These are Imam Ali’s advice to his older son, Imam Hasan (peace be upon him).1

He has started his advice with these words: “From the father who is (shortly) to die, who acknowledges the hardships of the times, who has turned away from life, who has submitted himself to the (calamities of) time, who realizes the evils of the worlds who is living in the abodes of the dead and is due to depart from them any day; to the son who yearns for what is not to be achieved, who is treading the path of those who have died….”

Then he said, “I found you a part of myself, rather I found you my whole, so much so that if anything befell you, it was as though it befell me and if death came to you it was as though it came to me. Consequently, your affairs meant to me what my own matters meant to me. So, I have written this piece of advice (to you) as an instrument of seeking help through it, whether I remain alive for you or cease to exist”.

Cling to the Rope

أوصیکَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ لُزُومِ أَمْرِهِ وَ عِمَارَةِ قَلْبِكَ بِذِكْرِهِ وَ الِاعْتِصَامِ‏ بِحَبْلِهِ وَ أَيُّ سَبَبٍ أَوْثَقُ مِنْ سَبَبٍ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَنْتَ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ.

Be wary of God, abide by His commands, fill your heart with remembrance of Him, and hold fast to His rope. No connection is more reliable than the connection between you and God provided you take hold of it.

Enliven Your Heart.

أَحْيِ قَلْبَكَ بِالْمَوْعِظَةِ وَ قَوِّهِ بِالْيَقِينِ وَ ذَلِّلْهُ بِالْمَوْتِ‏ وَ قَرِّرْهُ بِالْفَنَاءِ وَ بَصِّرْهُ فَجَائِعَ الدُّنْيَا وَ حَذِّرْهُ صَوْلَةَ الدَّهْرِ وَ فُحْشَ تَقَلُّبِ اللَّيَالِي وَ الْأَيَّامِ‏ وَ اعْرِضْ عَلَيْهِ أَخْبَارَ الْمَاضِينَ وَ ذَكِّرْهُ بِمَا أَصَابَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ.

Enliven your heart with preaching. Energize it with firm belief. Humiliate it by recalling death. Make it believe in mortality. Make it see the misfortunes of this world. Make it fear the authority of the time and the severity of some changes during the nights and the days. Place before it the events of past people.

The House of Loneliness

سِرْ فِي بِلَادِهِمْ وَ آثَارِهِمْ وَ انْظُرْ مَا فَعَلُوا وَ أَيْنَ حَلُّوا وَ عَمَّا انْتَقَلُوا فَإِنَّكَ تَجِدُهُمُ انْتَقَلُوا عَنِ الْأَحِبَّةِ وَ حَلُّوا دَارَ الْغُرْبَةِ. وَ كَأَنَّكَ عَنْ قَلِيلٍ قَدْ صِرْتَ كَأَحَدِهِمْ فَأَصْلِحْ مَثْوَاكَ وَ لَا تَبِعْ آخِرَتَكَ بِدُنْيَاكَ.

Recall to your heart what befell those who were before you. Walk among their cities and ruins, then see what they did and from what they have gone away and where they have gone and stayed. You will find that they departed from (their) friends and lodged in the house of loneliness. Shortly, you too will be like one of them. Therefore, plan for your place of stay and do not sell your next life with this world.

Give up Discussing.

دَعِ الْقَوْلَ فِيمَا لَا تَعْرِفُ وَ الْخِطَابَ فِيمَا لَا تُكَلَّفُ.

Give up discussing what you do not know and speaking about what does not concern you.

Fear of Straying

أَمْسِكْ عَنْ طَرِيقٍ إِذَا خِفْتَ ضَلَالَهُ فَإِنَّ الْكَفَّ عَنْ حَيْرَةِ الضَّلَالَةِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ رُكُوبِ الْأَهْوَالِ.

Keep off the track from which you fear to go astray because refraining (from moving) when there is fear of straying is better than embarking on dangers.

Among the Good Doers

وَ أْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ تَكُنْ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ.

Ask others to do good; you will thus be among the good doers.

Stop Evil

وَ أَنْكِرِ الْمُنْكَرَ بِلِسَانِكَ وَ يَدِكَ وَ بَايِنْ مَنْ فَعَلَهُ بِجُهْدِكَ وَ جَاهِدْ فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهادِهِ‏ وَ لَا تَأْخُذْكَ فِي اللَّهِ لَوْمَةُ لَائِمٍ.

Prevent others from doing evil with your action as well as your speech and keep off, to the best of your ability, from he who commits it. Struggle for God as is His due; and the reviling of a reviler should not deter you in matters of God.

Entrusting to God

أَلْجِئْ نَفْسَكَ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا إِلَى إِلَهِكَ فَإِنَّكَ تُلْجِئُهَا إِلَى كَهْفٍ حَرِيزٍ وَ مَانِعٍ عَزِيزٍ.

Entrust your affairs to God, because you will thus be resigning yourself to a secure shelter and a strong protector.

Ask God

أَخْلِصْ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ لِرَبِّكَ فَإِنَّ بِيَدِهِ الْعَطَاءَ وَ الْحِرْمَانَ.

Ask only from your Lord because in His hand is all the giving and depriving.

Non-profit Knowledge

أَنَّهُ لَا خَيْرَ فِي عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ وَ لَا يُنْتَفَعُ بِعِلْمٍ حِينَ لَا يُقَالُ بِهِ.

There is no good in knowledge, which does not benefit, and if knowledge is not made use of then its acquisition is not justified.

The Heart of Youth

إِنَّمَا قَلْبُ الْحَدَثِ كَالْأَرْضِ الْخَالِيَةِ مَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَبِلَتْهُ.

Certainly, the heart of a young man is like uncultivated land. It accepts whatever is strewn on it.

The Traveler

إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ مَنْ أَبْصَرَ الدُّنْيَا كَمَثَلِ قَوْمٍ سَفْرٍ نَبَا بِهِمْ مَنْزِلٌ جَدْبٌ فَأَمُّوا مَنْزِلًا خَصِيباً وَ جَنَاباً مَرِيعاً فَاحْتَمَلُوا وَعْثَاءَ الطَّرِيقِ‏ وَ فِرَاقَ الصَّدِيقِ وَ خُشُونَةَ السَّفَرِ فِي الطَّعَامِ وَ الْمَنَامِ‏ لِيَأْتُوا سَعَةَ دَارِهِمْ وَ مَنْزِلَ قَرَارِهِمْ فَلَيْسَ يَجِدُونَ لِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَلَماً وَ لَا يَرَوْنَ نَفَقَةً مَغْرَماً وَ لَا شَيْئاً أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِمَّا قَرَّبَهُمْ مِنْ مَنْزِلِهِمْ.

The example of those who have understood the world is like those travelers who, being disgusted with drought-stricken places set off for greenery and a fruitful place. Then they endured difficulties on the way, separation from friends, hardships of the journey and unwholesome-some food in order to reach their fields of plenty and place of stay. Consequently, they do not feel any pain in all this and do not regard any expenditure to be waste. Nothing is more loveable to them than what carries them closer to their place of stay.

The Deceived

مَثَلُ مَنِ اغْتَرَّ بِهَا كَمَثَلِ قَوْمٍ كَانُوا بِمَنْزِلٍ خِصْبٍ فَنَبَا بِهِمْ إِلَى مَنْزِلٍ جَدْبٍ فَلَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَكْرَهَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ لَا أَهْوَلَ لَدَيْهِمْ مِنْ مُفَارَقَةِ مَا هُمْ فِيهِ إِلَى مَا يَهْجُمُونَ عَلَيْهِ‏ وَ يَصِيرُونَ إِلَيْهِ.

The example of those who are deceived by this world is like the people who were in a green place but they became disgusted with it and went to a drought stricken place. Therefore, for them nothing is more detestable or abominable than to leave the place where they were to go to a place, which they will reach unexpectedly and for which they are heading.

The Actual Well Educated

إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ مَنْ عَرَفَ أَنَّ مَا يَعْلَمُ فِيمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ قَلِيلٌ فَعَدَّ نَفْسَهُ بِذَلِكَ جَاهِلًا فَازْدَادَ بِمَا عَرَفَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ اجْتِهَاداً فَمَا يَزَالُ لِلْعِلْمِ طَالِباً وَ فِيهِ رَاغِباً وَ لَهُ مُسْتَفِيداً وَ لِأَهْلِهِ خَاشِعاً مُهْتَمّاً وَ لِلصَّمْتِ لَازِماً وَ لِلْخَطَإِ حَاذِراً وَ مِنْهُ مُسْتَحْيِياً وَ إِنْ وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِ مَا لَا يَعْرِفُ لَمْ يُنْكِرْ ذَلِكَ لِمَا قَرَّرَ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ مِنَ الْجَهَالَةِ.

The actual well educated is that who realizes that he ignores more than what he knows; hence, he reckons himself with the ignorant and receives more knowledge by seeking it painstakingly.

He keeps on being scholar, by desiring getting more information, benefiting by what he learns, revering his teachers, keeping silence, bewaring of faults, and feeling ashamed of mistakes. If he confronts what he does not know, he will not deny his unawareness because he has already declared his being ignorant.

The Actual Ignorant

إِنَّ الْجَاهِلَ مَنْ عَدَّ نَفْسَهُ بِمَا جَهِلَ مِنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الْعِلْمِ عَالِماً وَ بِرَأْيِهِ مُكْتَفِياً فَمَا يَزَالُ لِلْعُلَمَاءِ مُبَاعِداً وَ عَلَيْهِمُ زَارِياً وَ لِمَنْ خَالَفَهُ مُخَطِّئاً وَ لِمَا لَمْ يَعْرِفْ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ مُضَلِّلًا فَإِذَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ مَا لَمْ يَعْرِفْهُ أَنْكَرَهُ وَ كَذَّبَ بِهِ.

The actual ignorant is that who reckons himself with the scholars -although he ignores many things- and depends on his opinion. He is so far away from the scholars whom he disgraces. He accuses everyone who does not agree with him of error and misguides in the matters that he ignores. He denies and belies the matters that he ignores.

The Measure

‏وَ اجْعَلْ نَفْسَكَ مِيزَاناً فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ غَيْرِكَ فَأَحْبِبْ لِغَيْرِكَ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ وَ اكْرَهْ لَهُ مَا تَكْرَهُ لِنَفْسِكَ.

Make yourself the measure (for dealings) between you and others. Thus, you should desire for others what you desire for yourself and hate for others what you hate for yourself.

Do not oppress

Do not oppress, as you do not like to be oppressed, and do good to others, as you would like good to be done to you.

Do not Tell

وَ لَا تَقُلْ بِمَا لَا تَعْلَمُ بَلْ لَا تَقُلْ كُلَّ مَا تَعْلَمُ وَ لَا تَقُلْ مَا لَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَكَ.

Do not talk about what you do not know. Rather, not say all you know. Do not say to others what you do not like to be said to you.

Self-Admiration

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْإِعْجَابَ ضِدُّ الصَّوَابِ وَ آفَةُ الْأَلْبَابِ.

Know that self-admiration is contrary to propriety (of action) and is a calamity for the mind.

A Long Distance

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَمَامَكَ طَرِيقاً ذَا مَشَقَّةٍ بَعِيدَةٍ وَ أَهْوَالٍ شَدِيدَةٍ وَ أَنَّهُ لَا غِنَى بِكَ فِيهِ عَنْ حُسْنِ الِارْتِيَادِ وَ قَدْرِ بَلَاغِكَ مِنَ الزَّادِ مَعَ خِفَّةِ الظَّهْرِ فَلَا تَحْمِلَنَّ عَلَى ظَهْرِكَ فَوْقَ بَلَاغِكَ فَيَكُونَ ثِقْلًا وَ وَبَالًا عَلَيْكَ.

Know that in front of you lies a road of long distance and severe hardship (in the Hereafter) and that you cannot avoid seeking it. Take your requirements of provision keeping the burden light. Do not load your back beyond your power lest its weight become a mischief for you.

The Reality of Charity

إِذَا وَجَدْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحَاجَةِ مَنْ يَحْمِلُ لَكَ زَادَكَ فَيُوَافِيكَ بِهِ حَيْثُ تَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ فَاغْتَنِمْهُ.

Whenever you come across a needy person who can carry for you your provision to hand it back to you on the Day of Judgment, when you will need it, then accept him as good opportunity and get him to carry it. Put in that provision as much as you are able to, for it is likely that if you may need him (afterwards), you may not get hold of him.

To Lend

وَ اغْتَنِمْ مَنِ اسْتَقْرَضَكَ‏ فِي حَالِ غِنَاكَ وَ اجْعَلْ وَقْتَ قَضَائِكَ فِي يَوْمِ عُسْرَتِكَ.‏

If a person is willing to borrow from you in the days of your affluence to pay it back to you at the time of your need (in the Hereafter) then make use of this opportunity.

Light-burdened Man

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَمَامَكَ عَقَبَةً كَئُوداً لَا مَحَالَةَ مُهْبِطاً بِكَ عَلَى جَنَّةٍ أَوْ عَلَى نَارٍ الْمُخِفُ‏ فِيهَا أَحْسَنُ حَالًا مِنَ الْمُثْقِلِ‏ فَارْتَدْ لِنَفْسِكَ قَبْلَ نُزُولِكَ.‏

Know that in front of you lies an impassable valley, your terminating point at the other end of this passage will necessarily be either Paradise or Hell, wherein the light-burdened man will be in a better condition than the heavy-burden one. Therefore, prepare the place before getting down.

The Merciful God

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ خَزَائِنِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ قَدْ أَذِنَ بِدُعَائِكَ وَ تَكَفَّلَ بِإِجَابَتِكَ وَ أَمَرَكَ أَنْ تَسْأَلَهُ لِيُعْطِيَكَ وَ هُوَ رَحِيمٌ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُ تَرْجُمَاناً وَ لَمْ يَحْجُبْكَ عَنْهُ وَ لَمْ يُلْجِئْكَ إِلَى مَنْ يَشْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ لَكَ وَ لَمْ يَمْنَعْكَ إِنْ أَسَأْتَ التَّوْبَةَ وَ لَمْ يُعَيِّرْكَ بِالْإِنَابَةِ.

Know that He Who owns the treasuries of the heavens and the earth has permitted you to pray to Him and has promised you acceptance of the prayer.

He has commanded you to beg from Him in order that He may give you and to seek His mercy in order that He may have mercy on you. He has not placed anything between you and Him that may veil Him from you. He has not required you to get a mediator for you to Him, and if you err, He has not prevented you from repentance.

Keys of His Treasuries

فَأَلْحِحْ‏ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ يَفْتَحْ لَكَ بَابَ الرَّحْمَةِ بِمَا أَذِنَ لَكَ فِيهِ مِنْ مَسْأَلَتِهِ فَمَتَى شِئْتَ اسْتَفْتَحْتَ بِالدُّعَاءِ أَبْوَابَ خَزَائِنِهِ فَأَلْحِحْ وَ لَا يُقَنِّطْكَ إِنْ أَبْطَأَتْ عَنْكَ الْإِجَابَةُ فَإِنَّ الْعَطِيَّةَ عَلَى قَدْرِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ.

God has placed the keys of His treasuries in your hands in the sense that He has shown you the way to ask Him. Therefore, wherever you wish, open the doors of His favor with prayer, and ask God importunately. Let the abundant rains of His mercy fall on you.

Delayed

رُبَّمَا أُخِّرَتْ عَنْكَ الْإِجَابَةُ لِيَكُونَ أَطْوَلَ لِلْمَسْأَلَةِ وَ أَجْزَلَ لِلْعَطِيَّةِ وَ رُبَّمَا سَأَلْتَ الشَّيْ‏ءَ فَلَمْ تُؤْتَاهُ وَ أُوتِيتَ خَيْراً مِنْهُ عَاجِلًا وَ آجِلًا أَوْ صُرِفَ عَنْكَ لِمَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ فَلَرُبَّ أَمْرٍ قَدْ طَلَبْتَهُ فِيهِ هَلَاكُ دِينِكَ لَوْ أُوتِيتَهُ.

Sometimes acceptance (of prayer) is delayed with a view to its being a source of greater reward to the asker and of better gifts to the expectant. Sometimes you ask for a thing but it is not given to you, and a better thing is given to you later or a thing is taken away from you for some greater good of yours, because sometimes you ask for a thing, which contains ruin for your religion if it is given to you.

Request

وَ لْتَكُنْ مَسْأَلَتُكَ فِيمَا يَعْنِيكَ مِمَّا يَبْقَى لَكَ جَمَالُهُ أَوْ يُنْفَى عَنْكَ وَبَالُهُ وَ الْمَالُ لَا يَبْقَى لَكَ وَ لَا تَبْقَى لَهُ فَإِنَّهُ يُوشِكُ أَنْ تَرَى عَاقِبَةَ أَمْرِكَ حَسَناً أَوْ سَيِّئاً أَوْ يَعْفُوَ الْعَفُوُّ الْكَرِيمُ.

Your request should be for thing whose beauty is stable and whose burden remains away from you. As for wealth, it will not last for you nor will you live for it.

For the Hereafter

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ خُلِقْتَ لِلْآخِرَةِ لَا لِلدُّنْيَا وَ لِلْفَنَاءِ لَا لِلْبَقَاءِ وَ لِلْمَوْتِ لَا لِلْحَيَاةِ وَ أَنَّكَ فِي مَنْزِلِ قُلْعَةٍ وَ دَارِ بُلْغَةٍ وَ طَرِيقٍ إِلَى الْآخِرَةِ.

Know that you have been created for the next world, not for this world, for destruction (in this world) not for lasting, and for dying not for living. You are in a place, which does not belong to you, a house for making preparations and a passage towards the Hereafter.

Be on Guard!

أَنَّكَ طَرِيدُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي لَا يَنْجُو مِنْهُ هَارِبُهُ وَ لَا بُدَّ أَنَّهُ يُدْرِكُكَ يَوْماً فَكُنْ مِنْهُ عَلَى حَذَرٍ أَنْ يُدْرِكَكَ عَلَى حَالِ سَيِّئَةٍ قَدْ كُنْتَ تُحَدِّثُ نَفْسَكَ فِيهَا بِالتَّوْبَةِ فَيَحُولَ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا أَنْتَ قَدْ أَهْلَكْتَ نَفْسَكَ.

You are being chased by death from which the runner-away cannot escape, as it would surely overtake him. So, be on guard against it least it overtakes you at a time when you are in a sinful state and you are thinking of repenting but it creates obstruction between you and repentance. In such a case, you will ruin yourself.

Remember Death!

أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرَ الْمَوْتِ وَ ذِكْرَ مَا تَهْجُمُ عَلَيْهِ وَ تُفْضِي بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ إِلَيْهِ وَ اجْعَلْهُ أَمَامَكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ وَ قَدْ أَخَذْتَ مِنْهُ حِذْرَكَ‏ وَ لَا يَأْخُذَكَ عَلَى غِرَّتِكَ.

Remember death very much and the place where you have to go suddenly and reach after death, so that when it comes you are already on your guard against it and have prepared yourself for it and it does not come to you all of a sudden and surprise you.

Worldly Attractions

إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَغْتَرَّ بِمَا تَرَى مِنْ إِخْلاَدِ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَيْهَا، وَتَكَالُبِهِمْ عَلَيْهَا، فَقَدْ نَبَّأَكَ اللهُ عَنْهَا، وَنَعَتْ هِيَ لَكَ عَنْ نَفْسِهَا، وَتَكَشَّفَتْ لَكَ عَنْ مَسَاوِيهَا.

Beware lest, you become deceived by the leanings of the people towards worldly attractions and their rushing upon it. God has warned you about it and the world has informed you of its mortal character and unveiled to you its evils.

Remember the Hereafter

وَ أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مَا فِيهَا مِنَ النَّعِيمِ وَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَلِيمِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يُزَهِّدُكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ يُصَغِّرُهَا عِنْدَكَ.

Remember the Hereafter very much and remember its blessings and its painful punishment. It makes you unwilling about this world and makes it unvalued in your sight.

Moderating in Earning

أَنَّكَ فِي سَبِيلِ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكَ فَاخْفِضْ فِي الطَّلَبِ‏ وَ أَجْمِلْ فِي الْمُكْتَسَبِ فَإِنَّهُ رُبَّ طَلَبٍ قَدْ جَرَّ إِلَى حَرَبٍ‏ وَ لَيْسَ كُلُّ طَالِبٍ بِنَاجٍ وَ كُلُّ مُجْمِلٍ بِمُحْتَاجٍ.

You are on the track of those before you. Therefore, be humble in seeking and moderate in earning because often seeking leads to deprivation. Every seeker of livelihood does not get it, nor is everyone who is moderate in seeking deprived.

Improper Deal

أَكْرِمْ نَفْسَكَ عَنْ كُلِّ دَنِيَّةٍ وَ إِنْ سَاقَتْكَ إِلَى رَغْبَةٍ فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تَعْتَاضَ بِمَا تَبْذُلُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ عِوَضاً.

Keep yourself away from every low thing even though they may take you to your desired aims, because you will not get any return for your own respect and reputation, which you spend.

Slave of Others

لَا تَكُنْ عَبْدَ غَيْرِكَ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَكَ اللَّهُ حُرّاً.

Do not be the slave of others for God had made you free.

Good through Evil

مَا خَيْرُ خَيْرٍ لَا يُنَالُ إِلَّا بِشَرٍّ وَ يُسْرٍ لَا يُنَالُ إِلَّا بِعُسْرٍ.

There is no good in good, which is achieved through evil, and no good in comfort that is achieved through (disgracing (hardship.

Bearer of Greed

إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُوجِفَ بِكَ مَطَايَا الطَّمَعِ‏ فَتُورِدَكَ مَنَاهِلَ الْهَلَكَةِ وَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ ذُو نِعْمَةٍ فَافْعَلْ فَإِنَّكَ مُدْرِكٌ قِسْمَكَ وَ آخِذٌ سَهْمَكَ وَ إِنَّ الْيَسِيرَ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَكْثَرُ وَ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ الْكَثِيرِ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ كُلٌّ مِنْهُ.

Beware lest bearers of greed should carry you and make you descend down to the springs of destruction. If you can manage that, there be no wealthy person between yourself and God, do so, because in any case you will find what is for you and get your share. A little received directly from God the Glorified, is more dignified than that which is more but is received through (the obligation of) His creatures, although (really) all is from God.

Safety in Silence

فِي الصَّمْتِ السَّلَامَةُ مِنَ النَّدَامَةِ وَ تَلَافِيكَ مَا فَرَطَ مِنْ صَمْتِكَ أَيْسَرُ مِنْ إِدْرَاكِكَ مَا فَاتَ مِنْ مَنْطِقِكَ‏ وَ حِفْظُ مَا فِي الْوِعَاءِ بِشَدِّ الْوِكَاءِ.

Safety lies in silence. It is easier to rectify what you miss by silence than to secure what you lose by speaking. Whatever is in a pot can be retained by closing the lid.

Seeking from People

حُزْنُ الْيَأْسِ‏ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الطَّلَبِ إِلَى النَّاسِ وَ الْعِفَّةُ مَعَ الْحِرْفَةِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ سُرُورٍ مَعَ فُجُورٍ.

Bitterness of disappointment is better than seeking from people and manual labor with chastity is better than the riches of a vicious life.

The Virtuous Companion

مِنْ خَيْرِ حَظِّ امْرِئٍ قَرِينٌ صَالِحٌ فَقَارِنْ أَهْلَ الْخَيْرِ تَكُنْ مِنْهُمْ وَ بَايِنْ أَهْلَ الشَّرِّ تَبِنْ عَنْهُمْ.‏

The virtuous companion is the best luck a man may target. Associate with people of virtue; you will become one of them. Keep aloof from people of vice; you will remain safe from them.

Distrust

وَ لَا يَغْلِبَنَّ عَلَيْكَ سُوءُ الظَّنِّ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدَعُ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ خَلِيلٍ صُلْحاً.

Distrust should never control you because it will destroy any association between you and your friend.

The Worst Food

بِئْسَ الطَّعَامُ الْحَرَامُ وَ ظُلْمُ الضَّعِيفِ أَفْحَشُ الظُّلْمِ.

The worst food is that which is unlawful and the worst oppression is oppressing the weak.

Depending upon Desires

إِيَّاكَ وَ الِاتِّكَالَ عَلَى الْمُنَى فَإِنَّهَا بَضَائِعُ النَّوْكَى.‏

Do not depend upon desires because desires are the mainstay of fools.

The Best Experience

الْعَقْلُ حِفْظُ التَّجَارِبِ وَ خَيْرُ مَا جَرَّبْتَ مَا وَعَظَك.‏

It is wise to preserve one’s experience. 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.

Visiting Virtuous

لِقَاءُ أَهْلِ الْخَيْرِ عِمَارَةُ الْقُلُوبِ.

Meeting with people of virtue is the maintenance of hearts.

Never Betray

لَا تَخُنْ مَنِ ائْتَمَنَكَ وَ إِنْ خَانَكَ وَ لَا تُذِعْ سِرَّهُ وَ إِنْ أَذَاعَهُ.

Never betray the one who trusts you even if he betrays you and never divulge his secret even if he divulges it.

The Inclusive Wisdom

أَيُّ كَلِمَةِ حُكْمٍ جَامِعَةٍ أَنْ تُحِبَّ لِلنَّاسِ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ وَ تَكْرَهَ لَهُمْ مَا تَكْرَهُ لَهَا.

The most inclusive word of wisdom is surely that you should love for people what you love for yourself and hate for them what you hate for yourself.

Brother in Faith

Bear yourself towards your brother in such a way that if he disregards kinship, you keep to it; when he turns away, be kind to him and draw near to him; when he withholds spend for him; when he goes away approach him; when he is harsh be lenient. However, take care that this should not be done inappropriately, and that you should not behave so with an undeserving person.

The Enemy of Friend

لَا تَتَّخِذَنَّ عَدُوَّ صَدِيقِكَ صَدِيقاً فَتُعَادِيَ صَدِيقَكَ.

Do not take the enemy of your friend as a friend because you will thus antagonize your friend.

To Your Brother

امْحَضْ أَخَاكَ النَّصِيحَةَ حَسَنَةً كَانَتْ أَوْ قَبِيحَةً وَ سَاعِدْهُ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَ زُلْ مَعَهُ حَيْثُ زَالَ وَ لَا تَطْلُبَنَّ مُجَازَاةَ أَخِيكَ وَ لَوْ حَثَا التُّرَابَ بِفِيك.

Give true advice to your brother, be it good or bitter. Help him in any case, and go with him wherever he goes, and never retaliate even if he throws dust in your mouth.

Doing Favor

خُذْ عَلَى عَدُوِّكَ بِالْفَضْلِ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى لِلظَّفَرِ.

Overcome your enemy by doing favor to him. This is more successful.

Good Manner

تَسْلَمُ مِنَ النَّاسِ بِحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَ تَجَرُّعِ الْغَيْظِ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَرَ جُرْعَةً أَحْلَى مِنْهَا عَاقِبَةً وَ لَا أَلَذَّ مَغَبَّةً.

You will save yourself from people by good manners and swallowing the anger. I did not find a sweeter thing than swallowing one’s anger in the end, and nothing more pleasant in consequence.

Be Lenient

وَ لَا تَصْرِمْ أَخَاكَ عَلَى ارْتِيَابٍ وَ لَا تَقْطَعْهُ دُونَ اسْتِعْتَابٍ‏ وَ لِنْ لِمَنْ غَالَظَكَ فَإِنَّهُ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَلِينَ لَكَ.

Never suspect in your brother and never leave him without blaming. Be lenient to him who is harsh to you for it is likely that he will shortly become lenient to you.

Ugly Things

مَا أَقْبَحَ الْقَطِيعَةَ بَعْدَ الصِّلَةِ وَ الْجَفَاءَ بَعْدَ الْإِخَاءِ وَ الْعَدَاوَةَ بَعْدَ الْمَوَدَّةِ وَ الْخِيَانَةَ لِمَنِ ائْتَمَنَكَ وَ خُلْفَ الظَّنِّ لِمَنِ ارْتَجَاكَ وَ الْغَدْرَ بِمَنِ اسْتَأْمَنَ إِلَيْكَ.

What an ugly thing is the alienation after brotherhood, enmity after affection, betraying those who trust you, disappointing those who expect your good, and cheating those who confide in you!

Leave Some Scope

فَإِنْ أَنْتَ غَلَبَتْكَ قَطِيعَةُ أَخِيكَ فَاسْتَبْقِ لَهَا مِنْ نَفْسِكَ بَقِيَّةً يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهَا إِنْ بَدَا ذَلِكَ لَهُ يَوْماً مَا.

If you intend to cut yourself off from a friend, leave some scope for him from your side by which he may resume friendship if it so occurs to him some day.

Prove It

مَنْ ظَنَّ بِكَ خَيْراً فَصَدِّقْ ظَنَّهُ.‏

If anyone has a good idea about you prove it to be true.

The Oppression

لَا يَكْبُرَنَّ عَلَيْكَ ظُلْمُ مَنْ ظَلَمَكَ فَإِنَّهُ إِنَّمَا يَسْعَى فِي مَضَرَّتِهِ وَ نَفْعِكَ.

Do not feel too much the oppression of a person who oppresses you, because he is only busy in harming himself and benefiting you.

Blaming

لَا تَكُونَنَّ مِمَّنْ تَشْتَدُّ لَائِمَتُهُ وَ يَقِلُّ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ عُذْرُهُ.

Do not be one of those who blame too much and are excused too little.

At the Time of Need

لَا تَكُونَنَّ مِمَّنْ تَشْتَدُّ لَائِمَتُهُ وَ يَقِلُّ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ عُذْرُهُ.

How bad it is to bend down at the time of need and to be harsh in riches.

Spend Properly

إِنَّمَا لَكَ مِنْ دُنْيَاكَ مَا أَصْلَحْتَ بِهِ مَثْوَاكَ‏ فَأَنْفِقْ فِي حَقٍّ وَ لَا تَكُنْ خَازِناً لِغَيْرِكَ.

You shall have from this world only that with which you can adorn your permanent abode. Therefore, spend properly (in the right path) and do not be the treasurer of others.

Treat Kindly

أَحْسِنْ إِنْ أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ يُحْسَنَ إِلَيْكَ.
You should treat others kindly if you want them to treat you kindly.

Censure

احْتَمِلْ أَخَاكَ عَلَى مَا فِيهِ وَ لَا تُكْثِرِ الْعِتَابَ فَإِنَّهُ يُورِثُ الضَّغِينَةَ وَ يُجَرُّ إِلَى الْبِغْضَةِ وَ اسْتَعْتِبْ مَنْ رَجَوْتَ إِعْتَابَهُ.

Bear your brother in spite of his defects. Do not censure excessively, because this creates malice and drags to hatred. Seek the censure of those who find you excuses.

Neighbor

مِنْ حُسْنِ الْجِوَارِ تَفَقُّدُ الْجَارِ.

Visiting the neighbors is a pattern of good neighbor.

The Betrayer

مَنْ أَمِنَ الزَّمَانَ خَانَهُ وَ مَنْ تَعَظَّمَ عَلَيْهِ أَهَانَهُ‏ وَ مَنْ تَرَغَّمَ عَلَيْهِ أَرْغَمَهُ وَ مَنْ لَجَأَ إِلَيْهِ أَسْلَمَهُ.

This world will betray those who trust it and will humiliate those who glorify it and will defeat those who try to prevail it and will disappoint those who seek its refuge.

Word and Deed

خَيْرُ الْمَقَالِ مَا صَدَّقَهُ الْفِعَالُ.

The best wording is that which is supported by deeds.

Before Journey

سَلْ عَنِ الرَّفِيقِ قَبْلَ الطَّرِيقِ وَ عَنِ الْجَارِ قَبْلَ الدَّارِ.

Before adopting a journey, ask about the companion and before taking a house, ask about the neighbor.

Leniency

عَوِّدْ نَفْسَكَ السَّمَاحَ‏ وَ تَخَيَّرْ لَهَا مِنْ كُلِّ خُلُقٍ أَحْسَنَهُ.

Habituate yourself to leniency and opt for the best moralities.

Dirty Word

إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَذْكُرَ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ قَذِراً أَوْ تَكُونَ مُضْحِكاً وَ إِنْ حَكَيْتَ ذَلِكَ عَنْ غَيْرِكَ.‏

Beware lest, you mention in your speech what may be dirty or rouse laughter even though you may be relating it from others.

A Fragrant Flower

إِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ رَيْحَانَةٌ وَ لَيْسَتْ بِقَهْرَمَانَةٍ.

The woman is a fragrant flower not a servant.

Respecting Relatives

أَكْرِمْ عَشِيرَتَكَ فَإِنَّهُمْ جَنَاحُكَ الَّذِي بِهِ تَطِيرُ وَ أَصْلُكَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ‏ تَصِيرُ وَ بِهِمْ تَصُولُ‏ وَ هُمُ الْعُدَّةُ عِنْدَ الشِدَّةِ فَأَكْرِمْ كَرِيمَهُمْ وَ عُدْ سَقِيمَهُمْ‏ وَ أَشْرِكْهُمْ فِي أُمُورِهِمْ وَ تَيَسَّرْ عِنْدَ مَعْسُورٍ لَهُمْ.

Respect your relatives because they are your wing with which you fly, the origin towards which you return, and your hands with which you attack. They are the propensity in time of crises. You should honor the generous among them, visit the ailed, take part in their affairs, and alleviate their problems.

The Best Supporter

Seek God’s aid in all your affairs. He is indeed the best supporter.

• 1. Tohaf al-Oqoul, p. 68.