Section: On Caution

Ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-sallam innahu qāla : « al-khayr kathīr , wa-qalīl fāʻiluhu » . Fa-qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ khayr min al-khayr fāʻiluhu , wa-sharr min al-sharr fāʻiluhu

Faṣl

( fī al-ḥadhar )

Wa-ammā al-faṣl al-rābiʻ : wa-huwa al-ḥadhar fa-inna al-dahr thāʼir bi-ṭawāriqihi , wa-munāfir bi-nawāʼibihi , yaghdir in wafá , wa-yaqtul in hafā . Wa-li-dhālika qīla fī manthūr al-ḥikam : al-dunyā murtajiʻat al-hibah , wa-al-dahr ḥasūd lā yaʼtī ʻalá shayʼ illā ghayyarahu . Wa-qāla ʻAbd-al-Ḥamīd: aṣāba al-dunyā man ḥadhirahā , wa-aṣābat al-dunyā man aminahā . Wa-qāla ʻAbd-al-Malik bin Marwān : iḥdharū al-jadīdayn , fa-li-al-aqdār awqāt tughḍī ʻanhā al-abṣār , fa-idhā ṣādafat ṭawāriquhu ghirran mustarsilan , ṣāra hadafan li-sihāmihā al-ṣawāʼib , wa-gharaḍan li-munāfarat al-ḥawādith wa-al-nawāʼib . Wa-qad qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ : man aʻraḍa ʻan al-ḥadhar wa-al-iḥtirās, wa-baná amrahu ʻalá ghayr asās , zāla ʻanhu al-ʻizz , wa-istawlá ʻalayhi al-ʻajz wa-in qaddama li-ṭawāriqihi ḥadhar al-mutayaqqiẓ , wa-talaqqāhā bi-ʻuddat al-mutaḥaffiẓ , radda bādiratahā bi-ʻazm dhī ḥazm; qad ḥalaba ashṭur dahrihi , wa-qāma bi-wāḍiḥ ʻanzihi . Wa-qad qāla baʻḍ al-shuʻarāʼ :

Inna li-al-dahri ṣawlatan fa-iḥdharannahā ٭ lā tabītanna qad aminta al-duhūrā

Thumma huwa baʻīd ḥadharihi mustaslim li-qaḍāʼ lā yuradd , wa-qadar lā yuṣadd . Wa-qad rawá Abū al-Dardāʼ ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-sallam annahu qāla : « iḥdharū al-dunyā fa-innahā asḥar min Hārūt wa-Mārūt » . Wa-qīla li-baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ : man al-saʻīd ? Qāla : man iʻtabara bi-amsihi wa-istaẓhara li-nafsihi . Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-shuʻarāʼ :

Wa-ḥadhirtu min amrin fa-marra bi-jānibī ٭ lam yabkinī wa-laqītu mā lam aḥdhar

Wa-li-al-ḥadhar ḥadd yaqif ʻindahu , in zāda ʻalayhi ṣāra khawaran , kamā in li-al-iqdām ḥaddan , in zāda ʻalayhi ṣāra tahawwuran , wa-al-ziyādah ʻalá al-ḥudūd naqṣ fī al-maḥdūd , wa-lahumā zamān in kharajā ʻanhu ṣāra al-ḥadhar fashalan ; wa-al-iqdām kharaqan , wa-ʻārihimā muʻtabar bi-ḥazm al-ʻāqil , wa-yaqẓat al-fiṭan . Wa-qad qīla fī manthūr al-ḥikam : aydī al-ʻuqūl tumsik aʻinnat al-anfus . Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ: li-yuʻarrifka al-sulṭān ʻinda iftitāḥ al-tadbīr bi-al-ḥadhar , wa-ʻinda wuqūʻ al-amr bi-al-jidd . Wa-al-ḥadhar yalzam min arbaʻat awjuh : aḥaduhā al-ḥadhar min Allāh taʻālá fī-mā faraḍa , wa-al-thānī al-ḥadhar min al-sulṭān fī-mā fawwaḍa , wa-al-thālith al-ḥadhar min al-zamān fī-mā iʻtaraḍa , wa-al-rābiʻ al-ḥadhar min ghalabat al-aʻdāʼ wa-makr al-duhāh .

Fa-ammā al-ḥadhar min Allāh taʻālá , fa-huwa ʻimād al-dīn al-bāʻith ʻalá al-ṭāʻah . Wa-al-ḥadhar minhu ; huwa al-wuqūf ʻalá awāmirihi , wa-al-intihāʼ ʻan zawājirihi , fa-yaʻmal bi-ṭāʻatihi fī-mā amara , wa-yantahī ʻan maʻṣiyatihi fī-mā ḥaẓara , fa-lan tará qalīl al-ḥadhar illā mutajawwizan fī dīnihi , ṭāmiḥan fī ghulawāʼihi , lā yará rushdan fī al-ʻājil , wa-huwa ʻalá waʻīd fī al-ājil, maʻa nufūr al-nafs minhu , wa-sirāyat al-dhamm fīhi . Wa-qad qīla fī baʻḍ al-ṣuḥuf al-ūlá : al-ʻizzah wa-al-qūwah yuʻaẓẓimān al-qalb , wa-afḍal minhumā khawf Allāh taʻālá , li-anna man lam tardaʻhu khashyat Allāh , lam yakhaf al-waḍīʻah , wa-lam yaḥtaj ilá nāṣir . Wa-qāla ʻAlī bin Abī Ṭālib raḍiya Allāh ʻanhu : man ḥāwala amran bi-maʻṣiyat Allāh kāna abʻad li-mā rajā , wa-aqrab li-majīʼ mā ittaqá . Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ: khayr al-akhlāq aʻwanuhā ʻalá al-waraʻ . Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-salaf : innamā laka min dunyāka mā aṣlaḥta bihi mathwāka . Wa-qāla al-Buḥturī :

Yā-jāmiʻan māniʻan wa-al-dahru yarmuquhu ٭ mufakkiran ayya bābin fīhi yaṭruquhu Jamaʻta mālan fa-fakkir hal jamaʻta lahu ٭ yā-jāmiʻa al-māli ayyāman tufarriquhu

Wa-ammā al-ḥadhar min al-sulṭān , fa-huwa waththāb bi-qudratihi , mutaḥakkim bi-saṭwatihi , yamīl bihi al-hawá fa-yaqṭaʻ bi-al-ẓann , wa-yuʼākhidh bi-al-irtiyāb , fa-al-thiqah bihi ʻajz , wa-al-istirsāl maʻahu khaṭar . Wa-qad qīla: thalāthah lā amān lahum: al-sulṭān wa-al-baḥr wa-al-zamān . Wa-qīla : idhā taghayyara al-sulṭān taghayyara al-zamān , wa-al-ḥadhar minhu fī ḥālatay al-sakhaṭ wa-al-riḍā aslam li-annahu yastadhnib idhā malla , ḥattá yaṣīr al-muḥsin ʻindahu ka-al-musīʼ , fa-istakhliṣ raʼyahu bi-al-nuṣḥ wa-istadfiʻ tanakkurahu bi-al-ḥadhar . Wa-qad qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ: iṣḥab al-sulṭān bi-thalāth al-ḥadhar wa-rafḍ al-dawlah , wa-al-ijtihād fī al-nuṣḥ , wa-ḥadharuka minhu yakūn bi-thalāthat umūr : aḥaduhā : an lā tuʻawwil ʻalá al-thiqah fī idlāl wa-istirsāl , fa-mā jarat al-thiqah illā nadaman kamā qāla al-shāʻir :

Mā ziltu asmaʻu kam min wāthiqin khajil ٭ ḥattá ibtalaytu fa-ṣirtu al-wāthiqa al-khajilā

Wa-qad qīla : al-khurq al-dalālah ʻalá al-sulṭān , wa-al-wathbah qabla al-imkān . Fa-iqbiḍ nafsaka idhā qaddamaka , wa-tawāḍaʻ lahu idhā ʻaẓẓamaka , wa-iḥtashimhu idhā ānasaka , wa-lin lahu idhā khāshanaka , wa-iṣbir ʻalá tajannīhi idhā ghālaẓaka . Fa-huwa ʻalá al-tajannī aqdar , fa-kun ʻalá iḥtimālihi aṣbar , fa-rubbamā kānat mujāmalatuhu laka makran , wa-tajannīhi ʻalayka ʻudhran , fa-qad qīla fī baʻḍ al-ṣuḥuf al-ūlá : ḥubb al-malik wa-hawāhu yushbih al-ṭall alladhī yanzil ʻalá al-ʻushb . Wa-qad qālat ḥukamāʼ al-Hind : mathal al-sulṭān fī qillat wafāʼihi li-al-aṣḥāb , wa-sakhāʼ nafsihi ʻanhum mathal al-baghī , wa-al-maktab , kullamā dhahaba wāḥid jāʼa ākhar . Wa-al-ʻArab taqūl : al-sulṭān dhū ʻudwān wa-bidwān , fa-lā tajʻal lahu fī iẓhār tanakkurihi ʻalayka ʻudhran , fa-rubbamā iʻtarafa bi-al-ḥaqq fa-wafá , wa-raqqa bi-al-ṣabr fa-kaffa , wa-li-dhālika qīla fī amthāl Kalīlah wa-Dimnah : ṣāḥib al-sulṭān ka-rākib al-asad yakhāfuhu al-nās ; wa-huwa li-markūbihi ashadd khawfan . Wa-qad rawá Muṣʻab bin Manṣūr ʻan ʻUqbah bin ʻĀmir ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-ālihi wa-sallam annahu qāla: « al-saʻīd man wuʻiẓa bi-ghayrihi ». Wa-qāla shāʻiruhu Ḥassān bin Thābit .

Wa-lā taʼmani al-dahra al-futūna fa-innī ٭ bi-raʼyi alladhī lā yaʼmanu al-dahra muqtadī

Wa-al-thānī : fī ḥadharika minhu ; an tusāʻidahu ʻalá maṭālibihi , wa-tuwāfiqahu ʻalá maḥābbihi wa-mashāribihi ; wa-lā taṣuddahu ʻan gharaḍ , idhā lam yaqdaḥ fī dīn wa-lā ʻirḍ , wa-lā tatawaqqaf ʻan ijābatihi , wa-in shaghalaka mā huwa ahamm , fa-mā yuqīm laka ʻudhran idhā wajadaka fī aghrāḍihi muqaṣṣiran , wa-in kunta ʻalá maṣāliḥ mulkihi mutawaffiran ; fa-innahu ittakhadhaka li-nafsihi thumma li-mulkihi ; wa-qad yuqaddim ḥaẓẓ nafsihi ʻalá maṣlaḥat mulkihi ; li-ghalabat al-hawá ; wa-nāziʻ al-shahwah , wa-li-dhālika qāla al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-sallam : « ḥubbuka al-shayʼ yuʻmī wa-yuṣimm » ay yuʻmī ʻan al-rushd , wa-yuṣimm ʻan al-mawʻiẓah . Fa-kun mutawaffiran ʻalá murādihi; li-yaslam iʻtiqāduhu laka , fa-in qadaḥat aghrāḍuhu fī dīn aw ʻirḍ , salalta nafsaka min wizrihā , wa-taḥaffaẓta min shaynihā , bi-al-talaṭṭuf fī ʻiffah ʻanhā bi-mā yaʻtāḍuhu badalan minhā . Li-yasʹhul ʻalayhi iqlāʻuhu ʻanhā; fa-in sāʻadaka ʻalayhi , salima dīnukumā ; wa-zāla shaynukumā . Wa-qad rawá Abū Ḥāzim ʻan Sahl bin Saʻd ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-sallam annahu qāla : « lillāh khazāʼin li-al-khayr wa-al-sharr mafātīḥuhā al-rijāl ; fa-ṭūbá li-man jaʻalahu miftāḥan li-al-khayr mighlāqan li-al-sharr . Wa-wayl li-man jaʻalahu miftāḥan li-al-sharr mighlāqan li-al-khayr ». Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-shuʻarāʼ :

Satalqá alladhī qaddamta li-al-khayri muḥḍaran ٭ wa-anta bi-mā taʼtī min al-khayri asʻad

Wa-in aṣarra ʻalayhā linta fī matārakatihi , wa-aḥjamta ʻan musāʻadatihi , wa-huwa khidāʻ yatadallas bi-al-mughālaṭah , wa-yakhfá bi-al-ḥazm , fa-istanjid fīhi ʻaqlaka , wa-istaʻmil fīhi ḥazmaka ; li-taslam min tanakkurihi; wa-takhluṣ min wizrihi. Fa-qad ruwiya ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-sallam annahu qāla : « inna min shirār al-nās ʻinda Allāh yawm al-qiyāmah ʻabd adhhaba ākhiratahu bi-dunyā ghayrihi » .

Wa-al-thālith : fī ḥadharika minhu an tadhubb ʻan nafsihi wa-mulkihi bi-mā istaṭaʻta min māl wa-nafs , fa-innaka ʻan nafsika tadhubb wa-lahā tarubb , li-annahu lā yaṣluḥ ḥāluka ; maʻa fasād ḥālihi , wa-anta farʻ min aṣlihi ; wa-huwa yastarsil li-thiqatihi bika , wa-yastaslim li-taʻwīlihi ʻalayka , fa-qābil thiqatahu bi-amānatika , wa-istislāmahu bi-kifāyatika , wa-lā tuljiʼhu an yubāshir dafʻ al-khawf wa-al-ḥadhar , fa-yuljiʼuka ilá mā huwa akhwaf wa-aḥdhar ; li-annaka takhāfuhu wa-takhāf mā yakhāfuhu ; fa-yatawālá ʻalayka khawfān wa-yatamālaʼ ʻalayka khaṭarān . Wa-qāla al-shāʻir :

Inna al-balāʼa yuṭāqu ghayra muḍāʻafin ٭ fa-idhā taḍāʻafa ṣāra ghayra muṭāq fa-idfaʻ khawfaka minhu bi-difāʻika ʻanhu , takun min al-khawfayn āminan ; wa-min al-khaṭarayn sāliman . Wa-qad qāla ʻĀṣim bin ʻUmar bin al-Khaṭṭāb raḍiya Allāh ʻanhumā :

Ka-annaka lam tanṣab wa-lam talqa shiddatan ٭ idhā anta adrakta alladhī kunta taṭlub

Wa-iʻlam anna li-sulṭānika ʻalayka ḥuqūqan laka ʻalayhi mithlahā ; fa-ḥuqūquhu ʻalayka thalāthah : aḥaduhā qiyāmuka bi-maṣāliḥ mulkihi . Wa-hiya arbaʻ : ʻimārat bilādihi ; wa-taqwīm ajnādihi ; wa-tathmīr mawāddihi ; wa-ḥiyāṭat raʻīyatihi . Wa-al-thānī min ḥuqūqihi ʻalayka qiyāmuka bi-maṣāliḥ nafsihi , wa-hiya arbaʻ : idrāk kifāyatihi ; wa-taḥammul ʻawāriḍihi ; wa-tahdhīb ḥāshiyatihi ; wa-istiʻdād mā yadfaʻ bihi al-nawāʼib . Wa-al-thālith min ḥuqūqihi ʻalayka , qiyāmuka bi-muqāwamat aʻdāʼihi , wa-dhālika bi-arbaʻat ashyāʼ : taḥṣīn al-thughūr , wa-istikmāl al-ʻuddah , wa-tartīb al-ʻasākir , wa-taqdīr al-ḥudūd , fa-add ḥuqūq sulṭānihi , wa-waffi shurūṭ iʼtimānihi , wa-iḥdhar bādirat muʼākhadhatihi in qaṣṣarta , wa-saṭwat intiqāmihi in farraṭta , fa-qad qīla fī manthūr al-ḥikam : man faʻala mā shāʼa , laqiya mā lam yashaʼ . Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-bulaghāʼ : man ūliʻa bi-qubḥ al-muʻāmalah ūjiʻa bi-qabīḥ al-muqābalah . Wa-iʻlam anna bādirat al-intiqām , asraʻ min ẓuhūr al-inʻām , li-anna al-intiqām yaṣdur ʻan ṭaysh al-ghaḍab ; wa-al-inʻām yaṣdur ʻan ināt al-karam , fa-rubbamā hajama al-intiqām qabla al-ḥadhar in tamma ʻalá mudāwamat al-ḥadhar . Wa-li-dhālika qāla Abūzabīd al-Ṭāʼī:

Wa-al-khayru lā yaʼtīka mujtamiʻan ٭ wa-al-sharru yasbiqu saylahu maṭaruhu

Wa-qad qīla fī ḥikam al-Furs : mā aḍʻaf ṭamaʻ ṣāḥib al-sulṭān fī al-salāmah. Wa-dhālika annahu in ʻaffa janá ʻalayhi al-ʻifāf ʻadāwat al-khāṣṣah , wa-in basaṭa yadahu janá ʻalayhi al-basṭ alsinat al-mutanaṣṣiḥīn , fa-lazimaka bi-dhālika an yakūn ḥadharuka aghāb min rajāʼika , wa-khawfuka akthar min amnika , wa-la-an tukaddir bihimā al-ʻaysh fa-humā ilá al-salāmah adʻá . Wa-qad qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ : bi-al-ṣabr ʻalá mā takrah tanāl mā tuḥibb ; wa-bi-al-ṣabr ʻalá mā tuḥibb tanjū mā takrah .

Fa-ammā mā yuqābiluhā min ḥuqūqika ʻalá sulṭānihi fa-thalāthah . Aḥaduhā : maʻūnatuka ʻalá naẓarika ; wa-dhālika bi-arbaʻat ashyāʼ : taqwiyat yadika ; wa-tanfīdh amrika , wa-iṭlāq kifāyatika, wa-an lā yajʻal li-ghayrika ʻalayka amran . Wa-qad qāla Sābūr bin Azdashīr fī ʻahdihi ilá ibnihi Hurmuz : yanbaghī li-al-wazīr an yakūn qawī al-amr ; maqbūl al-qawl ; yamnaʻuhu makānuhu minka min al-ḍarāʻah li-ghayrika , wa-tabʻathuhu al-thiqah bika ʻalá badhl al-naṣīḥah laka , wa-yushajjiʻuhu mā yaʻrif min raʼyika ʻalá muqāwamat aʻdāʼika , wa-uḥadhdhiruka an tunzil bi-hādhihi al-manzilah man siwāhu min khadamika . Wa-al-thānī min ḥuqūqika ʻalayhi : an tathiq minhu bi-arbaʻat ashyāʼ . An lā yuʼākhidhaka bi-ghayr dhanb ; wa-lā yaṭmaʻ fī mālika min ghayr khiyānah ; wa-an lā yuqaddim ʻalayka man dūnika , wa-lā yumakkin minka ʻaduwwan . ʻAhida malik ilá ibnihi fa-qāla : innaka lan taṣil ilá iḥkām mā turīduhu min tadbīr mulkika illā bi-maʻūnat wuzarāʼika wa-aʻwānika ; fa-aʻinhum ʻalá ṭāʻatika bi-mubāsharatika ; wa-ʻalá maʻūnatika bi-musāʻadatika . Wa-al-thālith min ḥuqūqika ʻalayhi : an yaḥfaẓaka fī manzilatika fī arbaʻat ashyāʼ : an lā yartāb bi-bāṭinika wa-ẓāhiruka salīm; fa-yuʼākhidhaka bi-al-ẓann wa-yaʻjaz ʻan dafʻihi bi-al-yaqīn , fa-laysa yuʼākhadh bi-ḍamāʼir al-qulūb illā ʻallām al-ghuyūb . Qīla li-Kisrá bin Qubādh : inna qawman min khawāṣṣika qad fasadat sarāʼiruhum . Fa-waqqaʻa: anā amlik al-ajsād dūna al-nīyāt, wa-aḥkum bi-al-ʻadl lā bi-al-riḍá , wa-afḥaṣ ʻan al-aʻmāl lā ʻan al-sarāʼir . Wa-al-thānī an lā yastabdil bika wa-naẓaruka mustaqīm , fa-taqill thiqatuka wa-yaḍʻuf nashāṭuka , wa-lā tajid min nafsika nuhūḍan bi-mā kallafaka ; fa-inna dawāʻī al-ṭabʻ ablagh min maṣnūʻ al-takalluf ; wa-qad ittakhadhaka li-istiqāmah wajadahā bika , fa-idhā aḍāʻa ḥaqqaka bi-al-istibdāl ẓalama nafsahu wa-kāna min ghayrika ʻalá khaṭar . Wa-qad qāla Kisrá : al-wizārah abʻad al-umūr min an taḥtamil ghayr ahlihā , li-anna al-wazīr min al-malik bi-manzilat samʻihi wa-baṣarihi wa-lisānihi wa-qalbihi, li-annahu mughlaq al-abwāb mastūr ʻan al-abṣār . Li-yaḥfaẓahu fī amwālihi , wa-yastur khalalahu fī afʻālihi , wa-ḥaqīq bi-man kāna bi-hādhihi al-manzilah an yakūn maḥfūẓan wa-malḥūẓan . Wa-al-thālith an lā yuʼākhidhaka bi-dark mā jarrahu al-qaḍāʼ wa-sāqahu al-qadar; fa-yajʻalaka gharaḍan fī muʻāraḍat khāliqihi , wa-hal anta fīhi illā ka-mithlihi fa-kayfa takūn afʻāl Allāh dhunūban li-ʻibādihi . Wa-qad qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ : al-umūr tuṭlab bi-al-ʻanāʼ wa-tudrak bi-al-qaḍāʼ . Wa-li-dhālika qāla Rasūl Allāh ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-sallam : « idhā arāda Allāh taʻālá infādh qaḍāʼihi wa-qadarihi salaba dhawī al-ʻuqūl ʻuqūlahum ḥattá yanfudh fīhim qaḍāʼuhu wa-qadaruhu » . Wa-al-rābiʻa : an lā yuḥammilaka mā laysa fī qudratika ; wa-lā yukallifaka mā laysa fī ṭāqatika ; fa-lā yukallif Allāh nafsan illā wusʻahā , wa-mā dhālika illā min dawāʻī al-tajannī wa-mabādī al-tanakkur . Qāla ḥakīm al-Rūm : awwal mā yabtadiʼ taghayyur al-mulūk fī al-ʻayn , fa-idhā izdāda kharaja ilá al-lisān , fa-idhā izdāda kharaja ilá al-yad . Fa-qad waḍaḥa bi-hādhihi al-jumlah muqābalat ḥuqūqika ʻalayhi bi-ḥuqūqihi ʻalayka . Wa-qad qāla al-Muʻtaṣim : man ṭalaba al-ḥaqq bi-mā ʻalayhi adrakahu , ghayr anna ḥuqūqaka ʻalayhi mawḍūʻah ʻalá al-muʼākhadhah bi-aqallihā , li-istiṭālatihi ʻalayka bi-al-qudrah wa-quṣūrika ʻanhu bi-al-niyābah ; fa-kun ʻalá mā iqtaḍāhu manāb al-wizārah , wa-aʻṭihi mā istaḥaqqahu bi-sāṭān al-mulk , fa-yanjaḥ saʻyuka lahu ikdāʼ saʻyihi ʻalayka . Wa-qad waṣafa Mūbadhān Mūbadh fī kitāb al-mulūk fa-qāla : hum , aʻyunuhum al-maṣūnah ʻindahum; wa-ādhānuhum al-wāʻiyah ; wa-alsinatuhum al-shāhidah , li-annahu laysa aḥad asʻad min wuzarāʼ al-mulūk idhā saʻidat al-mulūk , wa-lā aqrab ilá al-halakah min wuzarāʼ al-mulūk idhā halakat al-mulūk, fa-turfaʻ al-tuhmah ʻan al-wuzarāʼ idhā ṣārat naṣāʼiḥuhum li-al-mulūk naṣāʼiḥuhum li-anfusihim ; wa-yuʻṭihim al-yaqīn bihim ḥīna ṣāra ijtihāduhum li-al-mulūk ijtihāduhum li-anfusihim , fa-lā tattahim rūḥ ʻalá jasad wa-lā yattahim jasad ʻalá rūḥ , li-anna zawāl ilfihimā zawāl niʻmatihimā, wa-iltiʼām ilfihimā ṣalāḥ ṣāḥibihimā.

Wa-ammā ḥadharuka min al-zamān : fa-innahu yataqallab bi-alwānihi , wa-yakhshun baʻda liyānihi , fa-yaslub mā aʻṭá , wa-yufarriq mā jamaʻa . Wa-qad rawá Abū Ḥāzim ʻan Abī Bakr raḍiya Allāh taʻālá ʻanhu ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-sallam annahu qāla : « unẓurū dūr man taskunūn , wa-arḍ man tazraʻūn , wa-fī ṭuruq man tamshūn » . Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ : al-dunyā in baqiyat laka lam tabqa lahā . Wa-qīla fī manthūr al-ḥikam : man ʻataba ʻalá al-zamān ṭālat maʻtabatuhu , wa-man lam yataʻarraḍ li-al-nawāʼib taʻarraḍat lahu . Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-bulaghāʼ : inna al-dunyā tuqbil iqbāl al-ṭālib ; wa-tudbir idbār al-hārib ; lā tabqá ʻalá ḥālah wa-lā takhlū min istiḥālah ; tuṣliḥ jāniban bi-ifsād jānib ; wa-tusirr ṣāḥiban bi-masāʼat ṣāḥib ; fa-al-kawn fīhā khaṭar , wa-al-thiqah bihā gharar . Wa-qad qāla Qays bin al-Khaṭīm :

Wa-min ʻādati al-ayyāmi an ṣurūfahā ٭ idhā sarra minhā jānibun sāʼa jānib

Wa-ḥadharuka min zamānika yakūn min arbaʻat awjuh :

Aḥaduhā : an lā tathiq bi-musāʻadatihi , wa-lā tarkan ilá muyāsaratihi , fa-taghfal ʻan al-ḥadhar wa-al-istiʻdād , fa-rubbamā inʻakasa fa-iftarasa , wa-khāfaḍa fa-ikhtalasa . Wa-qad qīla : li-al-dahr ṣurūf , lastu ʻanhā bi-maṣrūf . Qāla Abū al-ʻAtāhiyah :

Inna al-zamāna wa-in alāna li-ahlihi ٭ la-mukhāshin Fa-khuṭūbuhu al-mutaḥarrikātu ٭ ka-annahunna sawākin

Wa-al-wajh al-thānī : an tantahiz furṣat makanatika , bi-fiʻl al-jamīl wa-ghars al-ṣanāʼiʻ , wa-isdāʼ al-ʻawārif . Li-yakūnū laka dhukhran fī al-nawāʼib , wa-khalafan fī al-ʻawāqib , wa-lā yulhika istikfāʼuka ʻan al-istiẓhār , wa-lā yamnaʻka istighnāʼuka ʻan al-istikthār. Fa-qad qīla : al-marʼ ibn yawmihi , fa-li-yatanabbah min nawmihi . Wa-ruwiya ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-sallam annahu qāla : « ightanim khamsan qabla khams . Shabābaka qabla haramika , wa-ṣiḥḥataka qabla saqamika , wa-ghināka qabla ʻadamika , wa-farāghaka qabla shughlika , wa-ḥayātaka qabla mawtika » . Wa-qāla Saʻīd bin Salm :

Innamā al-dunyā habātun ٭ wa-ʻawārun mustaraddah Shiddatun baʻda rakhāʼin ٭ wa-rakhāʼun baʻda shiddah

Wa-al-wajh al-thālith : an takiff nafsaka ʻan al-qabīḥ; wa-taqbiḍ yadaka ʻan al-isāʼah ; li-tukfá raṣad al-tirāt , wa-ghawāʼil al-hafawāt , fa-taʼman min wajalika; wa-taslam min zalalika . Wa-lā tataṭāwal bi-al-qudrah , fa-taghfal wa-anta maṭlūb , wa-taʼman wa-anta maslūb . Ruwiya ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa sallam annahu qāla : « ittabiʻ al-sayyiʼah al-ḥasanah tamḥuhā » . Wa-qīla fī baʻḍ al-ṣuḥuf al-ūlá : wayl li-al-athamah li-anna al-shaqāʼ lāzim lahum ilá yawm wafātihim , wa-al-ab al-athīm yalʻanuhu banūhu idhā kānū ṣāliḥīn , li-annahum yuʻayyarūn bihi . Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ : bi-iʻtizālika al-sharr yaʻtazilka , wa-bi-al-naṣfah yakthur al-wāṣilūn . Wa-qāla Muḍarris bin Ribʻī : wa-huwa min al-amthāl al-sāʼirah :

Al-khayru abqá wa-in ṭāla al-zamānu bihi ٭ wa-al-sharru akhbathu mā awʻayta min zād

Wa-al-wajh al-rābiʻ : an tastaʻidd li-ākhiratika , wa-tastaẓhir li-maʻādika , wa-lā taghtarr bi-al-amal fa-yajīʼuka al-fawt, wa-lā tulhika al-dunyā fa-taṣuddaka ʻan al-ākhirah , fa-qall man lābisahā fa-salima min tabaʻātihā li-hafawāt ghurūrihā, wa-ʻawāqib shurūrihā . Ruwiya ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa sallam annahu qāla : « yā-ʻajaban kull al-ʻajab li-al-muṣaddiq bi-dār al-khulūd wa-huwa yasʻá li-dār al-ghurūr ». Wa-qīla fī manshūr al-ḥikam : ṭalāq al-dunyā mahr al-jannah , fa-kaffir maʻāṣīhā bi-al-tawbah , wa-ijbir masāwīhā bi-al-ṭāʻah , wa-lā tuḍayyiʻ ḥaẓẓaka fīhā , wa-lā tansa naṣībaka minhā , wa-aḥsin kamā aḥsana Allāh ilayka . Ruwiya ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa sallam annahu qāla : « al-nās ghādiyān , fa-ghādin nafsahu fa-muʻtiquhā , wa-mūthiq nafsihi fa-mūbiquhā » . Rawá Abū Mūsá ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa sallam annahu qāla : « ʻalá kull muslim ṣadaqah . Qālū : fa-in lam yajid . Qāla : yuʻīn dhā al-ḥājah al-malhūf . Qālū : fa-in lam yafʻal . Qāla : yaʼmur bi-al-maʻrūf wa-yanha ʻan al-munkar . Qālū : fa-in lam yafʻal . Qāla . Yumsik ʻan al-sharr fa-innahā ṣadaqah »

Wa-ammā al-ḥadhar min ahl al-zamān : fa-li-anna al-ansān maḥsūd bi-al-niʻmah , maghbūṭ bi-al-salāmah , wa-al-nās ʻalá arbaʻat aṭwār mutabāyinah

Aḥaduhā : khayr ʻāqil yusālim bi-khayrihi wa-yusāʻid bi-ʻaqlihi , fa-al-ẓafar bihi saʻādah wa-al-istiʻānah bihi tawfīq; fa-ijtahid an lā yafūtaka ـ wa-in kāna qalīl al-wujūd ـ li-taḥẓá bi-khayrihi wa-tasʻad bi-ʻaqlihi . Wa-qad ruwiya ʻan al-Nabī ṣallá Allāh ʻalayhi wa-sallam annahu qāla : « istarshidū al-ʻāqil tarshudū, wa-lā taʻṣūhu fa-tandamū » . Wa-qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ : min khayr al-ikhtiyār ṣuḥbat al-akhyār, wa-min sharr al-ikhtiyār ṣuḥbat al-ashrār, wa-qalla an yakūn al-ʻāqil al-khayr illā mutaḥallian bi-al-ʻilm mutazayyinan bi-al-adab . Wa-qad qāla baʻḍ al-ḥukamāʼ : lā adab illā bi-ʻaql , wa-lā ʻaql illā bi-adab , wa-mithluhumā ka-mithl al-rūḥ wa-al-jasad fa-al-jasad bi-ghayr rūḥ ṣūrah , wa-al-rūḥ bi-ghayr jasad rīḥ , fa-idhā ijtamaʻā qawiyā fa-nahaḍā wa-anhaḍā , fa-idhā aẓfaraka al-zamān bi-man takāmalat faḍāʼiluhu , wa-tahadhdhabat khaṣāʼiluhu , fa-ittakhidhhu dhakhīrat nawāʼibika , wa-ʻuddat shadāʼidika , tajiduhu kafīl ṣalāḥihā wa-zaʻīm najāḥihā . Qāla al-Ḥawārīyūn li-ʻĪsá bin Maryam ʻalayhi al-salām : man nujālis ? Qāla: man yazīd fī ʻilmikum manṭiquhu , wa-yudhakkirukum Allāh ruʼyatuhu , wa-yurghibukum fī al-ākhirah ʻamaluhu.

Wa-al-ṭawr al-thānī . Sharīr jāhil yaḍurr bi-sharrihi wa-yuḍill bi-jahlihi , fa-iḥdhar mukhālaṭatahu fa-hiya aʻamm min al-summ, wa-anfadh min al-sahm . Fa-sharruhu bi-jahlihi muntashir yaḍʻuf in tūrika , wa-yaqwá in shūrika ; fa-ikfif sharrahu bi-al-ibʻād , wa-lā tuqirrahu bi-al-taqrīb , fa-yalḥaquka bi-ḍararay sharrihi wa-jahlihi . Wa-qad qīla fī manthūr al-ḥikam : min al-jahl ṣuḥbat dhawī al-jahl . Wa-qīla fī baʻḍ asfār banī Isrāʼīl : ibʻad ʻan al-jāhil li-tajid al-rāḥah , fa-inna ḥaml al-raml wa-al-milḥ wa-al-ḥadīd asʹhal min al-mathwá maʻa al-rajul al-jāhil ; wa-ḍarar al-jahl aʻamm min ḍarar al-sharr ; li-anna qānūn al-sharr maʻlūm ; wa-qānūn al-jahl ghayr maʻlūm . Wa-qad qīla : al-jāhil mufriṭ aw mufarriṭ

Wa-al-ṭawr al-thālith : khayr jāhil yusālim bi-khayrihi wa-yuḍill bi-jahlihi , fa-qāribhu in shiʼta li-khayrihi wa-lā tastaʻmilhu li-jahlihi . Li-takūn bi-khayrihi mawsūman , wa-min jahlihi salīman . Fa-qad qāla ʻAbd al-Ḥamīd : li-kull shayʼ lubāb wa-lubāb al-nufūs al-albāb

Wa-al-ṭawr al-rābiʻ . Sharīr ʻāqil wa-huwa al-dāhiyah al-makr , yustaʻmal fī al-khuṭūb idhā ḥazabat ʻalá ḥadhar min makrihi , wa-yutārak fī al-daʻah ʻalá istidfāʻ sharrihi . Wa-qad