Nahj Al-fasahah

S

●   تَحَفَّظُوْا مِنَ الاَرْضِ فَاِنَّهَا أُمُّكُمْ، وَاِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ عَامِلٍ عَلَيْها خَيْرَاً أَوْ شَرَّاً اِلاّ وَهِيَ مُخْبِرَةٌ بِهِ.

Safeguard the earth, for it is your mother who will report (to God) the good or evil any one does on it.

●   الشَّيْطَانُ يَهُمُّ بِالواحِدِ وَالاِثْنَيْنِ، فَاِذا كانُوا ثَلاثَةً لَمْ يَهُمَّ بِهِمْ.

Satan tries to deceive one or two persons (when sitting together) but leaves them as soon as they turn out to be three.

●   ما اسْتَفَادَ المُؤْمِنُ بَعْدَ تَقْوَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَيْرَاً لَهُ مِنْ زَوْجَةٍ صَالِحَةٍ؛ إنْ أمَرَهَا أطَاعَتْهُ؛ وَإنْ نَظَرَ اِلَيْهَا سَرَّتْهُ؛ وَإنْ أقْسَمَ عَلَيْهَا أبَرَّتْهُ؛ وَإنْ غَابَ عَنْهَا نَصَحَتْهُ في نَفْسِهَا وَمَالِهِ.

Save the Almighty God, a believer does not have anything better than an abstinent wife who obeys his orders, makes him cheerful when he casts a look at her, observes his oath whenever he swears, and keeps his wealth and her own modesty intact in his absence.

●   قُوْا بِأَمْوالِكُمْ عَنْ أعْرَاضِكُمْ.

Save your face by your wealth.

●   اِتُّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ؛ فَاِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوا فَبِكَلِمَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ.

Save yourself from Fire, even through half a date; or by good words, if lacking the former.

●   قُوْلُوْا خَيْرَاً تَغْنَمُوا وَاسْكُتُوْا عَنْ شَرٍّ تَسْلَمُوْا.

Say a good (word) to derive benefit, and avoid speaking evil words to be safe.

●   قُلْ أللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي أسْأَلُكَ نَفْسَاً مُطْمَئِنَّةً تُؤْمِنُ بِلِقَائِكَ، وَتَرْضَى بِقَضَائِكَ، وَتَقْنَعُ بِعَطَائِكَ.

Say: O God! I beg You to bestow upon me a confident heart, believing in Your visit (in the Last Day (, pleased with Your predestination and content with Your blessings.

●   قُلِ أللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ سَريرَتِي خَيْرَاً مِنْ عَلانِيَتِي، وَاجْعَلْ عَلانِيَتِي صَالِحَةً. أللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي أسْأَلُكَ مِنْ صَالِحِ مَا تُؤْتِي النَّاسَ مِنَ المَالِ وَالأهْلِ وَالوَلَدِ غَيْرِ الضَّالِّ وَلا المُضِلِّ.

Say: O God! make my inner self better than my outer self, and rectify the latter. O God! I beg You to give me the good you have bestowed upon people, of wealth, family and children that are neither deviated nor deviating.

●   صَلاةُ بِسِواكٍ أفْضَلُ مِنْ سَبْعِيْنَ صَلاةً بِغَيْرِ سِواكٍ.

Saying prayer with one's teeth brushed weighs over seventy prayers said with unbrushed teeth.

●   العلماءُ أمَنَاءُ اللَّهِ عَلى خَلْقِهِ.

Scholars are God's trustees for people.

●   العَالِمُ أَمِينُ اللَّهِ في الأرْضِ.

Scholars are God's trustees on earth.

●   البَذاءُ شُؤْمُ؛ وَسُوْءُ المَلَكَةِ لُؤْمٌ.

Scurrility incites enmity, and malice brings meanness.

●   أُطْلُبُوا الْعِلْمَ وَلَوْ بِالصِّينِ؛ فَاِنَّ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ، اِنَّ الْمَلآئِكَةَ تَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَها لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ رِضَاً بِمَا يَطْلُبُ.

Search for knowledge even (if it is to be acquired) in China, for seeking knowledge is a precept for all Muslims, and angels spread their wings for the seekers of knowledge (to sit on) and derive pleasure from what they search for.

●   أُطْلُبُوا العِلْمَ مِنَ الْمَهْدِ اِلَى اللَّحْدِ.

Search for lore from the birth shore to the grave door.

●   حَصِّنُوْا أمْوالَكُمْ بِالزَّكاةِ، وَداوُوا مَرْضاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ، وَأعِدُّوْا لِلْبَلاءِ الدُّعَاءَ.

Secure your properties by giving alms, cure your patients through charity, and resort to praying to guard yourself against calamity.

●   الأمْنُ وَالعَافِيَةُ نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُوْنٌ فيهَا كَثِيْرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ.

Security and health are two (divine) blessings most people lose.

●   بَيْنَ يَدَيِ السَّاعَةِ فِتَنٌ كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ.

Sedition will arise before the Hour, as gloomy as parts of dark nights.

●   سَتَكُونُ فَتِنٌ يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ فيها مُؤْمِنَاً،

Seditions will soon arise. When believers in the morning will turn out to be disbelievers at night, save those

وَيُمْسِي كافِرَاً، إلاّ مَنْ أحْيَاهُ اللَّهُ بِالعِلْمِ.

whom God has enlivened their hearts with knowledge.

●   أُنْظُرْ فيْ أَيِّ نِصَابٍ تَضَعُ وَلَدَكَ؛ فَاِنَّ اَلعِرْقَ دَسَّاسٌ

See where you place your child (cultivate your sperm),for nature leaves its effect.

●   اِلْتَمِسْ وَلَوْ خَاتَمَاً مِنْ حَدِيْدٍ.

Seek (something), even if it is an iron ring.

●   اِلْتَمِسُوا الرِّزْقَ بِالنِّكَاحِ.

Seek (your) sustenance through marriage.

●   اِذا ابْتَغَيْتُمُ الْمَعْرُوفَ فَاطْلُبُوهُ عِنْدَ حِسَانِ الْوُجُوهِ.

Seek good deeds with holders of good faces.

●   عَلَيْكَ بِالعِلْمِ؛ فَاِنَّ العِلْمَ خَلِيْلُ المُؤْمِنِ، وَالحِلْمَ وَزِيْرُهُ، وَالعَقْلَ دَلِيْلُهُ، وَالعَمَلَ قَيِّمُهُ، وَالرِّفْقَ أبُوهُ، وَاللِّيْنَ أخُوهُ، وَالصَّبْرَ أمِيْرُ جُنُودِهِ.

Seek knowledge, for it is a believer's friend, his minister being forbearance, his guidance being intellect, his guardian being (good) deeds, his father being moderateness, his brother being gentleness, and the commander of his army being patience.

●   أُطْلُبُوا الرِّزْقَ في خَبَايَا الْاَرْضِ.

Seek your sustenance in the hideouts of the earth.

●   طَالِبُ العِلْمِ طَالِبُ الرَّحْمَةِ، طَالِبُ العِلْمِ رُكْنُ الإسْلامِ وَيُعْطى أجْرُهُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّيْنَ.

Seekers of knowledge are seekers of God's Mercy and pillars of Islam, who will be rewarded by prophets.

●   طَلَبُ العِلْمِ فَرِيْضَةٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ، وَواضِعُ العِلْمِ عِنْدَ غَيْرِ أهْلِهِ كَمُقَلِّدِ الخَنَازِيْرِ الجَوْهَرَ وَاللُؤْلُوءَ وَالذَّهَبَ.

Seeking knowledge is a must for all Muslims and whoever issues forth his knowledge to incompetent people is like unto the one who beautifies pigs with jewels, pearls, and gold.

●   طَلَبُ العِلْمِ فَرِيْضَةٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ؛ وَأنَّ طَالِبَ العِلْمِ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ حَتَّى الحِيْتَانِ فِي البَحْرِ.

Seeking knowledge is a must for all Muslims; and everything, even fish in seas, ask forgiveness for the seekers of knowledge.

●   طَلَبُ العِلْمِ فَريضَةٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ وَمُسْلِمَةٍ.

Seeking knowledge is obligatory for all Muslims- men and women alike.

●   مَنْ طَلَبَ العِلْمَ كَانَ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا مَضَى.

Seeking knowledge is the atonement of one's past sins.

●   اِنَّ الْعُجْبَ لَيُحْبِطُ عَمَلَ سَبْعِيْنَ سَنَةٍ.

Selfishness ruins one's worship of seventy years.

●   لَيْسَ لِلدِّيْنِ رُوَّادٌ إلاّ القَضَاءَ وَالوَفَاءَ وَالحَمْدَ.

Sense of duty, fidelity and praising God stand at the peak of all religious affairs.

●   خِدْمَتُكَ زَوْجَتَكَ صَدَقَةٌ.

Serving your wife is a kind of charity.

●   صَلِّ صَلاةَ مُودِّعٍ كَأَنَّكَ تَراهُ؛ فَاِنْ كُنْتَ لا تَراهُ فَاِنَّهُ يَراكَ، وَايْأَسْ مِمَّا في أيْدِي النَّاسِ تَعِشْ غَنِيَّاً؛ وَاِيَّاكَ وَمَا يُعْتَذَرُ مِنْهُ.

Set prayer humbly, as if you see God. If you do not see Him, He (surely) sees you. Expect nothing from people to live free from want, and avoid whatever requires your later pardoning.

●   سَبْعَةٌ يُظِلُّهُمُ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ ظِلِّ عَرْشِهِ يَوْمَ لا ظِلَّ إِلاّ ظِلُّهُ: رَجُلٌ قَلْبُهُ مُعَلَّقٌ بِالمَسَاجِدِ، وَرَجُلٌ دَعَتْهُ امْرَأةٌ ذاتُ مَنْصَبٍ فَقَالَ: اِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ، وَرَجُلانِ تَحَابَّا في اللَّهِ، وَرَجُلٌ غَضَّ عَيْنَهُ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ، وَعَيْنٌ حَرَسَتْ في سَبِيْلِ اللَّهِ، وَعَيْنٌ بَكَتْ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ.

Seven (groups of) people will be allowed (to rest) under the shade of God's Throne in the day when there will be as shade but His: one who is whole- heartedly fond of mosques, one who rejects the sensual request of a high- rank woman for (his) fear of God, one who makes friends (with people) for God's sake, one who controls his (her)eyes against the unlawful, one who acts as a watchout in the way of God, and one who weeps out of fearing God.

●   بَيْنَ العَبْدِ وَالجَنَّةِ سَبْعُ عِقَابٍ؛ أَهْوَنُهَا المَوْتُ؛ وَأْصعَبُهَا الوُقُوْفُ بَيْنَ يَدَي اللَّهِ تَعَالى؛ اِذا تَعَلَّقَ المَظْلوُمُونَ بِالظَّالِمِيْنَ.

Seven events are there between a servant of God and Paradise, the easiest one being death and the hardest, arriving at the presence of the Exalted God, when the oppressed call the oppressors to account.

●   سَبعةٌ يُظِلُّهُمُ اللَّهُ في ظِلِّهِ يَوْمَ لا ظِلَّ إلاّ ظِلُّهُ: اِمَامٌ عَادِلٌ وَشَابٌّ نَشَأَ في عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ، وَرَجُلٌ قَلْبُهُ مُعَلَّقٌ بِالمَسْجِدِ، اِذا خَرَجَ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يَعُودَ إلَيْهِ، وَرَجُلانِ تَحَابَّا في اللَّهِ فَاجْتَمَعَا عَلى ذلِكَ وَافْتَرَقَا عَلَيْهِ، وَرَجُلٌ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ خَالِيَاً فَفاضَتْ عَيْنَاهُ، وَرَجُلٌ دَعَتْهُ امْرَأةٌ ذاتُ مَنْصَبٍ وَجَمَالٍ فَقَالَ: اِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ رَبَّ العَالَمِيْنَ، وَرَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْفَاهَا حَتَّى لا تَعْلَمَ شِمَالُهُ مَا تُنْفِقُ يَمِيْنُهُ.

Seven persons will be allowed (to rest) under God's Throne in the day when there will be no shade but His: a just leader, a youth grown at in serving God, a man who whole- heartedly wishes to return to the mosque whenever leaving it, a man who makes friends and breaks friendship for God's sake, a man who remembers God in privacy and sheds tears, a man who rejects the sensual request of a beautiful, high- rank woman out of fearing God- the Lord of the worlds- and a man whose left hand knows not what his right hand has hiddenly given in charity.

●   بَيْنَ العَالِمِ وَالعَابِدِ سَبْعُونَ دَرَجَةً.

Seventy ranks separate a learned man from a (simple) worshipper.

●   اِنَّ الاَرْضَ لَتُنَادِي كُلُّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعِيْنَ مَرَّةً: يَا بَني آدَمَ كُلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ وَاشْتَهَيْتُمْ؛ فَوَاللَّهِ لَآكُلَنَّ لُحُومَكُمْ وَجُلُودَكُمْ.

Seventy times a day, the Earth calls out, "O human beings, eat whatever you like and wish for, by God, I will eat your skin and flesh!

●   تَصَافَحُوْا يَذْهَبُ الغِلُّ عَنْ قُلُوبِكُمْ.

Shake hands (with each other) to make grudges leave your hearts.

●   مِنْ تَمَامِ التَّحِيَّةِ الأخَذُ بِالْيَدِ.

Shaking hands is the perfect form of salutation.

●   ألا أُخْبِرُكَ عَنْ مُلُوكِ الْجَنَّةِ؟ رَجُلٌ ضَعِيْفٌ مُسْتَضْعَفٌ ذُو طِمْرَيْنِ لا يُؤْبَهُ لَهُ؛ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلى اللَّهِ لَأَبَرَّهُ.

Shall I inform you of one of the kings of Paradise? It is a weak, oppressed and poorly- dressed person to whom nobody pays attention, but whose swears come true when he swears by God for something to happen.

●   أَلا أُخْبِرُكَ بِأَهْلِ النَّار؟ كُلُّ جَعْظَرِيٍّ جَوَّاظٍ مُسْتَكْبِرٍ جَمَّاعٍ مَنُوعٍ.

Shall I inform you of the dwellers of Hell? They are the proud, selfish, arrogant, greedy and avaricious people.

●   أَلا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَيْسَرِ الْعِبَادَةِ وَأَهْوَنِهَا عَلَى

Shall I inform you of the easiest acts of worship? - silence and good-

الْبَدَنِ؟ الصَّمْتُ وَحُسْنُ الْخُلْقِ.

naturedness.

●   أَلا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِنِسَائِكُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ؟ الْوَدُودُ الْوَلُودُ الْعَئُودُ الَّتِي اِذا ظَلَمَتْ قَالَتْ: هذِه يَدِي في يَدِكَ لا أَذُوقُ غَمْضَاً حَتَّى تَرْضى.

Shall I inform you of the female dwellers of Paradise?. The faithful women who give birth to a lot of children, who make peace before long, and who tell their husbands immediately after a wrongdoing, "My very hand is in yours, I will not sleep until you get pleased with me."

●   أَلا أُخْبِرُكَ بِخَيْرِ مَا يَكْنِزُ الْمَرْءُ؟ الْمَرْأَةُ الصَّالِحَةُ؛ اِذا نَظَرَ اِلَيْهَا سَرَّتْهُ؛ وَاِذا أَمَرَهَا أَطَاعَتْهُ؛ وَاِذا غَابَ عَنْهَا حَفِظَتْهُ.

Shall I inform you of the most precious treasure of a man? It is a wife who makes him cheerful when he casts a glance at her, who obeys his orders, and who keeps his trusts intact in his absence.

●   أَلا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلى أَشَدِّكُمْ؟ أَمْلَكُكُمْ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ.

Shall I inform you of the strongest people? those who can reign their rage better than others.

●   أَلا أُنْبِئُكَ بِشَرِّ النَّاسِ؟ مَنْ أَكَلَ وَحْدَهُ؛ وَمَنَعَ رِفْدَهُ؛ وَسَافَرَ وَحْدَهُ؛ وَضَرَبَ عَبْدَهُ، أَلا أُنْبِئُكَ بِشَرٍّ مِنْ هذا؟ مَنْ يُخْشَى شَرُّهُ وَلا يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ، أُنْبِئُكَ بِشَرٍّ مِنْ هذا؟ مَنْ بَاعَ آخِرَتَهُ بِدُنْيا غَيْرِهِ، ألا أُنْبِئُكَ بِشَرٍّ مِنْ هذا؟ مَنْ أَكَلَ الدُّنْيا بِالدِّيْنِ.

Shall I inform you of the worst of all people?. Those who eat food lonely, give nothing to anybody, travel alone and hit their servants. Shall I inform you of the one who is worse than them? - - those whose evil people are worried about and in whom no goodness can be found out. Shall I inform you of those who are (even) worse than them? - - those who barter their eternal life for others' worldly life. Shall I inform you of those who are (even) worse? - - those who sacrifice religion to enjoy the world.

●   أَلا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِمَنْ يَحْرُمُ عَلَيْهِ النَّارُ غَدَاً؟ عَلى كُلِّ هَيِّنٍ لَيِّنٍ قَرِيْبٍ سَهْلٍ.

Shall I inform you of those for whom the Fire will be banned Tomorrow? The gentle, tender- hearted and easy- going people who get sweet on people.

●   ألا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَفْضَلَ مِنْ دَرَجَةِ الصِّيَامِ؛

Shall I inform you of what is better

الصَّلاةِ؛ وَالصَّدَقَةِ؟ صَلاحُ ذاتِ الْبَيْنِ؛ فَاِنَّ فَسَادَ ذاتِ الْبَيْنِ هِيَ الْحَالِقَةُ.

than fasting, prayer and charity? It is making it up among people, for conflict among them results in annihilation.

●   أَلا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِكُمْ مِنْ شَرِّكُمْ؟ خَيْرُكُمْ مِنْ يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ وَيُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ؛ وَشَرُّكُمْ مَنْ لا يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ وَلا يُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ.

Shall I inform you of your worst and best ones? The best of you is the one whose good you can be hopeful about and from whose evil you can find a way out, and the worst of you is the one whose good you cannot be hopeful about and from whose evil you cannot find a way out.

●   أَلا أُعَلِّمُكَ خَصَلاتٍ يَنْفَعُكَ اللَّهُ تَعَالى بِهِنَّ؟ عَلَيْكَ بِالْعِلْمِ فَاِنَّ الْعِلْمَ خَلِيلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ؛ وَالْحِلْمَ وَزيرُهُ؛ وَالْعَقْلَ دَلِيلُهُ؛ وَالْعَمَلَ قَيِّمُهُ؛ وَالرِّفْقَ أَبُوُهُ؛ وَاللِّيْنَ أَخُوهُ؛ وَالصَّبْرَ أَميرُ جُنُودِهِ.

Shall I teach you some virtues by which the Exalted God makes you profit? - acquire knowledge, for it is a friend of a believer, forbearance being his counselor, wisdom his guide, action his guardian, moderateness his father, leniency his brother and patience, the commander of his army.

●   كُلُوْا جَمِيْعَاً وَلا تَفَرَّقُوْا، فَاِنَّ طَعَامَ الوَاحِدِ يَكْفِي الإثْنَيْنِ، وَطَعَامُ الإثْنَيْنِ يَكْفِي الثَّلاثَةَ وَالأرْبَعَةَ. كُلُوْا جَمِيْعَاً وَلا تَفَرَّقُوا، فَاِنَّ البَرَكَةَ مَعَ الجَمَاعَةِ.

Share your food with each other and be not divided among yourselves, for the food of one person is sufficient for two and that of two persons is enough for three. Share your food with each other and be not divided among yourselves, for blessing is a company to community.

●   وَاكِلِي ضَيْفَكِ، فَاِنَّ الضَّيْفَ يَسْتَحْيي أنْ يَأْكُلَ وَحْدَهُ.

Share your guest in food, for he may be shy to eat alone.

●   الرَّمْيُ خَيْرُ مَا لَهَوْتُمْ بِهِ.

Shooting is the best hobby for you.

D لَوْ أنَّ دَلْوَاً مِنْ غَسَّاقٍ يُهْرَاقُ في الدُّنْيَا لَاَنْتَنَ أهْلُ الدُّنْيَا.

Should a bucket of the hellish drinks be poured on the world, it would putrefy people.

●   لَوْ أنَّ مَقْمَعَاً مِنْ حَدِيْدِ جَهَنَّمَ وُضِعَ في

Should a club of hellish iron be laid

الأرْضِ فَاجْتَمَعَ لَهُ الثَّقَلانِ مَا أقَلُّوهُ مِنَ الأرْضِ، وَلَوْ ضُرِبَ الجَبَلُ بِمَقْمَعٍ مِنْ حَدِيْدٍ كَمَا يُضرَبُ أهْلُ النَّارِ لَتَفَتَّتَ وَعَادَ غُبَارَاً.

on the earth and all the people gather to lift it up, they will not be able to do so, and should it strike a mountain just as it does with the dwellers of Hell, the former will be chopped into dust.

●   لَوْ بَغَى جَبَلٌ عَلى جَبَلٍ لَدَكَّ اللَّهُ البَاغِي مِنْهُمَا.

Should a mountain oppress another mountain, God will punish the aggressive one.

D لَوْ أنَّ شَرَرَةً مِنْ شَرَرِ جَهَنَّمَ بِالْمَشْرِقِ لَوَجَدَ حَرَّهَا مَنْ بِالْمَغْرِبِ.

Should a spark of Hellish flames be in the east, the one who is in the west will feel its heat.

●   لَوْ كَانَ العُسْرُ في جُحْرٍ لَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ اليُسْرُ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهُ.

Should hardship be in a hole, relief would enter and force it out.

●   لَوْ أنَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ هَرَبَ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ كَمَا يَهرُبُ مِنَ المَوْتِ لَأَدَركَهُ رِزْقُهُ كَمَا يُدْرِكُهُ المَوْتُ.

Should man escape from his sustenance as he escapes from death, his sustenance will come upon him just as death does.

●   لَوْ أنَّ لاِبْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيَيْن مِنْ ذَهَبٍ لابْتَغى إِلَيْهِمَا وَادِيْاً ثَالِثَاً وَلا يَمْلاءُ جَوْفَ ابْنِ آدَمَ إلاّ التُّرَابُ، وَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلى مَنْ تَابَ.

Should man have two gold territories, he will seek a third one, for nothing will fill his belly but soil, and God will accept the repentance of whoever repents.

●   لَوْ أنَّ أحَدَكُمْ يَعْمَلُ في صَخْرَةٍ صَمَّاءٍ لَيْسَ لَهَا بَابٌ وَلا كُوَّةٌ لَخَرَجَ عَمَلُهُ لِلنَّاسِ كَائِنَاً مَا كَانَ.

Should one among you do something whatsoever inside a hard rock having no door and opening to it, it will spread out among people.

●   خَصْلَتَانِ مَنْ كانَتَا فِيْهِ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ شَاكِرَاً صَابِرَاً؛ وَمَنْ لَمْ تَكُونَا فِيْهِ لَمْ يَكْتُبْهُ اللَّهُ لا شَاكِرَاً وَلا صَابِرَاً: مَنْ نَظَرَ في دِيْنِهِ إلى مَنْ

Should one look at those who are superior to him in matters divine and follow them, and look at those who are inferior to him in matters secular and thank God for His grace, God

هُوَ فَوْقَهُ فَاقْتَدى بِهِ، وَنَظَرَ في دُنْياهُ إلى مَنْ هُوَ دُونَهُ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَلى ما فَضَّلَهُ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ شَاكِرَاً صَابِرَاً، وَمَنْ نَظَرَ في دِيْنِهِ إلى مَنْ هُوَ دُونَهُ وَنَظَرَ في دُنْياهُ إلى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَهُ فَأَسِفَ عَلى ما فاتَهُ مِنْهُ لَمْ يَكْتُبُه اللَّهُ شَاكِرَاً وَلا صَابِرَاً.

will consider him patient and grateful. Conversely, God will neither consider patient nor grateful the one who follows those who are inferior than him in matters divine and looks at those who are superior to him in matters secular and pity himself for his less abundance.

●   لَوْ أنَّ اِمْرَأَةً مِنْ نِسَاءِ الجَنَّةِ أشْرَفَتْ إلى الأرْضِ لَمَلَأَتِ الأرْضَ مِنْ رِيْحِ المِسْكِ وَلأذْهَبَتْ ضَوْءَ الشَّمْسِ وَالقَمَرِ.

Should one of the Paradise women make her appearance on the earth, her aroma of musk will fill up the earth and take away the light of the Sun and the Moon.

●   لَوْ أُهْدِيَ اِلَيَّ كُرَاعٌ لَقَبِلْتُ، وَلَوْ دُعِيْتُ إلَيْهِ لَاَجَبْتُ

Should someone give me a sheep's arm for gift or invite me, I will accept both.

●   لَوْ أنَّ رَجُلاً يَجُرُّ عَلى وَجْهِهِ مِنْ يَوْمِ وُلِدَ إلى يَوْمِ يَمُوتُ هَرِمَاً في مَرْضَاةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالى لَحَقَّرَهُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ.

Should someone rub his face against the earth from birth to death for the pleasure of the Exalted God, he will surely find his action insignificant in the Resurrection.

●   لَوْ أنَّ أهْلَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأرْضِ أشْرَكُوْا في ذَمِّ مُؤْمِنٍ لَكَبَّهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ في النَّارِ.

Should the dwellers of heavens and the earth take part in slandering a believer, the Greatest and the most Powerful God would turn them upside down in the Fire.

●   لَوْ أخْطَأْتُمْ حَتَّى تَبْلُغَ خَطَايَاكُمُ السَّمَاءَ ثُمَّ تُبْتُمْ لَتَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُم.

Should you make so many mistakes piling up high into the sky, and then repent, even then will God accept your repentance.

●   لَوْ أنَّكُمْ تَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالى حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزُقُ الطَّيْرَ، تَغْذُوْ خِمَاصَاً وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانَاً.

Should your reliance on God be, as it deserves, He will expand your sustenance as He does for birds, being hungry in morning and satiated at night.

●   الصَّمْتُ زَيْنٌ لِلعَالِمِ وَسَتْرٌ لِلجَاهِلِ.

Silence is beauty for the wise and covering for the fool.

●   مَنْ صَمَتَ نَجَا.

Silence is safety.

●   الصَّمْتُ حُكْمٌ وَقَلِيْلٌ فَاعِلُهُ.

Silence is sagacity, but few people can keep silent.

●   أَوَّلُ العِبَادَةِ الصَّمْتُ.

Silence is the first stage of servitude.

●   الصَّمْتُ أرْفَعُ العِبَادَةِ.

Silence is the most lofty (form of) worship.

●   الصَّمْتُ سَيِّدُ الأخلاقِ؛ وَمَنْ مَزَحَ أُسْتُخِفَّ بِهِ.

Silence stands at the peak of morality, and joking reduces its value.

●   لَمْ يَلْقَ ابنُ آدَمَ شَيْئَاً قَطُّ مُنْذُ خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ أشَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ المَوْتِ، ثُمَّ إنَّ المَوْتَ لأهْوَنُ مِمَّا بَعْدَهُ.

Since his creation, the son of Adam has not experienced anything harder than death, but the world after death is even harder.

●   الذَّنْبُ شُؤْمٌ عَلى غَيْرِ فَاعِلِهِ، إنْ عَيَّرَهُ ابْتُلِيَ بِهِ، وَإنْ اغْتَابَهُ أثِمَ، وَإنْ رَضِيَ بِهِ شَارَكَهُ.

Sins cause evil to the sinless too, for if he blames the sinners, he will happen to commit sins himself, if he backbites them, he will be a sinner himself and if he agrees with them, he will get a share in their sins.

●   التَّسْويْفُ شِعَارُ الشَّيْطَانِ؛ يُلْقِيْهِ فِي قُلُوْبِ المُؤْمِنِيْنَ.

Slackness is Satan's slogan, which he throws into believers' hearts.

●   مِنْ أشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ الفُحْشُ وَالتَّفَحُّشُ وَقَطِيْعَةُ الرَّحِمِ وَتَخْوِيْنُ الأمِيْنِ وَائْتِمَانُ الخَائِنِ.

Slandering people, committing evil deeds, abandoning bonds of kinship, and considering honest people as dishonest and dishonest ones as honest are among the signs of the Hour (Resurrection).

●   نَوْمٌ عَلى عِلْمٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَلاةٍ عَلى جَهْلٍ.

Sleeping with knowledge is better than praying with ignorance.

●   التُّؤَدَةُ في كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ خَيْرٌ؛ اِلاّ في عَمَلِ

Slowness is good in everything save in performing deeds for the

الآخِرَةِ.

Hereafter.

●   التُّؤَدَةُ وَالاِقْتِصَادُ وَالسَّمْتُ الحَسَنُ جُزْءٌ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةٍ وَعِشْرِيْنَ جُزْءً مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ.

Slowness, economy and good fame comprise one of the twenty- four parts of prophethood.

●   تَبَسُّمُكَ في وَجْهِ أَخِيْكَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ، وَأَمْرُكَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهْيُكَ عَنِ المُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَاِرْشَادُكَ الرَّجُلَ في أَرْضِ الضَّلالِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ، وَاِمَاطَتُكَ الحَجَرَ وَالشَّوْكَ وَالعَظْمَ عَنِ الطَّرِيْقِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ.

Smiling at your brother (in faith), enjoining good and forbidding evil, guiding the lost ones and removing stones, thorns and bones from (people's) path, are all different forms of charity.

●   أَنْتُمْ عَلى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَظْهَرْ مِنْكُمْ سَكْرَتَانِ سَكْرَةُ الْجَهْلِ وَسَكْرَةُ حُبِّ الدُّنْيا.

So long as the drunkenness of ignorance and that of the love of the world do not appear in you, you can be sure about your Lord.

●   مازَالَ جِبْرِيْلُ يُوْصِيْنِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُهُ.

So many times did Gabriel recommend to me to observe neighbors' rights that I came to think of them inheriting each other.

●   خُيِّرَ سُلَيَْمانُ بَيْنَ المَالِ وَالمُلْكِ وَالعِلْمِ، فَاخْتَارَ العِلْمَ، فَاُعْطِيَ المُلْكَ وَالمَالَ لِاخْتِيَارِهِ العِلْمَ.

Solomon was given the option to choose one among wealth, rule and knowledge. He chose knowledge and was, as a result, bestowed upon the other two.

●   يَبْصُرُ أحَدُكُمْ القَذَى في عَيْنِ أخِيْهِ، وَيَدَعُ الجِذْعَ في عَيْنِهِ.

Some of you can detect a tiny thorn in your brother's eyes, but not a tree branch in your own.

●   ذَنْبٌ لا يُغْفَرُ وَذَنْبٌ لا يُتْرَكُ وَذَنْبٌ يُغْفَرُ. فَأَمَّا الَّذِي لا يُغْفَرُ فَالشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ. وَأمَّا الَّذِي يُغْفَرُ فَذَنْبُ العَبْدِ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. وَأمَّا الَّذِي لا يُتْرَكُ فَظُلْمُ العِبَادِ بَعْضُهُمْ

Some sins are irremissible, some are not left of account, and some are forgiven, i.e. taking partners with God, oppressing one another, and one's deeds known only to him and the Exalted God respectively.

بَعْضَاً.

●   ذَنْبٌ يُغْفَرُ وَذَنْبٌ لا يُغْفَرُ وَذَنْبٌ يُجَازى بِهِ. فَأَمَّا الذَّنْبُ الَّذِي لا يُغْفَرُ فَالشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ. وَأمَّا الذَّنْبُ الَّذِي يُغْفَرُ فَعَمَلُكَ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ رَبِّكَ. وَأمَّا الذَّنْبُ الَّذِي يُجَازى بِهِ فَظُلْمُكَ أخَاكَ.

Some sins are remissible, some are irremissible and some punishable, i.e. your deeds known to you and God, taking partners with God and oppressing your brethren respectively.

●   كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَضَلَ عَنْ ظِلِّ بَيْتٍ وَجِلْفِ الخُبْزِ وَثَوْبٍ يُوَارِي عَوْرَةَ الرَّجُلِ وَالمَاءِ لَمْ يَكُنْ لاِبْنِ آدَمَ فِيْهِ حَقٌّ.

Sons of Adam are entitled to no more than the shade of a house, a dry loaf of bread and a piece of cloth to cover their privy parts.

●   ما عَمِلَ ابْنُ آدَمَ شَيْئَاً أفْضَلَ مِنَ الصَّلاةِ وَصَلاحِ ذَاتِ البَيْنِ وَخُلْقٍ حَسَنٍ.

Sons of Adam do not have any deed better than saying prayer, reconciling people and behaving well.

●   ما مِنْ سَاعَةٍ تَمُرُّ بِابْنِ آدَمَ لَمْ يَذْكُرِ اللَّهَ فيها إلاّ حَسَرَ عَلَيْهَا يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ.

Sons of Adam will in the Day of Judgment be surely regretful for times of forgetting God in this world.

●   الأرْوَاحُ جُنُوْدٌ مُجَنَّدَةٌ فَمَا تَعَارَفَ مِنْهَا ائْتَلَفَ؛ وَمَا تَنَاكَرَ مِنْهَا اخْتَلَفَ.

Souls are like disciplined armies- familiar souls are allied and unfamiliar ones, aliens.

●   عَلَيْكَ بِحُسْنِ الكَلامِ وَبَذْلِ الطَّعَامِ.

Speak well and feed people.

●   أَنْفِقِي وَلا تُحْصِي فَيُحْصِي اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ وَلا تُوعِي فَيُوعِي اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ.

Spend (in the way of God) but do not count the amount, for God will then count (your sins); and do not be stingy (towards people), for God will do the same to you.

●   اِبْدَأْ بِنَفْسِكَ فَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْها؛ فَاِنْ فَضَلَ شَيْى‏ءٌ فَلِأهْلِكَ؛ فَاِنْ فَضَلَ شَيْى‏ءٌ عَنْ أَهْلِكَ فَلِذِي قَرَابَتِكَ؛فَاِنْ فَضَلَ عَنْ ذي قَرابَتِكَ

Start being charitable to yourself and then proceed to your household, your relatives and others respectively. Again, begin it from your household.

شَيْى‏ءٌ، فَهكَذا وَهكَذا اِبْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ.

●   سَلامَةُ الرَّجُلِ مِنَ الفِتْنَةِ أنْ يَلْزَمَ بَيْتَهُ.

Staying at home saves man from seditions.

●   المِعْدَةُ بَيْتُ الدَّاءِ؛ وَالحِمْيَةُ رَأْسُ كُلِّ دَواءٍ.

Stomach is the home (source) of all illness, and abstinence from gluttony is the best drug.

●   تَدارَكُوْا الهُمُومَ وَالغُمُومَ بِالصَّدَقَاتِ؛ يَكْشِفِ اللَّهُ تَعَالى ضُرَّكُمْ وَيَنْصُرْكُمْ عَلى عَدُوِّكُمْ.

Stop griefs and sorrows through charity so that the Exalted God save you from them and grant you victory over enemies.

●   أَشِيْدُوا النِّكَاحَ وَأَعْلِنُوهُ.

Strengthen marriage contract and make it known to people.

●   صِلُوْا الَّذِي بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ قَرَابَةٌ بِكَثْرَةِ ذِكْرِكُمْ اِيَّاهُ.

Strengthen ties of kinship by remembering your family frequently.

●   اِسْتَعِيْنُوا عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِالْعُرَى فَاِنَّ اِحْدَاهُنَّ اِذا كَثُرَتْ ثِيَابُهَا؛ وَأَحْسَنَتْ زِينَتَهَا أَعْجَبَهَا الْخُرُوجُ.

Strengthen your control of women through (providing them with) insufficient clothing, for when a woman comes to have excessive dresses and ornaments, she tends to roam outside home.

●   الشَّدِيْدُ مَنْ غَلَبَ نَفْسَهُ.

Strong is the one who has self- control.

●   أَلْزِمُوا الْجِهَادَ تَصِحُّوا وَتَسْتَغْنُوا.

Struggle (in the path of Deity), healthy and needless to be.

●   جاهِدُوْا المُشْرِكِيْنَ بِأَمْوالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ.

Struggle against polytheists through your wealth and souls and words.

●   جاهِدُوْا أَهْواءَكُمْ تَمْلِكُوْا أَنْفُسَكُمْ

Struggle against your passions to gain control over your souls.

●   أَقْرَبُ الْعَمَلِ اِلَى اللَّهِ الْجِهَادُ في سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلا يُقَارِبُهُ شَيْى‏ءٌ.

Struggling in the way of God is the nearest of all deeds to Him, and nothing is equal to it.

●   الخُرْقُ شُؤْمٌ وَالرِّفْقُ يُمْنٌ.

Stupidity is inauspicious and moderateness is auspicious (in nature).

●   كَفَى بِالمَوْتِ وَاعِظَاً. وَكَفَى بِاليَقِيْنِ غِنَىً

Suffice it for death to admonish and for certainty to (make man) needless.

●   كَفَى بِالمَوْتِ مُزَهِّدَاً في الدُّنْيَا، وَمُرَغِّبَاً في الآخِرَةِ.

Suffice it for death to decline your love for the world and to incline you towards eternity.

●   كَفَى بِالدَّهْرِ وَاعِظَاً وَبِالمَوْتِ مُفَرِّقَاً.

Suffice it for time to advise and for death to separate.

●   اِسْتَعِيْنُوا عَلى أُمورِكُمْ بِالْكِتْمَانِ؛ فَاِنَّ كُلَّ ذِي نِعْمَةٍ مَحْسُودٌ.

Support your affairs through secrecy, for all holders of blessings are subject to others' jealousy.

●   دِيْنَارٌ أنْفَقْتَهُ فِي سَبِيْلِ اللَّهِ وَدِيْنَارٌ أنْفَقْتَهُ فِي رَقَبَةٍ وَدِيْنَارٌ تَصَدَّقْتَ بِهِ عَلى مِسْكِيْنٍ وَدِيْنَارٌ أنْفَقْتَهُ عَلى أهْلِكَ. أعْظَمُهَا أجْرَاً الَّذِي أنْفَقْتَهُ عَلى أهْلِكَ.

Suppose you have given a Dinar in the way of God, another to free a slave, another in charity to the poor, and still another to settle the needs of your household. The last one is worthy of more reward than others.

●   عَجِبْتُ لِغَافِلٍ وَلا يُغْفَلُ عَنْهُ، عَجِبْتُ لِمُؤمِّلِ دُنْيَا وَالمَوْتُ يَطْلُبهُ، وَعَجِبْتُ لِضَاحِكٍ مِلْأَ فَمِهِ وَلا يَدْرِي أرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أمْ أسْخَطَهُ.

Surprised am I of the negligent who is not to be neglected, and of the seeker of the (material) world who is sought by death, and of the one who laughs boisterously but knows not weather God is pleased or displeased with him.

●   تَجَافَوْا عَنْ عُقُوبَةِ ذَوِي المُرُوَّةِ ما لَمْ تَكُنْ حَدَّاً مِنْ حُدُودِ اللَّهِ.

Suspend the punishment of Merciful people, unless they are condemned to divinely- ordered penalties.

●   الحَزْمُ سُوْءُ الظَّنِّ.

Suspicion is far- sightedness.

●   الرِّزْقُ إلى بَيْتٍ فِيْهِ سَخَاءٌ أسْرَعُ مِنَ الشَّفْرَةِ إلى سَنَامِ البَعِيْرِ.

Sustenance reaches a generous family faster than a knife hits a camel's hump.

●   الرِّزْقُ أشَدُّ طَلَبَاً لِلْعَبْدِ مِنْ أجَلِهِ.

Sustenance seeks God's servants more than their death.

●   الحَلْفُ مَنْفِقَةٌ لِلْسِّلْعَةِ، مُمْحِقَةٌ لِلْبَرَكَةِ.

Swearing (in trade) makes goods sold, but blessing ruined.

●   الحَلْفُ حِنْثٌ أوْ نَدَمٌ.

Swearing ends either in violation or remorse.

●   السُّيُوفُ مَفَاتِيْحُ الجَنَّةِ.

Swords are keys to Paradise.