وَقَالَ (عليه السلام):
Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said:
إِذَا أَقْبَلَتِ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى أَحَدٍ
When this world advances towards anyone (with its favours)
أَعَارَتْهُ مَحَاسِنَ غَيْرِهِ
it attributes to him other's good;
وَ إِذَا أَدْبَرَتْ عَنْهُ
and when it turns away from him
سَلَبَتْهُ مَحَاسِنَ نَفْسِهِ.
it deprives him of his own good. 4
4. The meaning is that when a man's fortune is helpful and the world is favourable to him then people describe his performances with exaggeration and give credit to him for others' actions as well, while if a man loses the favour of the world and the clouds of ill-luck and misfortune engulf him, they ignore his virtues and do not at all tolerate even to recall his name. They are friends of him whom the world favours and the foes of him whom the world hits.
