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

Kings And Rulers

Kings and rulers-الملوك

1. A tyrant ruler and an immoral scholar are the most harmful of all people.

1ـ اَلسُّلْطانُ الجائِرُ، والعالِمُ الفاجِرُ أشَدُّ النّاسِ نِكايَةً.

2. Accompany the ruler with caution, the friend with humility and cheerfulness, and the enemy with that which you can [use to] establish your proof over him.

2ـ اِصْحَبِ السُّلْطان َ بِالحَذَرِ،وَ الصَّدِيقَ بِالتَّواضُعِ

3. Verily the ruler is a trustee of Allah on earth, the establisher of justice in the lands and among the people, and the one who deters people from misdeeds in the land.

3ـ إنَّ السُّلْطانَ لأمينُ اللّهِ فِي الأرْضِ، ومُقيمُ العَدْلِ فِي

4. The tyrant king frightens the innocent.

4ـ اَلسُّلْطانُ الجائِرُ يُخيفُ البَرِيَّ.

5. An evil commander commissions the vulgar one [to work for him].

5ـ اَلأميرُ السُّوءُ يَصْطَنِعُ البَذِيَّ.

6. The bane of kings is evil intentions.

6ـ آفَةُ المُلُوكِ سُوءُ السَّريرَةِ.

7. The bane of viziers is wicked inner thoughts.

7ـ آفَةُ الْوُزَراءِ خُبْثُ السَّريرَةِ.

8. The bane of leaders is weakness in politics.

8ـ آفَةُ الزُّعَماءِ ضَعْفُ السِّياسَةِ.

9. The bane of a kingdom is [having] weak defences.

9ـ آفَةُ المُلْكِ ضَعْفُ الحِمايَةِ.

10. When you become the ruler then be kind [to your subjects].

10ـ إذا مَلَكْتَ فَارْفُقْ.

11. When a king builds his kingdom on the foundations of justice and sustains it on the pillars of reason, Allah helps his friends and forsakes his enemies.

11ـ إذا بَنىَ المَلِكُ (مُلْكُهُ) عَلى قَواعِدِ العَدْلِ، ودَعَمَ

12. When the ruler makes you come closer to him, then increase your exaltation of him.

12ـ إذا زادَكَ السُّلْطانُ تَقْريباً فَزِدْهُ إجْلالاً.

13. Kings have no affection.

13ـ اَلْمُلُوكُ لامَوَدَّةَ لَهُ(لَهُمْ).

14. Transient and fleeting kingship is wretched and insignificant.

14ـ اَلمُلْكُ المُنْتَقِلُ الزّائِلُ حَقيرٌ يَسيرٌ.

15. Being independent of [and not seeking anything from] kings is the best kingship.

15ـ اَلْغِنى عَنِ المُلُوكِ أفْضَلُ مُلْك.

16. Boldness [and defiance] in front of the king is the quickest [means of] destruction.

16ـ اَلْجُرْأَةُ عَلَى السُّلْطانِ أعْجَلُ هُلْك.

17. The adornment of kingship is justice.

17ـ زَيْنُ المُلْكِ اَلعَدْلُ.

18. The wrath of kings is the messenger of death.

18ـ غَضَبُ المُلُوكِ رَسُولُ المَوْتِ.

19. The merit of a king is in building prosperous cities.

19ـ فَضيلَةُ السُّلْطانِ عِمارَةُ البُلْدانِ.

20. It is seldom that the affection of kings and traitors lasts.

20ـ قَلَّما تَدُومُ مَوَدَّةُ المُلُوكِ والخَوّانِ.

21. The friendship of kings seldom lasts.

21ـ قَلَّما تَدُومُ خُلَّةُ المُلُوكُ (الْمَلُولِ).

22. The hearts of the people are the treasuries of their leader, so whatever he deposits in them, be it justice or oppression, he will find it there.

22ـ قُلُوبُ الرَّعِيَّةِ خَزائِنُ راعيها، فَما أوْدَعَها مِنْ عَدْل

23. There is no reward with Allah, the Glorified, greater than the reward of a just ruler and a benevolent man.

23ـ لَيْسَ ثَوابٌ عِنْدَ اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ أعْظَمُ مِنْ ثَوابِ

24. One who gains authority [usually] adopts partiality.

24ـ مَنْ مَلَكَ اِسْتَأْثَرَ.

25. One who becomes haughty in his kingship has belittled it.

25ـ مَنْ تَكَبَّرَ في سُلْطانِهِ صَغَّرَهُ.

26. One whose aggression is prolonged, his rule [soon] comes to an end.

26ـ مَنْ طالَ عُدْوانُهُ زالَ سُلْطانُهُ.

27. One whose kingship is tyrannical, his destruction becomes great.

27ـ مَنْ جارَ مُلْكُهُ عَظُمَ هُلْكُهُ.

28. Whoever is betrayed by his vizier, his administration gets corrupted.

28ـ مَنْ خانَهُ وَزيرُهُ فَسَدَ تَدْبيرُهُ.

29. One who fears your whip wishes for your death.

29ـ مَنْ خافَ سَوْطَكَ تَمَنّى مَوْتَكَ.

30. One who relies upon your goodness is concerned about [the end of] your rule.

30ـ مَنْ وَثِقَ بِإحْسانِكَ أشْفَقَ عَلى سُلْطانِكَ.

31. One who boldly [and defiantly] faces the ruler becomes vulnerable to disgrace.

31ـ مَنِ اجْتَرَأَ عَلَى السُلْطانِ فَقَدْ تَعَرَّضَ لِلْهَوانِ.

32. Whoever betrays his king, his security is nullified.

32ـ مَنْ خانَ سُلْطانَهُ بَطَلَ أمانُهُ.

33. One who is just in his kingship becomes needless of his aides.

33ـ مَنْ عَدَلَ في سُلْطانِهِ اِسْتَغْنى عَنْ أعْوانِهِ.

34. One who is concerned about his kingship curtails his aggression.

34ـ مَنْ أشْفَقَ عَلى سُلْطانِهِ قَصَّرَ عَنْ عُدْوانِهِ.

35. Whoever treats the people unjustly, Allah causes his reign to end and hastens his ruin and destruction.

35ـ مَنْ عامَلَ رَعِيَّتـَهُ بِالظُّلْمِ أزالَ اللّهُ مُلْكَهُ،

36. One who is tyrannical in his kingdom, the people wish for his annihilation.

36ـ مَنْ جارَ مُلْكَهُ (في مُلْكِهِ) تَمَنَّى النّاسُ هُلْكَهُ.

37. One who unsheathes the sword of aggression is stripped of the grandeur of kingship.

37ـ مَنْ سَلَّ سَيْفَ العُدْوانِ سُلِبَ عِزَّ السُّلْطانِ.

38. One who seeks the favour of a king without [the proper] etiquette moves out from safety into harm.

38ـ مَنْ طَلَبَ خِدْمَةَ السُّلْطانِ بِغَيْرِ أدَب خَرَجَ مِنَ

39. Whoever is tyrannical in his reign and increases his aggression, Allah will demolish his foundation and tear down his pillars [of kingship].

39ـ مَنْ جارَ في سُلْطانِهِ،وَ أكْثَرَ عُدْوانَهُ، هَدَمَ اللّهُ

40. Whoever is just in his rule and shows kindness [to the people], Allah will elevate his stature and will strengthen [and grant victory to] his helpers.

40ـ مَنْ عَدَلَ في سُلْطانِهِ، وَبَذَلَ إحْسانَهُ، أعْلَى اللّهُ

41. One who makes his kingship subservient to his religion, every king will submit to him.

41ـ مَنْ جَعَلَ مُلْكَهُ خادِماً لِدينِهِ إنْقادَ لَهُ كُلُّ سُلْطان.

42. When one makes his religion subservient to his kingship, every person will covet it.

42ـ مَنْ جَعَلَ دينَهُ خادِماً لِمُلْكِهِ طَمِعَ فيهِ كُلُّ إنْسان.

43. One who is occupied with [serving] the king will not [have time to] attend to his brothers.

43ـ مَنْ تَشاغَلَ بِالسُّلْطانِ لَمْ يَتَفَرَّغْ لِلاْخْوانِ.

44. It is a right upon the king to govern himself before his soldiers.

44ـ مِنْ حَقِّ المَلِكِ أنْ يَسُوسَ نَفْسَهُ قَبْلَ جُنْدِهِ.

45. Disputing with kings takes away blessings.

45ـ مُنازَعَةُ المُلُوكِ تَسْلُبُ النِّعَمَ.

46. Evil viziers are the helpers of tyrants and the brothers of wrongdoers.

46ـ وُزَراءُ السُّوءِ أعْوانُ الظَّلَمَةِ وإخْوانُ الأثَمَةِ.

47. Oppressive governors are the worst of the ummah and opponents of the [true] leaders.

47ـ وُلاةُ الجَوْرِ شِرارُ الأُمَّةِ، وأضْدادُ الأَئِمَّةِ.

48. Do not separate from your [rightful] ruler, thereby making the consequence of your affair blameworthy.

48ـ لاتَصَدَّعُوا عَلى سُلْطانِكُمْ فَتُذِمُّوا غِبَّ أمْرِكُمْ.

49. Never visit kings frequently, for they are such that if you accompany them they will become weary of you and if you advise them sincerely they will debase you.

49ـ لاتُـكْثِرَنَّ الدُّخُولَ عَلَى المُلُوكِ، فَإنَّهُمْ إنْ

50. Do not desire to mingle with kings, for indeed they consider replying salutations to be too much speech and striking the necks to be insignificant punishment.

50ـ لاتَرْغَبْ في خُلْطَةِ المُلُوكِ، فَإنَّهُمْ يَسْتَكْثِرُونَ مِنَ

51. Do not associate with the king in times of disturbance and upheaval, for indeed the sea is such that even when it is calm, the seafarer barely manages to remain safe in it, so how would he fare with its turbulent winds and the tumultuous waves?!

51ـ لاتَلْتَبِسْ بِالسُّلْطانِ في وَقْتِ اضْطِرابِ الأُمُورِ عَلَيْهِ

52. Never desire to gain the affection of kings, for indeed they will forsake you when you are most intimate with them and they will cut you off when you are closest to them.

52ـ لاتَطْمَعَنَّ في مَوَدَّةِ المُلُوكِ، فَإنَّهُمْ يُوحِشُونَكَ

53. There is no prosperity [in the place] where the king passes (or is oppressive).

53ـ لايَكُونُ العِمْرانُ حَيثُ يَجُوزُ (يَجُورُ) السُّلْطانُ.

54. When the intention of the king changes, the times change (or get corrupted).

54ـ إذا تَغَيَّرَتْ نِيَّةُ السُّلْطانِ تَغَيَّرَ (فَسَدَ) الزَّمانُ.

55. When the king becomes enraged, Satan takes control [over him].

55ـ إذَا اسْتَشاطَ السُّلْطانُ تَسَلَّطَ الشَّيْطانُ.

56. Seeking power [and sovereignty] is from the deceptions of Satan.

56ـ طَلَبُ السُّلْطانِ مِنْ خِداعِ الشَّيْطانِ.

57. The justice of a king is the life of the populace and the prosperity of the creatures.

57ـ عَدْلُ السُّلْطانِ حَياةُ الرَّعِيَّةِ وصَلاحُ البَريَّةِ.

58. The worst of all rulers is one who is ruled by his vain desire.

58 ـ شَرُّ الأُمَراءِ مَنْ كانَ الهَوى عَلَيْهِ أميراً.

59. The worst of rulers is one whose subjects are oppressed.

59ـ شَرُّ الأُمَراءِ مَنْ ظُلِمَ رَعِيَتُّهُ.

60. The king’s courtier is like a person who is riding on a lion, people are envious of his status while he is more aware of his own [dangerous] position.

60ـ صاحِبُ السُّلْطانِ كَراكِبِ الأسَدِ، يُغْبَطُ بِمَوْقِفِهِ وهُوَ

61. Partnership in sovereignty leads to turmoil.

61ـ اَلشِّرْكَةُ فيِ المُلْكِ تُؤَدَّي إلَى الاِضْطِرابِ.

62. Holding a post with kings is a key of tribulation and the seed of affliction.

62ـ اَلمَكانَةُ مِنَ المُلُوكِ مِفْتاحُ المِحْنَةِ، وبَذْرُ

63. The best king is the just one.

63ـ أفْضَلُ المُلُوكِ العادِلُ.

64. The best king is the one who has the most continent soul.

64ـ أفْضَلُ المُلُوكِ أعَفُّهُمْ نَفْساً.

65. The best of all kings in character is one whose justice prevails over all the people.

65ـ أفْضَلُ المُلُوكِ سَجِيَّةً مَنْ عَمَّ النّاسَ بِعَدْلِهِ.

66. The most exalted of rulers is one who is not ruled by his vain desires.

66ـ أجَلُّ الأُمَراءِ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ الهَوى عَلَيْهِ أمِيراً.

67. The most exalted of kings is one who has control over himself and spreads justice.

67ـ أجَلُّ المُلُوكِ مَنْ مَلَكَ نَفْسَهُ وبَسَطَ العَدْلَ.

68. The best of kings is one whose action and intention are good, and who is just with his army and his people.

68ـ أفْضَلُ المُلُوكِ مَنْ حَسُنَ فِعْلُهُ ونِيَّتُهُ، وعَدَلَ في

69. The king who is in the best condition is one whose subjects become prosperous in his prosperity and whose justice prevails over all his people.

69ـ أحْسَنُ المُلُوكِ حالاً مَنْ حَسُنَ عَيْشُ النّاسِ في عَيْشِهِ

70. The people whom one should be cautious of the most are the tyrannical king, the powerful enemy and the disloyal friend.

70ـ أحَقُّ النّاسِ أنْ يُحْذَرَ السُّلْطانُ الجائِرُ، والعَدُوُّ

71. The most intelligent of kings is he who governs himself for the people in a way that will remove any proof against him and governs the people in a way that affirms his proof against them.

71ـ أعْقَلُ المُلُوكِ مَنْ ساسَ نَفْسَهُ لِلرَّعِيَّةِ بِما يَسْقُطُ

72. The kings are [supposed to be] defenders of the religion.

72ـ اَلمُلُوكُ حُماةُ الدّينِ.

73. The king’s crown is his justice.

73ـ تاجُ المَلِكِ عَدْلُهُ.

74. It is a right upon the king that he should govern himself [first] before his troops.

74ـ حَقٌّ عَلَى المَلِكِ أنْ يَسُوسَ نَفْسَهُ قَبْلَ جُنْدِهِ.

75. The best of commanders is one who has command over himself.

75ـ خَيْرُ الأُمَراءِ مَنْ كانَ عَلى نَفْسِهِ أميراً.

76. The best king is one who annihilates oppression and enlivens justice.

76ـ خَيْرُ المُلُوكِ مَنْ أماتَ الجَوْرَ وأحْيَى العَدْلَ.

77. The lassitude of a king is more harmful for the people than the oppression of a king.

77ـ خَورُ السُّلْطانِ أشَدُّ عَلَى الرَّعِيَّةِ مِنْ جَوْرِ

78. The alms-tax of the king is assisting the aggrieved.

78ـ زَكاةُ السُّلْطانِ إغاثَةُ المَلْهُوفِ.

79. The worst of kings is one who opposes justice.

79ـ شَرُّ المُلُوكِ مَنْ خالَفَ الْعَدْلَ.

80. The worst of viziers is one who is a vizier to the vicious.

80ـ شَرُّ الوُزَراءِ مَنْ كانَ لِلأشْرارِ وَزيراً.

81. Guard your position near your king, and be cautious of not being lowered from it by negligence towards that which raised you to it.

81ـ اُحْرُسْ مَنْزِلَتَكَ عِنْدَ سُلْطانِكَ واحْذَرْ أنْ يَحُطَّكَ

82. Works are [only] accomplished by the [right] workers.

82ـ اَلأعْمالُ تَسْتَقيمُ بِالعُّمالِ.