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

Taking The Initiative

Taking the Initiative المبادرة

1. Take the initiative to act, belie [false] hope and recall death.

1ـ بادِرُوا العَمَلَ، وأكْذِبُوا الأمَلَ، ولاحِظُوا الأجَلَ.

2. Take the initiative to act and fear the suddenness of death, [then] you will realize the greatest hope.

2ـ بادِرُوا العَمَلَ(الأمَل)، وخَافُوا بَغْتَةَ الأجَلِ، تُدْرِكُوا

3. Hasten towards [virtuous] actions before old age disables you.

3ـ بادِرُوا بِالعَمَلِ عُمْراً ناكِساً.

4. Hasten towards [virtuous] actions before debilitating illness or sudden death [overtakes you].

4ـ بادِروا بِالعَمَلِ مَرَضاً حابِساً، وَمَوْتاً خالِساً.

5. Hasten towards virtue, for verily virtuous deeds are an opportunity [to secure your Hereafter].

5ـ بادِرِ البِرَّ فَإنَّ أعْمالَ البِرِّ فُرْصَةٌ.

6. Take the initiative to perform good deeds [now] while the neck is free from the noose and the spirit is unfettered.

6ـ بادِرُوا صالِحَ الأعْمالِ والخَناقُ مُهْمَلٌ والرُّوحُ مُرْسَلٌ.

7. Take the initiative in your youth before your old age and in your health before your illness.

7ـ بادِرْ شَبابَكَ قَبْلَ هَرَمِكَ، وصِحَّتَكَ قَبْلَ سُقْمِكَ.

8. Take the initiative in your affluence before your poverty and while you are alive before your death.

8ـ بادِرْ غِناكَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِكَ، وحَيوتَكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِكَ.

9. Take the initiative while the rest of your life is before you, and you have the ability to act by volition[^1], and have the opportunity of repentance, and the possibility of abrogating your misdeeds.

9ـ بادِرُوا في مَهَلِ البَقِيَّةِ، وأنْفِ المَشيَّةِ، وانْتِظارِ

10. Hasten to act while the bodies are healthy, the tongues are untied, the [cry of] repentance is heard and the deeds are accepted.

10ـ بادِرُوا والأبْدانُ صَحيحَةٌ، والألْسُنُ مُطْلَقَةٌ، والتَّوبَةُ

11. Hasten to act before [you are seized with] the seizing of the all-Powerful, the Omnipotent.

11ـ بادِرُوا قَبْلَ أخْذَةِ العَزيزِ المُقْتَدِرِ.

12. Hasten to act before the narrowness and constriction [of the grave].

12ـ بادِرُوا قَبْلَ الضَّنْكِ والمَضيقِ.

13. Hasten to act before the terror [of death] and the departure of your soul [from your body].

13ـ بادِرُوا قَبْلَ الرَّوعِ والزُّهُوقِ.

14. Hasten towards good deeds before your deaths, and purchase what will remain for you [in the Hereafter] with what will depart from you [of this world].

14ـ بادِروُا آجالَكُمْ بِأعْمالِكُمْ، وابتاعُوا ما يَبْقى لَكُمْ بِما

15. Hasten [to do good] with your wealth before your deaths come upon you, so that it may purify you, set you aright and bring you closer [to Allah].

15ـ بادِرُوا بِأمْوالِكُمْ قَبلَ حُلُولِ آجالِكُمْ تُزَكِّكُمْ

16. Hasten towards obedience [to Allah] and you will be felicitous.

16ـ بادِرِ (باكِر) الطَّاعَةَ تَسْعَدْ.

17. Hasten towards good and you will be guided.

17ـ بادِرِ الخَيْرَ تَرْشُدْ.

18. Hasten [to do good] before the coming of the hidden awaited one.

18ـ بادِرُوا قَبْلَ قُدُومِ الغائبِ المُنْتَظَرِ.

19. Anticipate death and its throes, prepare for it before its arrival and get ready for it before it descends.

19ـ بادِرُوا المَوْتَ وغَمَراتِهِ، ومَهِّدُوا لَهُ قَبْلَ حُلُولِهِ

20. Hasten [to act] in the period of guidance and repose of the bodies, and in your remaining lifetime, and while you have the ability to act by volition.

20ـ بادِرُوا في فَيْنَةِ الإرْشادِ، وراحَةِ الأجسادِ، ومَهَلِ

21. Hasten in performing your good deeds and compete with your deaths, for you will be compensated for what you sent forward, rewarded for what you did beforehand and held accountable for what you left behind.

21ـ بادِرُوا أعْمالَكُمْ، وسابِقُوا آجالَكُمْ، فَإنَّكُمْ مَدينُونَ

22. Surpass your hope and anticipate the assault of death, for people are on the verge of having their hopes cut short and being surprised by death.

22ـ بادِرُوا الأمَلَ، وسابِقُوا هُجومَ الأجَلِ، فَإنَّ النَّاسَ

23. Hurry to take advantage of opportunity before it becomes [a cause of] distress.

23ـ بادِرِ الفُرْصَةَ قَبْلَ أنْ تَـكُونَ غُصَّةً.

24. Blessed is the one who hastens to perform good deeds before his means are cut short.

24ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ بادَرَ صالِحَ العَمَلِ قَبْلَ أنْ تَنْقَطِعَ

25. Blessed is he who anticipates death, takes advantage of respite and prepares the provision of good deeds [for the Hereafter].

25ـ طُوبى لِمَنْ بادَرَ الأجَلَ، واغْتَنَمَ المَهَلَ، وتَزَوَّدَ مِنَ

[^1]: Also translated: ...at the first available opportunity when the intention is made.