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

Reforming The People

Reforming the People-إصْلاح النّاس

1. If your zeal for reforming the people becomes heightened, then begin with yourself; for indeed your pursuit for the righteousness of others while you are [yourself] corrupt, is the greatest flaw.

1ـ إنْ سَمَتْ هِمَّتُكَ لإصْلاحِ النّاسِ، فَابْدَأْ بِنَفْسِكَ فَإنَّ

2. I am amazed at the one who sets out to reform the people while his own soul is more severely corrupted yet he does not reform it and pursues the reformation of others.

2ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يَتَصَدّى لإصْلاحِ النّاسِ، ونَفْسُهُ أشَدُّ شَيْء

3. How can one who does not reform himself reform others?!

3ـ كَيْفَ يَصْلَحُ غَيْرَهُ مَنْ لايُصْلِحُ نَفْسَهُ؟!

4. Rectify when you have corrupted and complete [your good act] when you have done good.

4ـ أصْلِحْ إذا أنْتَ أفْسَدْتَ، وأتْمِمْ إذا أنْتَ أحْسَنْتَ.