Advice of Jesus
The following are the admonitions and advice of Jesus (peace be upon him) to his disciples.1
To Receive the Wisdom
Truly, I say to you, “If you have found a torch the fuel of which is tar, in a gloomy night, you will surely seek its light disregarding its malodor. In a like manner, you should receive the wisdom from anybody with whom you find it, disregarding his reluctance to it.”
The Honor of the Hereafter
لَا تُدْرِكُونَ شَرَفَ الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا بِتَرْكِ مَا تُحِبُّونَ فَلَا تُنْظِرُوا بِالتَّوْبَةِ غَداً فَإِنَّ دُونَ غَدٍ يَوْماً وَ لَيْلَةً وَ قَضَاءَ اللَّهِ فِيهِمَا يَغْدُو وَ يَرُوحُ.
You will not attain the honor of the Hereafter unless you abstain from whatever you desire. Never postpone repentance to tomorrow. Before tomorrow, there is a day and a night during which God’s act is coming and going.
The Sinner
Truly, I say to you, “Those who are not indebted are surely less grievous than the indebted even if they defray their debts properly. In the same way, those who avoid committing sins are more relaxing and less grievous than the committers of sins even if they purely repent and return to God.
Insignificant Sins
إِنَّ صِغَارَ الذُّنُوبِ وَ مُحَقَّرَاتِهَا مِنْ مَكَايِدِ إِبْلِيسَ يُحَقِّرُهَا لَكُمْ وَ يُصَغِّرُهَا فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ فَتَجْتَمِعُ وَ تَكْثُرُ فَتُحِيطُ بِكُمْ.
The insignificant sins are the traps of the Satan who persuades you to disregard such sins until they are amassed and surround you.
By Deeds and by Words
إِنَّ النَّاسَ فِي الْحِكْمَةِ رَجُلَانِ فَرَجُلٌ أَتْقَنَهَا بِقَوْلِهِ وَ صَدَّقَهَا بِفِعْلِهِ وَ رَجُلٌ أَتْقَنَهَا بِقَوْلِهِ وَ ضَيَّعَهَا بِسُوءِ فِعْلِهِ- فَشَتَّانَ بَيْنَهُمَا فَطُوبَى لِلْعُلَمَاءِ بِالْفِعْلِ وَ وَيْلٌ لِلْعُلَمَاءِ بِالْقَوْلِ.
In wisdom, people are of two kinds; one is that who says the wisdom utterly and applies it to his deeds, and the other is that who says it utterly but wastes it through his evildoings. How difference between the two! Blessed are the scholars by deeds, and woe to the scholars by words.
The Mosques
اتَّخِذُوا مَسَاجِدَ رَبِّكُمْ سُجُوناً لِأَجْسَادِكُمْ وَ جِبَاهِكُمْ وَ اجْعَلُوا قُلُوبَكُمْ بُيُوتاً لِلتَّقْوَى وَ لَا تَجْعَلُوا قُلُوبَكُمْ مَأْوًى لِلشَّهَوَاتِ.
Betake the mosques of your Lord as prisons of your bodies and foreheads. Make your hearts the residences of God-fearing. Do not make them the shelters of lusts.
The Most Abstinent
إِنَّ أَجْزَعَكُمْ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ لَأَشَدُّكُمْ حُبّاً لِلدُّنْيَا وَ إِنَّ أَصْبَرَكُمْ عَلَى الْبَلَاءِ لَأَزْهَدُكُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا.
The most intolerant against misfortunes will be certainly the fondest of the worldly pleasures, and the most tolerant is the most abstinent.
Tainted Hearts
لَا يُغْنِي عَنِ الْجَسَدِ أَنْ يَكُونَ ظَاهِرُهُ صَحِيحاً وَ بَاطِنُهُ فَاسِداً كَذَلِكَ لَا تُغْنِي أَجْسَادُكُمُ الَّتِي قَدْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ وَ قَدْ فَسَدَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَ مَا يُغْنِي عَنْكُمْ أَنْ تُنَقُّوا جُلُودَكُمْ وَ قُلُوبُكُمْ دَنِسَةٌ.
It is useless to have a sound physique while the interior is corrupted. Hence, your sound bodies should not admire you when your hearts are tainted. It is also useless to purify your skins when your hearts are dirty.
Like the Candle
لَا تَكُونُوا كَالْمُنْخُلِ يُخْرِجُ مِنْهُ الدَّقِيقَ الطَّيِّبَ وَ يُمْسِكُ النُّخَالَةَ كَذَلِكَ أَنْتُمْ تُخْرِجُونَ الْحِكْمَةَ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِكُمْ وَ يَبْقَى الْغِلُّ فِي صُدُورِكُمْ يَا عَبِيدَ الدُّنْيَا إِنَّمَا مَثَلُكُمْ مَثَلُ السِّرَاجِ يُضِيءُ لِلنَّاسِ وَ يُحْرِقُ نَفْسَهُ.
Do not be like sieves that let the good flour pass and hold the bran. Likewise, you should not speak of wisdom while treason is filling in your hearts. O slaves of the world! Indeed, you are like the candle, which gives light to others and burns itself.
Compassionate
طُوبَى لِلْمُتَرَاحِمِينَ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمَرْحُومُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ طُوبَى لِلْمُصْلِحِينَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.
Blessed be those who compassionate each other; they will be compassionated on the Day of Resurrection. Blessed be those who reestablish relations between people; they will be favored on the Day of Resurrection.
The Realm of the Heavens
طُوبَى لِلْمَسْبُوبِينَ مِنْ أَجْلِ الطَّهَارَةِ فَإِنَّ لَهُمْ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاءِ. طُوبَى لَكُمْ إِذَا حُسِدْتُمْ وَ شُتِمْتُمْ وَ قِيلَ فِيكُمْ كُلُّ كَلِمَةٍ قَبِيحَةٍ كَاذِبَةٍ حِينَئِذٍ فَافْرَحُوا وَ ابْتَهِجُوا فَإِنَّ أَجْرَكُمْ قَدْ كَثُرَ فِي السَّمَاءِ.
Blessed be those whom are insulted for their cleanness. They will have the realm of the heavens. Blessed be you when you are envied, insulted, or hear every false ugly word. Only then, you should be happy and delighted, for your heavenly rewards will be increased.
Criticize Yourself!
یا عَبِیدَ السّوء تَلُومُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَى الظَّنِّ وَ لَا تَلُومُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ عَلَى الْيَقِينِ.
O bad servants (of God), you criticize people for their conjecture, but do not criticize yourselves for conviction.
Well-Constructed Tombs
O slaves of this world; you shave your heads, wear short dresses, and nod your heads down (as a sign of piety), but you do not uproot hatred from your hearts. You are just like the well-constructed tombs; they attract the attentions of those who look at them, while their interiors contain only the bones of the dead that are full of sins.
Sessions of the Scholars
زَاحِمُوا الْعُلَمَاءَ فِي مَجَالِسِهِمْ وَ لَوْ جُثُوّاً عَلَى الرُّكَبِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحْيِي الْقُلُوبَ الْمَيْتَةَ بِنُورِ الْحِكْمَةِ كَمَا يُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ الْمَيْتَةَ بِوَابِلِ الْمَطَرِ.
Overcrowd the sessions of the scholars, even if you have to run to them on your knees. God will refresh the dead hearts by means of the illumination of wisdom in the same way the heavy rainfall refreshes the derelict lands.
Fewness of Speech
قِلَّةُ الْمَنْطِقِ حُكْمٌ عَظِيمٌ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالصَّمْتِ فَإِنَّهُ دَعَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ وَ قِلَّةُ وِزْرٍ وَ خِفَّةٌ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ.
Little utterance is a great perception; therefore, keep silent for it is a good meekness, fewness of sins, and forgiveness of guilt.
The Ruler
يَجِبُ عَلَى الْوَالِي أَنْ يَكُونَ كَالرَّاعِي لَا يَغْفُلُ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ وَ لَا يَتَكَبَّرُ عَلَيْهِمْ.
The rulers should be acting like the shepherds whose eyes are not turned away from their herd. They also should not treat their subjects arrogantly.
In Your Secrets
اسْتَحْيُوا مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي سَرَائِرِكُمْ كَمَا تَسْتَحْيُونَ مِنَ النَّاسِ فِي عَلَانِيَتِكُمْ.
Be ashamed of God in your secrets in the same way you are ashamed of people in your open deeds.
The Believers’ Lost
أَنَّ الْكَلِمَةَ مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ ضَالَّةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْعِلْمِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ وَ رَفْعُهُ غَيْبَةُ عَالِمِكُمْ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ.
The wording of wisdom is the believers’ lost. Therefore, adhere to the knowledge before it is removed. The removal of knowledge is the absence of its people.
Tolerate Dismayed Matters!
إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَنَالُوا مَا تُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا بِتَرْكِ مَا تَشْتَهُونَ وَ لَنْ تَظْفَرُوا بِمَا تَأْمُلُونَ إِلَّا بِالصَّبْرِ عَلَى مَا تَكْرَهُونَ.
You will never attain what you want unless you desert your desires. Likewise, you will never win your hopes unless you tolerate the matters that you hate.
Beware of Looking!
إِيَّاكُمْ وَ النَّظْرَةَ فَإِنَّهَا تَزْرَعُ فِي الْقُلُوبِ الشَّهْوَةَ وَ كَفَى بِهَا لِصَاحِبِهَا فِتْنَةً طُوبَى لِمَنْ جَعَلَ بَصَرَهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ قَلْبَهُ فِي نَظَرِ عَيْنِهِ.
Beware of gazing (at forbidden matters), for a single look may delve passion in the heart. Passion, then, is a sufficient seditious matter for its bearers. Blessed be those who make their sights in their hearts and not make their hearts in the sight of their eyes.
People’s Defects
لَا تَنْظُرُوا فِي عُيُوبِ النَّاسِ كَالْأَرْبَابِ وَ انْظُرُوا فِي عُيُوبِكُمْ كَهَيْئَةِ الْعَبِيدِ.
Do not go after people’s defects as if you are lords. Rather you should inspect your defects like the slaves.
Sick or Healthy
إِنَّمَا النَّاسُ رَجُلَانِ مُبْتَلًى وَ مُعَافًى فَارْحَمُوا الْمُبْتَلَى وَ احْمَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى الْعَافِيَةِ.
People are either sick or healthy. Be kind to the sick and thank God for the health.”
Build Good Relation!
أَ لَمْ تَسْمَعُوا أَنَّهُ قِيلَ لَكُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ صِلُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ وَ كَافِئُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ وَ أَنَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ صِلُوا مَنْ قَطَعَكُمْ وَ أَعْطُوا مَنْ مَنَعَكُمْ وَ أَحْسِنُوا إِلَى مَنْ أَسَاءَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَ سَلِّمُوا عَلَى مَنْ سَبَّكُمْ وَ أَنْصِفُوا مَنْ خَاصَمَكُمْ وَ اعْفُوا عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكُمْ كَمَا أَنَّكُمْ تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يُعْفَى عَنْ إِسَاءَتِكُمْ.
Have you not listened to that which had been said to you in the Torah? It was said to you, “Regard and reward your relatives.” I, now say to you, “build good relations with those who rupture their relations with you, bestow upon them who deprived you, treat those who mistreated you with good turn, greet those who reviled at you, treat justly those who disputed you, and pardon those who wronged you in the same way you want your wrongdoings to be pardoned.”
Superiority over Stupid
إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تُحِبُّونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَحَبَّكُمْ وَ لَا تُحْسِنُونَ إِلَّا إِلَى مَنْ أَحْسَنَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَ لَا تُكَافِئُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَعْطَاكُمْ فَمَا فَضْلُكُمْ إِذاً عَلَى غَيْرِكُمْ وَ قَدْ يَصْنَعُ هَذَا السُّفَهَاءُ الَّذِينَ لَيْسَتْ عِنْدَهُمْ فُضُولٌ وَ لَا لَهُمْ أَحْلَامٌ.
If you like only those who like you, do favors only to those who do favors to you, and reward only those who gave you, then what is your preference to the others? Even the foolish ones who lack favors and good thoughts do so.
Friends of God
إِنْ أَرَدْتُمْ أَنْ تَكُونُوا أَحِبَّاءَ اللَّهِ وَ أَصْفِيَاءَ اللَّهِ فَأَحْسِنُوا إِلَى مَنْ أَسَاءَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَ اعْفُوا عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكُمْ وَ سَلِّمُوا عَلَى مَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْكُمْ.
If you want to be the dears and choice of God, you should treat those who mistreated you with good turn, pardon those who wronged you, and greet those who turned away from you.
Treasures
إِنَّ قُلُوبَكُمْ بِحَيْثُ تَكُونُ كُنُوزَكُمْ وَ لِذَلِكَ النَّاسُ يُحِبُّونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَ تَتُوقُ إِلَيْهَا أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَضَعُوا كُنُوزَكُمْ فِي السَّمَاءِ حَيْثُ لَا يَأْكُلُهَا السُّوسُ وَ لَا يَنَالُهَا اللُّصُوصُ.
Your hearts are inclined to wherever your treasures are. For that reason, people like their treasures eagerly. Put your treasures in the heavens2 where mites cannot reach them and thieves cannot find a way to them.
Serving Two Lords
إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَخْدُمَ رَبَّيْنِ وَ لَا مَحَالَةَ أَنَّهُ يُؤْثِرُ أَحَدَهُمَا عَلَى الْآخَرِ وَ إِنْ جَهَدَ كَذَلِكَ لَا يَجْتَمِعُ لَكُمْ حُبُّ اللَّهِ وَ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا.
A servant cannot serve two lords, because he will unquestionably prefer one to the other although he may exert all efforts (for dealing with them equally). In the same manner, you cannot love God and the worldly pleasures in the same time.
The Worst of People
إِنَّ شَرَّ النَّاسِ لَرَجُلٌ عَالِمٌ آثَرَ دُنْيَاهُ عَلَى عِلْمِهِ فَأَحَبَّهَا وَ طَلَبَهَا وَ جَهَدَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى لَوِ اسْتَطَاعَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ النَّاسَ فِي حَيْرَةٍ لَفَعَلَ.
The worst of people is a knowledgeable person who prefers his worldly pleasures to his knowledge; therefore, he loved and sought the worldly pleasures and exerted all efforts for gaining them to the degree that he would engage all the people in perplexity if only he could.
Useless Knowledge
مَا ذَا يُغْنِي عَنِ الْأَعْمَى سَعَةُ نُورِ الشَّمْسِ وَ هُوَ لَا يُبْصِرُهَا كَذَلِكَ لَا يُغْنِي عَنِ الْعَالِمِ عِلْمُهُ إِذْ هُوَ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِهِ.
The enlargement of sunlight is useless for the sightless. In like fashion, the knowledge of a scholar is useless for him unless he applies what he knows to his conduct.
Lying Scholars
احْتَفِظُوا مِنَ الْعُلَمَاءِ الْكَذَبَةِ الَّذِينَ عَلَيْهِمْ ثِيَابُ الصُّوفِ مُنَكِّسِي رُءُوسِهِمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ يُزَوِّرُونَ بِهِ الْخَطَايَا. قَوْلُهُمْ يُخَالِفُ فِعْلَهُمْ وَ هَلْ يُجْتَنَى مِنَ الْعَوْسَجِ الْعِنَبُ وَ مِنَ الْحَنْظَلِ التِّينُ وَ كَذَلِكَ لَا يُؤَثِّرُ قَوْلُ الْعَالِمِ الْكَاذِبِ إِلَّا زُوراً.
Be careful of the lying scholars who wear wool dresses and nod the heads to the ground (out of showing off) so that they will falsify to make wrongdoings. Their sayings contradict their actions. How can one expect to harvest grapes from boxthorns or figs from colocynth? Thus are ineffectual and false the words of the untruthful scholars.
Containers of Wisdom
الْقُلُوبُ مَا لَمْ تَخْرِقْهَا الشَّهَوَاتُ وَ يُدَنِّسْهَا الطَّمَعُ وَ يُقْسِهَا النَّعِيمُ فَسَوْفَ تَكُونُ أَوْعِيَةً لِلْحِكْمَةِ.
Hearts are good containers of wisdom provided that they are not pierced by passions, soiled by greed, or hardened by bliss.
The First Oppressor
إِنَّ الْحَرِيقَ لَيَقَعُ فِي الْبَيْتِ الْوَاحِدِ فَلَا يَزَالُ يَنْتَقِلُ مِنْ بَيْتٍ إِلَى بَيْتٍ حَتَّى تَحْتَرِقَ بُيُوتٌ كَثِيرَةٌ إِلَّا أَنْ يُسْتَدْرَكَ الْبَيْتُ الْأَوَّلُ فَيُهْدَمَ مِنْ قَوَاعِدِهِ فَلَا تَجِدَ فِيهِ النَّارُ مَعْمَلًا وَ كَذَلِكَ الظَّالِمُ الْأَوَّلُ لَوْ يُؤْخَذُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ لَمْ يُوجَدْ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ إِمَامٌ ظَالِمٌ فَيَأْتَمُّونَ بِهِ.
A fire that begins in one house will move to many others to burn them all, unless the first house is destructed from its base so that fire will not find wood to burn. In the same manner, if the first oppressor is punished and stopped, then no partial ruler, whose steps are pursued, will come out after him.
Warn Your Friend!
مَنْ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْحَيَّةِ تَؤُمُّ أَخَاهُ لِتَلْدَغَهُ وَ لَمْ يُحَذِّرْهُ حَتَّى قَتَلَتْهُ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ شَرِكَ فِي دَمِهِ وَ كَذَلِكَ مَنْ نَظَرَ إِلَى أَخِيهِ يَعْمَلُ الْخَطِيئَةَ وَ لَمْ يُحَذِّرْهُ عَاقِبَتَهَا حَتَّى أَحَاطَتْ بِهِ فَلَا يَأْمَنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ شَرِكَ فِي إِثْمِهِ.
He who did not warn his brother against the snake that was stepping towards him and killed him is not acquitted of being a partner in that killing. Likewise, he who did not warn his brother against the consequence of an evildoing is not acquitted of being undergoing a share in the punishment of that evildoing.
Condemn the Oppressor!
مَنْ قَدَرَ عَلَى أَنْ يُغَيِّرَ الظَّالِمَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُغَيِّرْهُ فَهُوَ كَفَاعِلِهِ وَ كَيْفَ يَهَابُ الظَّالِمُ وَ قَدْ أَمِنَ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ لَا يُنْهَى وَ لَا يُغَيَّرُ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَمِنْ أَيْنَ يَقْصُرُ الظَّالِمُونَ.
He who did not censure an oppressor, while he was able to do so, is considered as same as that evildoer. How will the oppressor fear of committing wrongdoings while he is safe among you, as long as you do not warn him against so, censure, or punish him? How will the oppressors stop then?
Fear of People
كَيْفَ تَرْجُونَ أَنْ يُؤْمِنَكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَزَعِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَخَافُونَ النَّاسَ فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ تُطِيعُونَهُمْ فِي مَعْصِيَتِهِ وَ تَفُونَ لَهُمْ بِالْعُهُودِ النَّاقِضَةِ لِعَهْدِهِ.
How do you hope that God would save you from the horror on the Day of Resurrection while you are neglecting the acts of obedience to Him out of your fear of people and committing acts of disobedience to Him out of your compliance with them? Furthermore, you are fulfilling people’s pledges that are contrary to your pledges with God.
Meeting God
وَيْلَكُمْ يَا عَبِيدَ السَّوْءِ مِنْ أَجْلِ دُنْيَا دَنِيَّةٍ وَ شَهْوَةٍ رَدِيَّةٍ تُفَرِّطُونَ فِي مُلْكِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ تَنْسَوْنَ هَوْلَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ. مِنْ أَجْلِ نِعْمَةٍ زَائِلَةٍ وَ حَيَاةٍ مُنْقَطِعَةٍ تَفِرُّونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ تَكْرَهُونَ لِقَاءَهُ فَكَيْفَ يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ لِقَاءَكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَكْرَهُونَ لِقَاءَهُ.
O bad servants, woe to you! Only for a lowly life and an awful passion, you are neglecting the realm of Paradise and the horror of the Day of Resurrection. Only for a transient favor and an interrupted life, you are going away from God and detest meeting Him. How will God then like meeting you when you dislike meeting Him?
God’s Favorites
كَيْفَ تَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ اللَّهِ مِنْ دُونِ النَّاسِ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَفِرُّونَ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ وَ تَعْتَصِمُونَ بِالدُّنْيَا. لَا يُغْنِي عَنْكُمْ بَهْجَةُ دُنْيَاكُمُ الَّتِي زُيِّنَتْ لَكُمْ وَ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى سَلْبٍ وَ زَوَالٍ.
How do you claim that you are the chosen people of God to the exclusion of all other people while you hate death and hold fast to the world? The adorned pleasures of your world are of no benefit to you because they all will expire and wipe out.
Knowledge for Hereafter
وَيْلَكُمْ يَا عَبِيدَ الدُّنْيَا تَحْمِلُونَ السِّرَاجَ فِي ضَوْءِ الشَّمْسِ وَ ضَوْؤُهَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكُمْ وَ تَدَعُونَ أَنْ تَسْتَضِيئُوا بِهَا فِي الظُّلَمِ وَ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ سُخِّرَتْ لَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ اسْتَضَأْتُمْ بِنُورِ الْعِلْمِ لِأَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَ قَدْ كُفِيتُمُوهُ وَ تَرَكْتُمْ أَنْ تَسْتَضِيئُوا بِهِ لِأَمْرِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ أُعْطِيتُمُوهُ.
O slaves of this world, woe to you! You carry lamps in sunlight, which is a sufficient light for you, while you leave them when you are in darkness, which is its proper time. In the same manner, you have used the illumination of knowledge for your worldly affairs while they are settled for you and have neglected using it for your affairs of the Hereafter for which you have been given (that knowledge).
Hard Hearts
الْقُلُوبُ إِذَا لَمْ تُرْفَقْ بِذِكْرِ الْمَوْتِ وَ تَتْعَبُهَا دَءُوبٌ الْعِبَادَةِ تَقْسُو وَ تَغْلُظُ.
Hearts that are not made softened by mention of death and not fatigued by the continuous (rituals of) worship will be severe and hard.
Harder than Rock
مَا ذَا يُغْنِي عَنِ الْبَيْتِ الْمُظْلِمِ أَنْ يُوضَعَ السِّرَاجُ فَوْقَ ظَهْرِهِ وَ جَوْفُهُ وَحْشٌ مُظْلِمٌ كَذَلِكَ لَا يُغْنِي عَنْكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ نُورُ الْعِلْمِ بِأَفْوَاهِكُمْ وَ أَجْوَافُكُمْ مِنْهُ وَحْشَةٌ مُعَطَّلَةٌ فَأَسْرِعُوا إِلَى بُيُوتِكُمُ الْمُظْلِمَةِ فَأَنِيرُوا فِيهَا كَذَلِكَ فَأَسْرِعُوا إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمُ الْقَاسِيَةِ بِالْحِكْمَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَرِينَ عَلَيْهَا الْخَطَايَا فَتَكُونَ أَقْسَى مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ.
It is useless for a dark house to put a lamp on its surface when its inside is gloomy and dreary. Similarly, it is useless for you to have the illumination of knowledge on your tongues while your interiors are gloomy and dead. Hurry up to light up your gloomy houses (with lamps) and hurry up to light up your hard hearts with wisdom before they are overwhelmed by sins, and then they will be harder than rocks.
Lending God
كَيْفَ يَسْتَكْمِلُ حُبَّ خَلِيلِهِ مَنْ لَا يَبْذُلُ لَهُ بَعْضَ مَا عِنْدَهُ وَ كَيْفَ يَسْتَكْمِلُ حُبَّ رَبِّهِ مَنْ لَا يُقْرِضُهُ بَعْضَ مَا رَزَقَهُ.
How can anyone have the affection of his intimate friend in perfect without offering him a part of his efforts? Likewise, how can a servant have the affection of his Lord in perfect without lending Him3 some of His sustenance?
The Appreciative
لَا يَنْقُصُ اللَّهَ كَثْرَةُ مَا يُعْطِيكُمْ وَ يَرْزُقُكُمْ بَلْ بِرِزْقِهِ تَعِيشُونَ وَ بِهِ تَحْيَوْنَ يَزِيدُ مَنْ شَكَرَهُ إِنَّهُ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ.
God is not affected by the abundance of His gifts and endowments that He provides to you. In fact, it is you who are survived by God’s sustenance. He increases (His endowments to (those who thank Him, for He is indeed Appreciative and All-knowing.
Time of Death
لَا تُحَدِّثُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ أَنَّ آجَالَكُمْ تَسْتَأْخِرُ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّ الْمَوْتَ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ بِكُمْ فَكَأَنَّهُ قَدْ حَلَّ بِكُمْ فَأَظْعَنَكُمْ فَمِنَ الْآنَ فَاجْعَلُوا الدَّعْوَةَ فِي آذَانِكُمْ وَ مِنَ الْآنَ فَنُوحُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ مِنَ الْآنَ فَابْكُوا عَلَى خَطَايَاكُمْ وَ مِنَ الْآنَ فَتَجَهَّزُوا وَ خُذُوا أُهْبَتَكُمْ وَ بَادِرُوا التَّوْبَةَ إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ.
Do not think that time of your death will be postponed for you have not yet faced death. In fact, death is about to inflict you and take you away. From this moment, you should put the call to the right in your hearings. From this moment, you should mourn yourselves. From this time, you should weep for your evildoings. From this moment, you should supply for yourselves and be ready. Take the initiative to repent to your Lord.
The Diseased
إِنَّهُ كَمَا يَنْظُرُ الْمَرِيضُ إِلَى طِيبِ الطَّعَامِ فَلَا يَلْتَذُّهُ مَعَ مَا يَجِدُهُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْوَجَعِ كَذَلِكَ صَاحِبُ الدُّنْيَا لَا يَلْتَذُّ بِالْعِبَادَةِ وَ لَا يَجِدُ حَلَاوَتَهَا مَعَ مَا يَجِدُ مِنْ حُبِّ الْمَالِ.
The diseased looks at the delicious meals but he cannot find them tasty because of the intensity of pain that he feels. The same, the worldly-minded ones cannot find the good taste of worship because they are controlled by fondness of (collecting) property.
Root of Sins
إِنَّ حُبَّ الدُّنْيَا لَرَأْسُ كُلِّ خَطِيئَةٍ.
Indeed, the fondness of this world is the root of every evildoing.
Permanent Prayer
لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَبْلَغَ فِي شَرَفِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ أَعْوَنَ عَلَى حَوَادِثِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ الدَّائِمَةِ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَقْرَبَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ مِنْهَا فَدُومُوا عَلَيْهَا وَ اسْتَكْثِرُوا مِنْهَا.
Permanent prayer is the best thing through which the honor of the Hereafter is attained and the worldly misfortunes are alleviated. It is surely the closest thing to the Beneficent; therefore, preserve in it and offer it as much as possible.
Harvest
هَلْ زَارِعُ شَعِيرٍ يَحْصُدُ قَمْحاً أَوْ زَارِعُ قَمْحٍ يَحْصُدُ شَعِيراً كَذَلِكَ يَحْصُدُ كُلُّ عَبْدٍ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مَا زَرَعَ وَ يُجْزَى بِمَا عَمِلَ.
How can a sower of barley harvest wheat or a sower of wheat harvest barley? In the same way, each one will harvest, in the Hereafter, only what he sowed and will be rewarded according to what he did.
Fondness of Worldly Pleasures
إِنَّ الَّذِي يَخُوضُ النَّهَرَ لَا بُدَّ أَنْ يُصِيبَ ثَوْبَهُ الْمَاءُ وَ إِنْ جَهَدَ أَنْ لَا يُصِيبَهُ كَذَلِكَ مَنْ يُحِبُّ الدُّنْيَا لَا يَنْجُو مِنَ الْخَطَايَا.
Water will surely wet the dress of him who wants to cross a river despite the great efforts that he exerts for saving his dress from wetness. In the same manner, he who is fond of the worldly pleasures will not be saved from evildoings.
The Ranch
إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا خُلِقَتْ مَزْرَعَةً تَزْرَعُ فِيهَا الْعِبَادُ الْحُلْوَ وَ الْمُرَّ وَ الشَّرَّ وَ الْخَيْرَ وَ الْخَيْرُ لَهُ مَغَبَّةٌ نَافِعَةٌ يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ وَ الشَّرُّ لَهُ عَنَاءٌ وَ شَقَاءٌ يَوْمَ الْحَصَادِ.
Indeed, this world is created as a ranch in which the servants plant the sweet, the bitter, the evil, or the good. The result of the good will be advantageous on the Day of Judgment, while the result of evil will be only hardship and suffering on the harvest time.
Seal Your Mouth!
أُوصِيكُمْ أَنْ تَخْتِمُوا عَلَى أَفْوَاهِكُمْ بِالصَّمْتِ حَتَّى لَا يَخْرُجَ مِنْهَا مَا لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ.
I advise you to seal your mouths with silence so that they -your mouths- will not utter unlawful things.
For the Hereafter
إِنَّمَا أَعْطَاكُمُ اللَّهُ الدُّنْيَا لِتَعْمَلُوا فِيهَا لِلْآخِرَةِ وَ لَمْ يُعْطِكُمُوهَا لِتَشْغَلَكُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ.
Indeed, God has given you this world as a means by which you work for the Hereafter, not to engage you from the Hereafter.
Worthless Faith
إِنَّمَا أَعْطَاكُمُ اللَّهُ الدُّنْيَا لِتَعْمَلُوا فِيهَا لِلْآخِرَةِ وَ لَمْ يُعْطِكُمُوهَا لِتَشْغَلَكُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ.
Indeed, planting is worthless unless there is water and soil. In the same manner, faith is worthless unless there is knowledge and deed.
God’s Outrage
إِنَّ الزَّرْعَ لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا بِالْمَاءِ وَ التُّرَابِ كَذَلِكَ الْإِيمَانُ لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا بِالْعِلْمِ وَ الْعَمَلِ.
Blessed be him who detains his surplus wording for fear that it may causes God’s outrage; speaks only of what he understands, and does not praise anyone for a wording before he notices the application of that wording to the conduct (of the speaker(.
Learn and Teach!
طُوبَى لِمَنْ تَعَلَّمَ مِنَ الْعُلَمَاءِ مَا جَهِلَ وَ عَلَّمَ الْجَاهِلَ مِمَّا عُلِّمَ طُوبَى لِمَنْ عَظَّمَ الْعُلَمَاءَ لِعِلْمِهِمْ وَ تَرَكَ مُنَازَعَتَهُمْ وَ صَغَّرَ الْجُهَّالَ لِجَهْلِهِمْ وَ لَا يَطْرُدُهُمْ وَ لَكِنْ يُقَرِّبُهُمْ وَ يُعَلِّمُهُمْ.
Blessed be him who learns from the scholars that which he did not know and conveys to the ignorant what he learnt.
The Most Lovable
يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَحْزَنُ عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَنْ أَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَ ذَلِكَ أَحَبُّ مَا يَكُونُ إِلَيَّ وَ أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ مِنِّي وَ يَفْرَحُ أَنْ أُوَسِّعَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ ذَلِكَ أَبْغَضُ مَا يَكُونُ إِلَيَّ وَ أَبْعَدُ مَا يَكُونُ مِنِّي.
God the Blessed the Exalted says, “My faithful servants become sad when I take the worldly pleasures away from them, while this is the most lovable and the most favorable thing for Me. They feel happy when I bestow upon them with many worldly pleasures, while this is the most detestable and the remotest thing from Me”.
