُهُ سَبْعِيْنَ عَامَاً لايَزَالُ كَذلِكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِىَ بَعْضُ آيَاتِ رَبِّكَ طُلُوعُ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا.

Repentance has a door in the west, open as long as seventy years, till some verses of your Lord come down, and then the Sun will rise from it's west.

   وَقِّرُوْا مَنْ تَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُ العِلْمَ، وَوَقِّرُوْا مَنْ تُعَلِّمُوْنَهُ العِلْمَ.

Respect those who teach you as well as those whom you teach.

   دَاوُوْا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ، فَاِنَّهَا تَدْفَعُ عَنْكُمُ الأَمْرَاضَ وَالأَعْرَاضَ.

Restore your patients to health through charity, for it wards off all sorts of illness and evil.

   كَفَى بِالمَرْءِ مِنَ الكِذْبِ أنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ. وَكَفَى بِالمَرْءِ مِنَ الشُّحِ أنْ يَقُوْلَ آخِذُ حَقِّي لا أَتْرُكُ مِنْهُ شَيْئَاً.

Retelling what one hears suffices to make of him a liar, and claiming to take back one's rights without conniving at any part of it suffices to show his stinginess.

   كَفَى بِالمَرْءِ كِذْبَاً أنْ يُحَدِّثَ لِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ.

Retelling what one hears suffices to make of him a liar.

   كَفَى بِالمَرْءِ اِثْمَاً أنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا يَسْمَعُ.

Retelling what one hears suffices to make of him a sinner.

   رُدُّوْا المَخِيْطَ وَالخِيَاطَ، مَنْ غَلَّ مِخْيَطَاً أوْ خِيَاطَاً كُلِّفَ يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ أنْ يَجي‏ءَ بِهِ وَلَيْسَ بِجَاءٍ.

Return the residue of thread and cloth (to their owners), for whoever commits treachery in these, will be demanded in the Day of Judgement to provide the like of them, without being able to do so.

   تُوبُوْا اِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالى؛ فَاِنِّي أَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ

Return to the Exalted God for forgiveness, for I myself do so a

كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مِأَةَ مَرَّةٍ.

hundred times a day.

   حَسْبُكَ مِنَ الجَهْلِ أنْ تُظْهِرَ مَا عَلِمْتَ.

Revealing all you know suffices to show your ignorance.

   مِنْ شُكْرِ النِّعْمَةِ اِفْشَاؤُهَا.

Revealing God's blessings is one way of thanksgiving to Him.

   هَلَكَتِ الرِّجَالُ حِيْنَ أَطَاعَتِ النِّسَاءِ.

Ruin is the end of men who obey women.