Section: The Covenants, Continued

arāda al-inṣāfa kāna ʻadlun aqdara, wa-in lam yuridʹhu fa-yadu al-wazīri maʻahu aqṣaru, wa-innamā arāda al-wazīru ʻawnan li-nafsihi, wa-lam yuridʹhu ʻawnan ʻalá nafsihi, fa-in wajada ilá musāʻadatihi sabīlan sāraʻa ilayhā, wa-in khāfa ḍararahā wa-intishāra al-fasādi bihā talaṭṭafa fī kaffihi ʻanhā in qadara; wa-in taʻadhdhara ʻalayhi talaṭṭafa fī al-khalāṣi minhā in qadara, wa-lā-yajharu bi-al-mukhālafati mā-kāna ʻalá raghbatihi fī al-niẓāri. Suʼila baʻḍu ḥukamāʼi al-Rūmi: ʻan aṣlaḥi mā ʻūshira bihi al-mulūku. Fa-qāla: qillatu al-khilāfi wa-takhfīfu al-muʼnati, fa-li-dhālika lam taṣḥabi al-mulūka illā ʻalá ikhtiyārihim, wa-lam yatamassakū illā bi-man wāfaqahum ʻalá ārāʼihim. Wa-laysa li-man khālafahum ḥaẓẓun minhum, wa-innamā kāna ʻalá khaṭarin maʻahum, wa-idhā rūʻiyat aḥwālu al-nāsi wujidū lā yaʼtalifūna illā bi-al-muwāfaqati fa-kayfa bi-dhawī al-qudrati mina al-mulūki.

Wa-qad qāla al-shāʻiru:

al-nāsu in wāfaqtahum ʻadhdhabū ٭ wa-illā fa-inna janāhum murrun kam min riyāḍin lā anīsa bihā ٭ turikat li-anna ṭarīqahā waʻrun

Wa-qāla baʻḍu al-ḥukamāʼi: ḥirzu al-nāsi thalāthatun: ilfatun tajmaʻuhum, wa-ṭāʻatun tamnaʻuhum, wa-munāṣaḥatun tanfaʻuhum. Fa-innahum in tafarraqū tafarraqat umūruhum, wa-in ʻaṣaw ẓahara nufūruhum, wa-in lam yunāṣiḥū waghirat ṣudūruhum

Faṣl

(Tābiʻu al-ʻuhūdi)

Fa-ammā al-ʻuhūdu al-mūqiẓatu, fa-sa-aqūlu wa-arjū an yaqtarina bi-al-qabūli. Ijʻal ayyuhā al-wazīru li-Allāhi taʻālá ʻalá sirrika raqīban yulāḥiẓuka min zayghin fī ḥaqqihi, wa-ijʻal li-sulṭānika ʻalá khalwatika raqīban yakuffuka ʻan taqṣīrin fī amrihi, li-yaslama dīnuka fī ḥuqūqi Allāhi taʻālá, wa-taslama dunyāka fī ḥuqūqi sulṭānika, fa-tasʻada fī ʻājilatika wa-ājilatika, fa-in tanāfá ijtimāʻuhumā laka, fa-qaddim ḥaqqa Allāhi taʻālá ʻalá ḥaqqi al-maliki, fa-lā ṭāʻata li-makhlūqin fī maʻṣiyati al-khāliqi. Wa-qad ruwiya ʻan al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «man aḥabba dunyāhu aḍarra bi-ākhiratihi, wa-man aḥabba ākhiratahu aḍarra bi-dunyāhu; fa-āthirū mā yabqá ʻalá mā yafná». Wa-ruwiya ʻan al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «man iltamasa riḍá Allāhi bi-sakhaṭi al-nāsi raḍiya Allāhu ʻanhu wa-arḍá ʻanhu al-nāsa». Wa-qāla baʻḍu al-ḥukamāʼi: kullu imriʼin yajrī min ʻumrihi ilá ghāyatin tantahī ilayhā muddatu ajalihi, wa-tanṭawī ʻalayhā ṣaḥīfatu ʻamalihi, fa-khudh min nafsika li-nafsika, wa-qis yawmaka bi-amsika. Wa-kāna ʻUmaru ibnu al-Khaṭṭābi raḍiya Allāhu ʻanhu, yatamaththalu kathīran bi-hādhihi al-abyāti:

Innamā al-nāsu ẓāʻinun wa-muqīmun ٭ fa-alladhī bāna li-al-muqīmi ʻiẓah wa-mina al-nāsi man yaʻīshu sawīyan ٭ sāhira al-layli ʻāmila al-yaqaẓah fa-idhā kāna dhā ḥayāʼin wa-dīnin ٭ ḥādhara al-mawta wa-istaḥá al-ḥafaẓah

Ḥaqqun ʻalayka ayyuhā al-wazīru: an takūna bi-al-raʻīyati khabīran. Wa-ilá aḥwālihim mutaṭalliʻan; wa-bihim ʻalá nafsika wa-ʻalayhim mustaẓhiran, li-annahum min bayni man tasūsuhu aw tastaʻīnu bihi li-taʻlama mā fīhi min faḍlin wa-naqṣin, wa-ʻilmin wa-jahlin, wa-khayrin wa-sharrin, wa-tataḥarraza min ghurūri al-mutashabbihi, wa-tadlīsi al-mutaṣanniʻi; fa-tuʻṭiya kulla wāḥidin ḥaqqahu, wa-lā tuqaṣṣira bi-dhī faḍlin, wa-lā taʻtamida ʻalá dhī jahlin. Fa-qad qīla: mina al-jahli ṣuḥbatu dhawī al-jahli wa-mina al-muḥāli mujādalatu dhī al-muḥāli.

Wa-ifriq bayna al-akhyāri wa-al-ashrāri. Fa-inna dhā al-khayri yabnī, wa-dhā al-sharri yahdimu. Wa-iḥdhari al-kadhūba; fa-lan yanṣaḥaka man ghashsha nafsahu, wa-lan yanfaʻaka man ḍarrahā. Wa-qad qīla: man ḍayyaʻa amrahu fa-qad ḍayyaʻa kulla amrin, wa-man jahila qadrahu jahila kulla qadrin. Wa-lā tastakfiyanna ʻājizan fa-yaḍīʻa al-ʻamalu, wa-lā sharihan fa-yaḍurraka bi-iḥtijānihi. Wa-qad qīla: li-yuʻadda mina al-bahāʼimi man lam takun ghāyatuhu mina al-dunyā illā nafsahu. Wa-lā tuʻná bi-man lā yuḥāfiẓu ʻalá al-murūʼati; fa-qalla mā tajidu fīhi khayran li-zuhdihi fī ṣiyānati nafsihi, wa-maylihi ilá khumūli al-qadri. Wa-baʻīdun man asqaṭa ḥaqqa nafsihi an yaqūma bi-ḥaqqi ghayrihi. Wa-ṣaʻbun ʻalá man alifa isqāṭa al-takallufi an yaḥūla ʻanhu. Wa-qad qīla fī ḥikami al-Hindi: dhawū al-murūʼati yartafiʻu bihā wa-tārikuhā yahbiṭu, wa-al-irtiqāʼu ṣaʻbun wa-al-inḥiṭāṭu hayyinun, ka-al-ḥajari al-thaqīli alladhī rafʻuhu ʻasīrun wa-ḥaṭṭuhu yasīrun. Wa-qāla baʻḍu al-bulaghāʼi: aḥsin riʻāyata dhawī al-ḥurumāti, wa-aqbil ʻalá ahli al-murūʼāti, fa-inna riʻāyata dhawī al-ḥurmati, tadullu ʻalá karami al-shīmati, wa-al-iqbālu ʻalá dhawī al-murūʼati, yuʻribu ʻan sharafi al-himmati

Ikhtabir aḥwāla man istakfaytahu li-taʻlama ʻajzahu min kifāyatihi; wa-iḥsānahu min isāʼatihi, fa-taʻmala bi-mā ʻalimta min iqrāri al-kāfī, wa-ṣarfi al-ʻājizi, wa-ḥamdi al-muḥsini; wa-dhammi al-musīʼi. Wa-qad qīla: man istakfá al-kufāta; kufiya al-ʻudāta, fa-in iltabasat ʻalayka umūruhum. Awhanta al-kāfī, wa-sallaṭta al-ʻājiza; wa-aḍaʻta al-muḥsina; wa-aghrayta al-musīʼa. Wa-li-an yakūna al-ʻamalu ghāʼiban fa-yanṣarifa ilayhi fikruka, awlá min an yubāshirahu ʻājizun aw khāʼinun fa-yaqbuḥa bihimā atharuka, fa-iḥdhari al-ʻājiza fa-innahu muḍayyiʻun, wa-tawaqqi al-khāʼina fa-innahu yakdaḥu li-nafsihi. Wa-qāla al-shāʻiru:

Idhā anta ḥammalta al-khaʼūna amānatan ٭ fa-innaka qad asnadtahā sharra musnadi

Iqtaṣir mina al-aʻwāni bi-ḥasabi ḥājatika ilayhim, wa-lā tastakthir minhum li-tatakaththara bihim, fa-lan yakhluwa al-istikthāru min tanāfurin yaqaʻu bihi al-khalalu, aw-irtifāqin yatashākalu bihi al-ʻamalu, wa-li-yakun aʻwānuka wafqa ʻamalika, fa-innahu anẓamu li-al-shamli, wa-ajmaʻu li-al-ʻamali, wa-ablaghu li-al-ijtihādi, wa-abʻathu ʻalá al-nuṣḥi. Anshadtu li-Ibni al-Rūmī:

ʻAdūwuka min ṣadīqika mustafādu ٭ fa-lā tastakthiranna mina al-ṣiḥābi fa-inna al-dāʼa aktharu mā tarāhu ٭ yakūnu mina al-ṭaʻāmi awi al-sharābi fa-daʻ ʻanka al-kathīra fa-kam kathīrin ٭ yuʻāfu wa-kam qalīlin mustaṭābi fa-mā al-lujaju al-milāḥu bi-murwiyātin ٭ wa-talqá al-rayya fī al-nuṭafi al-ʻidhābi

Hadhdhib nafsaka mina al-danasi; tatahadhdhab jamīʻu atbāʻika. Wa-nazzih nafsaka ʻani al-ṭamaʻi; tatanazzah jamīʻu khulafāʼika. Wa-tawaqqi al-sharra fa-lan yazīdaka illā ḥirṣan in ajdabta, wa-naqṣan in akdayta, wa-humā maʻarratu dhawī al-faḍli, wa-maḍarratu ūlá al-ḥazmi. Wa-qad qīla: bi-ḥamdika lā bi-kufrika. Wa-qad ruwiya ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «iqtarabati al-sāʻatu; wa-lā yazdādu al-nāsu fī al-dunyā illā ḥirṣan, wa-lā tazdādu minhum illā buʻdan» wa-qāla Maḥmūdun al-Warrāqu:

Lā yaghlibannaka ghālibu al-ḥirṣi ٭ wa-iʻlam bi-anna al-nāsa fī naqṣi albis akhāka ʻalá taṣannuʻihi ٭ fa-la-rubba muftaḍiḥin ʻalá al-naṣṣi mā kidtu afḥaṣu ʻan akhī thiqatin ٭ illā ʻadimtu kawāʻiba al-faḥṣi

Ruḍ nafsaka bi-mushārafati al-aʻmāli, yarhabuka jamīʻu ʻummālika, wa-tantaẓimu bihi jamīʻu aʻmālika; wa-lā takil ilá ghayrika mā yakhtaṣṣu bi-mubāsharatika ṭalaban li-al-daʻati, fa-taʻzila ʻanhu nafsaka, wa-tuʼthira bihi ghayraka, fa-takūna min wafāʼihi ʻalá ghadrin; wa-min nafsika ʻalá taqṣīrin, fa-inna al-ʻuṭlata ʻuqlatun, wa-al-jawādu idhā waqafa rākaḍatʹhu al-barādhīnu. Wa-qāla Buzurjmihru: in yakuni al-shughlu majhadatan; fa-inna al-farāgha mafsadatun. Wa-qāla ʻAbd-al-Ḥamīdi: mā-zānaka mā aḍāʻa zamānaka. Wa-lā shānaka, mā aṣlaḥa shānaka.

Ijʻal zamāna farāghika maṣrūfan ilá ḥālatayni. Iḥdāhumā: rāḥatu jasadika, wa-ijmāmu khāṭirika, li-yakūnā ʻawnā-laka ʻalá naẓarika. Ruwiya anna ibnan li-ʻUmara ibni al-ʻAzīzi dakhala ʻalayhi wa-huwa nāʼimun. Fa-qāla: yā-abati tanāmu; wa-al-nāsu ʻalá bābika qiyāmun. Fa-qāla: yā-bunayya inna nafsī maṭīyatī wa-akhāfu an aḥmila ʻalayhā fa-taqʻuda bī. Wa-al-ḥālu al-thāniyatu: an tufakkira baʻda rāḥati jasadika wa-ijmāmi khāṭirika fī-mā qaddamtahu min afʻālika, wa-taṣarrafta fīhi min aʻmālika, hal wāfaqta al-ṣawāba fīhā fa-tajʻalahu mithālan taḥtadhīhi, aw nālaka fīhā zalalun fa-tastadrika minhu mā amkana wa-tantahiya ʻan mithlihi fī al-mustaqbali. Fa-qad qīla: man fakkara abṣara. Wa-qāla baʻḍu al-ḥukamāʼi: man lam yakun lahu min nafsihi wāʻiẓun, lam tanfaʻhu al-mawāʻiẓu. Thumma aṣrif fikraka baʻda dhālika ilá mā-tastaqbiluhu min afʻālika; ʻalá ayyin tumḍīhi? Wa-mādhā tafʻalu fīhi? Fī taqdīmi al-fikri ʻalá al-ʻamali, iḥtirāza-mina al-zalali; li-takūna ʻalá thiqatin mina al-ṣawābi, fa-in ʻāraḍatka al-aqdāru lam tulam. Fa-qad qīla: al-umūru idhā infaḍat, ka-al-kawākibi idhā inqaḍat. Wa-qāla al-Nābighatu al-Jaʻdīyu:

A-lam taʻlamā anna al-malāmata nafʻuhā ٭ qalīlun idhā mā al-shayʼu wallá fa-adbarā

Ikhfiḍ janāḥaka li-man ʻalā, wa-waṭṭiʼ kanafaka li-man danā, wa-tajāfa ʻani al-kibri tamlik mina al-qulūbi mawaddatahā, wa-mina al-nufūsi musāʻadatahā. Fa-qad ruwiya ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-ālihi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «lā waḥdata awḥashu mina al-ʻujbi». Wa-qīla li-ḥakīmi al-Rūmi: man aḍyaqu al-nāsi ṭarīqan wa-aqalluhum ṣadīqan? Qāla: man ʻāshara al-nāsa bi-ʻubūsi wajhihi, wa-istaṭāla ʻalayhim bi-nafsihi. Wa-li-dhālika qīla: al-tawāḍuʻu fī al-sharafi, ashrafu mina al-sharafi

Kun shakūran fī al-niʻmati, ṣabūran fī al-shiddati, lā tubṭirka al-sarrāʼu, wa-lā tudʹhishka al-ḍarrāʼu, li-tatakāfaʼa aḥwāluka, wa-taʻtadila khiṣāluka, fa-taslama min ṭayshi al-naẓari wa-sakrati al-baṭari; fa-innahā tanjalī ʻan nadamin aw ḍararin. Fa-qad qāla baʻḍu al-ḥukamāʼi: al-ʻāqilu lā-yastaqbilu al-niʻmata yabṭaru, wa-lā yuwaddiʻuhā bi-jazaʻin. Wa-qīla fī manshūri al-ḥikami: ishtaghil bi-shukri al-niʻmati ʻani al-baṭari bihā. Wa-qīla fī amthāli al-Hindi: al-ʻāqilu lā-yabṭaru bi-manzilatin aṣābahā wa-lā sharafin, ka-al-jabali alladhī lā yatazalzalu wa-ini ishtaddati al-rīḥu; wa-al-sakhīfu tubṭiruhu adná manzilatin; ka-al-ḥashīshi alladhī yuḥarrikuhu adná rīḥin.

Istadim mawaddata walīyika bi-al-iḥsāni ilayhi, wa-istasilla sakhīmata ʻadūwika baʻda al-iḥtirāzi minhu; wa-dāhin man lam yujāhirka bi-ʻadāwatihi, wa-yuqātiluka bi-mithlihi, fa-yuṭfiʼa thāʼirata ʻadāwatihi, wa-yatawāṭaʼa laka bi-mujāmalatihi. Qīla li-baʻḍi al-ḥukamāʼi: mā al-ḥazmu? Qāla: mudājātu al-aʻdāʼi, wa-muʼākhātu al-akfāʼi.

Wa-lā tuʻawwil ʻalá al-tuhami wa-al-ẓunūni, wa-iṭraḥi al-shakka bi-al-yaqīni. Fa-qad qīla: lā yufsidka al-ẓannu ʻalá ṣadīqin qad aṣābaka al-yaqīnu lahu. Qāla al-shāʻiru: idhā anta lam tabraḥ taẓunnu wa-taqtaḍī ٭ ʻalá al-ẓanni aradatka al-ẓunūnu al-kawādhibu

Wa-ikhtabir mani ishtabahat ḥāluhu ʻalayka, li-taʻlama muʻtaqadahu fīka, fa-tadrī taṣannuʻahu minka, fa-inna al-alsuna lā taṣduqu ʻani al-qulūbi li-mā yataṣannaʻuhu al-mudājī; wa-yatakallafuhu al-mudāhinu. Ka-mā qāla ʻAmru ibnu al-Ahtami:

Lisānuka lī ḥulwun wa-nafsuka murratun ٭ wa-khayruka ka-al-mirʻāti fī al-jabali al-waʻri

Wa-shahādātu al-qulūbi aṣdaqu, wa-dalāʼilu al-nafsi awthaqu. Wa-qad qīla fī manshūri al-ḥikami: li-al-ʻayni sirrun fī ʻilmi mā yusarru. Wa-qāla Ibrāhīmu ibnu al-Mahdīyi:

Taẓallu fī ʻaynihi al-baghḍāʼu kāminatan ٭ fa-al-qalbu yaktumuhā wa-al-ʻaynu tubdīhā wa-al-ʻaynu taʻrifu fī ʻaynay muḥaddithihā ٭ man kāna min ḥizbihā aw man aʻādīhā

Fa-in waqafat bika al-ḥālu ʻalá al-irtiyābi, iʻtaqadta al-mawaddata fī ẓāhirihi; wa-akhadhta bi-al-ḥazmi fī bāṭinihi. Wa-idhā aqnaʻaka al-ighḍāʼu ʻani al-ikhtibāri; fa-lā tatakhaṭṭahu, fa-aktharu al-umūri tamshī maʻa al-taghāfuli wa-al-ighḍāʼi. Wa-qad qāla Aktham ibnu Ṣayfī: man shaddada naffara, wa-man tarākhá taʼallafa, wa-al-sharafu fī al-taghāfuli. Wa-la-qalla-mā jūhira al-mughḍī, wa-qūṭiʻa al-mutaghāfilu; maʻa inʻiṭāfi al-qulūbi ʻalayhi, wa-mayli al-nufūsi ilayhi, wa-hādhā min asbābi al-saʻādati wa-ḥusni al-tawfīqi. Ruwiya Maʻmarun ʻan Khallādi ibni ʻAbdi al-Raḥmāni ʻan abīhi qāla khaṭabanā Rasūlu Allāhi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama. Fa-qāla: «alā ukhbirukum bi-aḥabbikum ilá Allāhi; fa-ẓanannā annahu yusammī rajulan. Fa-qāla: aḥabbukum ilá Allāhi aḥabbukum ilá al-nāsi. Alā ukhbirukum bi-abghaḍikum ilá Allāhi; fa-ẓanannā annahu yusammī rajulan. Fa-qāla: abghaḍukum ilá Allāhi abghaḍukum ilá al-nāsi».

Shāwir fī umūrika man tathiqu dinhu bi-thalāthi khiṣālin. Ṣawābi al-raʼyi; wa-khulūṣi al-nīyati; wa-kitmāni al-sirri. Fa-lā ʻāra ʻalayka an tastashīra man huwa dūnaka, idhā kāna bi-al-shūrá khabīran. Fa-inna li-kulli ʻaqlin dhakhīratan mina al-raʼyi wa-ḥaẓẓan mina al-ṣawābi, fa-tazdāda bi-raʼyi ghayrika wa-in kāna raʼyuka jazlan ka-mā yazdādu al-baḥru bi-mawāddihi mina al-anhāri wa-in kāna ghazīran. Fa-qad ruwiya ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: lā muẓāharata awthaqu mina al-mushāwarati». Wa-qad yufḍalu al-mustashīru ʻalá al-mushīri, wa-yaẓfaru bi-al-raʼyi al-mushīru, li-annahā ḍāllatun yaẓfaru bihā man wajadahā min fāḍilin wa-mafḍūlin. Wa-qad rawá Abū al-Dardāʼi ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «istarshidū al-ʻāqila tarshudū, wa-lā taʻṣūhu fa-tandamū». Wa-ʻawwil ʻalá istishārati man jarraba al-umūra wa-khabarahā; wa-taqallaba fīhā wa-bāsharahā, ḥattá ʻarafa mawāridahā wa-maṣādirahā, fa-lan yakhfiya ʻalayhi khayruhā wa-sharruhā, mā lam yūhinhu ḍaʻfu al-harami. Ka-alladhī ḥukiya ʻan Akthama ibni Ṣayfī wa-qad saʼalahu qawmuhu Banū Tamīmin ʻan mā-dahamahum fī ḥarbi yawmi al-Kilābi. Wa-qālū: ashir ʻalaynā bi-al-raʼyi, fa-innaka shaykhunā wa-ʻamīdunā wa-mawḍiʻu al-raʼyi minnā. Fa-qāla: inna wahna al-kibari qad shāʻa fī jamīʻi badanī, wa-innamā qalbī biḍʻatun minnī. Wa-laysa maʻī min ḥiddati al-dhihni mā abtadiʼu lahu bi-al-raʼyi; wa-lākin taqūlūna wa-asmaʻu; fa-innī aʻrifu al-ṣawāba idhā marra. Wa-ʻawwil ʻalá dhawī al-asnāni fa-inna al-ḥikmata maʻahum. Wa-qad qāla al-shāʻiru:

Inna al-umūra idhā al-aḥdāthu dabbarahā ٭ dūna al-shuyūkhi turá fī baʻḍihā khalalā inna al-shabāba lahum fī al-amri bādiratun ٭ wa-li-al-shuyūkhi anātun tadfaʻu al-zalalā

Wa-iʻdil ʻan ishārati man qaṣada muwāfaqataka mutābaʻatan li-hawāka, wa-iʻtamada mukhālafataka inḥirāfan ʻanka, wa-ʻawwil ʻalá man tawakhkhá al-ḥaqqa laka wa-ʻalayka. Fa-qad qīla fī qadīmi al-ḥikami: mani iltamasa al-rukhaṣa mina al-ikhwāni fī al-raʼyi, wa-mina al-aṭibbāʼi fī al-maraḍi, wa-mina al-fuqahāʼi fī al-shubhati, akhṭaʼa al-raʼya wa-zāda fī al-maraḍi wa-iḥtamala al-wizra. Wa-lā tuʼākhidh mani istashartu bi-daraki al-raʼyi in zalla; fa-mā ʻalayhi illā al-ijtihādu wa-in ḥajazatʹhu al-aqdāru ʻani al-ẓafari. Wa-qad qīla fī manshūri al-ḥikami: man kathura ṣawābuhu lam yuṭāraḥ li-qalīli al-khaṭaʼi

Ikhtar li-asrārika man tathiqu bi-dīnihi wa-kitmānihi, wa-taslamu min idhāʻatihi wa-idlālihi. Law qadarta ʻalá an lā tūdiʻa sirraka ghayraka kāna awlá bika wa-aslama laka, li-annaka fīhā bayna khaṭarin aw ḥadharin. Wa-qad rawá ʻAṭāʼun ʻan ʻUmara ibni al-Khaṭṭābi raḍiya Allāhu taʻālá ʻanhu ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «istaʻīnū ʻalá qaḍāʼi al-ḥawāʼiji bi-kitmānihā fa-inna kulla dhī niʻmatin maḥsūdun». Wa-qad qīla fī manshūri al-ḥikami: infarid bi-sirrika wa-lā tūdiʻhu ḥāziman fa-yazilla, wa-lā jāhilan fa-yakhūna. Wa-al-ʻArabu taqūlu: mani irtāda li-sirrihi fa-qad adhāʻahu

Tathabbat fī-mā lā yuqdaru ʻalá istidrākihi, fa-qalla-mā tuʻqibu al-ʻajalatu illā nadaman. Ruwiya ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «man taʼanná aṣāba aw kāda, wa-man ʻajila akhṭaʼa aw kāda». Wa-qīla fī ḥikami āli Dāwūda. Man kāna dhā tuʼadatin wuṣifa bi-al-ḥikmati. Wa-qīla fī manshūri al-ḥikami: anātun fī ʻawāqibihā darakun; khayrun min ʻajalatin fī ʻawāqibihā fawtun

Wa-qaddim mā qadarta ʻalayhi mina al-maʻrūfi; fa-qalla-mā yuʻqibu al-dhanba illā nadaman, fa-inna li-al-qudrati ghāyatan wa-li-nufūdhi al-amri nihāyatan, fa-ightanimhā fī makinatika tasʻad bi-mā qaddamtahu, wa-yasʻadu bika man aʻantahu. Fa-qad ruwiya ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «li-kulli sāʻin ghāyatun wa-ghāyatu kulli sāʻin al-mawtu». Wa-qad qāla ʻAlīyu ibnu Abī Ṭālibin raḍiya Allāhu ʻanhu: intahizū hādhihi al-furaṣa fa-innahā tamurru marra al-saḥābi. Wa-qāla baʻḍu al-ḥukamāʼi: man akhkhara al-furṣata ʻan waqtihā, fa-li-yakun ʻalá thiqatin min fawtihā. Wa-li-dhālika qīla: khayru al-khayri awḥāhu wa-qāla al-shāʻiru:

Wa-ʻājizu al-raʼyi miḍyāʻun li-furṣatihi ٭ ḥattá idhā fāta amrun ʻātaba al-qadarā

Wa-qīla fī ḥikami al-Fursi: lā khayra fī al-qawli illā maʻa al-fiʻli, ka-mā lā khayra fī al-manẓari illā maʻa al-mukhbari. Wa-qīla fī amthāli al-Hindi: lā yatimmu ḥusnu al-qawli illā bi-ḥusni al-ʻamali, ka-al-marīḍi alladhī lā yabraʼu bi-maʻrifati al-dawāʼi ḥattá yatadāwá

Iḥdhar qabūla al-madḥi mina al-mutamalliqīna; fa-inna al-nifāqa markūzun fī ṭibāʻihim; wa-yudājūnaka bi-hayyinin ʻalayhim, fa-in nafaqū ʻalayka ghashashta nafsaka; wa-dāhanta ḥissaka, wa-ṣaḥḥa fīka mā qīla fī manshūri al-ḥikami: sūqu al-nifāqi dāʼimatu al-nifāqi. Wa-qāla ʻAbdu al-Maliki ibnu Marwāna li-Rawḥi ibni Zinbāʻin: lā taghtābanna ʻindī aḥadan, fa-innī lā aʼtaminuka ʻalá ghaybī, wa-lā tufshi lī sirran, fa-innanī lā athiqu bika fī majlisī, wa-lā tuṭrinī fī wajhī, fa-innī in qabiltuhu minka ghubintu ʻaqlī, wa-in radadtuhu ʻalayka asaʼtu ʻishratī, wa-anta aʻrafu bi-nafsika min ghayrika fī-mā tastaḥiqqu bihi ḥamdan aw dhamman, fa-fātiḥ nafsaka bi-mā fīhā, fa-innaka aʻlamu bi-maḥāsinihā wa-masāwīhā. Wa-qad qīla fī-mā anzala Allāhu taʻālá mina al-kutubi al-sālifati: ʻajibtu li-man qīla fīhi al-khayru wa-laysa fīhi kayfa yafraḥu, wa-ʻajibtu li-man qīla fīhi al-sharru wa-huwa fīhi kayfa yaghḍabu. Wa-qāla baʻḍu al-ḥukamāʼi: man madaḥaka bi-mā laysa fīka, la-ḥaqīqun an yadhummaka bi-mā laysa fīka. Wa-qāla baʻḍu al-bulaghāʼi: man aẓhara shukraka fī-mā lam taʼti ilayhi, fa-iḥdharhu an yakfura niʻmataka fī-mā asdayta ilayhi, fa-fawwiḍ madḥaka ilá afʻālika fa-innahā tamdaḥuka bi-ṣidqin in aḥsanta, wa-tadhummuka bi-ḥaqqin in asaʼta, wa-lā taghtarra bi-mukhādaʻati al-lisāni al-kadhūbi. Fa-qad qīla: abṣaru al-nāsi man aḥāṭa bi-dhunūbihi, wa-waqafa ʻalá ʻuyūbihi. Wa-qad qīla fī baʻḍi al-ṣuḥufi al-ūlá: thimāru al-ḥukamāʼi li-anfusihim. Kataba ḥakīmu al-Rūmi ilá al-Iskandari: lā-targhab fī al-karāmati allatī tanāluhā mina al-nāsi karhan; wa-lākin fī allatī tastaḥiqquhā bi-ḥusni al-athari wa-ṣawābi al-tadbīri

Iʻtamid bi-naẓarika iḥmāda sulṭānika, wa-shukra raʻīyatika, takun ayyāmuka saʻīdatan; wa-afʻāluka maḥmūdatan; wa-al-nāsu bika masrūrīna, wa-laka aʻwānan musāʻidīna, wa-yabqá baʻdaka fī al-dunyā jamīlu dhikrika, wa-fī al-ākhirati jazīlu ajrika; wa-istaʻidh bi-Allāhi min ḍiddihā; fa-yaʻdila bika ilá ṣaddihā. Fa-inna al-wilāyāti ka-al-miḥakki tuẓhiru jawāhira arbābihā. Fa-minhum nāzilun mardhūlun, wa-ṣāʻidun maqbūlun. Ruwiya ʻan Anasi ibni Mālikin ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «aḥsinū jiwāra niʻami Allāhi taʻālá; fa-qalla mā zālat ʻan qawmin fa-ʻādat ilayhim». Wa-ka-dhālika qīla: rubba-mā shariqa shāribu al-māʼi qabla rayyihi. Wa-taʻarraḍa rajulun li-Yaḥyá ibni Khālidi ibni Barmaka wa-huwa ʻalá al-jisri bi-kitābin wa-saʼalahu an yakhtimahu. Fa-qāla: yā-ghulāmu akhtim kitābahu mā-dāma al-ṭīnu raṭban. Thumma anshada:

Idhā habbat riyāḥuka fa-ightanimhā ٭ fa-inna li-kulli khāfiqatin sukūnū wa-lā taghfal ʻani al-iḥsāni fīhā ٭ fa-mā tadrī al-sukūnu matá yakūnū

Idhā nilta min sulṭānika ḥaẓẓan; wa-awjabta ʻalayhi min khidmatika ḥaqqan, fa-lā tastawfihi. Wa-daʻ li-nafsika baqīyatan yadhkharuhā laka fa-yarāhā ḥaqqan min ḥuqūqika; li-yakun kafīla adāʼihā ilayka, fa-ini istawfaytahā ṣirta ilá ghāyatin laysa baʻdahā illā al-nuqṣānu. Wa-qad qāla al-shāʻiru:

Idhā tamma amrun badā naqṣuhu ٭ tawaqqaʻ zawālan idhā qīla tamma

Wa-iʻlam annaka murṣadun li-ḥawāʼiji al-nāsi li-anna bi-yadika azimmata al-umūri, wa-ilayka ghāyatu al-ṭalabi; fa-kun ʻalayhā ṣabūran takun bi-qaḍāʼihā shakūran, wa-lā yuḍjirka ṭālibuhā wa-qad amalika, wa-lā tanfur ʻalayhi in rājaʻaka, fa-mā yajidu al-nāsu min suʼālin buddan. Wa-li-khayri dahrika an turá marjūwan, wa-anshadtu li-Abī Bakri ibni Duraydin raḥimahu Allāhu taʻālá:

Lā tudkhilannaka ḍajratun min sāʼilin ٭ fa-li-khayri dahrika an turá masʼūlā lā-tajbahanna bi-al-raddi wajha muʼammilin ٭ fa-baqāʼu ʻizzika an turá maʼmūlā wa-iʻlam bi-annaka ʻan qalīlin ṣāʼirun ٭ khabaran fa-kun khabaran yurwá jamīlā

Wa-qīla fī al-ṣuḥufi al-ūlá: al-qalbu al-ḍayyiqu lā-taḥsunu bihi al-riyāsatu; wa-al-rajulu al-laʼīmu lā-yaḥsunu bihi al-ghiná; wa-la-in kānati al-ḥawāʼiju ka-al-maghārimi li-man istathqalahā, fa-hiya maghānimu li-man wuffiqa lahā, wa-laysa bi-ghurmin mā ʻāda bi-ghunmin, wa-lā-bi-ḍāʼiʻin mā iṣṭuniʻa fī maʻrūfin. Wa-qad rawá ʻUmaru ibnu al-Khaṭṭābi raḍiya Allāhu ʻanhu ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «mā ʻaẓumat niʻmatu Allāhi ʻalá ʻabdin illā ʻaẓumat muʼnatu al-nāsi ʻalayhi fa-man lam yaḥtamil muʼnata al-nāsi ʻarraḍa tilka al-niʻmata li-al-zawāli». Wa-idhā juʻilati al-wizāratu ghāyātu al-umūri ilayka muntahiyatan; wa-ḥawāʼiju al-nāsi ʻalayka wāqiʻatan, wa-al-qudratu laka musāʻidatan li-inbisāṭi yadika, wa-nufūdhi amrika, ṣirta bi-al-tawaqqufi wa-al-iʻrāḍi mukhillan bi-ḥuqūqi naẓarika, wāsiʻan ʻalá fawti fiṭnatika. Wa-qad qāla Bahrāmu Jūra fī ʻahdihi ilá mulūki Fārisa: innakum bi-makānin lā-maṣrifa li-al-nāsi ʻan ḥawāʼijihim ilaykum, fa-li-tattasiʻ ṣudūrukum ka-ittisāʻi sulṭānikum. Fa-inna dhukhraka bi-iṣṭināʻihi abqá, wa-dafʻaka bihi ʻan niʻmatika awqá wa-qad qāla ʻAlīyu ibnu al-Jahmi:

Idhā jaddada Allāhu lī niʻmatan ٭ shakartu wa-lam yaranī jāḥidā wa-lam yazali Allāhu bi-al-ʻāʼidā ٭ taʻallá man yajūdu bihā ʻāʼidā abā jāmiʻa al-māli waffartahu ٭ li-ghayrika idh-lam takun khālidā fa-in qulta ajmaʻuhu li-al-bun ٭ ayni fa-qad afqara al-waladu al-wālidā wa-in qulta akhshá ṣurūfa al-zamā ٭ ni fa-kun min taṣārīfihi wājidā

Fa-ijʻal yawmaka asʻada min amsika, wa-ṣalāḥu al-nāsi ʻindaka bi-ṣalāḥi nafsika, wa-mil ilá ijtidhābi al-qulūbi bi-al-istiʻṭāfi, wa-ilá istimālati al-nufūsi bi-al-inṣāfi tajidʹhum kunūzan fī shadāʼidika, wa-ḥirzan fī nawāʼibika. Wa-qāla baʻḍu al-ḥukamāʼi: man zaraʻa khayran ḥaṣada ajran, wa-man iṣṭanaʻa ḥurran istafāda shukran. Wa-qīla fī manshūri al-ḥikami: khayru zādi al-qudrati iʻtiqādu al-minani. Qāla al-shāʻiru:

Ḥaṣāduka yawman mā zaraʻta wa-innamā ٭ yudānu imruʼun yawman bi-mā huwa dāʼinu

Iḥdhar daʻwata al-maẓlūmi wa-tawaqqahā, wa-riqqa lahā in wājahaka bihā, wa-lā-tabʻathka al-ʻizzatu ʻalá al-baṭshi fa-tazdāda bi-baṭshika ẓulman wa-bi-ʻizzatika baghyan, wa-ḥasbuka bi-manṣūrihi ʻalayka. Wa-rawá Jaʻfaru ibnu Muḥammadin ʻan abīhi ʻan jaddihi raḍiya Allāhu taʻālá ʻanhum ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «ittaqū daʻwata al-maẓlūmi fa-innamā yasʼalu Allāha ḥaqqahu wa-inna Allāha lā yamnaʻu dhā ḥaqqin ḥaqqahu».

Kun li-al-shahawāti ʻazūfan tanfakku min asrihā, fa-inna man qaharatʹhu al-shahwatu kāna ʻabdan lahā, wa-man istaʻbadatʹhu al-shahwatu dhalla bihā. Ruwiya ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «man ishtāqa ilá al-jannati sāraʻa fī al-khayrāti; wa-man ashfaqa mina al-nāri lahiya ʻani al-shahawāti». Wa-qīla li-baʻḍi ḥukamāʼi al-Rūmi: mā al-mulku al-aʻẓamu. Qāla: an yaghliba al-insānu shahwatahu. Wa-qīla lahu: mā al-farqu baynaka wa-bayna al-maliki. Qāla: al-maliku ʻabdu al-shahawāti, wa-anā mawlāhā,

Fa-kun bi-al-zamāni khabīran taslam min ʻathratihi; fa-inna al-ightirāra bihi maradun, wa-qaddim li-maʻādika ayabqá ʻalayka mā iddakhartahu; fa-lan tajida illā mā-qaddamta, wa-innaka la-tujāzá bi-mā ṣanaʻta, wa-istaqilli al-dunyā tajid fī nafsika ʻizzan fa-tarḍá idhā sakhiṭta, wa-tasurra idhā ḥazinta, fa-lan yadhilla illā ṭālibuhā, wa-lan yaḥzana illā ṣāḥibuhā. Wa-qad ruwiya ʻani al-Nabīyi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama annahu qāla: «anā zaʻīmun li-man akabba ʻalá al-dunyā bi-faqrin lā-ghiná fīhi, wa-shughlin lā inqiṭāʻa lahu». Wa-qad qāla ʻAlīyu ibnu Abī Ṭālibin raḍiya Allāhu ʻanhu: iḥdharū al-dunyā fa-innahā ghaddāratun makkāratun khattāratun khasāratun tastankiḥu fī kulli yawmin baʻlan, wa-tastaqbilu fī kulli laylatin ahlan, wa-tufarriqu fī kulli yawmin shamlan. Wa-qāla baʻḍu al-ḥukamāʼi: li-yakun ṭalabuka li-al-dunyā iḍṭirāran, wa-fikruka fīhā iʻtibāran, wa-saʻyuka li-maʻādika ibtidāran. Wa-qāla ʻAbdu al-Ḥamīdi: ṭālibu al-dunyā ʻalīlun, laysa yurwá lahu ghalīlun. Wa-qāla al-shāʻiru:

Fa-lā jazaʻa in rāba dahrun bi-ṣarfihi ٭ wa-baddala ḥālan wa-al-khuṭūbu ka-dhālika fa-mā al-ʻayshu illā muddatun sawfa tanqaḍī ٭ wa-mā al-mālu illā hālikun wa-ibnu hālika

Ijʻal ṣalāḥa ʻamalika dhukhran laka ʻinda rabbika, wa-jamīla sīratika atharan mashkūran fī al-nāsi baʻdaka li-taqtadī bika al-akhyāru, wa-yazdajira bika al-ashrāru, takun bi-al-thawābi ḥaqīqan; wa-bi-al-ḥamdi jadīran. Fa-qad qīla: al-ightirāru bi-al-aʻmāri, min shiyami al-aghmāri, fa-lan yabqá baʻdaka illā dhikruka fī al-dunyā, wa-thawābuka fī al-ākhirati, fa-iẓfar bihimā, wa-ightanim baqīyata ʻumrika lahumā, takun saʻīdan fīhimā, fa-inna al-dunyā ka-aḥlāmi nāʼimin yastaḥlīhā fī ghafwatihi wa-yalfiẓuhā baʻda yaqẓatihi. Wa-qad qīla fī al-ṣuḥufi al-ūlá: iḥriṣ ʻalá al-ismi al-ṣāliḥi fa-innahu lā-yaṣḥabuka ghayruhu. Wa-qāla al-Jāḥiẓu: walītu khizānata kutubi al-Rashīdi wa-taṣaffaḥtu kutubahu fa-lam ajid kalimatan illā wajadtu lahā naqīḍatan, illā kalimātin jāʼat ʻan fayāsūfi al-ʻArabi ʻAlīyi ibni Abī Ṭālibin raḍiya Allāhu taʻālá ʻanhu: qīmatu kulli imriʼin mā-yaḥsunu, wa-man jahila shayʼan ʻādāhu, wa-lan yahlika imruʼun ʻarafa qadrahu, wa-kullu-mā yataṣawwaru fī al-awhāmi fa-Allāhu bi-khilāfihi, wa-baqīyatu ʻumri al-rajuli lā-thamana lahā wa-lā qīmata, li-annahu yudriku bihā mā-fātahu, wa-yuḥyī fīhā mā amātahu

Fa-ightanim ayyuhā al-wazīru baqīyata ayyāmika, bi-ajmali afʻālika; wa-istadrik fīhā mā-taqaddama min sūʼi āthārika, wa-kaffir bihā mā aslafta min fujūrika wa-ightirārika; fa-khawātīmu al-umūri tuʻaffī mā sabaqa ḥattá tatanāsāhu al-nufūsu; wa-tataghāḍá ʻanhu al-ʻuyūnu, li-annahā tūkalu bi-al-adná wa-in jalla mā maḍá, wa-idhā madatka al-aqdāru bi-al-tawfīqi, wa-ghālabaka al-ʻaqlu bi-al-talāfī, ʻadalta wa-iʻtadalta. Fa-fuztu fī ākhiratika, wa-saʻidtu fī ājilatika. Wa-qāla Rasūlu Allāhi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama: «mā istawdaʻa Allāhu aḥadan ʻaqlan illā istanqadhahu bihi yawman. Fa-idhā ʻaqalaka ʻaqluka ʻani al-bāṭili fa-anta ʻāqilun».

Wa-sa-akhtimu taḥdhīraka wa-indhāraka; wa-utbiʻu tabṣīraka wa-afkāraka, bi-mā andhara bihi al-Rasūlu ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama fa-huwa awʻaẓu nadhīrin; wa-ablaghu takhwīfin wa-taḥdhīrin. Ruwiya ʻAbd-Allāhi ibnu ʻUbaydin ʻan ʻUmayri al-Laythīyi ʻan Ḥudhayfata ibni al-Yamāni qāla qāla Rasūlu Allāhi ṣallá Allāhu ʻalayhi wa-sallama. «Inna min ashrāṭi al-sāʻati idhā raʼaytumu al-nāsa amātū al-ṣalāta wa-aḍāʻū al-amānata; wa-aḥallū al-ribā; wa-istakhaffū bi-al-dimāʼi; wa-bāʻū al-dīna bi-al-dunyā wa-shuribati al-khumūru; wa-ʻuṭṭilati al-ḥudūdu; wa-ittakhadhū al-Qurʼāna mazāmīra, wa-ittukhidhati al-amānatu maghnaman; wa-al-zakātu maghraman, wa-kāna al-ḥilmu ḍaghthan, wa-al-waladu ghayẓan, wa-ghāḍa al-kirāmu ghayḍan, wa-fāḍa al-liʼāmu fayḍan; wa-kāna al-umarāʼu fajaratan, wa-al-wuzarāʼu kadhabatan wa-al-umanāʼu khawanatan, wa-al-qurrāʼu fasaqatan; wa-kāna zaʻīmu al-qawmi ardhalahum, wa-tashabbaha al-rijālu bi-al-nisāʼi, wa-al-nisāʼu bi-al-rijāli, wa-kudhdhiba al-ṣādiqu; wa-ṣuddiqa al-kādhibu, wa-luʻina ākhiru hādhihi al-ummati awwaluhā. Fa-li-yatawaqqaʻū nuzūla al-balāʼi bihim

Wa-qad awjaztu laka ayyuhā al-wazīru mā in kāna ʻamaluka bihi muḥīṭan dhakkaraka, wa-in kunta ghāfilan ʻanhu andharaka, wa-an yamudduka bi-tawfīqihi, wa-yuʻīnaka ʻalá ṭāʻatihi bi-jūdihi āmīna.

Tamma al-kitābu bi-ḥamdi Allāhi wa-ʻawnihi wa-ḥusni tawfīqihi wa-lā ḥawla wa-lā qūwata illā bi-Allāhi al-ʻalīyi al-ʻaẓīmi