Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The Believer

The Believer المؤمن

1. A believer is very truthful in [his] speech and generous in [his] benevolence.

1ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ صَدُوقُ اللِّسانِ، بَذُولُ الإحسانِ.

2. A believer is [always] alert, waiting for one of the two boons [of this world or the Hereafter].

2ـ اَلمُؤْمِِنُ يَقْظانٌ يَنْتَظِرُ إحْدَى الحَسَنَتَينِ.

3. A believer is chaste, contented, free from sin and pious.

3ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ عَفِيفٌ، مُقْتَنِعٌ، مُتَنَزِّهٌ، مُتَوَرِِّعٌ.

4. A believer is one whose love is for [the sake of] Allah, whose hate is for Allah, whose taking is for Allah and whose leaving is for Allah.

4ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ مَنْ كانَ حُبُّهلِلّهِ، وبُغْضُهلِلّهِ، وأخذُهلِلّهِ،

5. A believer is thankful in [times of] comfort, patient in tribulation and fearful in affluence.

5ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ شاكِرٌ فيِ السَّـرّاءِ، صابِرٌ فِي البَلاءِ، خائفٌ فِي

6. A believer is moderate in [times of] affluence, [and] keeps away from the [pleasures of this] world.

6ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ عَفيفٌ فِي الغِنى، مُتَنَزَّهٌ عَنِ الدُّنيا.

7. A believer is [always] between blessing and wrongdoing, [and] nothing reforms these two except thankfulness and repentance.

7ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ بَيْنَ نِعْمَة وخَطيئَة لا يُصلِحُهُما إلاّ الشُّكرُ

8. A believer is dignified, honourable, self-reliant, cautious and sorrowful.

8ـ اَلمُؤْمِِنُ عِزٌّ كَريمٌ، مَأمُونٌ على نَفْسِهِ، حَذِرٌ مَحْزُونٌ.

9. A believer constantly remembers [Allah], frequently contemplates, is thankful for blessings and patient in the face of tribulation.

9ـ المُؤْمِنُ دائِمُ الذِّكرِ، كَثيرُ الفِكرِ، عَلَى النَّعماءِ

10. A believer is modest, independent, certain and pious.

10ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ حَييٌّ، غَنيٌّ، مُوقِنٌ، تَقِيٌّ.

11. When a believer is asked [for help], he helps, and when he asks [other for help], he is lenient [and does not overburden them].

11ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ إذا سُئِلَ أسْعَفَ، وإذا سَألَ خَفَّفَ.

12. A believer is wary of his sins, always fearing chastisement and hoping for the mercy of his Lord.

12ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ حَذِرٌ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ أبَداً يَخافُ البَلاءَ ويَرجُو

13. To a believer, this world is his arena, action is his endeavour, death is his gift and Paradise is his prize.

13ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ الدُّنْيا مِضْمارُهُ، والعَمَلُ هِمَّتُهُ، والمَوتُ

14. A believer is one who has purified his heart of vileness.

14ـ المُؤْمِنُ مَنْ طَهَّرَ قَلْبَهُ مِنَ الدَنِيَّةِ(الريبَةِ).

15. A believer is one whose affair is near, whose sorrow is distant, whose silence is much and whose actions are sincere.

15ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ قَريبٌ أمْرُهُ، بَعيدٌ هَمُّهُ، كَثيرٌ صَمْتُه، خالِصٌ

16. A believer is eager in [his] obedience [to Allah] and refrains from what is forbidden.

16ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ عَلَى الطَّاعاتِ حَريصٌ، وعَنِ المَحارِمِ عَفٌّ.

17. The soul of a believer is firmer than a hard rock while he is [himself] humbler than a slave.

17ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ نَفْسُهُ أصْلَبُ مِنَ الصَّلْدِ، وهُوَ أذَلُّ مِنَ

18. When a believer observes, he takes lesson; and when he is quiet, he contemplates; and when he speaks, he remembers [Allah]; and when he is given, he is grateful; and when he undergoes hardship, he is patient.

18ـ اَلمؤمِنُ إذا نَظَرَ اعْتَبَـرَ، وإذا سَكَتَ تَفَكَرَّ، وإذا

19. When a believer is admonished, he restrains himself; and when he is warned, he becomes cautious; and when he is shown an example, he learns [from it]; and when he is reminded, he remembers; and when he is oppressed, he forgives.

19ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ إذا وُعِظَ اِزْدَجَرَ، وإذا حُذِّرَ حَذِرَ، وإذا

20. The persistence of a believer is [in] his renunciation [of worldly pleasures], his interest is [in] his religiosity, his dignity is [in] his contentment and his striving is for his Hereafter. His good deeds are many, his status is elevated and he has managed [to gain] his freedom and salvation.

20ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ دَأْبُهُ زِهادَتُهُ، وَهَمُّهُ دِيانَتُهُ، وعِزُّهُ

21. A believer looks at this world with eyes that derive lesson, and consumes from it only what is necessary, and hears in it with ears of hatred and enmity [towards it].

21ـ اَلمُؤمِنُ يَنْظُرُ إلَى الدُّنيا بِعَيْنِ الإعتِبارِ، ويَقْتاتُ

22. The believers blame themselves and are fearful of their past mistakes; they detest this world, eagerly yearn for the Hereafter and hasten towards [acts of] obedience.

22ـ اَلمُؤمنونَ لأنْفُسِهِمْ مُتَّهِمُونَ، ومِنْ فارِطِ زَلَلِهِمْ

23. A believer is one who bears with the harm that people inflict [on him] but nobody is ever harmed by him.

23ـ المُؤْمِنُ مَنْ تَحَمَّلَ أذَى النَّاسِ، ولايَتَأذّى أحَدٌ بِهِ.

24. The believer is one who safeguards his Hereafter by [sacrificing] his world, while the vicious is one who safeguards his world by [sacrificing] his Hereafter.

24ـ اَلمُؤمِنُ مَنْ وَقى دينَهُ بِدُنْياهُ، والفاجِرُ مَنْ وَقى

25. A believer is faithful to himself and struggles against his vain desires and feelings.

25ـ اَلمُؤمِنُ أمينٌ عَلى نَفْسِهِ، مُغالِبٌ (مُجاهِدٌ) لِهَواهُ

26. Be careful of the opinions of believers, for Allah, the Glorified, effectuates the truth through their tongues.

26ـ إتَّقُوا ظُنُونَ المُؤمِنينَ، فَإنَّ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ أجْرَى

27. The most honourable of believers is the most sagacious of them.

27ـ أشرَفُ المُؤْمِنينَ أكْثَرُهُمْ كَيْساً.

28. The best of believers in terms of belief is the one whose taking, giving, anger and pleasure are all for [the sake of] Allah.

28ـ أفضلُ المُؤْمِنينَ إيماناً مَنْ كانَ لِلّهِ أخذُهُ، وعَطاهُ،

29. Believers are indeed compassionate.[^1]

29ـ إنَّ المُؤْمِنينَ مُشْفِقُونَ.

30. Verily believers are afraid [of displeasing Allah].

30ـ إنَّ المُؤْمِنينَ وَجِلُونَ.

31. Indeed the cheerfulness of a believer is in his face, his strength is in his religion and his sorrow is in his heart.

31ـ إنَّ بِشْرَ المُؤمِنِ في وَجْهِهِ، وقُوَّتَهُ في دينِهِ، وحُزْنَهُ

32. Verily a believer feels ashamed if an act which goes against his faith is committed by him.

32ـ إنَّ المُؤْمِنَ لَيَسْتَحْيي إذا مَضى لَهُ عَمَلٌ في غَيرِ ما

33. The goal of a believer is Paradise.

33ـ غايَةُ المُؤْمِنِ الجَنَّةُ.

34. The needlessness of a believer is through [his reliance on] Allah, the Glorified.

34ـ غِنَى المُؤمِنِ بِاللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ.

35. He (the believer) has enlivened his intellect, killed his lust, obeyed his Lord and disobeyed his lower-self.

35ـ قَدْ أحْيا عَقْلَهُ، وأماتَ شَهْوَتَهُ، وأطاعَ رَبَّهُ وعَصى

36. How many a believer has succeeded through patience and thinking positively.

36ـ كَمْ مِنْ مُؤمِن فازَ بِهِ الصَّبْرُ، وحُسْنُ الظَّنِّ.

37. Be a pious, contented and modest believer.

37ـ كُنْ مُؤمِناً، تَقِيّاً، مُتَقَنِّعاً، عَفيفاً.

38. A believer has a perfect intellect, a pleasing leniency, an inclination towards good deeds and an aversion towards bad deeds.

38ـ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ عَقْلٌ وَفِىٌّ، وحِلْمٌ مَرْضِيٌّ، ورَغْبَةٌ فِي

39. A believer has three times: a time for whispering to his Lord, a time for assessing himself (or in another narration: a time for making arrangements for his livelihood) and a time when he freely enjoys himself with what is lawful and pleasant.

39ـ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ ثلاثُ ساعات، ساعَةٌ يُناجي فيها رَبَّهُ، وساعَةٌ

40. The faith of a believer is not perfected until he deems comfort to be a trial and affliction to be a blessing.

40ـ لايَكْمُلُ إيمانُ المُؤْمِنِ حَتّى يَعُدَّ الرَّخاءَ فِتْنَةً،

41. A believer is never found to be envious, malevolent or miserly.

41ـ لايُلْفَى المُؤمِنُ حَسُوداً، ولاحَقُوداً، ولابَخيلاً.

42. A believer is never anything other than forbearing and merciful.

42ـ لايَكونُ المُؤْمِنُ إلاَّ حَليماً، رَحيماً.

43. It behoves a believer to feel ashamed if the thought of disobedience crosses his mind.

43ـ يَنْبَغي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أنْ يَسْتَحييَ إذَا اتَّصَلَتْ لَهُ فِكْرَةٌ

44. It behoves a believer to remain obedient and to cover himself with piety and contentment.

44ـ يَنْبَغي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أنْ يَلْزَمَ الطَّاعَةَ، ويَلْتَحِفَ

45. A believer is tested with affliction just like the purity of gold and silver is tested with fire.

45ـ يُمْتَحَنُ المُؤْمِنُ بِالبَلاءِ، كَما يُمْتَحَنُ بِالنّارِ

46. There are three signs of a believer: truthfulness, certitude and [having] short hopes.

46ـ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ ثَلاثُ عَلامات: الصِّدْقُ، واليَقينُ، وقَصْرُ

47. A believer is never found to be anything but content.

47ـ لَنْ يُلْقَى المُؤْمِنُ إلاّ قانِعاً.

48. He who is not concerned about improving his Hereafter is not a believer.

** ** 48

** ** ـ لَيْسَ بِمُؤمِن مَنْ لَمْ يَهْتَمَّ بإصْ

49. If I were to strike the nose of a believer to make him hate me he would still not hate me, and if I were to bestow the whole world to a hypocrite to make him love me he would still not love me.

49ـ لَو ضَرَبْتُ خَيْشُومَ المُؤْمِنِ على أنْ يُبْغِضَني ما أبْغَضَني،

50. One who believes is safe.

50ـ مَنْ آمَنَ أمِنَ.

51. One who believes increases his certitude.

51ـ مَنْ يُؤمِنْ يَزْدَدْ يَقيناً.

52. One who believes in Allah seeks [help and] protection from Him.

52ـ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ لَجَـأَ إلَيْهِ.

53. A believer has not [truly] believed until he comprehends.

53ـ ما آمَنَ المُؤْمِنُ حتّى عَقَلَ.

54. The example of a believer is like that of citronella, both its taste and its fragrance are pleasant.

54ـ مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ كَالاُتْرُجَّةِ طَيِّبٌ طَعْمُها وريحُها.

55. One who purifies his faith is guided.

55ـ هُدِىَ مَنْ أخْلَصَ إيمانَهُ.

56. The concern of a believer is for his Hereafter, and all his efforts are for his place of [final] return.

56ـ هَمُّ المُؤمِنِ لآِخِرَتِهِ، وكُلُّ جِدِّهِ لِمُنْقَلَبِهِ.

57. A believer is never satiated while his brother is hungry.

57ـ لايَشْبَعُ المُؤْمِنُ وأخُوهُ جايعٌ.

58. A believer never falls short of forbearance and never gets anxious when faced with difficulty.

58ـ لايُقَصِّرُ المُؤْمِنُ عَنْ احْتِمال، ولا يَجزَعُ لِرَزِيَّة.

59. A man does not become a [true] believer until he is no longer concerned about what [food] will end his pangs of hunger and which of his two attires he will wear.

59ـ لايَكونُ الرَّجُلُ مُؤْمِناً حتّى لايُباليَ بِماذا أسَدَّ فَوْرَةَ

60. The cheerfulness of a believer is in his face and his sorrow is in his heart. He has the broadest chest (i.e. has great patience, knowledge and virtue) and is most humble in spirit. He hates high position and dislikes renown. His grief is long, his sorrow is distant, his silence is much and his time is occupied. He is grateful and patient, submerged in his thoughts [about the Hereafter], sparing in his friendship, easy going and of soft temperament. He is firmer than a hard rock but humbler than a slave.

60ـ بِشْرُ المُؤْمِنِ في وَجْهِهِ، وحُزْنُهُ في قَلْبِهِ، أوْسَعُ

61. The beauty of a believer’s face is from the special favour of Allah on him.

61ـ حُسْنُ وَجْهِ المُؤمِنِ مِنْ حُسْنِ عِنايَةِ اللّهِ بِهِ.

62. Verily the certitude of a believer is seen in his actions and the doubt of a hypocrite is seen in his actions.

62ـ إنَّ المُؤْمِنَ يُرى يَقينُهُ في عَمَلِهِ وإنَّ المُنافِقَ يُرى

63. A believer is sagacious and intelligent.

63ـ اَلمُؤمنُ كَيِّسٌ، عاقِلٌ.

64. A believer is free from perversion and dissension.

64ـ المُؤْمِنُ مُنَزَّهٌ عَنِ الزَّيغِ والشِّقاقِ.

65. A believer is penitent, repentant and remorseful.

65ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ مُنيبٌ، مُسْتَغْفِرٌ، تَوَّابٌ.

66. The nature of a believer is [being] sincere and his trait is suppressing anger.

66ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ غَريزَتُهُ النُّصْحُ، وسَجِيَّتُهُ الكَظْمُ.

67. The believers are such that their good deeds are expected and people are safe from their evil.

67ـ اَلمُؤمِنُونَ خَيْراتُـهُمْ مَأمُولَةٌ، وشُرُورُهُمْ مَأمُونَةٌ.

68. The fear of a believer is in his heart and his repentance is in his admission.

68ـ تَقِيَّةُ المُؤْمِنِ في قَلْبِهِ، وتَوْبَتُهُ فِي اعْتِرافِهِ.

69. Three things are adornments for believers: fear of Allah, truthful speech and returning trusts [to their rightful owners].

69ـ ثَلاثٌ هُنَّ زَيْنُ المُؤْمِنِ: تَقْوَى اللّهِ، وصِدْقُ الحَديثِ،

70. The beauty of a believer is his piety.

70ـ جَمالُ المُؤمِنِ وَرَعُهُ.

71. The joy of a believer is in the obedience of his Lord, and his sorrow is due to his sin.

71ـ سُرُورُ المُؤْمِنِ بِطاعَةِ رَبِّهِ، وحُزْنُهُ على ذَنْبِهِ.

72. The integrity of a believer is in his keeping away from what is forbidden and hastening towards virtues.

72ـ طَرْفُ المُؤْمِنِ نَزاهَتُهُ عَنِ المَحارِمِ، ومُبادِرَتُهُ إلَى

73. A believer is easy going, polite, approachable and reliable.

73ـ ألمُؤْمِنُ هَيِّـنٌ لَيِّنٌ، سَهْلٌ، مُؤتَمَنٌ.

74. A believer makes few mistakes and does plenty of work.

74ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ قَليلُ الزَّلَلِ، كَثيرُ العَمَلِ.

75. The demeanour of a believer is characterized by moderation and his conduct is upright.

75ـ المُؤمِنُ سيرَتُهُ القَصْدُ، وسُنَّتُهُ الرُّشدُ.

76. A believer loathes idle play and likes to work hard.

76ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ يَعافُ اللَّهْوَ، وَيَألِفُ الجِدَّ.

77. When the soul of a believer ascends to the heavens, the angels are amazed and say: It is incredible how he was saved from a place where the best of us[^2] got corrupted.

77ـ إذا صَعَدَتْ رُوحُ المُؤْمِنِ إلَى السَّماءِتَعَجَّبَتِ

78. A believer is sorrowful in his thoughts [about himself], sparing in his friendship.

78ـ اَلمُؤمِنُ مَغْمُومٌ بِفِكْرَتِهِ، ضَنينٌ بِخُلَّتِهِ.

79. A believer has a mild disposition and is easy going.

79ـ اَلمُؤمِنُ لَيِّنُ العَريكَةِ، سَهْلُ الخَليقَةِ.

80. A believer does not oppress [anyone] and eschews sin.

80ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ لايَظْلِمُ، وَلايَتَأثَّمُ.

81. A believer is fair to the one who is unfair to him.

81ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ يُنْصِفُ مَنْ لا يُنْصِفُهُ.

82. A believer is affectionate, endearing and compassionate.

82ـ المُؤْمِنُ آلِفٌ، مألُوفٌ، مُتَعَطِّفٌ.

83. Indeed believers are approachable and soft-hearted.

83ـ إنَّ المُؤْمنينَ هَيْنُونَ، لَيْنُونَ.

84. Believers are indeed virtuous.

84ـ إنَّ المُؤْمِنينَ مُحْسِنُونَ.

85. Indeed believers are fearful [of Allah].

85ـ إنَّ المُؤْمِنينَ خائِفُونَ.

86. A believer is [gauged] by his actions.

86ـ اَلمُؤْمِنُ بِعَمَلِهِ.

87. Believers possess more intelligence [than others].

87ـ اَلمُؤمِنُونَ أعْظَمُ أحْلاماً.

[^1]: Or, if taken in the context of Q70:27 and other similar verses, this could be translated as: Believers are indeed apprehensive [of the punishment of Allah].

[^2]: Other copies have ‘the best of them’ – and this seems to be more correct.