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

The Noble -Minded And Munificent

The noble-minded and the munificent-الكريم

1. The noble-minded person is one who keeps away from the forbidden and steers clear of [disgraceful] flaws.

1ـ اَلْكَرِيمُ مَنْ تَجَنَّبَ المَحارِمَ وتَنَزَّهَ عَنِ العُيُوبِ.

2. The munificent person is one who brings [and gives away] whatever is available.

2ـ اَلْكَرِيمُ مَنْ جاءَ بِالمَوْجُودِ.

3. A noble-minded person is one who repays evil with good.

3ـ اَلْكَرِيمُ مَن جازَى الإسائَةَ بِالإحْسانِ.

4. A noble-minded person is repulsed by that which the wicked take pride in.

4ـ اَلْكَرِيمُ يَزْدَجِرُ عَمّا يَفْتَخِرُ بِهِ اللَئِيمُ.

5. The munificent one cuts off his favour when he is approached harshly and is soft [and kind] when he is entreated [politely]

5ـ اَلْكَرِيمُ يَجْفُو إذا عُنِّفَ، ويَلِينُ إذَا اسْتُعْطِفَ.

6. When a noble-minded person is able [to take revenge] he forgives, and when he gains possession [of something] he grants generously, and when he is asked [for something] he accords [it].

6ـ اَلْكَريمُ إذا قَدَرَ صَفَحَ، وإذا مَلَكَ سَمَحَ، وإذا سُئِلَ

7. A noble-minded person rejects disgrace and honours his neighbour.

7ـ اَلكَريمُ يَأبَى العارَ، ويُكْرِمُ الجارَ.

8. A noble-minded person considers his virtuous actions as a debt that he has to repay.

8ـ اَلْكَريمُ يَرى مَكارِمَ أفْعالِهِ دَيْناً عَلَيْهِ يَقْضيهِ.

9. The noble-minded person raises himself above [the expectation of] rewards in everything good that he does.

9ـ اَلْكَريمُ يَرْفَعُ نَفْسَهُ في كُلِّ ما أسْداهُ عَنْ حُسْنِ

10. When a noble-minded person needs you he excuses you [from helping him] and when you need him he suffices you.

10ـ اَلْكَريمُ إذَا احْتاجَ إلَيْكَ أعْفاكَ، وإذَا احْتَجْتَ إلَيْهِ

11. The noble-minded person forgives despite having the power [to exact revenge], is just in his rule, restrains his harm [from others] and bestows [favours] generously.

11ـ اَلْكَريمُ يَعْفُو مَعَ القُدْرَةِ، ويَعْدِلُ فِي الإمْرَةِ،

12. The noble-minded person is felicitous and worthy of reward in the sight of Allah, and is loved and venerated in the sight of the people.

12ـ اَلْكَريمُ عِنْدَ اللّهِ مَحْبُورٌ مُثابٌ، وعِنْدَ النّاسِ

13. A noble-minded person is one who safeguards his honour with his wealth while the wicked person is one safeguards his wealth by [sacrificing] his honour.

13ـ اَلْكَريمُ مَنْ صانَ عِرْضَهُ بِمالِهِ، واللَئِيمُ مَنْ صانَ

14. Be cautious of the noble-minded person when you offend him, and the forbearing one when you injure him, and the courageous one when you torment him.

14ـ إحْذَرِ الكَريمَ إذا أهَنْـتَهُ، والحَليمَ إذا جَرَحْتَهُ،

15. Be cautious of the assault of the noble-minded person when he is hungry and the insolence of the wicked one when he is satiated.

15ـ اِحْذَرُوا صَوْلَةَ الكَريمِ إذا جاعَ، وأشَرَ اللَّئيمِ إذا

16. Be cautious of the authority of the noble-minded person when he is humiliated and the vehemence of the wicked one when he is elevated [to a position of power].

16ـ اِحْذَرُوا سَطْوَةَ الكَريمِ إذا وُضِعَ، وسَوْرَةَ اللَّئِيمِ إذا

17. The noble-minded person feigns inattention and pretends to be deceived.

17ـ اَلْكَريمُ يَتَغافَلُ ويَنْخَدِعُ.

18. Noble-minded people have the most patient souls.

18ـ اَلكِرامُ أصْبَرُ أنْفُساً.

19. The noble-minded person makes [his] ownership righteous.

19ـ اَلْكَريمُ يُجْمِلُ المَلَكَةَ.

20. A noble-minded person is one who initiates his act of kindness [before it is requested of him].

20 ـ اَلْكَريمُ مَنْ بَدَأَ بِإحْسانِهِ.

21. The noble-minded person shows gratitude for little whereas the wicked one is ungrateful for much.

21ـ اَلْكَريمُ يَشْكُرُ القَليلَ، واللَّئيمُ يَكْفُرُ الجَزيلَ.

22. The munificent person is one whose giving precedes his being asked.

22 ـ اَلْكَريمُ مَنْ سَبَقَ نَوالُهُ سُؤالَهُ.

23. When the noble-minded person promises [something], he keeps his promise and when he threatens [to punish], he forgives.

23ـ اَلْكَريمُ إذا وَعَدَ وَفى، وإذا تَوَعَّدَ عَفى.

24. When the munificent person is well-to-do, he fulfils the needs [of others] and when he faces hard times, he lightens the burden of others [by not seeking their assistance].

24ـ اَلْكَريمُ إذا أيْسَرَ أسْعَفَ، وإذا أعْسَرَ خَفَّفَ.

25. When the core of a man is noble, [both] his absence and presence are [considered] noble.

25ـ إذا كَرُمَ أصْلُ الرَّجُلِ كَرُمَ مَغيبُهُ ومَحْضَرُهُ.

26. The authority of a noble-minded person manifests his positive attributes.

26ـ دَوْلَةُ الكَريمِ تُظْهِرُ مَناقِبَهُ.

27. The possessor of noble-mindedness has beautiful traits, grants favours [to others] and keeps ties with near relatives.

27ـ ذُوالكَرَمِ جَمِيلُ الشِّيَمِ، مُسْد لِلنِّعَمِ، وَصُولٌ

28. The success of a noble-minded person brings deliverance.

28ـ ظَفَرُ الكَريمُ يُنْجي.

29. The success of noble-minded people is [through] forgiveness and benevolence.

29ـ ظَفَرُ الكِرامِ عَفْوٌ وإحْسانٌ.

30. The shadow of noble-minded people is vast and pleasant.

30ـ ظِلُّ الكِرامِ رَغَدٌ هَنِيئٌ.

31. In times of [their] altruism, the excellence of the noble-minded people become manifest.

31ـ عِنْدَ الإيثارِ عَلَى النَّفْسِ تَتَبَيَّنُ جَواهِرُ الكُرَماءِ.

32. Generosity is the habit of the noble-minded people.

32ـ عادَةُ الكِرامِ اَلجُودُ.

33. Doing good to others is the habit of noble-minded people.

33ـ عادَةُ الكِرامِ حُسْنُ الصَّنيعَةِ.

34. Be cautious of the noble-minded person if you offend him, and of the wicked one if you honour him and of the forbearing one if you force him into a difficult position.

34ـ كُنْ مِنَ الكَريمِ عَلى حَذَر إنْ أهَنْـتَهُ، ومِنَ اللَّئيمِ إنْ

35. The merit of initiating good deeds and performing generous acts belongs to the noble-minded people.

35ـ لِلْكِرامِ فَضيلَةُ المُبادَرَةِ إلى فِعْلِ المَعْرُوفِ، وإسْداءِ

36. The one who has honoured you has made you uncomfortable if you are noble-minded and the one who has offended you has made you comfortable if you are forbearing.

36ـ لَقَدْ أتْعَبَكَ مَنْ أكْرَمَكَ إنْ كُنْتَ كَريماً، ولَقَدْ

37. Indeed I am happier to [get to] know a noble-minded person than to acquire an expensive and precious jewel.

37ـ لأنَا أشَدُّ اِغْتِباطاً بِمَعْرِفَةِ الكَريمِ مِنْ إمْساكي عَلَى

38. It is not the habit of noble-minded people to delay bounties.

38ـ لَيْسَ مِنْ عادَةِ الكِرامِ تَأْخِيرُ الإنْعامِ.

39. Being hasty in taking revenge is not from the traits of noble-minded people.

39ـ لَيْسَ مِنْ شِيَمِ الكِرامِ تَعْجيلُ الاِنْتِقامِ.

40. Remaining alongside a noble-minded person in humiliation is better than accompanying the wicked in order to gain favour.

40ـ لُزُومُ الكَريمِ عَلَى الهَوانِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صُحْبَةِ اللَّئيمِ

41. The pleasure of the noble-minded people is in feeding [others] whereas the pleasure of the wicked people is in eating [themselves].

41ـ لَذَّةُ الكِرامِ فيِ الإطْعامِ ولَذَّةُ اللِّئامِ فيِ الطَّعامِ.

42. One of the most honourable actions of the noble-minded person is feigning inattention towards that which he knows.

42ـ مِنْ أشْرَفِ أفْعالِ الكَريمِ تَغافُلُهُ عَمّا يَعْلَمُ.

43. Giving generously is from the traits of the munificent.

43ـ مِنْ شِيَمِ الكِرامِ بَذْلُ النَّدى.

44. The munificent person is never deserted.

44ـ ما أوْحَشَ كَريمٌ.

45. The propensity of a noble-minded person is always towards the [positive] traits of his forefathers.

45ـ مَنْـزَعُ الكَريمِ أبَداً إلى شِيَمِ آبائِهِ.

46. The happiness of noble-minded people is in giving generously [to others] while the joy of the wicked is in evil retribution.

46ـ مَسَرَّةُ الكِرامِ في بَذْلِ العَطاءِ، ومَسَرَّةُ اللِّئامِ في

47. A high-minded person is never spiteful.

47ـ لايَكُونُ الكَريمُ حَقُوداً.

48. None deserves to be called munificent except the one who gives before he is asked.

48ـ لايَسْتَحِقُّ اسْمَ الكَرَمِ إلاّ مَنْ بَدَأَ بِنَوالِهِ قَبْلَ

49. A person does not ennoble himself until he belittles his wealth.

49ـ لايُكْرِمُ المَرْءُ نَفْسَهُ حَتّى يُهينَ مالَهُ.

50. The munificent person is one who bestows his favours generously [to others].

50ـ اَلْكَريمُ مَنْ بَذَلَ إحْسانَهُ.

51. It is not from the traits of a noble-minded person to wear the cloak of disgrace.

51ـ لَيْسَ مِنْ شِيَمِ الكَريمِ إدْراعُ العارِ.

52. The noble-minded one is bright whereas the wicked one is immature.

52ـ اَلْكَريمُ أبْلَجُ، اَللََّئيمُ مُلَهْوَجٌ.