Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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   لَيْسَ المُؤْمِنُ بِالطَّعَّانِ وَلا اللَّعَّانِ وَلا الفَاحِشِ وَلا البَذِي.

A (true) believer does not taunt, damn, slander and abuse people.

   لا تَجْتَمِعُ خَصْلَتانِ في مُؤْمِنٍ: البُخْلُ وَالكِذْبُ.

A (true) believer is bereft of two attributes: telling lie and stinginess.

   يَنْبَغِي أنْ يَكُونَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ ثَمانِيَةُ خِصالٍ: وَقارٌ عِنْدَ الهَزائِزِ؛ وَصَبْرٌ عِنْدَ البَلاءِ؛ وَشُكْرٌ عِنْدَ الرَّخاءِ؛ وَقُنُوعٌ بِما رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلّ؛ لا يَظْلِمُ الأَعْداءَ؛ وَلا يَتَحامَلُ عَلَى الأصْدِقاءِ؛ بَدَنُهُ في تَعَبٍ وَالنّاسُ مِنْهُ في راحَةٍ.

A (true) believer should have the following eight characteristics: soberness at hard times, patience in calamities, gratefulness in reliefs, contentment for whatever the Great and Glorified God has given, avoidance from oppressing enemies and hurting friends, and toleration of physical sufferings to make people feel safe from him.

   المُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ المُسْلِمُوْنُ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ.

A (true) Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand, Muslims at rest stand.

   تَجِدُ المُؤْمِنُ مُجْتَهِدَاً فِيمَا يُطِيْقُ مُتَلَهِّفَاً عَلى ما لا يُطِيْقُ.

A believer does his best in what his ability demands, but craves for what beyond his power stands.

   لَيْسَ مِنْ أخْلاقِ المُؤْمِنِ التَّمَلُّقُ وَلا الحَسَدُ، إلاّ في طَلَبِ العِلْمِ.

A believer does not resort to jealousy or flattery, save in seeking knowledge.

   يُطْبَعُ المُؤْمِنُ عَلى كُلِّ خُلْقٍ؛ لَيْسَ الخِيَانَةُ وَالكِذْبُ.

A believer has all kinds of natures save treachery and telling lie.

   لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أرْبَعَةُ أعْدَاءٍ: مُؤْمِنٌ يَحْسُدُهُ؛ وَمُنَافِقٌ يُبْغِضُهُ؛ وَشَيْطَانٌ يُضِلُّهُ؛ وَكَافِرٌ يُقَاتِلُهُ.

A believer has four enemies: a jealous believer, a detesting hypocrite, a deviating Satan, and a hostile infidel.

   إنَّ المُؤْمِنَ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ لا يَحِيْفُ عَلى مَنْ يُبْغِضُ؛ وَلا يَأْثِمُ فِيمَنْ يُحِبُّ؛ وَلا يُضِيْعُ مَا اسْتُوْدِعَ؛ وَلا يَحْسُدُ وَلا يَطْعَنُ وَلا يَلْعَنُ؛ وَيَعْتَرِفُ بِالْحَقِّ وَإنْ لَمْ يُشهَدْ عَلَيْهِ؛ وَلا يَتَنَابَزُ بِالألْقَابِ؛ في الصَّلاةِ مُتَخَشِّعَاً؛ إلَى الزَّكاةِ مُسْرِعَاً؛ في الزَّلازِلِ وَقُورَاً؛ في الرَّخَاء شَكُورَاً؛ قَانِعَاً بِالَّذِي لَهُ؛ لا يَدَّعِي مَا لَيْسَ لَهُ؛ وَلا يَغْلِبُهُ الشُّحُّ عَنْ مَعْرُوْفٍ يُرِيْدُهُ، يُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ كَيْ يَعْلَمَ، وَيُنَاطِقُ النَّاسَ كَيْ يَفْهَمَ، وَإنْ ظُلِمَ وَبُغِيَ عَلَيْهِ صَبَرَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ الرَّحْمنُ هُوَ الَّذي يَنْتَصِرُ لَهُ.

A believer is a servant of God who doesn’t oppress his enemies nor does he commit sins for the sake of his friends, who keeps trusts intact and refrains from jealousy, sarcasm and cursing others, who tells the truth though not called to bear witness and calls not people with bad names, who observes humility in prayers, hastes in paying his due alms, keeps patient in calamities and thanks (God) in affluence, who is content with what he has and claims not what he doesn’t, who doesn’t stop doing good deeds due to misery, who keeps company with people to learn and talks to them something to earn, and who forebears oppression and tyranny, awaiting the Merciful God to give him victory.

   المُؤْمِنُ بِخَيْرٍ عَلى كُلِّ حَالٍ، يَنْزِعُ نَفْسَهُ مِنْ بَيْنِ جَنْبَيْهِ؛ وَهُوَ يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ.

A believer is in a good state all the time; even when he is on the verge of death, he praises God.

   مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ مِثْلُ سَبِيكَةِ الذَّهَبِ، إنْ نُفِخَتْ عَلَيْهَا احْمَرَّتْ؛ وَاِنْ وُزِنَتْ لَمْ تَنْقُصْ.

A believer is like unto a bar of gold, getting reddened when breathed upon and losing nothing when weighed.

   مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ مِثْلُ النَّخْلَةِ، ما أخَذْتَ مِنْهَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ نَفَعَكَ.

A believer is like unto a date palm; whatever you take from it will be to your benefit.

   مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ العَطَّارِ إنْ جالَسْتَهُ نَفَعَكَ، وَإنْ مَشَيْتَهُ نَفَعَكَ، وَإنْ شَارَكْتَهُ نَفَعَكَ.

A believer is like unto a perfumer who will benefit you, should you keep company with him, or move along with him, or be a partner to him.

   مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ المِنْخَلَةِ لا تأْكُلُ إلاّ طَيِّبَاً، وَلا تَضَعُ إلاّ طَيِّبَاً.

A believer is like unto a sieve, receiving nothing but clean and passing nothing but pure.

   مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ خَامَةِ الزَّرْعِ؛ مِنْ حَيْثُ أتَتْهَا الرِّيْحُ كَفَتْهَا، فَاِذا سَكَنَتْ اِعْتَدَلَتْ، وَكَذلِكَ المُؤْمِنُ يُكْفَأُ بِالْبَلاءِ. وَمَثَلُ الفَاجِرِ كَالاُرْزَةِ صَمَّاءٌ مَعْتَدِلَةٌ حَتَّى يَقْصِمَهَا اللَّهُ تَعَالى اِذا شَاءَ.

A believer is like unto a stalk bending to all sides by winds but staying calm and static when winds vanish. Blights make a believer bend in same manner. The wicked (on the contrary) is like unto a spruce- fir standing firm and straight till the Exalted God destroys it should He wish.

   مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ مَثَلُ السُّنْبُلَةِ يُحَرِّكُهَا الرَّيحُ فَتَقُومُ مَرَّةً وَتَقَعُ أُخْرَى. وَمَثَلُ الكَافِرِ كَمَثَلِ الأُرْزَةِ لاتَزَالُ قَائِمَةً حَتَّى تَنْقَعِرَ.

A believer is like unto a stalk shaken by wind, standing and collapsing alternatively, and an unbeliever is like unto a pine standing all the time against the wind to be finally uprooted.

   مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ كَالْبَيْتِ الخَرِبِ في الظَّاهِرِ، فَاِذا دَخَلْتَهُ وَجَدْتَهُ مُونِقَاً. وَمَثَلُ الفَاجِرِ كَمَثْلِ القَبْرِ المُشَرَّفِ الُمجَصَّصِ يُعْجِبُ مَنْ رَآهُ؛ وَجَوْفُهُ مُمْتَلِى‏ءٌ نَتِنَاً.

A believer is like unto an apparently ruined house, being neat and beautiful inside, and a wicked person is like unto a domed elevated tomb making visitors excited but being inwardly filled with infection.

   المُؤْمِنُ أكْرَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْضِ مَلائِكَتِهِ.

A believer is more favorite to God than some of His angels.

   أَعْظَمُ النَّاسِ هَمَّاً الْمُؤْمِنُ؛ يَهْتَمُّ بِأَمْرِ دُنْياهُ وَأَمْرِ آخِرَتِهِ.

A believer is more worried about the affairs of this and the next worlds than others.

   المُؤْمِنُ غُرٌّ كَرِيْمٌ؛ وَالفَاجِرُ خِبٌّ لَئِيْمٌ.

A believer is noble and generous, and an evildoer is ignoble and deceitful.

   المُؤْمِنُ يَسِيْرُ المَؤُنَةِ.

A believer is satisfied with little.

   المُؤْمِنُ كَيِّسٌ فَطِنٌ حَذِرٌ.

A believer is shrewd, careful and cautious.

   المُؤْمِنُ هَيِّنٌ لَيِّنٌ حَتَّى تَخَالَهُ مِنَ اللِّيْنِ أحْمَق.

A believer is so lenient and gentle that one might call him stupid.

   المُؤمِنُ أخُوُ المُؤْمِنِ لا يَدَعُ نَصِيْحَتَهُ عَلى كُلِّ حَالٍ.

A believer is the brother of another believer and never connives at wishing him good.

   المُؤْمِنُ مَنْ أمِنَهُ النَّاسُ عَلى أنْفُسِهِمْ وَأمْوَالِهِمْ وَدِمَائِهِمْ.

A believer is the one whom people consider honest as to their lives, wealth and blood.

   المُؤْمِنُ مَنْفَعَةٌ، إنْ مَاشَيْتَهُ نَفَعَكَ، وَإنْ شَاوَرْتَهُ نَفَعَكَ، وَإنْ شَارَكْتَهُ نَفَعَكَ، وَكُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ أمْرِهِ مَنْفَعَةٌ.

A believer is the source of benefit. He will avail you, should you keep his company, counsel with him and become his partner. He is the cause of benefit in all affairs.

   المُؤْمِنُ يُغَارُ، وَاللَّهُ أشَدُّ غَيْرَاً.

A believer is zealous, but God is more zealous than him.

   المُؤْمِنُ يَأْلَفُ؛ وَلا خَيْرَ فِيمَنْ لا يَأْلَفُ وَلا يُؤْلَفُ.

A believer makes friends (with people), and there is no good in the one who does not make friends and is not subject of friendship.

   لا يَشْبَعُ المُؤْمِنُ دُونَ جَارِهِ.

A believer must not feel satiated, with his neighbor being hungry.

   مَثَلُ المُؤْمِن وَالإيمَانِ كَمَثَلِ الفَرَسِ يَجُولُ في أخِيَّتِهِ، ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ في أخِيَّتِةِ.

A believer to (his) faith is like unto a horse to its stable around which it moves about (for a while) and then returns to it.

   المُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ يَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضَاً.

A believer to a believer is like unto a building a part of which fortifies another.

   المُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ المَرْصُوْصِ؛ يَشُدُّ بَعضُهُ بَعْضَاً.

A believer to a believer is like unto a firm building, parts of which fortifying one another.

   المُؤْمِنُ مِنْ أهْلِ الإيْمانِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّأْسِ مِنَ الجَسَدِ؛ يَأْلَمُ المُؤْمِنُ لأهْلِ الإيْمانِ كَما يَأْلَمُ الجَسَدُ لِما في الرَّأْسِ.

A believer to other believers is like head to the body, suffering from their pains just as head suffers from the pains of the body.

   المُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي يُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ وَيَصْبِرُ عَلى أذاهُمْ، أفْضَلُ مِنَ المُؤْمِنِ الَّذي لا يُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ، وَلا يَصْبِرُ عَلى أذاهُم.

A believer who associates with people and patiently tolerates their harms is better than the believer who does not do so.

   لا يُلْدَغُ المُؤْمِنُ مِنْ جُحْرٍ مَرَّتَينِ.

A believer will not be bitten twice from the same hole.

   لا يَفْتِكُ مُؤْمِنٌ.

A believer will not kill anybody in ambush warfare.

   المُؤْمِنُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ في ظِلِّ صَدَقَتِهِ.

A believer will reside under the shade of his alms in the Day of Judgment.

   ما يُصِيْبُ المُؤْمِنَ وَصَبٌ وَلا نَصَبٌ وَلا سَقَمٌ وَلا أذى وَلا حُزْنٌ إلاّ كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ.

A believer won't be exposed to any suffering, hardship, disease, harm and sorrow, unless God ignores some of his sins (in lieu of them).

   ما شَبَّهْتُ خُرُوْجَ المُؤْمِنِ مِنَ الدُّنْيا اِلاّ مِثْلُ خُرُوجِ الصَّبِيِّ مِنْ بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ مِنْ ذلِكَ الغَمِّ وَالظُلْمَةِ إلى رَوْحِ الدُّنْيَا.

A believer’s departure from this (secular)world is like unto an infant’s deliverance from his mother’s womb, leaving darkness and distress towards the world’s ease and expansion.

   شَرَفُ المُؤْمِنِ قِيَامُهُ بِاللَّيْلِ، وَعِزُّهُ اسْتِغْنَاؤُهُ عَنِ النَّاسِ.

A believer’s dignity lies in standing up to prayer at nights, and his greatness lies in needlessness from people.

   رُؤْيَا المُؤْمِنِ كَلامٌ يُكَلِّمُ بِهِ العَبْدُ رَبَّهُ في المَنَامِ.

A believer’s dream is a servant’s talk to his Lord in sleep.

   رُؤْيَا المُؤْمِنِ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سِتَّةٍ وَأرْبَعِيْنَ جُزْءً مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ.

A believer’s dream is one among the forty- six units of prophethood.

   رُؤْيَا المُؤْمِنِ جُزْءٌ مِنْ أربَعِيْنَ جُزءً مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ، وَهِي عَلى رِجْلِ طَائِرٍ مَا لَمْ يُحَدِّثْ

A believer's dream is one among the forty units comprising prophethood. It is tied to the leg of a bird as long as not revealed, but it will fall down if

بِهَا. فَاِذا تَحَدَّثَ بِهزا سَقَطَتْ وَلا تُحَدِّثْ بِهَا إلاّ لَبِيْبَاً أوْ حَبِيْبَاً.

the reverse occurs. Thus, reveal not your dreams to anybody save the wise or intimate friends.

   نِيَّةُ المُؤْمِنِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ، وَعَمَلُ المُنافِقِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ نِيَّتِهِ، وَكُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلى نِيَّتِهِ، فَاِذا عَمِلَ المُؤْمِنُ عَمَلاً نَارَ في قَلْبِه نُوْرٌ.

A believer’s intention is better than his deed, while a hypocrite’s deed is better than his intention, and everybody acts upon his own intention. When a believer does an action, a (sort of) light passes through his heart.

   نِيَّةُ المُؤْمِنِ أبْلَغُ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ.

A believer’s intention is more significant than his deeds.

   عِدَةُ المُؤْمِنِ كَأَخْذٍ بِالْيَدِ

A believer’s promise is a binding commitment.

   عِدَةُ المُؤْمِنِ دَيْنٌ، وَعِدَةُ المُؤْمِنِ كَأَخْذٍ بِالْيَدِ.

A believer’s promise is a debt, and a binding commitment.

   وَأْىُ المُؤْمِنِ حَقٌّ وَاجِبٌ.

A believer’s promise is a must (he shouldn’t miss).

   وَصْبُ المُؤْمِنِ كَفَّارةُ الخَطَايَا.

A believer’s sickness is the atonement of his sins.

   لِلْمُتَكِلِّفِ ثَلاثُ عَلامَاتٍ: يَتَمَلَّقُ اِذا حَضَرَ، وَيَغْتَابُ اِذا غَابَ، وَيَشْمَتُ بِالْمُصِيْبَةِ.

A boaster has three traits: flattering in (people's) presence, backbiting in (people') absence, and clapping in people's calamities.

   لِلْمَمْلُوكِ طَعَامُهُ وَكِسْوَتُهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، وَلا يُكَلَّفُ مِنَ العَمَلِ إلاّ مَا يُطِيْقُ.

A bondservant should be fed and dressed properly and be not burdened with intolerable tasks.

   الوَلَدُ ثَمَرَةُ القَلْبِ؛ وَأنَّهُ مَجْبَنَةٌ مَبْخَلَةٌ مَحْزَنَةٌ.

A child is the fruit of one’s heart, and thereby the source of fear, miserliness and grief.

   المُسْتَشَارُ مُؤْتَمَنٌ فَاِنْ شاءَ أشارَ وَإنْ شاءَ سَكَتَ؛ فَاِنْ أشارَ فَلْيُشِرْ بِما لَوْ نَزَلَ بِه

A counselor is people's trust. He is allowed to give a counsel or keep silent, but if he gives a counsel, it should be such that he himself would

فَعَلَهُ.

follow, were he to take a counsel.

   المُسْتَشَارُ مُؤْتَمَنٌ إنْ شَاءَ أشَارَ، وَإنْ شَاءَ لَمْ يُشِرْ.

A counselor is people’s trust. He is allowed to give a counsel or keep silent.

   دَعْوَةٌ في السِّرِّ تَعْدِلُ سَبْعِيْنَ دَعْوَةً في العَلانِيَةِ.

A covert prayer equals seventy overt ones.

   التَّاجِرُ الجَبَانُ مَحْرُومٌ؛ وَالتَّاجِرُ الجَسُوْرُ مَرْزُوْقٌ.

A coward trader a loser remains, but a courageous one gains.

   صَاحِبُ الدَّيْنِ مَغْلُولٌ في قَبْرِهِ لا يَفُكُّهُ اِلاّ قَضَاءُ دَيْنِهِ.

A creditor will be in chains in his grave, and nothing can make him free but paying his debts.

   مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ فَكَتَمَهُ؛ أُلْجِمَ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَارٍ.

A curb of fire will be put on the mouth of whoever conceals his knowledge when asked to offer it.

   لَيَأْتِيَنَّ عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يُكَذَّبُ فِيْهِ الصَّادِقُ، وَيُصَدَّقُ فِيْهِ الكَاذِبُ، وَيُخَوَّنُ فِيْهِ الأَمِيْنُ، وَيُؤْتَمَنُ الخَئُوْنُ، وَيَشْهَدُ المَرْءُ وَلَمْ يُسْتَشْهَدُ، وَيَحْلِفُ وَإنْ لَمْ يُسْتَحْلَفْ، وَيَكُونُ أسْعَدَ النَّاسِ بِالدُّنْيَا لُكَعُ بْنُ لُكَعْ، لا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ.

A day will come to pass when people would belie the truthful and approve of the liars and would regard the honest treacherous and the treacherous honest, when men will bear witness without being required and will swear without being asked to, and when the most fortunate people would be ignoble, sons of the ignoble, who would be bereft of the belief in God and His prophet.

   دِرْهَمُ رِبَاً يَأْكُلُهُ الرَّجُلُ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ   أشَدُّ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ سِتَّةٍ وَثَلاثِيْنَ زِنْيَةً.

A Derham earned in usury is worse for a man in the sight of God than committing adultery thirty six times.

   الصَّائِمُ في عِبَادَةٍ مِنْ حِيْنَ يُصْبِحُ إلى أنْ يُمْسِي مَا لَمْ يَغْتَبْ؛ فَاِذا اغْتَابَ خَرَق

A fast person will be worshipping God from early morning till night, if he does not backbite people, but his fast will be ruined as soon as he begins to do so.

صَوْمَهُ.

   الصَّائِمُ لا تُرَدُّ دَعْوَتُهُ

A fast person's praying will surely be granted.

   صَمْتُ الصَّائِمِ تَسْبيحٌ؛ وَنَوْمُهُ عِبَادَهٌ؛ وَدُعَاؤُهُ مُسْتَجَابٌ؛ وَعَمَلُهُ مُضَاعَفٌ.

A fast person's silence is praising God, his sleep is an act of worship, his praying is granted, and his deeds are (rewarded) twice.

   نَوْمُ الصَّائِمِ عِبَادَةٌ، وَصَمْتُهُ تَسْبِيْحٌ، وَعَمَلُهُ مُضاعَفٌ، وَدُعاؤُهُ مُسْتَجابٌ؛ وَذَنْبُهُ مَغْفُورٌ.

A fast person's sleep is an act of worship, his silence is praising God, his deeds are (rewarded) twice, his prayers are granted, and his sins are forgiven.

   دُعَاءُ الوَالِدِ لِوَلَدِه كَدُعَاءِ النَّبِيِّ لِأُمَّتِهِ.

A father’s praying for his child is like unto a prophet’s for his nation.

   اِمْرَأَةٌ وَلُودٌ أَحَبُّ اِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالى مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ حَسْنَاءَ لا تَلِدُ اِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمْ الأُمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ.

A fertile woman is more favorite to the Exalted God than a (barren) beautiful one. Verily, I will pride myself on the multitude of my nation in the Day of Judgement.

   طَعَامُ السَّخِيِّ دَواءٌ؛ وَطَعَامُ الشَّحِيْحِ دَاءٌ.

A generous man's food is cure, and a miser’s is disease for sure.

   اليَدُ العُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ اليَدِ السُّفْلَى؛ وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُوْلُ.

A giving hand is better than a receiving hand, and start charity at home.

   مَثَلُ الجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ مَثَلُ الدَّارِي إنْ لَمْ يَجِدْكَ مِنْ عَطْرِهِ عَلَّقَكَ مِنْ رِيْحِهِ، وَمَثَلُ الجَلِيْسِ السُّوءِ مَثَلُ صَاحِبِ الكِيْرِ إنْ لَمْ يُحْرِقْكَ مِنْ شَرَارِ نَارِهِ عَلَّقَكَ مِنْ نَتِنِهِ.

A good companion is like unto a perfume- seller who might spare you any perfume, but the pleasant fragrance of his perfumes you (can surely) smell, and a bad companion is like unto a blacksmith whose flame of fire you might be able to escape but you surely suffer the bad smell of his working place.

   مَنْ رَفَعَ حَجَرَاً عَنِ الطَّرِيْقِ كُتِبَتْ لَهُ حَسَنَةٌ.

A good deed is recorded for whoever removes a stone from people’s path.

   لا تَزالُ طائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي عَلَى الحَقِّ ظاهِرينَ حَتَّى يَأْتِىَ أمْرُ اللَّهِ

A group of my people will always stick to truth for God’s decree to be issued.

   اِنَّ أُنَاسَاً مِنْ الجَنَّةَ يَطَّلِعُونَ اِلى أُنَاسٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فَيَقُولُونَ: بِمَ دَخَلْتُمُ النَّارَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا دَخَلْنَا الْجَنَّةَ اِلاّ بِمَا تَعَلَّمْنَا مِنْكُمْ. فَيَقُولُونَ: اِنَّا كُنَّا نَقُولُ وَلا نَفْعَلُ.

A group of the people of Paradise will get worried about some of the people of Hell, and will (therefore) inquire: “Why are you in Hell? By God, we did not enter Paradise save through what we learned from you”. The Hell- bound reply: “We did not practice what we preached.”

   لا تَزالُ المَسْألَةُ بِأَحَدِكُمْ حَتَّى يَلْقَى اللَّهَ وَما في وَجْهِهِ مُزْعَةُ لَحْم..

A group of you will always resort to begging till they (finally) meet God, with no flesh in their faces.

   الضَّيْفُ يَأتِي بِرِزْقِهِ وَيَرْتَحِلُ بِذُنُوبِ القَوْمِ، يُمَحِّصُ عَنْهُمْ ذُنُوبَهُمْ

A guest carrys his own sustenance, removes the host's sins and causes them to vanish.

   الضِّيَافَةُ ثَلاثَةُ أيَّامٍ فَمَا زَادَ فَهُوَ صَدَقَةٌ، وَعَلَى الضَّيْفِ أنْ يَتَحَوَّلَ بَعْدَ ثَلاثَةِ أيَّامٍ

A guest is a guest for three days; the more he stays, will he be under charity (to the poor); and thus, a guest should leave his host’s home after three days.

   الدَّالُ على الخَيْرِ كَفَاعِلِهِ، وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ اِغَاثَةَ اللَّهْفَانِ.

A guide to goodness is like unto its doer, and God loves `helping the poor’.

   قَلْبٌ لَيْسَ فِيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ الحِكْمَةِ كَبَيْتٍ خَرِبٍ فَتَعَلَّمُوْا وَعَلِّمُوْا وَتَفَقَّهُوْا، وَلا تَمُوتُوا جُهَّالاً؛ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَعْذِرُ عَلى الجَهْلِ.

A heart with no sign of wisdom is like unto a ruined house. So, learn and teach, meditate deeply, and try not to die in ignorance, for God will not pardon (people for ignorance).

   بَيْتٌ لا صِبْيَانَ فِيْهِ لا بَرَكَةَ فِيْهِ.

A house wherein children (we) miss, is bereft of bliss.

   البَيْتُ الَّذِي يُقْرَأُ فِيْهِ القُرْآنُ يُتَرَأى لِأهْلِ

A house wherein they recite the Quran is as (bright) to the dwellers of the heavens as are the stars to the

السَّمَاءِ كَمَا تُتَرَأى النُّجُومُ لِأهْلِ الأرْضِ.

dwellers of the earth.

   خَصْلَتَانِ لا تَجْتَمِعَانِ في مُنَافِقٍ حُسْنُ سَمْتٍ وَفِقْهٌ في الدِّيْنِ.

A hypocrite is devoid of two traits: reputation and deep knowledge of religion.

   آيَةُ الْمُنافِقِ ثَلاثٌ: اِذا حَدَّثَ كَذِبَ؛ وَاِذا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ؛ وَاِذا ائْتُمِنَ خَانَ.

A hypocrite is known by three characteristics: he tells lie, breaks his (her) promise and commits treachery in trusts.

   مَثَلُ المُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ الشَّاةِ الحَائِرَةِ بَيْنَ الغَنَمَيْنَ.

A hypocrite is like unto a goat, wandering between two flocks (of sheep).

   ثَلاثَةٌ لا يَسْتَخِفُّ بِحَقِّهِمْ اِلاّ مُنافِقٌ: ذُو الشَّيْبَةِ فِي الاِسْلامِ؛ وَذُو العِلْمِ؛ وَاِمامٌ مُقْسِطٌ.

A hypocrite is the one who humiliates the learned, just leaders and those who have grown old in their struggles for the cause of Islam.

   المُنَافِقُ يَمْلِكُ عَيْنَيْهِ يَبْكِي كَمَا يَشَاءُ.

A hypocrite rules over his own eyes, shedding tears as he wishes.

   لَسَفَرَةٌ في سَبِيْلِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ خَمْسِيْنَ حَجَّة.

A journey for the sake of God is superior to making fifty pilgrimages to Mecca.

   السُّلْطَانُ العَادِلُ المُتَواضِعُ ظِلُّ اللَّهِ وَرُمْحُهُ في الأرْضِ؛ يُرْفَعُ لَهُ عَمَلُ سَبْعِيْنَ صِدِّيقَاً.

A just and humble leader is God's shade and blade on the earth, for whom the rewards of seventy sincere ones will be saved.

   مَنْ عَامَلَ النَّاسَ فَلَمْ يَظْلِمْهُمْ؛ وَحَدَّثَهُمْ فَلَمْ يَكْذِبْهُمْ؛ وَوَعَدَهُمْ فَلَمْ يُخْلِفْهُمْ؛ فَهُوَ مِمَّنْ كَمُلَتْ مُرُوَّتُهُ، وَظَهَرَتْ عَدَالَتُهُ، وَوَجَبَتْ أُخُوَّتُهُ، وَحَرُمَتْ غِيْبَتُهُ.

A just and most magnanimous man who must be observed in brotherhood and must not be backbitten, is the one who treats people with justice, speaks to them in truth and does not break his promises.

   السُّلْطَانُ العَادِلُ ظِلُّ اللَّهِ في الأرْضِ،

A just leader is God's shade on the earth, to whom resort the weak, and

يَأْوي إليْهِ الضَّعِيْفُ، وَبِهِ يُنْتَصَرُ المَظْلُومُ.

whose assistance the oppressed seek.

   السُّلْطَانُ العَادِلُ ظِلُّ اللَّهِ في الأرْضِ؛ فَمَنْ أكْرَمَهُ أكْرَمَهُ اللَّهُ؛ وَمَنْ أهَانَهُ أهَانَهُ اللَّهُ.

A just leader is God's shade on the earth. Whoever keeps him in honor will be kept in honor by God, and whoever disrespects him will be disrespected by Him.

   السُّلْطَانُ العَادِلُ ظِلُّ اللَّهِ في الأرْض، فَاِذا دَخَلَ أحَدُكُمْ بَلَدَاً لَيْسَ بِهِ سُلْطَانٌ عَادِلٌ فَلا يُقِيْمَنَّ بِهِ.

A just leader is God's shade on the earth; and so, when one of you arrives at a place wherein there is no such leader, he should avoid staying there.

   نَوْمُ العَالِمِ أفْضَلُ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ العَابِدِ.

A learned man’s sleep is better than the prayer of a devout.

   قَلِيْلُ العَمَلِ يَنْفَعُ مَعَ العِلْمِ، وَكَثِيْرُ العَمَلِ لا يَنْفَعُ مَعَ الجَهْلِ.

A little bit of action accompanied by knowledge is useful, and a lot of deeds followed by ignorance is of no use.

   قَلِيْلُ التَّوْفِيْقِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثِيْرِ العَقْلِ، وَالعَقْلُ في أمْرِ الدُّنْيَا مَضَرَّةٌ، وَالعَقْلُ في أمْرِ الدِّيْنِ مَسَرَّةٌ.

A little chance is better than much intellect. Intellect is the cause of loss in worldly and that of pleasure in otherworldly affairs.

   حِفْظُ الغُلامِ الصَّغِيْرِ كَالنَّقْشِ في الحَجَرِ، وَحِفْظُ الرَّجُلِ بَعْدَ ما يَكْبُرُ كَالْكِتابِ عَلَى المَاءِ.

A little child’s memory is like unto a picture carved on stone, and an adult’s is like unto something written on water.

      قَلِيْلُ الفِقْهِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثِيْرِ العِبَادَةِ، وَكَفَى بِالمَرْءِ فِقْهَاً اِذا عَبَدَ اللَّهَ. وَكَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ جَهْلاً اِذا أعْجَبَ بِرَأْيِهِ. وَإنَّمَا النَّاسُ رَجُلانِ: مُؤْمِنٌ وَجَاهِلٌ، فَلا تُوْذِ المُؤْمِنَ، وَلا تُجَاوِرِ الجَاهِلَ.

A Little knowledge is better than praying much. Worshipping God suffices to show one’s knowledge and selfish judgment is enough to show his ignorance. People are two groups: the faithful and the ignorant. Do not annoy the former and do not be a company to the latter.

   ما قَلَّ وَكَفَى خَيْرٌ مِمَّا كَثُرَ وَألْهَى.

A little sufficient thing is better than a lot making one negligent.

   ما قَلَّ وَكَفَى خَيْرٌ مِمَّا كَثُرَ وَألْهَى.

A little, but sufficient, is better than much leading to vanity.

   أَعْظَمُ النَّاسِ في الدُّنْيا خَطَرَاً مَنْ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِلدُّنْيا عِنْدَهُ خَطَرَاً.

A man gains more value when the world is less worthy in his view.

   خَرَجَ رَجُلٌ مِمَّنْ كانَ قَبْلَكُمْ في حُلَّةٍ لَهُ يَخْتالُ فيها، فَأَمَرَ اللَّهُ الأرْضَ فَأَخَذَتْهُ فَهُوَ يَتَجَلْجَلُ فيها إلى يَوْمِ القِيامَةِ.

A man of ancient times wore a fine garment and walked out proudly. God commanded the earth to take him, and he will thus be suspended in it till the Day of Judgement.

   حُوسِبَ رَجُلٌ مِمَّنْ كانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَلَمْ يُوجَدْ لَهُ مِنَ الخَيْرِ شَيْ‏ءٌ إلاّ أنَّهُ كانَ رَجُلاً مُوسِرَاً؛ وَكانَ يُخالِطُ النَّاسَ؛ وَكانَ يَأْمُرُ غِلْمانَهُ أنْ يَتَجاوَزُوْا عَنِ المُعْسِرِ. فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِمَلائِكَتِه: نَحْنُ أحَقُّ بِذلِكَ مِنْهُ؛ تَجَاوَزُوْا عَنْهُ.

A man of the past was called to account (after death). He had no good deeds in his record to present, but an order to his agents to connive at the debts of the helpless, for he had been a rich tradesman (in the world). Thus, said the Great and Powerful God to His angels, “we have more rights for connivance than him. Ignore (his sins).”

   زَارَ رَجُلٌ أخَاً لَهُ في قَرْيَةٍ فَأَرْصَدَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَلَكَاً عَلى مَدْرَجَتِهِ، فَقَالَ: أيْنَ تُرِيْدُ؟ قَالَ: أخَاً لي في هذِهِ القَرْيَةِ. فَقَالَ: هَلْ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تَرُبُّهَا؟ قَالَ: لا إلاّ أنِّي أُحِبُّهُ في اللَّهِ. قَالَ: فَاِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ اِلَيْكَ، إنَّ اللَّهَ أحَبَّكَ كَمَا أحْبَبْتَهُ.

A man set out on a journey to pay a visit to his brother (in faith). God sent an angel to him on the way, asking, “Where are you going?” The man replied, “to see my brother somewhere”. The angel asked: “Is there any blessing you wish to expand for him?” “No, I only love him for God’s sake”. The man answered. The angel said: “I’m God’s messenger to you. God loves you as you love him”.

   اِذا خَطَبَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَرْأَةَ وَهُوَ يَخْضِبُ بِالسُّوَادِ فَلْيُعْلِمْها أَنَّهُ يَخْضِبُ.

A man who colors his hair black should let the woman whose hand he seeks in marriage know about that.

   اِذا كانَتَ عِنْدَ الرَّجُلِ اِمْرَأَتَانِ فَلَمْ يَعْدِلْ بَيْنَهُمَا جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ وَشِقُّهُ سَاقِطٌ.

A man who has two wives and treats them not in a just manner, will arrive at the Resurrection in half (of his body).

   لا تَذْهَبُ حَبيِبَتا عَبْدٍ فَيَصْبِرُ وَيَحْتَسِبُ اِلاّ دَخَلَ الجَنَّةَ.

A man who loses his power of sight but keeps patient and is satisfied with the divine will, will surely be allowed to Paradise.

   وَلَدُ الرَّجُلِ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، مِنْ أطْيَبِ كَسْبِهِ؛ فَكُلُوْا مِنْ أمْوَالِهِمْ.

A man’s son is among his earnings, the best of his earnings. So, eat from your sons’ wealth.

   صَلاةُ الرَّجُلِ تَطَوُّعَاً حَيْثُ لا يَراهُ النَّاسُ تَعْدِلُ صَلاتُهُ عَلى أعْيُنِ النَّاسِ خَمْسَاً وَعِشْرِيْنَ.

A man's prayer said willingly, out of people's sight, is twenty five times as much the prayer he says in people's presence.

   لِلْمَمْلُوكِ عَلى سَيِّدَهِ ثَلاثٌ خِصَالٍ: لا يَعْجَلُهُ عَنْ صَلاتِه، وَلا يُقِيْمُهُ عَنْ طَعَامِهِ، وَيُشْبِعُهُ كُلَّ الإشْبَاعِ.

A master is not allowed to do the following to his bondservant: making him haste in setting prayers, stopping him in eating, and leaving him satiated.

   أَقَلُّ النَّاسِ لَذَّةً الْحَسُودُ.

A miser has the least peace of mind.

   البَخِيْلُ مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيَّ.

A miser is he to whom they remember me, but hesitates to greet me.

   مَطْلُ الغَنِىِّ ظُلْمٌ.

A moment of delay on the part of rich (to help the poor) is cruelty.

   لِلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى المُسْلِمِ خَمْسٌ: يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ اِذا لَقِيَهُ وَيُجِيْبُهُ اِذا دَعَاهُ، وَيَعُودُهُ اِذا مَرِضَ، وَيَتْبَعُ جَنَازَتَهُ اِذا مَاتَ، وَيُحِبُّ لَهُ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ.

A Muslim has five duties towards another Muslim: greeting him, accepting his call, paying him a visit in sickness, participating in his funeral procession, and wishing for him what he wishes for himself.

   لا تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيٍّ وَلا لِذِي مِرَّة

A Muslim is not allowed to terrify another Muslim.

قَوِىٍّ.

   السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ عَلَى المَرْءِ المُسْلِمِ فيما أحَبَّ أوْ كَرِهَ ما لَمْ يُؤْمَرْ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ، فَاِذا أُمِرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَلا سَمْعَ عَلَيْهِ وَلا طَاعَةَ.

A Muslim is rightful to see and act upon what he likes or dislikes as long as heis not required to commit sins; if so, he no more allowed to.

   المُسْلِمُ أَخُو المُسْلمِ؛ لا يُظْلِمُهُ وَلا يُسْلِمُهُ.

A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; and so, he should not oppress him, nor should he surrender him (to enemies).

   حَقُّ المُسْلِمِ عَلَى المُسْلِمِ سِتٌّ: اِذا لَقِيْتَهُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ، وَاِذا دَعَاكَ فَأَجِبْهُ، وَاِذا اسْتَنْصَحَكَ فَانْصَحْ لَهُ، وَاِذا عَطَسَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ فَشَمِّتْهُ، وَاِذا مَرِضَ فَعُدْهُ، وَاِذا مَاتَ فَاتَّبِعْهُ.

A Muslim should observe the following six in respect to his Muslim brother: greeting him in meeting, accepting his invitation, providing him with advice when he asks one’s counsel, wishing him good health when he sneezes, paying him a visit when he is sick, and attending his funeral procession when he dies.

   صَدَقَةُ المَرْءِ المُسْلِمِ تَزِيْدُ في العُمْرِ، وَتَمْنَعُ مِيْتَةَ السُّوءِ، وَيَذْهَبُ اللَّهُ تَعَالى بِهَا الفَخْرَ وَالكِبْرَ.

A Muslim's charity prolongs his life, prevents him from bad deaths, and causes the Exalted God to save him from overweening and vanity.

   لِلْجَارِ حَقٌّ.

A neighbor has (specific) rights.

   الجارُ أحَقُّ بِشُفْعَةِ جارِهِ؛ يُنْتَظَرُ بِها، وَإنْ كانَ غائِبَاً، اِذا كانَ طريقهُما واحِداً

A Neighbor has priority (to others) in buying his neighbor’s house. Being absent, he should be awaited for, if moving in the same line as the seller.

   حُرْمَةُ الجَارِ عَلَى الجَارِ كَحُرْمَةِ دَمِهِ.

A neighbor’s respect is as significant to his neighbor as his blood.

   مَثَلُ المَرْأَةِ الصَّالِحَةِ في النِّسَاءِ كَمَثَلِ الغُرَابِ الأعْصَمِ الَّذِي اِحْدَى رِجْلَيْهِ بَيْضَاءُ

A pious woman among other women is like unto a raven marked with a white leg.

   هَدِيَّةُ اللَّهِ إلَى المُؤْمِنِ السَّائِلُ عَلى بَابِهِ

A poor at the door of the pious is

God’s gift for him.

   العِدَةُ دَيْنٌ، وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ وَعَدَ ثُمَّ أخْلَفَ! وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ وَعَدَ ثُمَّ أخْلَفَ! وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ وَعَدَ ثُمَّ أخْلَفَ

A promise is a debt. Woe is him who breaks his promise! Woe is him who breaks his promise! Woe is him who breaks his promise!

   خَرَجَ نَبِىٌّ مِنَ الأنْبِيَاءِ بِالنَّاسِ يَسْتَسْقُونَ اللَّهَ تَعَالى، فَاِذا هُوَ بِنَمْلَةٍ رافِعَةٍ بَعْضَ قَوائِمِها إلَى السَّمَاءِ. فَقَالَ: اِرْجِعُوا فَقَدِ اسْتُجِيْبَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أجْلِ هذِهِ النَّمْلَةِ.

A prophet went out with his people to pray to God for rain. He saw an ant raising its leg to the sky, and so he said to the people: “Return to your homes for, God accepted your prayers for the sake of this ant”.

   غُفِرَ لامْرَأَةٍ مُوْمِسَةٍ مَرَّتْ بِكَلْبٍ عَلى رَأْسِ رَكِيٍّ يَلْهَثُ كَادَ يَقْتُلُهُ العَطَشُ فَنَزَعَتْ خُفَّهَا فَأَوْثَقَتْهُ بِخِمَارِهَا فَنَزَعَتْ لَهُ مِنَ المَاءِ فَغُفِرَ لَهَا بِذلِكَ.

A prostitute was passing by a well where she saw a dog at the point of death from thirst. She tied her skirt to her shoe, fetched water from the well and quenched the dog’s thirst, and was thus forgiven (by God.)

   النَّاجِشُ آكِلُ رِبَاً مَلْعُونٌ.

A quack vender is just as a usurer accursed.

   مَسْأَلَةُ الغَنِيِّ شَيْنٌ في وَجْهِهِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ.

A rich man’s request (to people) will be a badge of shame on his face in the Day of Judgment.

   مَسْأَلَةُ الغَنِيِّ نَارٌ.

A rich man’s request (to people) will lead him to Hell.

   عَالِمٌ يُنْتَفَعُ بِعِلْمِهِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ألْفِ عَابِدٍ.

A scholar who avails himself of his own knowledge is superior to a thousand simple worshipers (of God).

   اِذا عَلِمَ الْعَالِمُ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْ كانَ كَالْمِصْبَاحِ يُضِيْى‏ءُ لِلنَّاسِ وَيُحْرِقُ نَفْسَهُ.

A scholar who does not act upon his knowledge is like unto a niche providing people with light but burning itself.

   مَثَلُ العَالِمِ الَّذِي يُعَلِّمُ النَّاسَ الخَيْرَ وَيَنْسَى نَفْسَهُ، كَمَثْلِ السِّرَاجِ يُضِي‏ءُ لِلنَّاس

A scholar who teaches good to people but forgets himself is like unto a candle illuminating people but

وَيُحْرِقُ نَفْسَهُ.

burning itself.

   طَالِبُ العِلْمِ بَيْنَ الجُهَّالِ كَالحَىِّ بَيْنَ الأمْواتِ.

A seeker of knowledge among the ignorant is like unto a living creature among the dead.

   قِلَّةُ العِيَالِ أحَدُ اليَسَارَيْن.

A small family is one way to comfort.

   مَنْ قَتَلَ عُصْفُوْرَاً عَبَثَاً جَاءَ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ وَلَهُ صُرَاخٌ عِنْدَ العَرْشِ يَقُولُ: رَبِّ سَلْ هذا فِيْمَ قَتَلَنِي في غَيْرِ مَنْفَعَةٍ؟

A sparrow killed in vain will come to stand before God’s Throne in the Day of Judgment, shouting “O Lord! Ask this man (the killer) why he killed me for no gain?”

   مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ القَوْيِّ مِثْلُ النَّخْلَةِ، وَمَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيْفِ كَخَامَةِ الزَّرْعِ.

A strong believer is like unto a palm tree, and a weak one resembles a stalk.

   لا يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أنْ يُرَوِّعَ مُسْلِماً.

A supposedly postponed affair should not make you do it hurriedly, for the Great and the most Powerful God will not haste for man’s hurry.

   قَلْبٌ شَاكِرٌ وَلِسَانٌ ذَاكِرٌ وَزَوْجَةٌ صَالِحَةٌ تُعِيْنُكَ عَلى أمْرِ دُنْيَاكَ وَدِيْنِكَ خَيْرُ مَا اكْتَنَزَ النَّاسُ.

A thankful heart, a mindful tongue, and a virtuous wife who helps man in worldly and otherworldly affairs, are better than whatever people might treasure.

   سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يُخَيَّر فِيْهِ الرَّجُلُ بَيْنَ العَجْزِ وَالفُجُورِ، فَمَنْ أدْرَكَ ذلِكَ الزَّمَانَ فَلْيَخْتَرِ العَجْزَ عَلَى الفُجُورِ.

A time will come to pass when man has to choose between helplessness and debauchery. Those living at that time should prefer the former on the latter.

   كَانَ عَلى الطَّرِيْقِ غُصْنُ شَجَرَةٍ يُؤْذِي النَّاسَ فَأَمَاطَهَا رَجُلٌ فَاُدْخِلَ الجَنَّةَ.

A tree branch had blocked people’s way and hurt them. Somebody pulled it aside and was thus allowed to Paradise.

   التَّاجِرُ الأمِيْنُ الصَّدُوُق المُسْلِمُ مَعَ الشُّهَداءِ يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ.

A truthful, trustworthy trader will keep company with martyrs in the Day of Judgement.

   التَّاجِرُ الصَّدُوقُ الأَمِيْنُ مَعَ النَّبِيَّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَداءِ.

A truthful, trustworthy trader will keep company with the prophets, the truthful and martyrs (in the Day of Judgement).

   شَارِبُ الخَمْرِ كَعَابِدِ وَثَنٍ

A wine drinker is like unto an idol worshipper.

   لِلْمَرْأةِ سِتْرَانِ: القَبْرُ وَالزَّوَاجُ.

A woman has two veils: the marriage bond and the grave.

   مَثَلُ المَرْأةِ كَالضِّلْعِ، إنْ أرَدْتَ أنْ تُقِيْمَهُ كَسَرْتَهُ؛ وَإنْ اسْتَمْتَعْتَ بِهِ اسْتَمْتَعْتَ بِهِ وَفِيْهِ أَوَدٌ.

A woman is like unto a (tender) rib. If you intend to straighten it, it will break, and if you intend to avail yourself of it, it will offer you the chance, though bent.

   لَيْسَ لِلْمَرْأةِ أنْ تَنْتَهِكَ شَيْئَاً مِنْ مَالِهَا اِلاّ بِاِذْنِ زَوْجِهَا.

A woman is not allowed to give in charity anything of her husband’s wealth without his permission.

   دَخَلَتِ اِمْرَأةٌ النَّارَ في هِرَّةٍ رَبَطَتْهَا فَلَمْ تُطْعِمْهَا، وَلَمْ تَدَعْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الأرْضِ حَتَّى مَاتَتْ.

A woman was doomed to Hell, for she had kept a cat in bonds without food to die from hunger.

   مَثَلُ الرَّافِلَةِ في الزِّيْنَةِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أهْلِهَا كَمَثَلِ ظُلْمَةِ يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ لا نُورَ لَهَا.

A woman who shows her beauty to the public is like unto the dark of the Day of Judgment, with no light.

   صَلاةُ المَرْأةِ وَحْدَهَا تَفْضُلُ عَلى صَلاتِهَا في الجَمْعِ بِخَمْسٍ وَعِشْرينَ دَرَجَةً.

A woman's private prayer is twenty five times as much the prayer she says in the presence of men.

   ما أكْرَمَ شَابٌّ شَيْخاً لِسِنِّهِ إلاّ قَيَّضَ اللَّهُ عِنْدَ سِنِّهِ مَنْ يُكْرِمُهُ

A young man who honors an oldster because of his old age, will be honored in old age by someone appointed by God to do so.

   دَعْ قِيْلَ وَقَالَ وَكَثْرَةَ السُّؤآلِ وَاِضَاعَةَ المَالِ.

Abandon hues and cries, myriad (unnecessary) questions and destruction of wealth.

   بَيْنَ العَبْدِ وَبَيْنَ الكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلاة.

Abandonment of prayer connects a servant of God to disbelief.

   الوُضُوْءُ قَبْلَ الطَّعَامِ يَنْفِي الفَقْرَ؛ وَبَعْدَهُ يَنْفِي اللَّمَمَ، وَيُصَحِّحُ البَصَرَ.

Ablution before eating makes poverty perish, and after eating removes obsession and strengthens eyesight.

   الوُضُوْءُ شَطْرُ الإيْمَانِ، وَالسِّواكُ شَطْرُ الوُضُوْءِ.

Ablution is half of faith, and tooth brushing is half of ablution.

   حُفَّتِ الجَنَّةُ بِالْمَكَارِهِ؛ وَحُفَّتِ النَّارُ بِالشَّهَواتِ.

Abominables lie on the way to Paradise, and passions pave the way to Hell.

   اِزْهَدْ في الدُّنْيا يُحِبُّكَ اللَّهُ؛ وَازْهَدْ فِيمَا في أَيْدِي النَّاسِ يُحِبُّكَ النَّاسُ.

Abstain from the (material) world, and beloved to God you will turn out to be, and connive at people’s possessions and they’ll come to love thee.

   خَيْرُ دِيْنِكُمُ الوَرَعُ.

Abstinence is the best feature of your faith (religion).

   الزُّهْدُ في الدُّنْيا يُرِيْحُ القَلْبَ وَالبَدَنَ، وَالرَّغْبَةُ فيها تُتْعِبُ القَلْبَ وَالبَدَنَ.

Abstinence refreshes one's body and soul, and worldliness makes them suffer.

   الزُّهْدُ في الدُّنْيا يُرِيْحُ القَلْبَ وَالبَدَنَ، وَالرَّغْبَةُ فيها تُكْثِرُ الهَمَّ وَالحُزْنَ؛ وَالبِطانَةُ تُقْسِي القَلْبَ.

Abstinence refreshes one's body and soul, worldliness increases one's Sorrows, and debauchery hardens one's heart.

   لَيْسَ البَيَانُ كَثْرَةَ الكَلامِ، وَلكِنَّ الخَوْضَ فِيْمَا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَلَيْسَ العَيُّ عَنِ اللِّسَانِ، وَلكِنْ قِلَّةُ المَعْرَفَةِ بِالْحَقِّ.

Abundant speech brings forth no eloquence; eloquence is meditation on what God and his Holy Prophet love. Neither is stammering a defect of tongue; stammering comes from deficient knowledge of Truth (God).

   عَلَيْكَ بِأَوَّلِ السَّوْمِ؛ فَاِنَّ الرِّبْحَ مَعَ السَّمَاحِ.

Accept the first offer in transactions, for profit follows leniency.

   اِقْبَلِ الْحَقَّ مِمَّنْ أَتَاكَ بِهِ مِنْ صَغِيْرٍ أَوْ كَبِيْرٍ؛ وَاِنْ كانَ بَغِيْضَاً بَعِيْدَاً؛ وَارْدُدِ الْبَاطِلَ عَلى مَنْ جَاءَكَ بِهِ مِنْ صَغِيْرٍ أَوْ كَبِيْرٍ؛ وَاِنْ كانَ حَبِيْبَاً قَرِيْبَاً.

Accept truth from anybody (being him a child or and old man), even if he is an enemy or a stranger, and do not accept falsehood from anybody (being him a child or an old man), even if he is a friend or a companion.

   اِسْتِتَْمامُ الْمَعْرُوفِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ اِبْتِدائِهِ.

Accomplishing a good deed is better than beginning it, (indeed).

   تَعَلَّمُوْا العِلْمَ؛ وَتَعَلَّمُوْا لِلْعِلْمِ السَّكِيْنَةَ وَالوَقَارَ؛ وَتَوَاضَعُوا لِمَنْ تَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُ.

Acquire knowledge and through it, peace (of mind) and soberness gain, and to your teacher humble remain.

   أَنْكِحُوا فَاِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمْ.

Act upon marriage as a tradition, for I feel proud of your great population.

   الاَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّةِ.

Actions depend on (are rewarded according to) intentions.

   البَغَايَا اللّاتِي يُنْكِحْنَ أَنْفُسَهُنَّ بِغَيْرِ بَيِّنَةٍ.

Adulterous are the women who marry in the absence of witnesses.

   الزِّنَا يُورِثُ الفَقْرُ.

Adultery entails poverty.

   تَنَاصَحُوْا في العِلْمِ؛ وَلا يَكْتُمْ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضَاً؛ فَاِنَّ الخِيانَةَ في العِلْمِ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الخِيانَةِ في الْمالِ.

Advise each other in the acquisition of knowledge and do not spare your knowledge from one another, for treachery in this respect is worse than treachery to wealth.

   لَيَغْشَيَنَّ أُمَّتِي مِنْ بَعْدي فِتَنٌ كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ المُظْلِمِ، يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ فِيْهَا مُؤْمِنَاً وَيُمْسِي كَافِرَاً، يَبِيْعُ أقْوَامٌ دِيْنَهُمْ بِعَرَضٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا قَلِيْلٍ.

After me, my people will fall to seditions as dark as nights, when man will be a believer in the morning and an unbeliever at night, when some people will barter their faith for unworthy wealth of the world.

   ما تُرِكَ بَعْدي فِتْنَةٌ أضَرُّ عَلَى الرِّجالِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ.

After my death, nothing will be more harmful than women for men.

   الأُمُورُ كُلُّهَا خَيْرُهَا وَشَرُّهَا مِنَ اللَّهِ.

All affairs, being good or evil, belong

to God.

   كُلُّ خِلَّةٍ يَطْبَعُ عَلَيْهَا المُؤْمِنُ إلاّ الخِيَانَةَ وَالكِذْبَ.

All attributes are desirable for a believer, save treachery and telling lie.

   كُلُّ عَيْنٍ زَانِيَةٌ، وَالمَرْأةُ اِذا اسْتَعْطَرَتْ فَمَرَّتْ بِالمجْلِسِ فَهِىَ زَانِيَةٌ.

All eyes are adulterous, and an adulterous woman is she who odors herself and passes by a people.

   كُلُّ قَرْضٍ صَدَقَةٌ.

All forms of loaning are (considered charity.)

   كُلُّ الكِذْبِ يُكْتَبُ عَلى ابْنِ آدَمَ إلاّ ثَلاثٌ: الرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ في الحَرْبِ؛ فَإِنَّ الحَرْبَ خُدْعَةٌ، وَالرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ المَرْأةَ فَيُرْضيهَا، وَالرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمَا.

All forms of lying are recorded in man’s book of deeds, save the following: Telling lie in war for war is deceit, telling women a lie to please them, and telling two persons a lie to make them come to terms.

   عَمَلُ البِرِّ كُلِّهُ نِصْفُ العِبَادَةِ، وَالدُّعَاءُ نِصْفٌ، فَاِذا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ تَعَالى بِعَبْدٍ خَيْرَاً اِنْتَحَى قَلْبَهُ لِلدُّعَاءِ.

All good deeds make one half of worshipping (God) and praying makes the other half, and when the Exalted God wishes good for someone He will make his heart inclined towards praying.

   كُلُّ صَاحِبِ عِلْمٍ غَرْثَانٌ إلى عِلْمٍ.

All holders of knowledge hunger for new knowledge.

   كُلُّ ذي مَالٍ أحَقُّ بِمَالِهِ يَصْنَعُ بِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ.

All holders of wealth are more entitled (than others) to use it as they wish.

   كُلُّ عِلْمٍ وَبَالٌ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ إلاّ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهِ.

All kinds of knowledge will entail evil results in the Day of Judgement, save that which is put to practice.

   كُلُّ أُمَّتِي مُعَافى إلاّ المجَاهِرينَ، وَإنَّ مِنَ الجِهَارِ أنْ يَعْمَلَ الرَّجُلُ بِاللَّيْلِ عَمَلاً ثُمَّ يُصْبِحُ وَقَدْ سَتَرُهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالى فَيَقُولُ عَمِلْت

All my people will enjoy (God's) forgiveness, save the pretentious- those who (for instance) commit debauchery at night, which the Exalted God conceals from people, but reveal it themselves at daytime

البَارِحَةَ كَذا وَكَذا، وَقَدْ باتَ يَسْتُرُهُ رَبُّهُ وَيُصْبِحُ يَكْشِفُ سِتْرَ اللَّه عَنْهُ.

despite God’s concealment.

   كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ، وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْؤُوْلٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ.

All of you are observers of and responsible for your subjects’ rights.

   الخَلْقُ كُلُّهُمْ عِيَالُ اللَّهِ، فَأَحَبُّهُمْ إلَى اللَّهِ أنْفَعُهُمْ لِعِيَالِهِ.

All people are (members of) God’s household, but the dearest to Him are the most beneficial for their own family.

   كُلٌّ بَنِي آدَمَ حَسُودٌ وَلا يَضُرُّ حَاسِدَاً حَسَدُهُ مَا لَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ بِاللِّسَانِ، أوْ يَعْمَلْ بِاليَدِ.

All sons of Adam are jealous, and a person’s jealousy will not be harmful unless (s (he expresses it or puts it into action.

   كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ سَيِّدٌ؛ فَالرَّجُلُ سَيِّدُ أهْلِهِ، وَالمَرْأَةُ سَيِّدَةُ بَيْتِهَا.

All sons of Adam are kings- men ruling over their families and women over their houses.

   كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ، وَخَيْرُ الخَطَّائِيْنَ التَّوَابِيْنَ.

All sons of Adam are wrong doers, and the best among them are the penitent.

   الكِذْبُ كُلُّهُ اِثْمٌ إلاّ مَا نَفَعَ بِهِ مُسْلِمٌ.

All sorts of lying are sins, save the one benefiting people.

   جُعِلَتِ الذُّنُوبُ كُلُّها في بَيْتٍ؛ وَجُعِلَ مِفْتاحُها في شُرْبِ الخَمْرِ.

All vices are confined in a house, the key to which being drinking wine.

   ما خَالَطَتِ الصَّدَقَةُ مَالاً اِلاّ أهْلَكَتْهُ.

Alms mixed with one’s property will surely make it ruin.

   الزَّكَاةُ قَنْطَرَةُ الإسْلامِ.

Alms-giving is a bridge to Islam.

   أَفْضَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ اِسْلامَاً مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ؛ وَأَفْضَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ اِيْمَانَاً أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلْقَاً.

Among all believers, the best Muslim is the one from whose hand and tongue other Muslims feel at rest, and the most faithful one is the most good- tempered.

   مِنْ حُسْنِ عِبَادَةِ المَرْءِ حُسْنُ ظَنِّهِ.

Among man’s good prayers is to have a good opinion of God.

   خَيْرُ النَّاسِ أنْفَعُهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ.

Among people, the best is one who brings them utmost gain (and rest).

   مِنْ أفْضَلِ العَمَلِ اِدْخَالُ السُّروْرِ عَلى المُؤْمِنِ؛ تَقْضِي عَنْهُ دَيْنَاً؛ تَقْضِي لَهُ حَاجَةً؛ تُنَفِّسُ لَهُ كُرْبَةً.

Among the best of all deeds is to gladden a believer by paying his debt, meeting his need and putting an end to his suffering.

   ثَلاثٌ مِنْ مَكارِمِ الاَخْلاقِ في الدُّنْيا وَالآخِرَةِ: أَنْ تَعْفُوَ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ؛ وَتَصِلَ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ؛ وَتَحْلُمَ عَمَّنْ جَهِلَ عَلَيْكَ.

Among the great aspects of good- manneredness are the following three: forgiving those who treat you unjustly, joining those who cut relations with you, and tolerating those who insist in their ignorance against you.

   خَمْسٌ مِنْ سُنَنِ المُرْسَلِيْنَ: الحَيَاءُ، وَالحِلْمُ، وَالحِجَامَةُ، وَالسِّواكُ، وَالتَّعَطُّرُ.

Among the prophets’ patterns of life are chastity, forbearance, brushing one’s teeth and using perfume.

   مِنْ أسْوَءِ النَّاسِ مَنْ أذْهَبَ آخِرَتَهُ بِدُنْيَا غَيْرِهِ.

Among the worst people is the one who barters his spiritual world for people’s material world.

   خَيْرُ اِخْوانِكُمْ مَنْ أهْدَى اِلَيْكُمْ عُيُوبَكُمْ.

Among your brethren the best, your faults to you manifest.

   أُلْهُوا وَالْعَبُوا فَاِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُرَى في دِيْنِكُمْ غِلْظَةٌ.

Amuse yourselves with plays and recreations, for I dislike watching violence in your religion.

   ما مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَدْعُوْ لأَخِيْهِ بِظَهْرِ الغَيْبِ إلاّ قَالَ المَلَكُ: وَلَكَ بِمِثْلِهِ.

An angel will pray the same for whoever prays for his brother in his absence.

   حَقٌّ كَبِيْرِ الإخْوَةِ عَلى صَغِيْرِهِم كَحَقِّ الوالِدِ عَلى وَلَدِهِ.

An elder brother has the same right on his younger brothers as a father’s on his children.

   المُهَاجِرُ مَنْ هَجَرَ مَا نَهَىَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ.

An emigrant to God is the one who avoids what He has forbidden.

   الفَاجِرُ الرَّاجِي لِرَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالى أقْرَبُ

An evildoer who has hope in the Exalted God's Mercy is closer to Him

مِنْهَا مِنَ العَابِدِ المُقْنِطِ.

than a disappointed pious.

   لا يَنْبَغي لِلصَّدِيْقِ أنْ يَكُونَ لَعَّانَاً.

An honest man should not be accustomed to cursing people.

   ما أمْلَقَ تَاجِرٌ صَدُوْقٌ.

An honest merchant will not suffer poverty.

   طَلَبُ العِلْمِ سَاعَةً خَيْرٌ مِنْ قِيَامِ لَيْلَةٍ، وَطَلَبُ العِلْمِ يَوْمَاً خَيْرٌ مِنْ صِيَامِ ثَلاثَةَ أشْهُرٍ.

An hour of seeking knowledge is better than praying one whole night, and a day of seeking knowledge is better than fasting three months.

   لَقيامُ الرَّجُلِ في الصَّفِّ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ساعَةً أفْضَلُ مِنْ عِبادَةِ سِتِّينَ سَنَةٍ.

An hour of standing in the line of holy war (jihad) for the cause of God is better than sixty years of worshiping.

   فِكْرَةُ سَاعَةٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ سِتِّيْنَ سَنَةٍ.

An hour of thinking is better than sixty years of praying.

   الجاهِلُ يَظْلِمُ مَنْ خالَطَهُ وَيَعْتَدي عَلى مَنْ هُوَ دُونَهُ؛ وَيَتَطاوَلُ عَلى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَهُ؛ وَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِغَيْرِ تَمْييزٍ

An ignorant man oppresses his companions, is cruel to his subjects, shows vanity against great men and speaks foolishly.

   المُتَعَبِّدُ بِغَيْرِ فِقْهٍ كَالحِمَارِ في الطّاحُوْنِ.

An ignorant worshipper is like unto a millstone ass.

   وَلَدُ الزِّنَا شَرُّ الثَّلاثَةِ اِذا عَمِلَ بِعَمَلِ أبَوَيْهِ.

An illegitimate child is worse than his parents, should he commit adultery.

   اليَمِيْنُ عَلى نِيَّةِ المُسْتَحْلِفِ.

An oath depends on the intention of the oath- taker.

   الشَّيْخُ شَابٌّ في حُبِّ اِثْنَتَيْنِ: في حُبِّ طُوْلِ الحَيَاةِ وَكَثْرَةِ المَالِ.

An old man can feel young for loving two things: long life and abundant wealth.

   الشَّيْخُ في أهْلِهِ كَالنَّبِيِّ في أُمَّتِهِ.

An old man to his family is like unto a prophet to his people.

   قَلْبُ الشَّيْخِ شَابٌّ على حُبِّ اثْنَتَيْنِ: حُبُّ

An old man's heart is young for two

العَيْشِ وَالمَالِ.

things: love of life and love of wealth.

   سَوْداءُ وَلُودٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ حَسْناءَ لا تَلِدُ، وَاِنِّي مُكاثِرٌ بِكُمٌ الأُمَمَ.

An ugly fertile woman is better than a beautiful barren one, for I take pride in your greater population in respect to other nations.

   وَأَىُّ داءٍ أدْوَى مِنَ البُخْلِ.

And what disease is worse than miserliness.

   ما تَشْهَدُ المَلائِكَةُ مِنْ لَهْوِكُمْ إلاّ الرِّهَانَ وَالنِّضَالَ.

Angels only make their presence in your wrestling and horse–riding games.

   طَالِبُ العِلْمِ تَبْسُطُ لَهُ المَلائِكَةُ أجْتِحَتَهَا رِضَاً بِمَا يَطْلُبُ.

Angels spread out their wings for the seekers of knowledge, for they are pleased with what they seek.

   ما مِنْ خَارِجٍ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ في طَلَبِ العِلْمِ إلاّ وَضَعَتْ لَهُ المَلائِكَةُ أجْنِحَتَهَا رِضَاً بِمَا يَصْنَعُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ.

Angels spread out their wings in satisfaction for whoever leaves his home in search of knowledge, until he returns.

   الغَضَبُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، وَالشَّيْطَانُ خُلِقَ مِنَ النَّارِ، وَالمَاءُ يُطْفِي‏ءُ النَّارَ، فَاِذا غَضِبَ أحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَغْتَسِلْ.

Anger belongs to Satan, Satan was created from fire, and fire can be put out by water. Thus, when one of you gets angry, (s (he should immerse in water.

   أَمْرٌ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ؛ وَخَيْرُ الاُمُوْرِ أَوْسَاطُها.

Another preferable way is there besides going to extremes, i.e. being moderate in one’s deeds.

   رَدُّ جَوَابِ الكِتَابِ حَقٌّ كَرَدِّ السَّلامِ.

Answering letters is as much a must as greeting someone back.

   الصُّلْحُ جَائِزٌ بَيْنَ المُسْلِمِيْنَ؛ اِلاّ صُلْحَاً أحَلَّ حَرَامَاً أوْ حَرَّمَ حَلالاً.

Any compromise is permissible among Muslims, save one by which the lawful is made unlawful and vice versa.

   ما مِنْ قَوْمٍ يَظْهَرُ فِيْهِمُ الرِّبَا إلاّ أُخِذُوا بِالسَّنَةِ، وَما مِنْ قَوْمِ يَظْهَرُ فِيْهِمُ الرَّشَاءُ إلاّ

Any group of people among whom usury and bribery prevail will be respectively afflicted with famine and

أُخِذُوا بِالرُّعْبِ.

fear.

   لَمْ تُؤْتُوْا بَعْد كَلِمَةِ الإخْلاصِ مِثْلَ العَافِيَةِ، فَاسْأَلُوْا اللَّهَ العَافِيَةَ.

Apart from sincerity (in faith), you are not endowed with anything like safety. So, ask God for it.

   أَحْسِنُوا اِذا وُلِّيْتُمْ؛ وَاعْفُوا عَمَّا مَلَكْتُمْ.

Appointed to a job, be kind to and forgive your subordinates.

   أَحْسِنُوا جِوَارَ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ لا تَنْفِرُوها؛ فَقَلَّمَا زَالَتْ عَنْ قَوْمٍ فَعَادَتْ اِلَيْهِم.

Appreciate God’s blessings given to you, and let them not vanish, for a lost blessing will hardly be regained.

   أَمَا تَرْضى اِحْدَاكُنَّ أَنَّهَا اِذا كانَتْ حَامِلاً مِنْ زَوْجِهَا وَهُوَ عَنْها رَاضٍ أَنَّ لَها مِثْلَ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِم في سَبِيْلِ اللَّهِ؛ فَاِذا وَضَعَتْ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ مِنْ لَبَنِها جُرْعَةٌ وَلَمْ يُمَصَّ مِنْ ثَدْيِها مَصَّةٌ اِلاّ كانَ لَها بِكُلِّ جُرْعَةٍ؛ وَبِكُلِّ مَصَّةٍ حَسَنَةٌ؛ فَاِنْ أَسْهَرَها لَيْلَةً كانَ لَها مِثْلُ أَجْرِ سَبْعِيْنَ رَقَبَةً تُعِتُقُهُمْ في سَبِيْلِ اللَّهِ.

Aren’t you (women) pleased that when one of you becomes pregnant of her husband and he is satisfied with her, she will be rewarded the reward of the one who keeps fast while struggling in the way of God, and when she gives birth to a child, she will be offered a reward for each drop of milk she produces and for each time her breast is sucked, and if she keeps awake one night to look after her child, she will be given the reward of releasing seventy slaves for God’s sake?

   اِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لا يَزَالُ في صِحَّةِ رَأْيِهِ مَا نَصَحَ لِمُسْتَشِيْرِهِ، فَاِذا غَشَّ مُسْتَشِيْرَهُ سَلَبَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالى صِحَّةَ رَأْيِهِ.

As long as a man truly guides those who consult him he continues to enjoy correctness of opinion, but as soon as he starts deceiving them, the Exalted God will deprive him of this blessing.

   أُطْلُبُوا الْفَضْلَ عِنْدَ الرُّحَمَاءِ مِنْ أُمَّتِي تَعِيشُوا في أَكنَافِهِمْ وَلا تَطْلُبُوهُ مِنَ الْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ.

Ask for generosity from the Merciful among my people, not from the hardhearted, and live under the protection of the former.

   سَلُوْا اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ فَاِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ أنْ

Ask God (to give you) of His bounties, for he likes asking Him. The best act of worship is looking

يُسْأَلَ، وَأَفْضَلَ العِبَادَةِ اِنْتِظَارُ الفَرَجِ.

forward to deliverance (in hard times).

   سَلُوا اللَّهَ عِلْمَاً نَافِعَاً، وَتَعَوَّذُوْا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لا يَنْفَعُ.

Ask God (to give you) useful knowledge, and take refuge with Him from useless knowledge.

   سَلُوا اللَّهَ كُلَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ حَتَّى الشِّسْعَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ إنْ لَمْ يُيَسِّرْهُ لَمْ يَتَيَسَّرْ.

Ask God for everything, even a shoelace; for should He not wish success, to nothing will you have access.

   سَلْ رَبَّكَ العَافِيَةَ وَالمُعَافَاةَ في الدُّنْيا وَالآخِرَةِ، فَاِذا أُعْطِيْتَ العَافِيَةَ في الدُّنْيا وَأُعْطيتَهَا في الآخِرَةِ فَقَدْ أفْلَحْتَ.

Ask God for good health and cure of all illness here and in the Hereafter; for if you are granted these in this world and in the next, you will be prosperous.

   سَلُوْا اللَّهَ العَفْوَ وَالعَافِيَةَ، فَاِنَّ أحَدَاً لَمْ يُعْطَ بَعْدَ اليَقِيْنِ خَيْرَاً مِنَ العَافِيَةِ.

Ask God for good health and forgiveness; for apart from certainty, no one has been bestowed anything better than prosperity.

   اِسْتَرْشِدُوا الْعَاقِلَ تُرْشَدُوا؛ وَلا تَعْصُوهُ فَتَنْدَمُوا.

Ask guidance from the wise to find the straight path, and do not disobey them; otherwise, you will become remorseful.

   اِسْتَفْتِ نَفْسَكَ وَاِنْ أَفْتَاكَ الْمُفْتُون.

Ask your heart for what’s false or true, and let others say whatever they want to.

   الاِسْتِغْفَارُ مَمْحَاةٌ لِلْذُّنُوبِ.

Asking forgiveness (from God) rubs off sins.

   حُسْنُ السُّؤآلِ نِصْفُ العِلْمِ.

Asking properly is one half of knowledge.

   أَنْزِلُوا النَّاسَ مَنَازِلَهُمْ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ.

Assign people their due status (value) of good and evil.

   أُنْصُرْ أَخَاكَ ظَالِمَاً أَوْ مَظْلومَاً؛ اِنْ يَكُ ظَالِمَاً فَارْدُدْهُ عَنْ ظُلْمِهِ؛ وَاِنْ يَكُ مَظْلُومَاً فَانْصُرْهُ.

Assist your brother (in faith), being him an oppressor or oppressed; if the former, keep him away from oppression and if the latter, lend him a hand.

   أَعِينُوا أَوْلادَكُمْ عَلَى الْبِرِّ؛ مَنْ شَاءَ اسْتَخْرَجَ الْعُقُوقَ مِنْ وَلَدِهِ.

Assist your children in doing good, for everybody can save his children from being cursed if he so wishes.

   تَقَبَّلُوْا لي بِسِتٍّ؛ أَتَقَبَّلْ لَكُمْ بِالجَنَّة: اِذا حَدَّثَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلا يَكْذِبْ؛ وَاِذا وَعَدَ فَلا يُخْلِفْ؛ وَاِذا ائْتُمِنَ فَلا يَخُنْ؛ غُضُّوا أَبْصَارَكُم؛ وَكُفُّوْا أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَاحْفَظُوْا فُرُوجَكُمْ.

Assure me of six things, and I will ensure you of entering Paradise: avoidance of telling lie, avoidance of breaking your promise, keeping away from treachery to trusts, closing your eyes on the unlawful, controlling your hands and restraining your privy parts.

   رَوَاحُ الجُمْعَةِ وَاجبٌ عَلى كلِّ مُحْتَلِمٍ

Attending the Friday ritual prayer is obligatory for all mature people.

   أَبْغُونِي الضُّعَفاءَ فَاِنَّمَا تُرْزَقونَ وَتُنْصَرُونَ بِضُعَفَائِكُمْ.

Attending the weak is paying attention to me, for your sustenance and its support (by God) is for the sake of them.

   اِغْتَنِمْ خَمْسَاً قَبْلَ خَمْسٍ: شَبَابَكَ قَبْلَ هَرِمِكَ؛ وَصِحَّتَكَ قَبْلَ سُقْمِكَ؛ وَغِنَاكَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِكَ؛ وَفَرَاغَكَ قَبْلَ شُغْلِكَ؛ وَحَيَاتَكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِكَ.

Avail yourself of five things before five other things: youth before oldness, health before illness, wealth before need, convenience before inconvenience and life before death.

   أَنْعِمْ عَلى نَفْسِكَ كَمَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ.

Avail yourself of what God has made available for you.

   كُفَّ شَرَّكَ عَنِ النَّاسِ فَاِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ مِنْكَ عَلى نَفْسِكَ.

Avoid doing evil to people, for it is charity you give for yourself.

   اِجْتَنِبُوا الْخَمْرَ؛ فَاِنَّها مِفْتَاحُ كُلِّ شَرٍّ.

Avoid drinking wine, for it is verily the key to all evils.

   اِتَّقُوا الْحَجَرَ الْحَرَامَ فِي الْبُنْيانِ؛ فَاِنَّهُ أَسَاسُ الْخَرَابِ.

Avoid using (even one piece of) unlawfully- earned stone in (your) building, for the very stone causes its collapse.

   تَرْكُ الدُّنْيا أَمَرُّ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ، وَأَشَدُّ مِنْ

Avoidance of bidding to good results in disgrace here and Fire in the

حَطْمِ السُّيُوْفِ فِي سَبِيْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

Hereafter.

   اِنْتِظَارُ الْفَرَجِ بِالصَّبْرِ عِبَادَةٌ.

Awaiting betterment (in life), is servitude to God if coupled with patience.

   لا يَرُدُّ القَضَاءَ إلاّ الدُّعاءُ، وَلا يَزِيْدُ في العُمْرِ إلاّ البِرُّ.

Awaiting prayers by God’s servants is (in fact) saying prayers.