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

Taking Lessons And Examples

Taking Lessons and Examples[^1]-العبرة والاِعتبار

  1. Take lesson and you will be deterred [from evil].

1ـ اِعْتَبِرْ تَزْدَجِرْ.

  1. Take lesson and you will become content.

2ـ اِعْتَبِرْ تَقْتَنِعْ.

  1. Take lessons from [the lives of] those who preceded you before those who are after you take lessons from you.

3ـ اِتَّعِظُوا مِمَّنْ كانَ قَبْلَكُمْ قَبْلَ أنْ يَتَّعِظَ بِكُمْ

مَنْ بََعْدَكُمْ.

  1. Take counsel from the examples [of others], learn lessons from the changing situations and take benefit from the Warners.

4ـ اِتَّعِظُوا بِالعِبَرِ واعْتَبِروُا بِالغِيَرِ، وانْتَفِعُوا

بِالنُّذُرِ.

  1. Where are the ‘Amāliqa[^2] and the children of the ‘Amāliqa?

5ـ أيْنَ العَمالِقَةُ وأبْناءُ العَمالِقَةِ؟!

  1. Where are the tyrants and the children of the tyrants?

6ـ أيْنَ الجَبابِرَةُ، وأبْناءُ الجَبابِرَةِ؟!

  1. Where are the people of the cities of Rass who killed the Prophets and extinguished the light of the Messengers?

7ـ أيْنَ أهْلُ مَدائِنِ الرَّسِّ، الَّذينَ قَتَلُوا النَّبِيِّينَ

وأطْفَئُوا نُورَ المُرْسَلينَ؟!

  1. Where are those who rallied the troops and inhabited the cities?

8ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ عَسْكَرُوا العَساكِرَ ومَدَنُوا المَدائِنَ؟!

  1. Where are those who said, “Who is more powerful than us and is greater in assemblage?”

9ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ قالُوا مَنْ أشَدُّ مِنّا قُوَّةً وأعْظَمُ جَمْعاً؟!

  1. Where are those who left the best heritage, were most just in their actions and had the biggest kingdoms?

10ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ كانُوا أحْسَنَ آثاراً،وَ أعْدَلَ أفْعالاً، وأكْبَرَ

مُلْكاً؟!

  1. Where are those who vanquished the armies and travelled in the thousands?

11ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ هَزَمُوا الجُيُوشَ، وسارُوا بِالأُلُوفِ؟!

  1. Where are those who built kingdoms, paved passages, and aided the aggrieved and hosted guests?

12ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ شَيَّدُوا المَمالِكَ، ومَهَّدُوا المَسالِكَ،

وأغاثُوا المَهْلُوفَ، وَقَرَوُوا الضُّيُوفَ؟

  1. Where is the one who strived and struggled, and prepared and mobilized [all possible resources]?

13ـ أيْنَ مَنْ سَعى واجْتَهَدَ، وأعَدَّ، واحْتَشَدَ؟!

  1. Where is the one who built and erected, paved and prepared, accumulated and counted?

14ـ أيْنَ مَنْ بَنى وَشَيَّدَ، وفَرَشَ ومَهَّدَ، وجَمَعَ وعَدَّدَ؟!

  1. Where is Khosrau[^3] and Caesar and Tubba’[^4] and Himyar[^5]?

15ـ أيْنَ كِسْرى وَقَيْصَرُ وتُبَّعُ وحِمْيَرُ؟!

  1. Where is the one who stored and amassed, and accumulated wealth upon wealth thereby multiplying it?

16ـ أيْنَ مَنِ ادَّخَرَ واعْتَقَدَ، وجَمَعَ المالَ عَلَى المالِ

فَأكْثَرَ؟!

  1. Where is the one who fortified and strengthened, and adorned and decorated?

17ـ أيْنَ مَنْ حَصَّنَ وأكَّدَ، وزَخْرَفَ ونَجَّدَ؟!

  1. Where is the one who accumulated and increased, and stored and amassed, and considered the future of his son?

18ـ أيْنَ مَنْ جَمَعَ فَأكْثَرَ، واحْتَقَبَ واعْتَقَدَ، ونَظَرَ

بِزَعْمِهِ لِلْوَلَدِ؟!

  1. Where are those who lived longer than you and left a greater heritage?

19ـ أيْنَ مَنْ كانَ مِنْكُمْ أطْوَلَ أعْماراً وأعْظَمَ آثاراً؟!

  1. Where are the ones who were larger in numbers, had stronger armies and had greater effect?

20ـ أيْنَ مَنْ كانَ أعَدَّ عَديداً، وَأَكْنَفَ (إكْثَفَ)جُنُوداً،

وأعْظَمَ آثاراً؟!

  1. Where are the kings and Khosraus?

21ـ أيْنَ المُلُوكُ والأكاسِرَةُ؟!

  1. Where are the children of the Yellow[^6] and the pharaohs?

22ـ أيْنَ بَنُو الأصْفَرِ والفَراعِنَةُ؟!

  1. Where are those who ruled the extremities of this world?

23ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ مَلَكُوا مِنَ الدُّنيا أقاصِيَها؟!

  1. Where are those who used to humiliate their enemies and take possession of their forelocks [by enslaving them]?

24ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ اسْتَذَلُّوا الأعْداءَ، ومَلَكُوا نَواصِيَها؟!

  1. Where are those to whom the nations were subservient?

25ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ دانَتْ لَهُمُ الأُمَمُ؟!

  1. Where are those who attained their highest ambitions in this world?

26ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ بَلَغُوا مِنَ الدُّنْيا أقاصِيَ الهِمَمِ؟!

  1. Verily for those who remain [behind] there is an example in those who have passed.

27ـ إنَّ لِلْباقِينَ بِالماضينَ مُعْتَبَراً.

  1. Verily for the latter there is an admonishment in the former.

28ـ إنَّ لِلآخِرِ بِالأوَّلِ مُزْدَجَراً.

  1. Verily the passing away of those who depart is a lesson for the community that remains behind.

29ـ إنَّ ذَهابَ الذّاهِبينَ لَعِبْرَةٌ لِلْقَوْمِ المُتَخَلِّفينَ.

  1. Taking example yields [the fruit of] inerrancy.

30ـ اَلاِعْتِبارُ يُثْمِرُ العِصْمَةَ.

  1. Time shows you examples.

31ـ اَلزَّمانُ يُريكَ العِبَـرَ.

  1. Taking lesson is beneficial in [attaining] right guidance.

32ـ الاِعْتِبارُ يُفيدُ الرَّشادَ.

  1. When Allah loves a servant, He gives him direction through examples.

33ـ إذا أحَبَّ اللّهُ عَبْداً وَعَظَهُ بِالعِبَرِ.

  1. You have been left with examples from the vestiges of those who passed away before you, so take lesson from them.

34ـ خُلِّفَ لَكُمْ عِبَرٌ مِنْ آثارِ الماضينَ قَبْلَكُمْ

لِتَعْتَبِرُوا بِها.

  1. Continually taking lessons leads to perspicacity and bears the fruit of restraint [from evil].

35ـ دَوامُ الاِعْتِبارِ يُؤَدِّي إلَى الاِسْتِبْصارِ، ويُثْمِرُ

الاِزْدِجارَ.

  1. I am bound by responsibility for what I say and am answerable for it. Verily, one for whom examples [of the past] have clearly shown that which was before him of exemplary punishments [given by Allah to wrongdoers] is prevented by God-wariness from falling into dubious [and questionable] actions.

36ـ ذِمَّتي بِما أقُولُ رَهينَةٌ، وأنَا بِهِ زَعيمٌ، إنَّ مَنْ

صَـرَّحَتْ لَهُ العِبَرُ عمّا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ المَثُلاتِ، حَجَزَهُ التَّقْوى عَنْ تَقَحُّمِ الشُّبَهاتِ.

  1. Attest to the truth that has passed and take lesson from what has elapsed of this world, because indeed its one phase resembles the other and its end catches up to its beginning.

37ـ صَدِّقْ بِما سَلَفَ مِنَ الحَقِّ، واعْتَبِرْ بِما مَضى مِنَ

الدُّنيا فَإنَّ بَعْضَها يُشْبِهُ بَعْضاً، وآخِرُها لاحِقٌ بِأوَّلِها.

  1. The prolonged drawing of lessons [from the past] impels one to be precautious.

38ـ طُولُ الاِعْتِبارِ يَحْدُو عَلَى الاِسْتِظْهارِ.

  1. In every glance there is a lesson.

39ـ في كُلِّ نَظْرَة عِبْرَةٌ.

  1. In every lesson that is drawn there is discernment.

40ـ في كُلِّ اعْتِبار اِسْتِبْصارٌ.

  1. In the succession of days there is lesson for the creatures.

41ـ في تَعاقُبِ الأيّامِ مُعْتَبَرٌ لِلأنامِ.

  1. Successful is the one who has a habit of taking lesson [from the past] and a tendency towards being precautious.

42ـ فازَ مَنْ كانَتْ شيمَتُهُ الاِعْتِبارَ، وسَجِيَّتُهُ

الاِسْتِظْهارَ.

  1. He who has been deterred [from evil] has taken lesson [from the past].

43ـ قَدِ اعْتَبـَرَ مَنِ ارْتَدَعَ.

  1. He who takes a lesson from the past [that has gone] has taken a lesson for the remaining [future].

44ـ قَد اعْتَبَرَ بِالباقي مَنِ اعْتَبرَ بِالماضي.

  1. Every day benefits you with lessons if you accompany it with contemplation.

45ـ كُلُّ يَوْم يُفيدُكَ عِبَراً إنْ أصْحَبْتَهُ فِكْراً.

  1. For the people of intelligence, what they are aware of is enough of a lesson for them.

46ـ كَفى مُعْتَبَراً لأُولِي النُّهى ما عَرَفُوا.

  1. Lessons [from events] have indeed become evident for you, and you have been deterred by what is in it of a deterrence; and after the Prophet of Allah, none have conveyed [the message] from Allah like the Warners.

47ـ لَقَدْ جاهَرَتْكُمُ العِبَرُ، وزَجَرَكُمْ(وَ زُجِرْتُمْ بِما) ما

فيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ، وما بَلَّغَ (يُبَلِّغُ) عَنِ اللّهِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللّهِ (رُسُلِ السَّماءِ إلاّ البَشَرُ) مِثْلُ النُّذُرِ.

  1. If you took lessons from what has passed of your life, you would safeguard that which remains [of it].

48ـ لَوِْ اعْتَبَرْتَ بِما أضَعْتَ مِنْ ماضي عُمْرِكَ لَحَفِظْتَ ما

بَقِيَ.

  1. One who takes lesson [from the past] is cautious.

49ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ حَذِرَ.

  1. One whose consideration [of past events from which he draws lessons] increases, his mistakes decrease.

50ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ اِعْتِبارُهُ قَلَّ عِثارُهُ.

  1. One who takes a lesson from the vicissitudes of time is careful of [the evil of] others.

51ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ بِتَصاريفِ الزَّمانِ حَذِرَ غَيْرَهُ.

  1. One who does not take lesson from others does not take precaution for himself.

52ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْتَبِرْ بِغَيْرِهِ لَمْ يَسْتَظْهِرْ لِنَفْسِهِ.

  1. One who takes admonishment from the examples [of the past] is deterred [from evil].

53ـ مَنِ اتَّعَظَ بِالعِبَرِ اِرْتَدَعَ.

  1. One who does not take a lesson from the passage of days is not deterred by reproach.

54ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْتَبِرْ بِتَصارِيفِ الأيّامِ لَمْ يَنْزَجِرْ

بِالمَلامِ.

  1. One who takes a lesson from vicissitudes does not rely on the peacefulness of time.

55ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ بِالغِيَرِ لَمْ يَثِقْ بِمُسالَمَةِ الزَّمَنِ.

  1. One who recognizes the lessons [of the past], it is as if he is living among the ancients.

56ـ مَنْ عَرَفَ العِبْرَةَ فَكَأنَّما عاشَ فِي الأوَّلينَ.

  1. One who does not take lesson from the vicissitudes of this world, advice has no effect on him.

57ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْتَبِرْ بِغِيَرِ الدُّنيا وصُرُوفِها لَمْ تَنْجَعْ

فيهِ المَواعِظُ.

  1. One who considers matters arrives at their [appropriate] criteria.

58ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ الأُمُورَ وَقَفَ عَلى مَصادِقِها.

  1. One who takes lesson from the vicissitudes of this world, his desires lessen.

59ـ مَنِ اعْتَبَرَ بِغِيَرِ الدُّنيا قَلَّتْ مِنْهُ الأطْماعُ.

  1. How many the lessons are, and how few of them are learnt!

60ـ ما أكْثَرَ العِبَرَ وأقَلَّ الاِعْتِبارَ.

  1. There is no lesson to be taken for the one who has no restraint.

61ـ لااِعْتِبارَ لِمَنْ لااِزدِجارَ لَهُ.

  1. Taking lesson steers one towards right guidance.

62ـ اَلاِعْتِبارُ يَقُودُ إلَى الرُّشْدِ.

[^1]: This refers to drawing lessons and examples from what happened to oneself or to others in the past.

[^2]: These were strong and oppressive people from the children of ‘Amlīq, who was from the progeny of Nuḥ (‘a).

[^3]: This was the title of Persian kings.

[^4]: Kings of Yemen.

[^5]: A father of one of the influential tribes of Yemen.

[^6]: These were the rulers of Rome who were called ‘Yellow’ because (according to some reports) when the Romans lost a war to the Abyssinians, their womenfolk were ravaged and the children produced were of a yellowish skin colour.