مِنَ الْوَالِدِ الْفَانِ،
From the father who is (shortly) to die,
الْمُقِرِّ لِلزَّمَانِ،
who acknowledges the hardships of the times,
الْمُدْبِرِ الْعُمُرِ،
who has turned away from life,
الْمُسْتَسْلِمِ لِلدَّهْرِ،
who has submitted himself to the (calamities of) time,
الذَّامِ لِلدُّنْيَا،
who realizes the evils of the world,
السَّاكِنِ مَسَاكِنَ الْمَوْتَى،
who is living in the abodes of the dead
الظَّاعِنِ عَنْهَا غَداً،
and is due to depart from them any day;
إِلَى الْمَوْلُودِ الْمُؤَمِّلِ مَا لاَ يُدْرَكُ،
to the son who yearns for what is not to be achieved,
السَّالِكِ سَبِيلَ مَنْ قَدْ هَلَكَ،
who is treading the path of those who have died,
غَرَضِ الاْسْقَامِ،
who is the victim of ailments,
رَهِينَةِ الاْيَّامِ،
who is entangled in the (worries of the) days,
وَرَمِيَّةِ الْمَصَائِبِ،
who is a target of hardships,
وَعَبْدِ الدُّنْيَا،
a slave of the world,
وَتَاجِرِ الْغُرُورِ،
a trader of its deception,
وَغَرِيمِ الْمَنَايَا،
a debtor of wishes,
وَأَسِيرِ الْمَوْتِ،
a prisoner of mortality,
وَحَلِيفِ الْهُمُومِ،
an ally of worries,
قَرِينِ الاْحْزَانِ،
a neighbour of grief,
وَنُصْبِ الاْفَاتِ،
a victim of distresses,
وَصَرِيعِ الشَّهَوَاتِ،
who has been overpowered by desires,
وَخَلِيفَةِ الاْمْوَاتِ.
and who is a successor of the dead.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ فِيَما تَبَيَّنْتُ مِنْ إِدْبَارِ الدُّنْيَا عَنِّي،
Now (you should know that) what I have learnt from the turning away of this world from me,
وَجُمُوحِ الدَّهْرِعَلَيَّ،
the onslaught of time over me
وَإِقْبَالِ الاْخِرَةِ إِلَيَّ،
and the advancing of the next world towards me
مَا يَزَعُنِي عَنْ ذِكْرِ مَنْ سِوَايَ،
is enough to prevent me from remembering anyone except myself
وَالاْهْتِمامِ بِمَا وَرَائِي
and from thinking beyond myself.
غَيْرَ أَنِّي حَيْثُ تَفَرَّدَ بِي دُونَ هُمُومِ النَّاسِ هَمُّ نَفْسِي،
But when I confined myself to my own worries leaving the worries of others,
فَصَدَفَنِي رَأْيِي،
my intelligence saved me
وَصَرَفَنِي عَنْ هَوَايَ،
and protected me from my desires.
وَصَرَّحَ لِي مَحْضُ أَمْرِي فَأَفْضَى بِي إِلَى جِدٍّ لاَ يَكُونُ فِيهِ لَعِبٌ،
It clarified to me my affairs and led me to seriousness wherein there was no trickery
وَصِدْقٍ لاَ يَشُوبُهُ كَذِبٌ .
and truth which was not tarnished by falsehood.
وَوَجَدْتُكَ بَعْضِي، بَلْ وَجَدْتُكَ كُلِّي،
Here, I found you a part of myself, rather I found you my whole,
حَتَّى كَأَنَّ شَيْئاً لَوْ أَصَابَكَ أَصَابَنِي،
so much so that if anything befell you, it was as though it befell me
وَكَأَنَّ الْمَوْتَ لَوْ أَتَاكَ أَتَانِي،
and if death came to you it was as though it came to me.
فَعَنَانِي مِنْ أَمْرِكَ مَا يَعْنِيني مِنْ أَمْرِ نَفْسِي،
Consequently, your affairs meant to me what my own matters meant to me.
فَكَتَبْتُ إِليْكَ كِتَابِي هَذا،
So, I have written this piece of advice (to you)
مُسْتظْهِراً بِهِ
as an instrument of seeking help through it,
إِنْ أَنا بَقِيتُ لَكَ أَوْ فَنِيتُ.
whether I remain alive for you or cease to exist.
فَإِنِّي أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ أَيْ بُنَيَّ،
I advise you to fear Allah, O my child,
وَلُزُومِ أَمْرِهِ،
abide by His commands,
وَعِمَارَةِ قَلْبِكَ بِذِكْرِهِ،
fill your heart with remembrance of Him
وَالاْعْتِصَامِ بِحَبْلِهِ،
and cling to hope from Him.
وَأَيُّ سَبَب أَوْثَقُ مِنْ سَبَب بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ اللهِ
No connection is more reliable than the connection between you and Allah
إِنْ أَنْتَ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ،
provided you take hold of it.
أَحْيِي قَلْبَكَ بِالْمَوْعِظَةِ،
Enliven your heart with preaching,
وَأَمِتْهُ بِالزَّهَادَةِ،
kill it by denial,
وَقَوِّهِ بِالْيَقِينِ،
energise it with firm belief,
وَنَوِّرْهُ بِالْحِكْمَةِ،
enlighten it with wisdom,
وَذَلّلْ ه بِذِكْرِ الْمَوْتِ،
humiliate it by recalling death,
وَقَرِّرْهُ بِالْفَنَاءِ،
make it believe in mortality,
وَبَصِّرْهُ فَجَائِعَ الدُّنْيَا،
make it see the misfortunate of this world,
وَحَذِّرْهُ صَوْلَةَ الدَّهْرِ،
make it fear the authority of the time
وَفُحْشَ تَقَلُّبِ اللَّيَالِي وَالاْيَّامِ،
and the severity of some changes during the nights and the days,
وَاعْرِضْ عَلَيْهِ أَخْبَارَ الْمَاضِينَ،
place before it the events of past people,
وَذَكِّرْهُ بِمَا أَصَابَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكَ مِنَ الاْوَّلِينَ،
recall to it what befell those who were before you
وَسِرْ فِي دِيَارِهِمْ وَآثَارِهِمْ،
and walk among their cities and ruins,
فَانْظُرْ فِيمَا فَعَلُوا
then see what they did
وَعَمَّا انْتَقَلُوا،
and from what they have gone away
وَأَيْنَ حَلُّوا وَنَزَلُوا،
and where they have gone and stayed.
فَإِنَّكَ تَجِدْهُمُ انْتَقَلُوا عَنِ الاْحِبَّةِ،
You will find that they departed from (their) friends
وَحَلُّوا دارَ الْغُرْبَةِ،
and remain in loneliness.
وَكَأَنَّكَ عَنْ قَلِيل قَدْ صِرْتَ كَأَحَدِهِمْ،
Shortly, you too will be like one of them.
فَأَصْلِحْ مَثْوَاكَ،
Therefore, plan for your place of stay
وَلاَ تَبِعْ آخِرَتَكَ بِدُنْيَاكَ،
and do not sell your next life with this world.
وَدَعِ الْقَوْلَ فِيمَا لاَ تَعْرِفُ،
Give up discussing what you do not know
وَالْخِطَابَ فِيمَا لَمْ تُكَلَّفْ،
and speaking about what does not concern you.
وَأَمْسِكْ عَنْ طَرِيق إِذَا خِفْتَ ضَلاَلَتَهُ
Keep off track from which you fear to go astray
فَإِنَّ الْكَفَّ عِنْدَ حَيْرَةِ الضَّلاَلِ
because refraining (from moving) when fear of straying
خَيْرٌ مِنْ رُكُوبِ الاْهْوَالِ.
is better than embarking on dangers.
وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ تَكُنْ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ،
Ask others to do good; you will thus be among good doers.
وَأَنْكِرِ الْمُنْكَرَ بِيَدِكَ وَلِسَانِكَ،
Desist others from evil with your action as well as speech
وَبَايِنْ مَنْ فَعَلَهُ بِجُهْدِكَ،
and keep off, to the best of your ability, from he who commits it.
وَجَاهِدْ فِي اللهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ،
Struggle for Allah as is His due;
وَلاَ تَأْخُذْكَ فِي اللهِ لَوْمَةُ لاَئِم،
and the insults of a reviler should not stop you in matters of Allah.
وَخُضِ الْغَمَرَاتِ لِلْحَقِّ حَيْثُ كَانَ،
Leap into dangers for the sake of right wherever it be.
وَتَفَقَّهْ فِي الدِّينِ،
Acquire insight into religious law.
وَعَوِّدْ نَفْسَكَ التَّصَبُّرَ عَلَى الْمَكْرُوهِ،
Accustom yourself to endure hardships
وَنِعْمَ الْخُلُقُ التَّصَبُّرُ فِي الْحَقِّ!
since the best trait of character is endurance in matters of right.
وَأَلْجِئْ نَفْسَكَ فِي أُمُورِكَ كُلِّهَا إِلَى إِلهِكَ،
In all affairs resign yourself to Allah,
فَإِنَّكَ تُلْجِئُهَا إِلَى كَهْف حَرِيز،
because you will thus be resigning yourself to a secure shelter
وَمَانِع عَزِيز.
and a strong protector.
وَأَخْلِصْ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ لِرَبِّكَ،
You should ask only from your Lord
فَإِنَّ بِيَدِهِ الْعَطَاءَ وَالْحِرْمَانَ،
because in His hand is all the giving and depriving.
وَأَكْثِرِ الاِسْتِخَارَةَ،
Seek good (from Allah) as much as you can.
وَتَفَهَّمْ وَصِيَّتِي،
Understand my advice
وَلاَ تَذْهَبَنَّ عَنْكَ صَفْحاً،
and do not turn away from it,
فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْقَوْلِ مَا نَفَعَ.
because the best saying is that which benefits.
وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لاَ خَيْرَ فِي عِلْم لاَ يَنْفَعُ،
Know that there is no good in that knowledge which does not benefit,
وَلاَ يُنْتَفَعُ بِعِلْم لاَ يَحِقُّ تَعَلُّمُهُ.
and if knowledge is not made use of then its acquisition is not justified.
أَيْ بُنَيَّ،
O my child,
إِنِّي لَمَّا رَأَيْتُنِي قَدْ بَلَغْتُ سِنّاً،
when I noticed I was of goodly age
وَرَأَيْتُنِي أَزْدَادُ وَهْناً،
and noticed I was increasing in weakness
بَادَرْتُ بِوَصِيَّتِي إِلَيْكَ،
I hastened with my will for you
وَأَوْرَدْتُ خِصَالا مِنْهَا
and wrote down prominent points of it
قَبْلَ أَنْ يَعْجَلَ بِي أَجَلِي دُونَ أَنْ أُفْضِيَ إِلَيْكَ
in case death overtook before I divulged to you
بِمَا فِي نَفْسِي،
what I have in my heart,
أَوْ أَنْ أُنْقَصَ فِي رَأْيِي كَمَا نُقِصْتُ فِي جِسْمِي،
or in case my wit be affected as my body has been affected,
أَوْ يَسْبِقَنِي إِلَيْكَ بَعْضُ غَلَبَاتِ الْهَوَى وَفِتَنِ الدُّنْيَا،
or forces of passions or mischief of the world overtake you
فَتَكُونَ كَالصَّعْبِ النَّفُورِ.
making you like a stubborn camel.
وَإِنَّمَا قَلْبُ الْحَدَثِ كَالاْرْضِ الْخَالِيَةِ
Certainly, the heart of a young man is like uncultivated land.
مَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا مِنْ شَيْء قَبِلَتْهُ،
It accepts whatever is strewn on it.
فَبَادَرْتُكَ بِالاْدَبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْسُوَ قَلْبُكَ،
So, I hastened to mould you properly before your heart hardened up
وَيَشْتَغِلَ لُبُّكَ،
and your mind became occupied,
لِتَسْتَقْبِلَ بِجِدِّ رَأْيِكَ مِنَ الاْمْرِ مَا قَدْ كَفَاكَ أَهْلُ التَّجَارِبِ بُغْيَتَهُ وَتَجْرِبَتَهُ،
so you might be ready to accept through your intelligence the results of the experience of others
فَتَكُونَ قَدْ كُفِيتَ مَؤُونَةَ الطَّلَبِ،
and be saved from going through these experiences yourself.
وَعُوفِيتَ مِنْ عِلاَجِ التَّجْرِبَةِ،
In this way, you would avoid the hardship of seeking them and the difficulties of experimenting.
فَأَتَاكَ مِنْ ذلِكَ مَا قَدْ كُنَّا نَأْتِيهِ،
Thus, you are getting to know what we had experienced
وَاسْتَبَانَ لَكَ مَا رُبَّمَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْنَا مِنْهُ.
and even those things are becoming clear to you which we might have missed.
يا بُنَيَّ،
O my child,
إِنِّي وَإِنْ لَمْ أَكُنْ عُمِّرْتُ عُمُرَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلِي،
even though I have not reached the age which those before me have,
فَقَدْ نَظَرْتُ فِي أَعْمَالِهِمْ ،
yet I looked into their behaviour
وَفَكَّرْتُ فِي أَخْبَارِهِمْ ،
and thought over events of their lives.
وَسِرْتُ فِي آثَارِهِمْ;
I walked among their ruins
حَتَّى عُدْتُ كَأَحَدِهِمْ;
till I was as one of them.
بَلْ كَأَنِّي بِمَا انْتَهَى إِلَيَّ مِنْ أُمُورِهِمْ
In fact, by virtue of those of their affairs that have become known to me
قَدْ عُمِّرْتُ مَعَ أَوَّلِهِمْ إِلَى آخِرِهِمْ،
it is as though I have lived with them from the first to the last.
فَعَرَفْتُ صَفْوَ ذلِكَ مِنْ كَدَرِهِ،
I have therefore been able to discern the impure from the clean
وَنَفْعَهُ مِنْ ضَرَرِهِ،
and the benefit from the harm.
فَاسْتَخْلَصْتُ لَكَ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْر نخيله،
I have selected for you the choicest of those matters
وَتَوَخَّيْتُ لَكَ جَمِيلَهُ،
and collected for you their good points
وَصَرَفْتُ عَنْكَ مَجْهُولَهُ،
and have kept away from you their useless points.
وَرَأَيْتُ حَيْثُ عَنَانِي مِنْ أَمْرِكَ مَا يَعْنِي الْوَالِدَ الشَّفِيقَ،
Since I feel for your affairs as a living father should feel
وَأَجْمَعْتُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَدَبِكَ
and I aim at giving you training,
أَنْ يَكُونَ ذلِكَ وَأَنْتَ مُقْبِلُ الْعُمُرِ
I thought it should be at a time when you are advancing in age
وَمُقْتَبَلُ الدَّهْرِ،
and new on the stage of the world,
ذُو نِيَّة سَلِيمَة،
possessing upright intention
وَنَفْس صَافِيَة،
and clean heart
وَأَنْ أَبْتَدِئَكَ بِتَعْلِيمِ كِتَابِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَتَأْوِيلِهِ،
and that I should begin with the teaching of the Book of Allah, and its interpretation,
وَشَرَائِعِ الاْسْلاَمِ وَأَحْكَامِهِ ،
the laws of Islam and its commands,
وَحَلاَلِهِ وَحَرَامِهِ ،
its lawful matters and unlawful matters
لاَ أُجَاوِزُ ذلِكَ بِكَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ.
and that I should not go beyond these for you.
ثُمَّ أَشْفَقْتُ أَنْ يَلْتَبِسَ عَلَيْكَ مَا اخْتَلَفَ النَّاسُ فِيهِ مِنْ أَهْوَائِهِمْ وَآرَائِهِمْ مِثْلَ الَّذِي الْتَبَسَ عَلَيْهِمْ،
Then I feared lest you should get confused as other people had been confused on account of their passions and (different) views.
فَكَانَ إِحْكَامُ ذلِكَ عَلَى مَا كَرِهْتُ مِنْ تَنْبِيهِكَ لَهُ
Therefore, in spite of my dislike for you being so warned,
أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ إِسْلاَمِكَ إِلَى أَمْرٍ
I thought it better for me to make this position strong rather than leave you in a position
لاَ آمَنُ عَلَيْكَ بِهِ الْهَلَكَةَ
where I do not regard you safe from falling into destruction.
وَرَجَوْتُ أَنْ يُوَفِّقَكَ اللهُ فِيهِ لِرُشْدِكَ،
I hoped that Allah would help you in your straightforwardness
وَأَنْ يَهْدِيَكَ لِقَصْدِكَ،
and guide you in your resoluteness.
فَعَهِدْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَصِيَّتِي هذِهِ.
Consequently, I wrote this piece of my will for you.
وَاعْلَمْ يَا بُنَيَّ أَنَّ أَحَبَّ مَا أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِهِ إِلَيَّ مِنْ وَصِيَّتِي تَقْوَى اللهِ
Know O my child, what I love most for you to adopt from my will is to fear Allah,
وَالاْقْتِصَارُ عَلَى مَا فَرَضَهُ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ،
to confine yourself to what Allah has made obligatory on you,
وَالاْخْذُ بِمَا مَضَى عَلَيْهِ الاْوَّلُونَ مِنْ آبَائِكَ،
and to follow the actions of your forefathers
وَالصَّالِحُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ،
and the virtuous people of your household,
فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَدَعُوا أَنْ نَظَرُوا لاِنْفُسِهِمْ كَمَا أَنْتَ نَاظِرٌ،
because they did not fall short in seeing for themselves what you will see for yourself,
وَفَكَّرُوا كَمَا أَنْتَ مُفَكِّرٌ،
and they did about their affairs as you would like to think (about your affairs).
ثُمَّ رَدَّهُمْ آخِرُ ذلِكَ إِلَى الاْخْذِ بِمَا عَرَفُوا،
Thereafter, their thinking led them to discharge the obligations they came to know of
وَالاْمْسَاكِ عَمَّا لَمْ يُكَلَّفُوا،
and to desist from what they were not required to do.
فَإِنْ أَبَتْ نَفْسُكَ أَنْ تَقْبَلَ ذلِكَ دُونَ أَنْ تَعْلَمَ كَمَا عَلِمُوا
If your heart does not accept this without acquiring knowledge as they acquired it,
فَلْيَكُنْ طَلَبُكَ ذلِكَ بَتَفَهُّم وَتَعَلُّم،
then your search should first be by way of understanding and learning
لاَ بِتَوَرُّطِ الشُّبُهَاتِ،
and not by falling into doubts
وَعُلَقِ الْخُصُومَاتِ.
or getting entangled in quarrels.
وَابْدَأْ قَبْلَ نَظَرِكَ فِي ذلِكَ بِالاْسْتِعَانَةِ بِإِلهِكَ،
And before you probe into this, you should begin by seeking your Allah's help
وَالرَّغْبَةِ إِلَيْهِ فِي تَوْفِيقِكَ،
and turning to Him for competence
وَتَرْكِ كُلِّ شَائِبَة أَوْلَجَتْكَ فِي شُبْهَة،
and keeping aloof from everything that throws you into doubt
أَوْ أَسْلَمَتْكَ إِلَى ضَلاَلَة.
or flings you towards misguidance.
فَإِنْ أَيْقَنْتَ أَنْ قَدْ صَفَا قَلْبُكَ فَخَشَعَ،
When you have made sure that your heart is clean and humble
وَتَمَّ رَأْيُكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ،
and your thoughts have come together
وَكَانَ هَمُّكَ فِي ذلِكَ هَمّاً وَاحِداً،
and you have only one thought which is about this matter,
فَانْظُرْ فِيمَا فَسَّرْتُ لَكَ،
then you will see what I have explained to you;
وَإِنْ أنت لَمْ يَجْتَمِعْ لَكَ مَا تُحِبُّ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ،
but if you have not been able to achieve that peace of observation
وَفَرَاغِ نَظَرِكَ وَفِكْرِكَ،
and thinking which you would like to have,
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ إِنَّمَا تَخْبِطُ الْعَشْوَاءِ،
then know that you are only stamping the ground like a blind she-camel
وَتَتَوَرَّطُ الظَّلْمَاءَ.
and falling into darkness
وَلَيْسَ طَالِبُ الدِّينِ مَنْ خَبَطَ أَوْ خَلَطَ،
while a seeker of religion should not grope in the dark or create confusion.
وَالاْمْسَاكُ عَنْ ذلِكَ أَمْثَلُ.
It is better to avoid this.
فَتَفَهَّمْ يَا بُنَيَّ وَصِيَّتِي،
Appreciate my advice, O my child,
وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ مَالِكَ الْمَوْتِ
and know He Who is the Master of death
هُوَ مَالِكُ الْحَيَاةِ،
is also the Master of life,
وَأَنَّ الْخَالِقَ هُوَ الْمُمِيتُ،
that the Creator causes death as well;
وَأَنَّ الْمُفْنِيَ هُوَ الْمُعِيدُ،
that He Who destroys is also the restorer of life
وَأَنَّ الْمُبْتَلِيَ هُوَ الْمُعَافِي،
and that He Who inflicts disease is also the curer.
وَأَنَّ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ تَكُنْ لِتَسْتَقِرَّ إِلاَّ عَلَى مَا جَعَلَهَا اللهُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ النَّعْمَاءِ، وَالاْبْتِلاَءِ،
This world continues in the way Allah has made it with regard to its pleasures, trials,
وَالْجَزَاءِ فِي الْمَعَادِ،
rewards on the Day of Judgement
أَوْ مَا شَاءَ مِمَّا لاَ تَعْلَمُ،
and all that He wishes and you do not know.
فَإِنْ أَشْكَلَ عَلَيْكَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ ذلِكَ
If anything of this advice is not understood by you
فَاحْمِلْهُ عَلَى جَهَالَتِكَ،
then attribute it to your ignorance of it,
فَإِنَّكَ أَوَّلُ مَا خُلِقْتَ بِهِ جَاهِلا
because when you were first born you were born ignorant.
ثُمَّ عُلِّمْتَ،
Thereafter, you acquired knowledge.
وَمَا أَكْثَرَ مَا تَجْهَلُ مِنَ الاْمْرِ،
There are many matters of which you are ignorant
وَيَتَحَيَّرُ فِيهِ رَأْيُكَ،
and in which your sight first wonders
وَيَضِلُّ فِيهِ بَصَرُكَ ثُمَّ تُبْصِرُهُ بَعْدَ ذلِكَ!
and your eye wanders then after this you see them.
فَاعْتَصِمْ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ وَرَزَقَكَ وَسَوَّاكَ،
Therefore, cling to Him Who created you, fed you and put you in order.
وَلْيَكُنْ لَهُ تَعَبُّدُكَ،
Your worship should be for Him,
وَإِلَيْهِ رَغْبَتُكَ،
your eagerness should be towards Him
وَمِنْهُ شَفَقَتُكَ.
and your fear should be of Him.
وَاعْلَمْ يَا بُنَيَّ
Know O my child,
أَنَّ أَحَداً لَمْ يُنْبِئْ عَنِ اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ
that no one received messages from Allah, the Glorified,
كَمَا أَنْبَأَ عَنْهُ نبيّنا ـ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ ـ
as the Prophet (S) did.
فَارْضَ بِهِ رَائِداً،
Therefore, regard him as your forerunner
وَإِلَى النَّجَاةِ قَائِداً،
and leader towards deliverance.
فَإِنِّي لَمْ آلُكَ نَصِيحَةً.
Certainly, I shall spare no effort in giving you advice
وَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تَبْلُغَ فِي النَّظَرِ لِنَفْسِكَ وَإِنِ اجْتَهَدْتَ مَبْلَغَ نَظَرِي لَكَ.
and surely even if you try, you cannot acquire that insight for your welfare as I have for you.
وَاعْلَمْ يَا بُنَيَّ
Know O my child,
أَنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ لِرَبِّكَ شَرِيكٌ لاَتَتْكَ رُسُلُهُ،
if there had been a partner with your Lord, his messengers too should have come to you
وَلَرَأَيْتَ آثَارَ مُلْكِهِ وَسُلْطَانِهِ،
and you would have seen signs of his authority and power
وَلَعَرَفْتَ أَفْعَالَهُ وَصِفَاتَهُ،
and have known his deeds and qualities.
وَلكِنَّهُ إِلهٌ وَاحِدٌ كَمَا وَصَفَ نَفْسَهُ،
But He is only One God as He has described Himself.
لاَ يُضَادُّهُ فِي مُلْكِهِ أَحَدٌ،
No one can dispute with Him in His authority.
وَلاَ يَزُولُ أَبَداً وَلَمْ يَزَلْ.
He is from ever and will be for ever.
أَوَّلٌ قَبْلَ الاْشْيَاءِ بِلاَ أَوَّلِيَّة،
He is before all things without any beginning.
وَآخِرٌ بَعْدَ الاْشْيَاءِ بِلاَ نِهَايَة.
He will remain after all things without any end.
عَظُمَ عَنْ أَنْ تَثْبُتَ رُبُوبِيَّتُهُ بِإِحَاطَةِ قَلْب أَوْ بَصَر.
He is far too great to have His divinity proved by the encompassing heart or eye.
فَإِذَا عَرَفْتَ ذلِكَ
When you have understood this
فَافْعَلْ كَمَا يَنْبَغِي لِمِثْلِكَ أَنْ يَفْعَلَهُ
then you should do what is done by him who is like you
فِي صِغَرِ خَطَرِهِ،
by way of his low position,
وَقِلَّةِ مَقْدِرَتِهِ،
his lack of authority,
وَكَثْرَةِ عَجْزِهِ،
his increasing incapability,
وَعَظِيمِ حَاجَتِهِ إِلَى رَبِّهِ،
and his great need of his Lord
فِي طَلَبِ طَاعَتِهِ،
for seeking His obedience,
وَالْخَشْيَةِ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِهِ،
fearing His chastisement
وَالشَّفَقَةِ مِنْ سُخْطِهِ،
and apprehending His anger,
فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَأْمُرْكَ إِلاَّ بِحَسَن،
because He does not command you save for virtue
وَلَمْ يَنْهَكَ إِلاَّ عَنْ قَبِيح.
and does not refrain you save from evil.
يا بُنَيَّ
O my child,
إِنِّي قَدْ أَنْبَأْتُكَ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا وَحَالِهَا،
I have informed you about the world, its condition,
وَزَوَالِهَا وَانْتِقَالِهَا،
decay and its passing away
وَأَنْبَأْتُكَ عَنِ الاْخِرَةِ وَمَا أُعِدَّ لاِهْلِهَا،
and I have informed you of the next world and of what has been provided in it for its people.
وَضَرَبْتُ لَكَ فِيهِمَا الاْمْثَالَ،
I have recounted to you parables about it
لِتَعْتَبِرَ بِهَا،
so that you may draw instruction from them
وَتَحْذُوَ عَلَيْهَا.
and act upon them.
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ مَنْ خَبَرَ الدُّنْيَا كَمَثَلِ قَوْم سَفْر نَبَا بِهِمْ مَنْزِلٌ جَدِيبٌ،
The example of those who have understood the world is like those travellers who, being disgusted with drought-stricken places
فَأَمُّوا مَنْزِلا خَصِيباً وَجَنَاباً مَرِيعاً،
set off for greenery and a fruitful place.
فَاحْتَمَلُوا وَعْثَاءَ الطَّرِيقِ،
Then they endure difficulties on the way,
وَفِرَاقَ الصَّدِيقِ،
separation from friends,
وَخُشُونَةَ السَّفَرِ،
hardships of the journey
وَجُشُوبَةَ الْمَطْعَمِ،
and unwholesome food
لِيَأْتُوا سَعَةَ دَارِهِمْ،
in order to reach their fields of plenty
وَمَنْزِلَ قَرَارِهِمْ،
and place of stay.
فَلَيْسَ يَجِدُونَ لِشَيْء مِنْ ذلِكَ أَلَماً،
Consequently, they do not feel any pain in all this
وَلاَ يَرَوْنَ نَفَقَةً فِيهِ مَغْرَماً.
and do not regard any expenditure to be waste.
وَلاَ شَيْءَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِمَّا قَرَّبَهُمْ مِنْ مَنْزِلِهِمْ
Nothing is more lovable to them than what takes them near their goal
وَأَدْنَاهُمْ ألى مَحَلَّتِهِمْ.
and carries them closer to their place of stay.
وَمَثَلُ مَنِ اغْتَرَّ بِهَا كَمَثَلِ قَوْم كَانُوا بِمَنْزِل خَصِيب،
(Against this), the example of those who are deceived by this world is like the people who were in a green place
فَنَبَا بِهِمْ إِلَى مَنْزِل جَدِيب،
but they became disgusted with it and went to a drought-stricken place.
فَلَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَكْرَهَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ أَفْظَعَ عِنْدَهُمْ مِنْ مُفَارَقَةِ مَا كَانُوا فِيهِ،
Therefore, for them nothing is more detestable or abominable than to leave the place where they were to go
إِلَى مَا يَهْجُمُونَ عَلَيْهِ،
to a place which they will reach unexpectedly
وَيَصِيرُونَ إِلَيْهِ.
and for which they are heading.
يَا بُنَيَّ اجْعَلْ نَفْسَكَ مِيزَاناً فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ غَيْرِكَ،
O my child, make yourself the measure (for dealings) between you and others.
فَأَحْبِبْ لِغَيْرِكَ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ،
Thus, you should desire for others what you desire for yourself
وَاكْرَهْ لَهُ مَا تَكْرَهُ لَهَا،
and hate for others what you hate for yourself.
وَلاَ تَظْلِمْ كَمَا لاَ تُحِبُّ أَنْ تُظْلَمَ،
Do not oppress as you do not like to be oppressed.
وَأَحْسِنْ كَمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ يُحْسَنَ إِلَيْكَ،
Do good to others as you would like good to be done to you.
وَاسْتَقْبِحْ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ مَا تَسْتَقْبِحُهُ مِنْ غَيْرِكَ،
Regard bad for yourself whatever you regard bad for others.
وَارْضَ مِنَ النَّاسِ بِمَا تَرْضَاهُ لَهُمْ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ،
Accept that (treatment) from others which you would like others to accept from you.
وَلاَ تَقُلْ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ مَا تَعْلَمُ،
Do not talk about what you do not know even though what you know be very little.
وَلاَ تَقُلْ مَا لاَ تُحِبُّ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَكَ.
Do not say to others what you do not like to be said to you.
وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الاْعْجَابَ ضِدُّ الصَّوَابِ،
Know that self-admiration is contrary to propriety (of action)
وَآفَةُ الاْلْبَابِ،
and is a calamity for the mind.
فَاسْعَ فِي كَدْحِكَ،
Therefore, increase your striving
وَلاَ تَكُنْ خَازِناً لِغَيْرِكَ،
and do not become a treasurer for (wealth to be inherited by) others.
وَإِذَا أَنْتَ هُدِيتَ لِقَصْدِكَ فَكُنْ أَخْشَعَ مَا تَكُونُ لِرَبِّكَ.
When you have been guided on the right path humble yourself before Allah as much as you can.
وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَمَامَكَ طَرِيقاً ذَا مَسَافَة بَعِيدَة،
Know in front of you lies a road of long distance
وَمَشَقَّة شَدِيدَة،
and severe hardship
وَأَنَّهُ لاَ غِنَى بِكَ فِيهِ عَنْ حُسْنِ الاِرْتِيَادِ،
and you cannot avoid seeking it.
وَقَدْرِ بَلاَغِكَ مِنَ الزَّادِ،
Take your requirements of provision
مَعَ خِفَّةِ الظَّهْرِ،
keeping the burden light.
فَلاَ تَحْمِلَنَّ عَلَى ظَهْرِكَ فَوْقَ طَاقَتِكَ،
Do not load your back beyond your power
فَيَكُونَ ثِقْلُ ذلِكَ وَبَالا عَلَيْكَ،
lest its weight become a mischief for you.
وَإِذَا وَجَدْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْفَاقَةِ مَنْ يَحْمِلُ لَكَ زَادَكَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ،
Whenever you come across a needy person who can carry for you your provision to hand it back to you on the Day of Judgement
فَيُوَافِيكَ بِهِ غَداً حَيْثُ تَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ فَاغْتَنِمْهُ وَحَمِّلْهُ إِيَّاهُ،
when you will need it, then accept him as a good opportunity and get him to carry it.
وَأَكْثِرْ مِنْ تَزْوِيدِهِ وَأَنْتَ قَادِرٌ عَلَيْهِ،
Put in that provision as much-as you are able to,
فَلَعَلَّكَ تَطْلُبُهُ فَلاَ تَجِدُهُ .
for it is likely that if you may need him (afterwards), you may not get hold of him.
وَاغْتَنِمْ مَنِ اسْتَقْرَضَكَ فِي حَالِ غِنَاكَ،
If a person is willing to borrow from you in the days of your affluence
لِيَجْعَلَ قَضَاءَهُ لَكَ فِي يَوْمِ عُسْرَتِكَ.
to pay it back to you at the time of your need then make use of this opportunity.
وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَمَامَكَ عَقَبَةً كَؤُوداً،
Know that in front of you lies an impassable valley
الْمُخِفُّ فِيهَا أَحْسَنُ حَالا مِنَ الْمُثْقِلِ،
wherein the light-burdened man will be in a better condition than the heavy-burden one,
وَالْمُبْطِئُ عَلَيْهَا أَقْبَحُ حَالا مِنَ الْمُسْرِعِ،
and the slow- paced would be in a worse condition than the swift-paced.
وَأَنَّ مَهْبِطَكَ بِهَا لاَ مَحَالَةَ إِمَّا عَلَى جَنَّة أَوْ عَلَى نَار،
Your terminating point at the other end of this passage will necessarily be either Paradise or Hell.
فَارْتَدْ لِنَفْسِكَ قَبْلَ نُزُولِكَ،
Therefore, investigate for yourself before alighting,
وَوَطِّئِ الْمَنْزِلَ قَبْلَ حُلُولِكَ،
and prepare the place before getting down,
فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ مُسْتَعْتَبٌ،
because after death there can be no preparation
وَلاَ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا مُنْصَرَفٌ.
nor return to this world.
وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ خَزَائِنُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاْرْضِ
Know that He Who owns the treasuries of the heavens and of the earth
قَدْ أَذِنَ لَكَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ،
has permitted you to pray to Him
وَتَكَفَّلَ لَكَ بِالاْجَابَةِ،
and has promised you acceptance of the prayer.
وَأَمَرَكَ أَنْ تَسْأَلَهُ لِيُعْطِيَكَ،
He has commanded you to beg from Him in order that He may give you
وَتَسْتَرْحِمَهُ لِيَرْحَمَكَ،
and to seek His mercy in order that He may have mercy on you.
وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ مَنْ يَحْجُبُكَ عَنْهُ،
He has not placed any thing between you and Him that may veil Him from you.
وَلَمْ يُلْجِئْكَ إِلَى مَنْ يَشْفَعُ لَكَ إِلَيْهِ،
He has not required you to get a mediator for you to Him,
وَلَمْ يَمْنَعْكَ إِنْ أَسَأْتَ مِنَ التَّوْبَةِ،
and if you err, He has not prevented you from repentance.
وَلَمْ يُعَاجِلْكَ بِالنِّقْمَةِ،
He does not hasten with punishment.
وَلَمْ يَفْضَحْكَ حَيْثُ تَعَرّضْتَ الْفَضِيحَةُ،
He does not taunt you for repenting, nor does He humiliate you when humiliation is more appropriate for you.
وَلَمْ يُشَدِّدْ عَلَيْكَ فِي قَبُولِ الاْنَابَةِ،
He has not been harsh in accepting repentance.
وَلَمْ يُنَاقِشْكَ بِالْجَرِيمَةِ،
He does not severely question you about your sins.
وَلَمْ يُؤْيِسْكَ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ،
He does not disappoint you of His mercy.
بَلْ جَعَلَ نُزُوعَكَ عَنِ الذَّنْبِ حَسَنَةً،
Rather He regards abstention from sin as a virtue.
وَحَسَبَ سَيِّئَتَكَ وَاحِدَةً،
He counts your one sin as one
وَحَسَبَ حَسَنَتَكَ عَشْراً ،
while He counts your one virtue as ten.
وَفَتَحَ لَكَ بَابَ الْمَتَابِ، وَبَابَ الاْسْتِعْتَابِ;
He has opened for you the door of repentance.
فَإِذَا نَادَيْتَهُ سَمِعَ نَدَاءكَ،
Therefore, whenever you call Him He hears your call,
وَإِذَا نَاجَيْتَهُ عَلِمَ نَجْوَاكَ،
and whenever you whisper to Him He knows the whisper.
فَأَفْضَيْتَ إِلَيْهِ بِحَاجَتِكَ،
You place before Him your needs,
وَأَبْثَثْتَهُ ذَاتَ نَفْسِكَ،
unveil yourself before Him,
وَشَكَوْتَ إِلَيْهِ هُمُومَكَ،
complain to Him of your worries,
وَاسْتَكْشَفْتَهُ كُرُوبَكَ،
beseech Him to remove your troubles,
وَاسْتَعَنْتَهُ عَلَى أُمُورِكَ،
seek His help in your affairs
وَسَأَلْتَهُ مِنْ خَزَائِنِ رَحْمَتِهِ
and ask from the treasuries of His mercy
مَا لاَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى إِعْطَائِهِ غَيْرُهُ،
that which no one else has power to give,
مِنْ زِيَادَةِ الاْعْمَارِ،
namely length of life,
وَصِحَّةِ الاْبْدَانِ،
health of body
وَسَعَةِ الاْرْزَاقِ.
and increase in sustenance.
ثُمَّ جَعَلَ فِي يَدَيْكَ مَفَاتِيحَ خَزَائِنِهِ
Then He has placed the keys of His treasuries in your hands
بِمَا أَذِنَ لَكَ فِيهِ مِنْ مَسْأَلَتِهِ،
in the sense that He has shown you the way to ask Him.
فَمَتَى شِئْتَ اسْتَفْتَحْتَ بِالدُّعَاءِ أَبْوَابَ نِعْمَتِهِ،
Therefore, wherever you wish, open the doors of His favour with prayer,
وَاسْتَمْطَرْتَ شَآبِيبَ رَحْمَتِهِ،
and let abundant rains of His mercy fall on you.
فَلاَ يُقَنِّطَنَّكَ إِبْطَاءُ إِجَابَتِهِ،
Delay in acceptance of prayer should not disappoint you
فَإِنَّ الْعَطِيَّةَ عَلَى قَدْرِ النِّيَّةِ،
because grant of prayer is according to the measure of (your) intention.
وَرُبَّمَا أُخِّرَتْ عَنْكَ الاْجَابَةُ،
Sometimes acceptance (of prayer) is delayed
لِيَكُونَ ذلِكَ أَعْظَمَ لاِجْرِ السَّائِلِ،
with a view to its being a source of greater reward to the asker
وَأَجْزَلَ لِعَطَاءِ الاْمِلِ.
and of better gifts to the expectant.
وَرُبَّمَا سَأَلْتَ الشَّيْءَ فَلاَ تُؤْتَاهُ،
Sometimes you ask for a thing but it is not given to you,
وَأُوتِيتَ خَيْراً مِنْهُ عَاجِلا أَوْ آجِلا،
and a better thing is given to you later,
أَوْ صُرِفَ عَنْكَ لِمَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ،
or a thing is taken away from you for some greater good of yours,
فَلَرُبَّ أَمْر قَدْ طَلَبْتَهُ فِيهِ هَلاَكُ دِينِكَ لَوْ أُوتِيتَهُ،
because sometimes you ask for a thing which contains ruin for your religion if it is given to you.
فَلْتَكُنْ مَسْأَلَتُكَ فِيمَا يَبْقَى لَكَ جَمَالُهُ،
Therefore, your request should be for things whose beauty should be lasting
وَيُنْفَى عَنْكَ وَبَالُهُ;
and whose burden should remain away from you.
فَالْمَالُ لاَ يَبْقَى لَكَ وَلاَ تَبْقَى لَهُ.
As for wealth it will not last for you nor will you live for it.
وَاعْلَمْ يَا بُنَيَّ أَنَّكَ إِنَّمَا خُلِقْتَ لِلاْخِرَةِ لاَ لِلدُّنْيَا،
O my child, know that you have been created for the next world, not for this world,
وَلِلْفَنَاءِ لاَ لِلْبَقَاءِ،
for destruction (in this world) not for lasting,
وَلِلْمَوْتِ لاَ لِلْحَيَاةِ;
and for dying not for living.
وَأَنَّكَ فِي منزل قُلْعَة،
You are in a place which does not belong to you,
وَدارِ بُلْغَة،
a house for making preparations
وَطَرِيق إِلَى الاْخِرَةِ،
and a passage towards the next world.
وَأَنَّكَ طَرِيدُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي لاَ يَنْجُو مِنْهُ هَارِبُهُ،
You are being chased by death from which the runner -away cannot escape,
وَلاَ يَفُوتُهُ طَالِبُهُ، وَلاَبُدَّ أَنَّهُ مُدْرِكُهُ،
as it would surely overtake him.
فَكُنْ مِنْهُ عَلَى حَذَرِ أَنْ يُدْرِكَكَ
So, be on guard against it lest it overtakes you
وَأَنْتَ عَلَى حَال سَيِّئَة،
at a time when you are in a sinful state
قَدْ كُنْتَ تُحَدِّثُ نَفْسَكَ مِنْهَا بِالتَّوْبَةِ،
and you are thinking of repenting
فَيَحُولَ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ ذلِكَ،
but it creates obstruction between you and repentance.
فَإِذَا أَنْتَ قَدْ أَهْلَكْتَ نَفْسَكَ.
In such a case you will ruin yourself.
يَا بُنَيَّ أَكْثِرْ مِنْ ذِكْرِ الْمَوْتِ،
O my child, remember death very much
وَذِكْرِ مَا تَهْجُمُ عَلَيْهِ،
and the place where you have to go suddenly
وَتُفْضِي بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ إِلَيْهِ،
and reach after death,
حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ وَقَدْ أَخَذْتَ مِنْهُ حِذْرَكَ،
so that when it comes you are already on your guard against it
وَشَدَدْتَ لَهُ أَزْرَكَ،
and have prepared yourself for it
وَلاَ يَأْتِيَكَ بَغْتَةً فَيَبْهَرَكَ،
and it does not come to you all of a sudden and surprise you.
وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَغْتَرَّ بِمَا تَرَى مِنْ إِخْلاَدِ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَيْهَا،
Beware, lest you become deceived by the leanings of the people towards worldly attraction
وَتَكَالُبِهِمْ عَلَيْهَا،
and their rushing upon it.
فَقَدْ نَبَّأَكَ اللهُ عَنْهَا،
Allah has warned you about it
وَنَعَتْ هِيَ لَكَ عَنْ نَفْسِهَا،
and the world has informed you of its mortal character
وَتَكَشَّفَتْ لَكَ عَنْ مَسَاوِيهَا،
and unveiled to you its evils.
فَإِنَّمَا أَهْلُهَا كِلاَبٌ عَاوِيَةٌ،
Surely, those (who go) after it are like barking dogs
وَسِبَاعٌ ضَارِيَةٌ،
or devouring carnivore
يَهِرُّ بَعْضُهَا عَلَى بَعْض،
who hate each other.
وَيَأْكُلُ عَزِيزُهَا ذَلِيلَهَا،
The stronger among them eat away the weaker
وَيَقْهَرُ كَبِيرُهَا صَغِيرَهَا.
and the big among them tramples over the small.
نَعَمٌ مُعَقَّلَةٌ،
Some are like tied cattle
وَأُخْرَى مُهْمَلَةٌ،
and some like untied cattle
قَدْ أَضَلَّتْ عُقُولَهَا،
who have lost their wits
وَرَكِبَتْ مَجْهُولَهَا.
and are running in unknown directions.
سُرُوحُ عَاهَة بِوَاد وَعْث،
They are flocks of calamities wandering in rugged valleys.
لَيْسَ لَهَا رَاع يُقِيمُهَا،
There is no herdsman to detain them
وَلاَ مُسِيمٌ يُسِيمُهَا.
nor any tenderer to take them to grazing.
سَلَكَتْ بِهِمُ الدُّنْيَا طَرِيقَ الْعَمَى،
The world has put them on the track of blindness
وَأَخَذَتْ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ عَنْ مَنَارِ الْهُدَى،
and taken away their eyes from the beacons of guidance.
فَتَاهُوا فِي حَيْرَتِهَا،
They have therefore perplexed in its bewilderings
وَغَرِقُوا فِي نِعْمَتِهَا،
and sunk in its pleasures.
وَاتَّخَذُوهَا رَبّاً،
They took it as a god
فَلَعِبَتْ بِهِمْ وَلَعِبُوا بِهَا،
so it played with them. They too played with it
وَنَسُوا مَا وَرَاءَهَا.
and forgot what is beyond it.
رُوَيْداً يُسْفِرُ الظَّلاَمُ،
Darkness is disappearing gradually.
كَأَنْ قَدْ وَرَدَتِ الاْظْعَانُ;
Now it is as though travellers have got down
يُوشِكُ مَنْ أَسْرَعَ أَنْ يَلْحَقَ!
and the hasteners will soon meet.
وَاعْلَمْ يَا بُنَيَّ أَنَّ مَنْ كَانَتْ مَطِيَّتُهُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ،
Know, O my child, that everyone who is riding on the carriage of night and day
فَإِنَّهُ يُسَارُ بِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ وَاقِفاً،
is being carried by them even though he may be stationary,
وَيَقْطَعُ الْمَسَافَةَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُقِيماً وَادِعاً.
and he is covering the distance even though he is staying and resting.
وَاعْلَمْ يَقِيناً أَنَّكَ لَنْ تَبْلُغَ أَمَلَكَ،
Know with certainty you cannot achieve your desire
وَلَنْ تَعْدُوَ أَجَلَكَ،
and exceed your destined life.
وَأَنَّكَ فِي سَبِيلِ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكَ.
You are on the track of those before you.
فَخَفِّضْ فِي الطَّلَبِ،
Therefore, be humble in seeking
وَأَجْمِلْ فِي الْمُكْتَسَبِ،
and moderate in earning
فَإِنَّهُ رُبَّ طَلَب قَدْ جَرَّ إِلَى حَرَب;
because often seeking leads to deprivation.
فَلَيْسَ كُلُّ طَالِب بِمَرْزُوق،
Every seeker of livelihood does not get it,
وَلاَ كُلُّ مُجْمِل بِمَحْرُوم.
nor is everyone who is moderate in seeking deprived.
وَأَكْرِمْ نَفْسَكَ عَنْ كُلِّ دَنِيَّة وَإِنْ سَاقَتْكَ إِلَى الرَّغَائِبِ،
Keep yourself away from every low thing even though they may take you to your desired aims,
فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تَعْتَاضَ بِمَا تَبْذُلُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ عِوَضاً.
because you will not get any return for your own respect which you spend.
وَلاَ تَكُنْ عَبْدَ غَيْرِكَ وَقَدْ جَعَلَكَ اللهُ حُرّاً.
Do not be the slave of others for Allah had made you free.
وَمَا خَيْرُ خَيْر لاَ يُنَالُ إِلاَّ بِشَرٍّ،
There is no good in good which is achieved through evil
وَيُسْر لاَ يُنَالُ إِلاَّ بِعُسْر.
and no good in comfort that is achieved through (disgracing) hardship.
وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُوجِفَ بِكَ مَطَايَا الطَّمَعِ،
Beware lest bearers of greed should carry you
فَتُورِدَكَ مَنَاهِلَ الْهَلَكَةِ.
and make you descend down to the springs of destruction.
وَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَلاَّ يَكُونَ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ اللهِ ذُو نِعْمَة فَافْعَلْ،
If you can manage that there be no wealthy person between yourself and Allah, do so,
فَإِنَّكَ مُدْرِكٌ قَسْمَكَ،
because in any case you will find what is for you
وَآخِذٌ سَهْمَكَ،
and get your share.
وَإِنَّ الْيَسِيرَ مِنَ اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ أَعْظَمُ وَأَكْرَمُ مِنَ الْكَثِيرِ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ
A little received directly from Allah the Glorified, is more dignified than that which is more but is received through (the obligation of) His creatures,
وَإِنْ كَانَ كُلٌّ مِنْهُ.
although (really) all is from Allah.
وَتَلاَفِيكَ مَا فَرَطَ مِنْ صَمْتِكَ أَيْسَرُ مِنْ إِدْرَاكِكَ مَا فَاتَ مِنْ مَنْطِقِكَ،
It is easier to rectify what you miss by silence than to secure what you lose by speaking.
وَحِفْظُ مَا فِي الْوِعَاءِ بِشَدِّ الْوِكَاءِ.
Whatever is in a pot can be retained by closing the lid.
وَحِفْظُ مَا فِي يَدَيْكَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ طَلَبِ مَا فِي يَدَيْ غَيْرِكَ،
I should prefer you to retain what is in your hands rather to seek what is in other's hands.
وَمَرَارَةُ الْيَأْسِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الطَّلَبِ إِلَى النَّاسِ.
Bitterness of disappointment is better than seeking from people.
وَالْحِرْفَةُ مَعَ الْعِفَّةِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْغِنَى مَعَ الْفُجُورِ،
Manual labour. with chastity is better than the riches of a vicious life.
وَالْمَرْءُ أَحْفَظُ لِسِرِّهِ،
A man is the best guard of his own secrets.
وَرُبَّ سَاع فِيمَا يَضُرُّهُ!
Often a man strives for what harms him.
مَنْ أَكْثَرَ أَهْجَرَ،
He who speaks much speaks nonsense.
وَمَنْ تَفَكَّرَ أَبْصَرَ.
Whoever ponders perceives.
قَارِنْ أَهْلَ الْخَيْرِ تَكُنْ مِنْهُمْ،
Associate with people of virtue; you will become one of them.
وَبَايِنْ أَهْلَ الشَّرِّ تَبِنْ عَنْهُمْ.
Keep aloof from people of vice; you will remain safe from them.
بِئْسَ الطَّعَامُ الْحَرَامُ !
The worst food is that which is unlawful.
وَظُلْمُ الضّعِيفِ أَفْحَشُ الظُّلْمِ!
Oppressing the weak is the worst oppression.
إِذَا كَانَ الرِّفْقُ خُرْقاً كَانَ الْخُرْقُ رِفْقاً.
Where leniency is unsuitable, harshness is lenience.
رُبَّمَا كَانَ الدَّوَاءُ دَاءً،
Often cure is illness
وَالدَّاءُ دَوَاءً،
and illness is cure.
وَرُبَّمَا نَصَحَ غَيْرُ النَّاصِحِ،
Often the ill-wisher gives correct advice
وَغَشَّ الْمُسْتَنْصَحُ.
while the well-wisher cheats.
وَإِيَّاكَ وَالاِتِّكَالَ عَلَى الْمُنَى فَإِنَّهَا بَضَائِعُ النَّوْكَى،
Do not depend upon hopes because hopes are the mainstay of fools.
وَالْعَقْلُ حِفْظُ التَّجَارِبِ،
It is wise to preserve one's experience.
وَخَيْرُ مَا جَرَّبْتَ مَا وَعَظَكَ.
Your best experience is that which teaches you a lesson.
بَادِرِ الْفُرْصَةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَكُونَ غُصَّةً.
Make use of leisure before it changes into (the hour of) grief.
لَيْسَ كُلُّ طَالِب يُصِيبُ،
Every seeker does not achieve (what he seeks);
وَلاَ كُلُّ غَائِب يَؤُوبُ،
and every departed does not return.
وَمِنَ الْفَسَادِ إِضَاعَةُ الزَّادِ،
To lose provision and to earn evil
وَمَفْسَدَةُ الْمَعَادِ،
for the Day of Judgement means ruin.
وَلِكُلِّ أَمْر عَاقِبَةٌ،
Every matter has a consequence.
سَوْفَ يَأْتِيكَ مَا قُدِّرَ لَكَ،
What is destined for you will shortly come to you.
التَّاجِرُ مُخَاطِرٌ،
A trader undertakes a risk.
وَرُبَّ يَسِير أَنْمَى مِنْ كَثِير!
Often a small quantity is more beneficial than a large quantity.
لاَ خَيْرَ فِي مُعِين مَهِين،
There is no good in an ignoble helper,
وَلاَ فِي صَدِيق ظَنِين.
nor in a suspicious friend.
سَاهِلِ الدَّهْرَ مَا ذَلَّ لَكَ قَعُودُهُ،
Be compliant with the world as long as it is in your grip.
وَلاَ تُخَاطِرْ بِشَيْء رَجَاءَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُ،
Do not put yourself to risk as regards anything in expectation for more than that.
وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَجْمَحَ بِكَ مَطِيَّةُ اللَّجَاجِ.
Beware lest the feeling of enmity should overpower you.
احْمِلْ نَفْسَكَ مِنْ أَخِيكَ عِنْدَ صَرْمِهِ عَلَى الصِّلَةِ،
Bear yourself towards your brother in such a way that if he disregards kinship you keep to it;
وَعِنْدَ صُدُودِهِ عَلَى اللَّطَفِ وَالْمُقَارَبَةِ،
when he turns away be kind to him and draw near to him;
وَعِنْدَ جُمُودِهِ عَلَى الْبَذْلِ،
when he withholds spend for him;
وَعِنْدَ تَبَاعُدِهِ عَلَى الدُّنُوِّ،
when he goes away approach him;
وَعِنْدَ شِدَّتِهِ عَلَى اللِّينِ،
when he is harsh be lenient;
وَعِنْدَ جُرْمِهِ عَلَى الْعُذْرِ،
when he commits wrong think of (his) excuse for it,
حَتَّى كَأَنَّكَ لَهُ عَبْدٌ،
so much so as though you are a slave of him
وَكَأَنَّهُ ذُو نِعْمَة عَلَيْكَ.
and he is the benevolent master over you.
وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَضَعَ ذلِكَ فِي غَيْرِ مَوْضِعِهِ،
But take care that this should not be done inappropriately,
أَوْ أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ بِغَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ.
and that you should not behave so with an undeserving person.
لاَ تَتَّخِذَنَّ عَدُوَّ صِدِيقِكَ صَدِيقاً فَتُعَادِيَ صَدِيقَكَ،
Do not take the enemy of your friend as a friend because you will thus antagonize your friend.
وَامْحَضْ أَخَاكَ النَّصِيحَةَ،
Give true advice to your brother,
حَسَنَةً كَانَتْ أَوْ قَبِيحَةً،
be it good or bitter.
وَتَجَرَّعِ الْغَيْظَ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَرَ جُرْعَةً أَحْلَى مِنْهَا عَاقِبَةً،
Swallow your anger because I did not find a sweeter thing than it in the end,
وَلاَ أَلَذَّ مَغَبَّةً.
and nothing more pleasant in consequence.
وَلِنْ لِمَنْ غَالَظَكَ،
Be lenient to him who is harsh to you for it is likely
فَإِنَّهُ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَلِينَ لَكَ،
that he will shortly become lenient to you.
وَخُذْ عَلَى عَدُوِّكَ بِالْفَضْلِ
Treat your enemy with favours,
فَإِنَّهُ أَحْد الظَّفَرَيْنِ.
because this is sweeter of the two successes (the success of revenge and the success of doing favour).
وَإِنْ أَرَدْتَ قَطيِعَةَ أَخِيكَ
If you intend to cut yourself off from a friend
فَاسْتَبْقِ لَهُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ بَقِيَّةً
leave some scope for him from your side
يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهَا إِنْ بَدَا لَهُ ذلِكَ يَوْماً مَّا،
by which he may resume friendship if it occurs to him some day.
وَمَنْ ظَنَّ بِكَ خَيْراً فَصَدِّقْ ظَنَّهُ،
If anyone has a good idea about you prove it to be true.
وَلاَ تُضِيعَنَّ حَقَّ أَخِيكَ اتِّكَالا عَلَى مَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ،
Do not disregard interests of your brother depending upon your terms with him,
فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَكَ بِأَخ مَنْ أَضَعْتَ حَقَّهُ.
for he is not your brother if you disregard his interests.
وَلاَ يَكُنْ أَهْلُكَ أَشْقَى الْخَلْقِ بِكَ،
Your household should not become the most miserable people through you.
وَلاَ تَرْغَبَنَّ فِيمَنْ زَهِدَ عَنْكَ،
Do not lean towards him who turns away from you.
وَلاَ يَكُونَنَّ أَخُوكَ أَقْوَى عَلَى قَطِيعَتِكَ مِنْكَ عَلَى صِلَتِهِ،
Your brother should not be more firm in his disregard of kinship than you in paying regard to it,
وَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ عَلَى الاْسَاءَةِ أَقْوَى مِنْكَ عَلَى الاْحْسَانِ.
and you should exceed in doing good to him than is evil to you.
وَلاَ يَكْبُرَنَّ عَلَيْكَ ظُلْمُ مَنْ ظَلَمَكَ،
Do not feel too much the oppression of a person who oppresses you,
فَإِنِّهُ يَسْعَى فِي مَضَرَّتِهِ وَنَفْعِكَ،
because he is only busy in harming himself and benefiting you.
وَلَيْسَ جَزَاءُ مَنْ سَرَّكَ أَنْ تَسُوءَهُ.
The reward of him who pleases you is not that you displease him.
وَاعْلَمْ يَا بُنَيَّ أَنَّ الرِّزْقَ رِزْقَانِ:
Know O my child, that livelihood is of two kinds –
رِزْقٌ تَطْلُبُهُ،
a livelihood that you seek
وَرِزْقٌ يَطْلُبُكَ،
and a livelihood that seeks you,
فَإِنْ أَنْتَ لَمْ تَأْتِهِ أَتَاكَ.
which is such that if you do not reach it, it will come to you.
مَا أَقْبَحَ الْخُضُوعَ عِنْدَ الْحَاجَةِ،
How bad it is to bend down at the time of need
وَالْجَفَاءَ عِنْدَ الْغِنَى!
and to be harsh in riches.
إِنَّمَا لَكَ مِنْ دُنْيَاكَ مَا أَصْلَحْتَ بِهِ مَثْوَاكَ.
You should have from this world only that with which you can adorn your permanent abode.
وَإِنْ كُنْتَ جَازِعاً عَلَى مَا تَفَلَّتَ مِنْ يَدَيْكَ،
If you cry over what has gone out of your hands
فَاجْزَعْ عَلَى كُلِّ مَا لَمْ يَصِلْ إِلَيْكَ.
then also cry for what has not at all come to you.
اسْتَدِلَّ عَلَى مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ بِمَا قَدْ كَانَ،
Infer about what has not yet happened from what has already happened,
فَإِنَّ الاْمُورَ أَشْبَاهٌ.
because occurrences are ever similar.
وَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِمَّنْ لاَ تَنْفَعُهُ الْعِظَةُ إِلاَّ إِذَا بَالَغْتَ فِي إِيلاَمِهِ،
Do not be like those whom preaching does not benefit unless you inflict pain on them,
فَإِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ يَتَّعِظُ بِالاْدَابِ،
because the wise take instruction from teaching
وَالْبَهَائِمَ لاَ تَتَّعِظُ إِلاَّ بِالضَّرْبِ.
while beasts learn only from beating.
اطْرَحْ عَنْكَ وَارِدَاتِ الْهُمُومِ بِعَزَائِمِ الصَّبْرِ وَحُسْنِ الْيَقِينِ.
Ward off from yourself the onslaught of worries by firmness of endurance and purity of belief.
مَنْ تَرَكَ الْقَصْدَ جَارَ.
He who gives up moderation commits excess.
وَالصَّاحِبُ مُنَاسِبٌ.
A companion is like a relation.
وَالصَّدِيقُ مَنْ صَدَقَ غَيْبُهُ.
A friend is he whose absence also proves the friendship.
وَالْهَوَى شَرِيكُ الْعَمَى.
Passion is a partner of distress.
وَرُبَّ بَعِيد أَقْرَبُ مِنْ قَرِيب،
Often the near ones are remoter than the distant ones,
وَقَرِيب أَبْعَدُ مِنْ بَعِيد.
and often the distant ones are nearer than the near ones.
وَالْغَرِيبُ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ حَبِيبٌ.
A stranger is he who has no friend.
مَنْ تَعَدَّى الْحَقَّ ضَاقَ مَذْهَبُهُ،
He who transgresses right narrows his own passage.
وَمَنِ اقْتَصَرَ عَلَى قَدْرِهِ كَانَ أَبْقَى لَهُ.
He who stays in his position remains constant upon it.
وَأَوْثَقُ سَبَب أَخَذْتَ بِهِ سَبَبٌ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ.
The most trustworthy intermediary is that which you adopt between yourself and Allah the Glorified.
وَمَنْ لَمْ يُبَالِكَ فَهُوَ عَدُوُّكَ.
He who does not care for your interests is your enemy.
قَدْ يَكُونُ الْيَأْسُ إِدْرَاكاً إِذَا كَانَ الطَّمَعُ هَلاَكاً.
When greed leads to ruin deprivation is an achievement.
لَيْسَ كُلُّ عَوْرَة تَظْهَرُ،
Not every defect can be reviewed,
وَلاَ كُلُّ فُرْصَة تُصَابُ.
and not every opportunity recurs.
وَرُبَّمَا أَخْطَأَ الْبَصِيرُ قَصْدَهُ،
Often a person with eyes misses the track
وَأَصَابَ الاْعْمَى رُشْدَهُ.
while a blind person finds the correct path.
أَخِّرِ الشَّرَّ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا شِئْتَ تَعَجَّلْتَهُ.
Delay an evil because you will be able to hasten it whenever you desire.
وَقَطِيعَةُ الْجَاهِلِ تَعْدِلُ صِلَةَ الْعَاقِلِ.
The disregard of kinship of the ignorant is equal to the regard for kinship of the wise.
مَنْ أَمِنَ الزَّمَانَ خَانَهُ،
Whoever takes the world to be safe, it will betray him.
وَمَنْ أَعْظَمَهُ أَهَانَهُ.
Whoever regards the world as great, it will humiliate him.
لَيْسَ كُلُّ مَنْ رَمَى أَصَابَ.
Every one who shoots does not hit.
إِذَا تَغَيَّرَ السُّلْطَانُ تَغَيَّرَ الزَّمَانُ.
When authority changes, the time changes too.
سَلْ عَنِ الرَّفِيقِ قَبْلَ الطَّرِيقِ،
Consult the friend before adopting a course
وَعَنِ الْجَارِ قَبْلَ الدَّارِ.
and the neighbour before taking a house.
إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَذْكُرَ مِنَ الْكَلاَمِ مَا يَكُونُ مُضْحِكاً،
Beware, lest you mention in your speech what may rouse laughter
وَإِنْ حَكَيْتَ ذلِكَ عَنْ غَيْرِكَ.
even though you may be relating it from others.
وَإِيَّاكَ وَمُشَاوَرَةَ النِّسَاءِ فَإِنَّ رَأْيَهُنَّ إِلَى أَفْن،
Do not consult women because their view is weak
وَعَزْمَهُنَّ إِلَى وَهْن.
and their determination unstable.
وَاكْفُفْ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ بِحِجَابِكَ إِيَّاهُنَّ،
Cover their eyes by keeping them under the veil
فَإِنَّ شِدَّةَ الْحِجَابِ أَبْقَى عَلَيْهِنَّ،
because strictness of veiling keeps them for long.
وَلَيْسَ خُرُوجُهُنَّ بِأَشَدَّ مِنْ إِدْخَالِكَ مَنْ لاَ يُوثَقُ بِهِ عَلَيْهِنَّ،
Their coming out is not worse than your allowing an unreliable man to visit them.
وَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَلاَّ يَعْرِفْنَ غَيْرَكَ فَافْعَلْ.
If you can manage that they should not know anyone other than you, do so.
وَلاَ تُمَلِّكِ الْمَرْأَةَ مِنْ أَمْرِهَا مَا جَاوَزَ نَفْسَهَا،
Do not allow a woman matters other than those about hereself,
فَإِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ رَيْحَانَةٌ وَلَيْسَتْ بِقَهْرَمَانَة،
because a woman is a flower not an administrator.
وَلاَ تَعْدُ بِكَرَامَتِهَا نَفْسَهَا،
Do not pay her regard beyond herself.
وَلاَ تُطْمِعْهَا فِي أَنْ تَشْفَعَ لِغَيْرِهَا.
Do not encourage her to intercede for others.
وَإِيَّاكَ وَالتَّغَايُرَ فِي غَيْرِ مَوْضِعِ غَيْرَة،
Do not show suspicion out of place,
فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ يَدْعُو الصَّحِيحَةَ إِلَى السُّقْمِ،
because this leads a correct woman to evil
وَالْبَرِيئَةَ إِلَى الرَّيْبِ.
and a chaste woman to deflection.
وَاجْعَلْ لِكُلِّ إِنْسَان مِنْ خَدَمِكَ عَمَلا تَأْخُذُهُ بِهِ،
For everyone among your servants fix a work for which you may hold him responsible.
فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى أَلاَّ يَتَوَاكَلُوا فِي خِدْمَتِكَ.
In this way, they will not fling the work one over the other.
وَأَكْرِمْ عَشيِرَتَكَ،
Respect your kinsmen
فَإِنَّهُمْ جَنَاحُكَ الَّذِي بِهِ تَطِيرُ،
because they are your wings with which you fly,
وَأَصْلُكَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تَصِيرُ،
the origin towards which you return
وَيَدُكَ الَّتِي بِهَا تَصُولُ.
and your hands with which you attack.
إِسْتَوْدِعِ اللهَ دِينَكَ وَدُنْيَاكَ،
Place your religion and your world at Allah's disposal
وَاسْأَلْهُ خَيْرَ الْقَضَاءِ لَكَ فِي الْعَاجِلَةِ وَالاْجِلَةِ،
and beg Him to ordain the best for you in respect of the near and the far,
وَالدُّنْيَا وَالاْخِرَةِ،
this world and the next;
وَالسَّلاَمُ.
and that is an end to the matter.
1. Ibn Maytham al-Bahrani (vol.5, p.2) has quoted Abu Ja`far ibn Babawayh al-Qummi to have stated that Amir al-mu'minin wrote this piece of advice in the name of his son Muhammad ibn al-Hanaffiyyah, while al-`Allamah as-Sayyid ar-Radi has written that its addressee is Imam al-Hasan (p.b.u.h.). But the fact is that Amir al-mu' minin wrote another piece of advice to Ibn al-Hanafiyyab in brief which included a part of the same which he wrote to al-Imam al-Hasan. (Kashf al-mahajjah, Ibn Tawus, pp.157- 159; al-Bihar, vol.77, pp.196-198) In any case, whether the addressee is al-Imam al-Hasan or Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, this manifesto of the Imam is a lesson of guidance to action in which the ways of success and achievement can be opened and the straying caravans of mankind can tread the path of guidance. It contains principles of correcting the matters of this world and the next, creating the sense of morality and improving economic and social matters whose like cannot be produced by the epitomes of scholars and philosophers. Its truthful preachings are a strong incentive for recalling to humanity the lessons it has forgotten, reviving the dead lines of social dealings and raising the standards of morality.
