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To His Companion, Hisham bin Hakam19

It is related that Imam Kazim (peace be upon him) said1,

People of Reason

God the Majestic preached to the people of reason and made them desirous to the Hereafter. He says,

“The life of the world is nothing but play and diversion, and the abode of the Hereafter is surely better for those who are God wary. Do you not apply reason?” (6:32)

God also says,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَعَظَ أَهْلَ الْعَقْلِ وَ رَغَّبَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ‏ وَ مَا الْحَياةُ الدُّنْيا إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَ لَهْوٌ وَ لَلدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَ فَلا تَعْقِلُونَ‏ وَ قَالَ‏ وَ ما أُوتِيتُمْ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَمَتاعُ الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا وَ زِينَتُها وَ ما عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَ أَبْقى‏ أَ فَلا تَعْقِلُونَ‏.

“Whatever things you have been given are only the wares of the life of this world and its glitter, and what is with God is better and more lasting. Will you not apply reason?” (28:60)

Before the Truth

إِنَّ لُقْمَانَ قَالَ لِابْنِهِ تَوَاضَعْ لِلْحَقِّ تَكُنْ أَعْقَلَ النَّاسِ‏ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا بَحْرٌ عَمِيقٌ قَدْ غَرِقَ فِيهِ عَالَمٌ كَثِيرٌ فَلْتَكُنْ سَفِينَتُكَ فِيهَا تَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ حَشْوُهَا الْإِيمَانَ‏ وَ شِرَاعُهَا التَّوَكُّلَ وَ قَيِّمُهَا الْعَقْلَ وَ دَلِيلُهَا الْعِلْمَ وَ سُكَّانُهَا الصَّبْرَ.

Luqman said to his son, “Show modesty before the truth then you will be the most reasonable. O son, this world is a deep ocean in which many people have sunk. Therefore, your ship in this ocean should be God wariness, its cargo should be faith, its sail should be trusting in God, its captain should be reason, its guide should be knowledge, and its anchor should be patience”.

Intelligent

‏لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ دَلِيلٌ وَ دَلِيلُ الْعَاقِلِ التَّفَكُّرُ وَ دَلِيلُ التَّفَكُّرِ الصَّمْتُ.

Everything has its evidence, and the evidence of being intelligent is pondering (over things). The evidence of pondering is silence.

Roadster

لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مَطِيَّةٌ وَ مَطِيَّةُ الْعَاقِلِ التَّوَاضُعُ.

Everything has its pack animal, and modesty is the pack animal of the intelligent.

Ignorance

کَفَى بِكَ جَهْلًا أَنْ تَرْكَبَ مَا نُهِيتَ عَنْهُ
.

It is sufficient for your ignorance to do what you are told not to do.

Pearl or Nut

لَوْ كَانَ فِي يَدِكَ جَوْزَةٌ وَ قَالَ النَّاسُ فِي يَدِكَ لُؤْلُؤَةٌ مَا كَانَ يَنْفَعُكَ وَ أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهَا جَوْزَةٌ وَ لَوْ كَانَ فِي يَدِكَ لُؤْلُؤَةٌ وَ قَالَ النَّاسُ إِنَّهَا جَوْزَةٌ مَا ضَرَّكَ وَ أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهَا لُؤْلُؤَةٌ

If people tell that, you have a pearl in your hand while you are sure it is a nut, not pearl, this should not advantage you. If people tell that, you have a nut in the hand while you are sure it is a pearl, not nut, this also should not harm you.

Messengers

مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ أَنْبِيَاءَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ إِلَى عِبَادِهِ إِلَّا لِيَعْقِلُوا عَنِ اللَّهِ فَأَحْسَنُهُمْ اسْتِجَابَةً أَحْسَنُهُمْ مَعْرِفَةً لِلَّهِ وَ أَعْلَمُهُمْ بِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ أَحْسَنُهُمْ عَقْلًا وَ أَعْقَلُهُمْ‏ أَرْفَعُهُمْ دَرَجَةً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

The main reason beyond God’s sending prophets and apostles is that people will understand the commandments of God and His apostles. The best responsive people will be the most understanding, the most knowledgeable of God’s commandments will be the most intelligent, and the most intelligent then will be the most high-ranking in this world and the Hereafter.

The Angel

مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ إِلَّا وَ مَلَكٌ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ فَلَا يَتَوَاضَعُ إِلَّا رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ وَ لَا يَتَعَاظَمُ إِلَّا وَضَعَهُ اللَّهُ.

For every servant (of God), there is an angel invested with full power over him. Whenever that servant shows modesty for the sake of God, the angel will elevate him, and whenever he shows arrogance, the angel will humiliate him.

Arguments

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حُجَّتَيْنِ حُجَّةً ظَاهِرَةً وَ حُجَّةً بَاطِنَةً فَأَمَّا الظَّاهِرَةُ فَالرُّسُلُ وَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَ الْأَئِمَّةُ وَ أَمَّا الْبَاطِنَةُ فَالْعُقُولُ.

God has two arguments against people -one is explicit and the other is implicit. The explicit arguments of God are the apostles, prophets, and imams. The implicit arguments are the minds.

Unlawful Provision

إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ الَّذِي لَا يَشْغَلُ الْحَلَالُ شُكْرَهُ وَ لَا يَغْلِبُ الْحَرَامُ صَبْرَهُ.

The true intelligent is he whose lawful gotten provisions do not divert him from thanking God and illegal provisions do not divert him from being tolerant.

To Ruin the Mind

مَنْ سَلَّطَ ثَلَاثاً عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَعَانَ هَوَاهُ عَلَى هَدْمِ عَقْلِهِ مَنْ أَظْلَمَ نُورَ فِكْرِهِ‏ بِطُولِ أَمَلِهِ وَ مَحَا طَرَائِفَ حِكْمَتِهِ بِفُضُولِ كَلَامِهِ وَ أَطْفَأَ نُورَ عِبْرَتِهِ بِشَهَوَاتِ‏ نَفْسِهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَعَانَ هَوَاهُ عَلَى هَدْمِ عَقْلِهِ وَ مَنْ هَدَمَ عَقْلَهُ أَفْسَدَ عَلَيْهِ دِينَهُ وَ دُنْيَاهُ.

As for those who extinguish the illumination of thinking with the long expectations, erase the novels of wisdom with the curious wording, and extinguish the lights of learning with the personal whims, they will back their whims to ruin their brains. Those who ruin their minds will surely devastate their worldly and religious affairs.

Accepted Deeds

كَيْفَ يَزْكُو عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَمَلُكَ وَ أَنْتَ قَدْ شَغَلْتَ عَقْلَكَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّكَ وَ أَطَعْتَ هَوَاكَ عَلَى غَلَبَةِ عَقْلِكَ.

How can you expect that God will accept your deeds while you are involving your mind with matters that are away from God’s commandments, and you are complying with your whims and letting them overcome your mind?

Willpower

الصَّبْرُ عَلَى الْوَحْدَةِ عَلَامَةُ قُوَّةِ الْعَقْلِ فَمَنْ عَقَلَ عَنِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى اعْتَزَلَ أَهْلَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الرَّاغِبِينَ فِيهَا وَ رَغِبَ فِيمَا عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ وَ كَانَ اللَّهُ آنِسَهُ فِي الْوَحْشَةِ وَ صَاحِبَهُ فِي الْوَحْدَةِ وَ غِنَاهُ فِي الْعَيْلَةِ وَ مُعِزَّهُ فِي غَيْرِ عَشِيرَةٍ.

The steadfastness against seclusions is a proof on willpower. He who understands the commandments of God, the Blessed the Exalted, will surely withdraw from the people of the worldly pleasures. He will also be desirous for that which God has promised and will regard God as the sociable in seclusion, the companion in loneliness, the fortune in poverty, and the supporter instead of the clan.

Obedience

The creatures have been formed for obeying God. No safety is obtained without obedience. The course of obedience is knowledgeability and the course of knowledgeability is learning. Learning is possible through mind. There should be a godly scholar who is the source of knowledge. Such scholars can be recognized through the mind.

Followers of Passions

نُصِبَ الْخَلْقُ لِطَاعَةِ اللَّهِ‏ وَ لَا نَجَاةَ إِلَّا بِالطَّاعَةِ وَ الطَّاعَةُ بِالْعِلْمِ وَ الْعِلْمُ بِالتَّعَلُّمِ وَ التَّعَلُّمُ بِالْعَقْلِ يُعْتَقَدُ وَ لَا عِلْمَ إِلَّا مِنْ عَالِمٍ رَبَّانِيٍّ وَ مَعْرِفَةُ الْعَالِمِ بِالْعَقْلِ.

The few deeds of the intelligent will be accepted and doubled, while the many deeds of the followers of passions and the ignorant will be rejected.

Wisdom or Worldly Pleasures

إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ رَضِيَ بِالدُّونِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَعَ الْحِكْمَةِ وَ لَمْ يَرْضَ بِالدُّونِ مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ مَعَ الدُّنْيَا فَلِذَلِكَ‏ رَبِحَتْ تِجارَتُهُمْ.‏

The true intelligent is that who agrees to have minimum worldly needs with wisdom. He does not agree to have little wisdom with all of the worldly pleasures. Therefore, his trade has been profitable.

The Least Needs

إِنْ كَانَ يُغْنِيكَ مَا يَكْفِيكَ فَأَدْنَى مَا فِي الدُّنْيَا يَكْفِيكَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ لَا يُغْنِيكَ مَا يَكْفِيكَ فَلَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا يُغْنِيكَ.

If you think, it is fortunate for you to have only what suffices you then you will be sufficed with the least needs of this world. If you think, it is not sufficient for you to have the minimum needs of this world then not all the worldly pleasures will suffice you.

To Left the Pleasures

إِنَّ الْعُقَلَاءَ تَرَكُوا فُضُولَ الدُّنْيَا فَكَيْفَ الذُّنُوبُ وَ تَرْكُ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْفَضْلِ وَ تَرْكُ الذُّنُوبِ مِنَ الْفَرْضِ.‏

The intelligent have left the pleasures of this world. How is it then for the sins? The abstinence from the worldly surplus pleasures is recommendable while the desistance from committing sins is obligatory.

Demanding and Demanded

إِنَّ الْعُقَلَاءَ زَهِدُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ رَغِبُوا فِي الْآخِرَةِ لِأَنَّهُمْ عَلِمُوا أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا طَالِبَةٌ وَ مَطْلُوبَةٌ وَ الْآخِرَةَ طَالِبَةٌ وَ مَطْلُوبَةٌ فَمَنْ طَلَبَ الْآخِرَةَ طَلَبَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى‏ يَسْتَوْفِيَ مِنْهَا رِزْقَهُ وَ مَنْ طَلَبَ الدُّنْيَا طَلَبَتْهُ الْآخِرَةُ فَيَأْتِيهِ الْمَوْتُ فَيُفْسِدُ عَلَيْهِ دُنْيَاهُ وَ آخِرَتَهُ.

The intelligent have abstained from the worldly pleasures and desired for the Hereafter. Because they have known that world, as well as the Hereafter, is demanding and demanded.2 The world will surely trace the seeker of the Hereafter to give him his provisions perfectly. The Hereafter will trace the seeker of the worldly pleasures when death overcomes him to deprive him of the pleasures of this world and the world to come.

For Being Rich

مَنْ أَرَادَ الْغِنَى بِلَا مَالٍ وَ رَاحَةَ الْقَلْبِ مِنَ الْحَسَدِ وَ السَّلَامَةَ فِي الدِّينِ فَلْيَتَضَرَّعْ إِلَى اللَّهِ فِي مَسْأَلَتِهِ بِأَنْ يُكَمِّلَ عَقْلَهُ فَمَنْ عَقَلَ قَنِعَ بِمَا يَكْفِيهِ وَ مَنْ قَنِعَ بِمَا يَكْفِيهِ اسْتَغْنَى وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَقْنَعْ بِمَا يَكْفِيهِ لَمْ يُدْرِكِ الْغِنَى أَبَداً.

As for those who desire for being rich without fortune, having peace of mind against envy, and enjoying safety of the religion, they are advised to beseech to God imploringly for granting them perfect intelligence, for the intelligent will surely satisfy themselves with only what is sufficient for them. Consequently, he who satisfies himself with only what is sufficient for him will be surely rich. Those who do not satisfy themselves with what is sufficient for them will never obtain richness.

The Perfection of Intelligence

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (ع) يَقُولُ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ عُبِدَ اللَّهُ بِهِ‏ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ وَ مَا تَمَّ عَقْلُ امْرِئٍ حَتَّى يَكُونَ فِيهِ خِصَالٌ شَتَّى الْكُفْرُ وَ الشَّرُّ مِنْهُ مَأْمُونَانِ‏ وَ الرُّشْدُ وَ الْخَيْرُ مِنْهُ مَأْمُولَانِ‏ وَ فَضْلُ مَالِهِ مَبْذُولٌ وَ فَضْلُ قَوْلِهِ مَكْفُوفٌ نَصِيبُهُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا الْقُوتُ وَ لَا يَشْبَعُ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ دَهْرَهُ الذُّلُّ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مَعَ اللَّهِ مِنَ الْعِزِّ مَعَ غَيْرِهِ وَ التَّوَاضُعُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الشَّرَفِ يَسْتَكْثِرُ قَلِيلَ الْمَعْرُوفِ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ وَ يَسْتَقِلُّ كَثِيرَ الْمَعْرُوفِ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ وَ يَرَى النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمْ خَيْراً مِنْهُ وَ أَنَّهُ شَرُّهُمْ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ هُوَ تَمَامُ الْأَمْرِ.

The Commander of faithful (peace be upon him) used to say, “The most favorable way of worshipping God is through the intellect.”3 The intellect is not perfect for a man unless he enjoys many qualities: he should save people from his atheism and evil and make them expect his reason and good. His wealth should be offered and he should avoid useless wording. His food should be his share from the worldly pleasures. He should never stop seeking knowledge. He should prefer humility and modesty with God to credit and honor with others. He should regard any favor that he does as little and see all people better than him and he is the most vicious among them. The enjoyment of such qualities is surely the perfection of intelligence and the perfection of personality.

The Result of Actions

مَنْ صَدَقَ لِسَانُهُ زَكَا عَمَلُهُ وَ مَنْ حَسُنَتْ نِيَّتُهُ زِيدَ فِي رِزْقِهِ وَ مَنْ حَسُنَ بِرُّهُ بِإِخْوَانِهِ وَ أَهْلِهِ مُدَّ فِي عُمُرِهِ.

The deeds of the truthful will be purified, the provisions of the well-meaning will be increased, and the age of those how treat their friends and folks charitably will be elongated.

Lack Personality

لَا دِينَ لِمَنْ لَا مُرُوَّةَ لَهُ وَ لَا مُرُوَّةَ لِمَنْ لَا عَقْلَ لَهُ.

Those who lack personality are surely lacking the religion and those who are unintelligent are surely lacking personality.

High-ranking People

إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ النَّاسِ قَدْراً الَّذِي لَا يَرَى الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْسِهِ خَطَراً.

The most high-ranking people are those who do not regard the world as their rank.

The Price

أَمَا إِنَّ أَبْدَانَكُمْ لَيْسَ لَهَا ثَمَنٌ إِلَّا الْجَنَّةُ فَلَا تَبِيعُوهَا بِغَيْرِهَا.

Paradise is the only price of your bodies; do not sell them with anything other than Paradise.

To Seek Needs

إِذَا طَلَبْتُمُ الْحَوَائِجَ فَاطْلُبُوهَا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا هُمْ أُولُو الْعُقُولِ.
Seek needs only from their proper people, those who possess intellect.

To Company of the Virtuous

مُجَالَسَةُ الصَّالِحِينَ دَاعِيَةٌ إِلَى‏ الصَّلَاحِ وَ أَدَبُ الْعُلَمَاءِ زِيَادَةٌ فِي الْعَقْلِ.

To company of the virtuous will invite to virtue, and to respect the scholars will increase the mind.

To Leave Harassment

كَفُّ الْأَذَى مِنْ كَمَالِ الْعَقْلِ وَ فِيهِ رَاحَةُ الْبَدَنِ عَاجِلًا وَ آجِلًا
.

To leave harassment is a sign of the perfection of intellect. It causes physical relaxation in the world and in the Hereafter.

The Signs of the Intelligent

إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ لَا يُحَدِّثُ مَنْ يَخَافُ تَكْذِيبَهُ وَ لَا يَسْأَلُ مَنْ يَخَافُ مَنْعَهُ وَ لَا يَعِدُ مَا لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا يَرْجُو مَا يُعَنَّفُ بِرَجَائِهِ‏ وَ لَا يَتَقَدَّمُ عَلَى مَا يَخَافُ الْعَجْزَ عَنْهُ.‏

The intelligent does not talk to the individuals that they anticipate to belie him. He does not ask from individuals that they anticipate to not giving. He does not promise of things that he cannot do. He does not desire things that harm him, or take the initiative in doing what he may not be able to accomplish.

Be Fair!

أُوصِيكُمْ بِالْعَدْلِ فِي الرِّضَا وَ الْغَضَبِ وَ أَنْ تَصِلُوا مَنْ قَطَعَكُمْ وَ تَعْفُوا عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكُمْ وَ تَعْطِفُوا عَلَى مَنْ حَرَمَكُمْ.

Be fair in both states of satisfaction and rage, regard them who ruptured their relations with you, pardon them who oppressed you, and treat them who ignored you kindly.

Generosity

وَ لْيَكُنْ طَبِيعَتُكُمُ السَّخَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ بَخِيلٌ وَ لَا يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ سَخِيٌّ.

All your nature should be generosity, for no stingy will be in Paradise and no generous will be in Hell.

Modesty

رَحِمَ اللَّهُ مَنِ اسْتَحْيَا مِنَ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ فَحَفِظَ الرَّأْسَ وَ مَا حَوَى‏ وَ الْبَطْنَ وَ مَا وَعَى وَ ذَكَرَ الْمَوْتَ وَ الْبِلَى وَ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ مَحْفُوفَةٌ بِالْمَكَارِهِ‏ وَ النَّارَ مَحْفُوفَةٌ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ.

God bless them who feel properly embarrassed from Him by keeping the head with what it contains (like the eye, the ear, and the tongue) and the abdomen with what is in it, remember death and misfortune, and realize that Paradise is surrounded by misfortunes and Hell is surrounded by the appetites.

People’s Honors

مَنْ كَفَّ نَفْسَهُ عَنْ أَعْرَاضِ النَّاسِ أَقَالَهُ اللَّهُ عَثْرَتَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ مَنْ كَفَّ غَضَبَهُ عَنِ النَّاسِ كَفَّ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ غَضَبَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

For those who abstain from engaging themselves in people’s honors, God will protect them from slipping on the Day of Resurrection. For those who save people from (the results of) their rage, God will save them from His wrath on the Day of Resurrection.

Telling Lies

إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ لَا يَكْذِبُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ هَوَاهُ.

The true intelligent never tell lies even if it accords his whim.

Nearness to God

أَفْضَلُ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ إِلَى اللَّهِ بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ بِهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ تَرْكُ الْحَسَدِ وَ الْعُجْبِ وَ الْفَخْرِ.

After the acknowledgement of God, the best acts of servant to attain nearness to God are the prayers, being kind and dutiful to parents, and evasion of envy, self-conceit, and pride.

Get Ready!

أَصْلَحُ أَيَّامِكَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَمَامَكَ فَانْظُرْ أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ وَ أَعِدَّ لَهُ الْجَوَابَ فَإِنَّكَ مَوْقُوفٌ وَ مَسْئُولٌ.

Get ready for your coming days and think about it. Prepare the answers for it as you will be inevitably judged and interrogated.

Acting Importunately

خُذْ مَوْعِظَتَكَ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ وَ أَهْلِهِ فَإِنَّ الدَّهْرَ طَوِيلَةٌ قَصِيرَةٌ فَاعْمَلْ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَى ثَوَابَ عَمَلِكَ لِتَكُونَ أَطْمَعَ فِي ذَلِكَ.

Learn lessons from this world and its people. This life is surely long and short. Therefore, you should act as if you can see the rewards of your deeds in your hands, so that you will be urged acting so more importunately.

Changeability of the World

انْظُرْ فِي تَصَرُّفِ الدَّهْرِ وَ أَحْوَالِهِ فَإِنَّ مَا هُوَ آتٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا كَمَا وَلَّى مِنْهَا فَاعْتَبِرْ بِهَا.

Learn from the changeability of this world and its manners, as the coming days of this world are certainly as same as those that passed away. Therefore, you should take examples from these days.

Worldly Pleasures

مَنْ رَضِيَ مِنَ اللَّهِ بِالدُّنْيَا فَقَدْ رَضِيَ بِالْخَسِيسِ.

He who satisfies himself with the worldly pleasures is surely satisfying himself with the worthless.

Taste of Faith

إِنَّ الْمَسِيحَ (ع) قَالَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ نَقُّوا الْقَمْحَ وَ طَيِّبُوهُ وَ أَدِقُّوا طَحْنَهُ تَجِدُوا طَعْمَهُ وَ يَهْنِئْكُمْ أَكْلُهُ كَذَلِكَ فَأَخْلِصُوا الْإِيمَانَ وَ أَكْمِلُوهُ تَجِدُوا حَلَاوَتَهُ وَ يَنْفَعْكُمْ غِبُّهُ.‏

The Christ (peace be upon him) said to his disciples, “To find the sweetest taste of wheat, you should first cull its grains, clean, and mill them properly. The same thing is said about faith. To find the best taste of faith and to benefit by its results, you should first have it as sincere and perfect as possible.

Learn and Teach

تَعَلَّمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا جَهِلْتَ وَ عَلِّمِ الْجَاهِلَ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ عَظِّمِ الْعَالِمَ لِعِلْمِهِ وَ دَعْ مُنَازَعَتَهُ وَ صَغِّرِ الْجَاهِلَ لِجَهْلِهِ وَ لَا تَطْرُدْهُ وَ لَكِنْ قَرِّبْهُ وَ عَلِّمْهُ.

Learn whatever you ignore and teach the ignorant your knowledge. Respect the scholars for their knowledge and avoid disputing with them, and disrespect the ignorant for their ignorance but do not dismiss them. You should approximate and teach them.

Thank God!

إِنَّ كُلَّ نِعْمَةٍ عَجَزْتَ عَنْ شُكْرِهَا بِمَنْزِلَةِ سَيِّئَةٍ تُؤَاخَذُ بِهَا.

The favors that you do not thank God for them are as same as the sins for which you will be punished.

Decency and Indecency

الْحَيَاءُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْإِيمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ الْبَذَاءُ مِنَ الْجَفَاءِ وَ الْجَفَاءُ فِي النَّارِ.

Modesty is a part of faith and faith is a part of Paradise while obscenity is a part of aversion and aversion is in Hell.

Impudent Speakers

إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ الْجَنَّةَ عَلَى كُلِّ فَاحِشٍ بَذِي‏ءٍ قَلِيلِ الْحَيَاءِ لَا يُبَالِي مَا قَالَ وَ لَا مَا قِيلَ فِيهِ.

God has certainly forbidden Paradise from including the impudent speakers of bad wording who do not care for what they say and what is said about them.

The Key to Good and Evil

إِنَّ هَذَا اللِّسَانَ مِفْتَاحُ خَيْرٍ وَ مِفْتَاحُ شَرٍّ فَاخْتِمْ عَلَى فِيكَ كَمَا تَخْتِمُ عَلَى ذَهَبِكَ وَ وَرِقِكَ.

Indeed, this tongue is the key to both good and evil. Therefore, you should seal your mouth as you seal your gold and currencies.

Hypocrites

بِئْسَ الْعَبْدُ عَبْدٌ يَكُونُ ذَا وَجْهَيْنِ وَ ذَا لِسَانَيْنِ يُطْرِي أَخَاهُ إِذَا شَاهَدَهُ‏ وَ يَأْكُلُهُ إِذَا غَابَ عَنْهُ إِنْ أُعْطِيَ حَسَدَهُ وَ إِنِ ابْتُلِيَ خَذَلَهُ.

The worst servants (of God) are those who are two-faced and two-tongued. They are those who praise their friends when they meet them and backbite them when they are absent. They envy their friends who obtain graces and disappoint them when they are suffering a misfortune.

The Foremost

إِنَّ أَسْرَعَ الْخَيْرِ ثَوَاباً الْبِرُّ وَ أَسْرَعَ الشَّرِّ عُقُوبَةً الْبَغْيُ.

The foremost good in rewarding is charity and the foremost evil in punishment is oppression.

The Harvest of the Tongue

إِنَّ شَرَّ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ مَنْ تُكْرَهُ مُجَالَسَتُهُ لِفُحْشِهِ وَ هَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَنَاخِرِهِمْ فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ.

The most vicious slaves of God are those whom you hate to sit with for their obscenity. Moreover, what will overturns people on their noses in Hell except the harvest of their tongues?

Proper Islam

مِنْ حُسْنِ إِسْلَامِ الْمَرْءِ تَرْكُ مَا لَا يَعْنِيهِ.

A sign of the proper Islam (submission to God (of a person is leaving what does not concern him.

A True Believer

لَا يَكُونُ الرَّجُلُ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى يَكُونَ خَائِفاً رَاجِياً وَ لَا يَكُونُ خَائِفاً رَاجِياً حَتَّى يَكُونَ عَامِلًا لِمَا يَخَافُ وَ يَرْجُو.

The person will not be a true believer unless be fearful (of God’s punishment) and hopeful (for God’s reward). He will not be true fearful and true hopeful unless he avoids what he fears and works for what he hopes.

To Prefer God’s Biddings

قَالَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي وَ عَظَمَتِي وَ قُدْرَتِي وَ بَهَائِي وَ عُلُوِّي فِي مَكَانِي لَا يُؤْثِرُ عَبْدٌ هَوَايَ عَلَى هَوَاهُ إِلَّا جَعَلْتُ الْغِنَى فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ هَمَّهُ فِي آخِرَتِهِ وَ كَفَفْتُ عَلَيْهِ فِي ضَيْعَتِهِ‏ وَ ضَمَّنْتُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ رِزْقَهُ وَ كُنْتُ لَهُ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَةِ كُلِّ تَاجِرٍ.

God the Majestic says, “I swear by My majesty, glory, might, potency, magnificence, and elevation, for the servants who prefer My biddings to their desires, I will install opulence in their minds, make the world to come their concern, take the charge of saving their livelihood, make their provisions in the heavens and the earth, and guarantee their shares of profits in every transaction.”

Anger

الْغَضَبُ مِفْتَاحُ الشَّرِّ وَ أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَاناً أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقاً.

Anger is the key to every evil, and the most perfect believers are the most well-mannered.

The Upper Hand

إِنْ خَالَطْتَ النَّاسَ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ لَا تُخَالِطَ أَحَداً مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ كَانَتْ يَدُكَ عَلَيْهِ الْعُلْيَا فَافْعَلْ.

If you can you should have the upper hand (and do favor) to whom you associate.

Lenience

عَلَيْكَ بِالرِّفْقِ فَإِنَّ الرِّفْقَ يُمْنٌ وَ الْخُرْقَ شُؤْمٌ إِنَّ الرِّفْقَ وَ الْبِرَّ وَ حُسْنَ الْخُلُقِ يَعْمُرُ الدِّيَارَ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الرِّزْقِ.

Lenience is felicity and clumsiness is evil portent. Lenience, charity, and well mannerism boom the lodgings and increase the provisions.

The Requital of Goodness

قَوْلُ اللَّهِ‏ هَلْ جَزاءُ الْإِحْسانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسانُ‏ جَرَتْ فِي الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ الْكَافِرِ وَ الْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ مَنْ صُنِعَ إِلَيْهِ مَعْرُوفٌ فَعَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُكَافِئَ بِهِ وَ لَيْسَتِ الْمُكَافَأَةُ أَنْ تَصْنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعَ حَتَّى تَرَى فَضْلَكَ فَإِنْ صَنَعْتَ كَمَا صَنَعَ فَلَهُ الْفَضْلُ بِالابْتِدَاءِ.

The word of God:

“Is the requital of goodness anything but goodness” (55:60)

is applicable to believers and non-believers, the charitable and the lecherous. He whom has been done a favor should compensate it. However, to do the same favor is not compensation, because he will have the merit of commencing with doing the favor before you.

The Snake

إِنَّ مَثَلَ الدُّنْيَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَّةِ مَسُّهَا لَيِّنٌ وَ فِي جَوْفِهَا السَّمُّ الْقَاتِلُ يَحْذَرُهَا الرِّجَالُ ذَوُو الْعُقُولِ وَ يَهْوِي إِلَيْهَا الصِّبْيَانُ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ.

The like of this world is the snake, which is soft to the touch but bearing poison in the interior. The intelligent men fear the snake while the boys hurry to take it by the hands.

Be Tolerant!

اصْبِرْ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ اصْبِرْ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ فَإِنَّمَا الدُّنْيَا سَاعَةٌ فَمَا مَضَى مِنْهَا فَلَيْسَ تَجِدُ لَهُ سُرُوراً وَ لَا حُزْناً وَ مَا لَمْ يَأْتِ مِنْهَا فَلَيْسَ تَعْرِفُهُ فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ الَّتِي أَنْتَ فِيهَا فَكَأَنَّكَ قَدِ اغْتَبَطْتَ‏.

Be tolerant in the acts of obedience to God and be steadfast against the acts of disobedience to Him. This world is no more than an hour. You will not find the pleasures of what has passed away and you will not be able to recognize what is coming. Be patient in that hour and you will attain bliss.

The Seawater

مَثَلُ الدُّنْيَا مَثَلُ مَاءِ الْبَحْرِ كُلَّمَا شَرِبَ مِنْهُ الْعَطْشَانُ ازْدَادَ عَطَشاً حَتَّى يَقْتُلَهُ.

The like of this world is the seawater, which leads the thirsty to more thirst until it kills him.

Arrogance

Beware of arrogance. He, who feels arrogance, even if as small as a grain of mustard seed in the heart, will not see Paradise. Pride is God’s dress and God will surely overturn those who try to take off His dress on the faces in Hell.

From the Household of the Prophet

إِيَّاكَ وَ الْكِبْرَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ. الْكِبْرُ رِدَاءُ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ نَازَعَهُ رِدَاءَهُ أَكَبَّهُ اللَّهُ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ.

He who does not settle an account with himself every day, so that he would seek more of the good deeds and seek God’s forgiveness and acceptance of repentance for the bad deeds, is not one of us.

A Beautiful Lady

تَمَثَّلَتِ الدُّنْيَا لِلْمَسِيحِ
(
ع
)
فِي صُورَةِ امْرَأَةٍ زَرْقَاءَ فَقَالَ لَهَا كَمْ تَزَوَّجْتِ فَقَالَتْ كَثِيراً قَالَ فَكُلٌّ طَلَّقَكِ قَالَتْ لَا بَلْ كُلًّا قَتَلْتُ
.
قَالَ الْمَسِيحُ
(
ع
)
فَوَيْحُ لِأَزْوَاجِكِ الْبَاقِينَ كَيْفَ لَا يَعْتَبِرُونَ بِالْمَاضِينَ
.

The world came to the Christ (peace be upon him) in the form of a blue lady. He asked her, ‘How many men did you marry?’ ‘Many,’ answered the world. ‘Did they all divorce you?’ asked the Christ. ‘No,’ she replied, ‘I killed all of them.’ the Christ said, ‘Woe to the rest of your husbands. Why do they not learn lessons from the past ones?’

The Honest Intention

كَمَا لَا يَقُومُ الْجَسَدُ إِلَّا بِالنَّفْسِ الْحَيَّةِ فَكَذَلِكَ لَا يَقُومُ الدِّينُ إِلَّا بِالنِّيَّةِ الصَّادِقَةِ وَ لَا تَثْبُتُ النِّيَّةُ الصَّادِقَةُ إِلَّا بِالْعَقْلِ.

Like the body that does not live without a living soul, the religion does not live without the honest intention. The honest intention is proved just through intellect.

Hearts of the Modest

إِنَّ الزَّرْعَ يَنْبُتُ فِي السَّهْلِ وَ لَا يَنْبُتُ فِي الصَّفَا فَكَذَلِكَ الْحِكْمَةُ تَعْمُرُ فِي قَلْبِ الْمُتَوَاضِعِ وَ لَا تَعْمُرُ فِي قَلْبِ الْمُتَكَبِّرِ الْجَبَّارِ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ جَعَلَ التَّوَاضُعَ آلَةَ الْعَقْلِ وَ جَعَلَ التَّكَبُّرَ مِنْ آلَةِ الْجَهْلِ.

Plants grow in plain, not rocky lands. In the same way, wisdom will grow in the hearts of the modest, not the arrogant, because God has made modesty the instrument of the intellect and made arrogance the instrument of ignorance.

A Heedful Listener

لَا خَيْرَ فِي الْعَيْشِ إِلَّا لِرَجُلَيْنِ لِمُسْتَمِعٍ وَاعٍ وَ عَالِمٍ نَاطِقٍ.

Except for either a heedful listener or a speaker of knowledge, life is surely worthless.

Better than Intelligence

مَا قُسِمَ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ نَوْمُ الْعَاقِلِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سَهَرِ الْجَاهِلِ وَ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً إِلَّا عَاقِلًا حَتَّى يَكُونَ عَقْلُهُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ جَهْدِ الْمُجْتَهِدِينَ وَ مَا أَدَّى الْعَبْدُ فَرِيضَةً مِنْ فَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى عَقَلَ عَنْهُ.

God has not distributed among the servant anything better than intelligence. The sleep of the intelligent is preferred to the staying up of the ignorant. God specified intelligence as a qualification of the prophets so that their minds will be preferred to all of the efforts of the diligent ones together. Moreover, a servant will not fulfill any of God’s rights before he understands it.

The Silent Believer

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (ص) إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْمُؤْمِنَ صَمُوتاً فَادْنُوا مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ يُلْقِي الْحِكْمَةَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُ قَلِيلُ الْكَلَامِ كَثِيرُ الْعَمَلِ وَ الْمُنَافِقُ كَثِيرُ الْكَلَامِ قَلِيلُ الْعَمَلِ.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said, “You should approach the silent believer, because he will surely provide you with wisdom. The faithful believer talks very little and acts very much, but the hypocrite talks very much and acts very little.”

The Bandits

أَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَى دَاوُدَ (ع) قُلْ لِعِبَادِي لَا يَجْعَلُوا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُمْ عَالِماً مَفْتُوناً بِالدُّنْيَا فَيَصُدَّهُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِي وَ عَنْ طَرِيقِ مَحَبَّتِي وَ مُنَاجَاتِي أُولَئِكَ قُطَّاعُ الطَّرِيقِ مِنْ عِبَادِي إِنَّ أَدْنَى مَا أَنَا صَانِعٌ بِهِمْ أَنْ أَنْزِعَ حَلَاوَةَ مَحَبَّتِي‏ وَ مُنَاجَاتِي مِنْ قُلُوبِهِم.‏

God the Exalted revealed to David the prophet (peace be upon him), “Ask My servants not to make between them and Me scholars that are seduced by the worldly pleasures. They will surely preclude the servants from mentioning Me and block the way to My adoration and supplication. Such scholars are the bandits of My servants. The least thing that I will do to them is that I will take the charm of My adoration and supplication from their hearts.

Self-Conceit

مَنْ تَعَظَّمَ فِي نَفْسِهِ لَعَنَتْهُ مَلَائِكَةُ السَّمَاءِ وَ مَلَائِكَةُ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَنْ تَكَبَّرَ عَلَى إِخْوَانِهِ وَ اسْتَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَدْ ضَادَّ اللَّهَ.‏

The angels of the heavens and the angels of the earth will curse those who feel self-conceit. He who treats his friends arrogantly and haughtily is certainly opposing God.

Worldly Passions

أَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَى دَاوُدَ (ع) يَا دَاوُدُ حَذِّرْ وَ أَنْذِرْ أَصْحَابَكَ عَنْ حُبِّ الشَّهَوَاتِ فَإِنَّ الْمُعَلَّقَةَ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِشَهَوَاتِ الدُّنْيَا قُلُوبُهُمْ مَحْجُوبَةٌ عَنِّي.

God the Exalted revealed to David the prophet (peace be upon him), “O David, warn and advise your companions against the fondness of passions. The hearts of those who are fond of worldly passions are certainly screened from Me.”

Temporary Lodging

كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَسَاكِنِ دَارٍ لَيْسَتْ لَهُ إِنَّمَا يَنْتَظِرُ الرَّحِيلَ.

Regard this world as a temporary lodging that you are waiting for leaving it.

To Company with the Religious

مُجَالَسَةُ أَهْلِ الدِّينِ شَرَفُ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

To company with the religious is the honor of this world and the Hereafter.

To Counsel with the Intelligent

مُشَاوَرَةُ الْعَاقِلِ النَّاصِحِ يُمْنٌ وَ بَرَكَةٌ وَ رُشْدٌ وَ تَوْفِيقٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا أَشَارَ عَلَيْكَ الْعَاقِلُ النَّاصِحُ فَإِيَّاكَ وَ الْخِلَافَ فَإِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ الْعَطَبَ
.

To counsel with the intelligent and the well-wishers is good omen, blessing, rationality, and success from God. Therefore, beware of opposing the advice of the intelligent and the well-wishers to avoid perdition.

Associating with People

إِيَّاكَ وَ مُخَالَطَةَ النَّاسِ وَ الْأُنْسَ بِهِمْ إِلَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْهُمْ عَاقِلًا وَ مَأْمُوناً فَآنِسْ بِهِ وَ اهْرُبْ مِنْ سَائِرِهِمْ كَهَرَبِكَ مِنَ السِّبَاعِ الضَّارِيَةِ.

Beware of associating with people except the intelligent and the trustful. Be cordial with these two groups and escape the others like escaping from beasts.

Showing off

يَنْبَغِي لِلْعَاقِلِ إِذَا عَمِلَ عَمَلًا أَنْ يَسْتَحْيِيَ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ إِذَا تَفَرَّدَ لَهُ بِالنِّعَمِ أَنْ يُشَارِكَ فِي عَمَلِهِ أَحَداً غَيْرَهُ.‏

The intelligent should be too ashamed from God and should not associate others in the intent of his deed, as God is the only endower of the graces.

The Most Correct

إِذَا مَرَّ بِكَ‏ أَمْرَانِ لَا تَدْرِي أَيُّهُمَا خَيْرٌ وَ أَصْوَبُ فَانْظُرْ أَيُّهُمَا أَقْرَبُ إِلَى هَوَاكَ فَخَالِفْهُ فَإِنَّ كَثِيرَ الصَّوَابِ فِي مُخَالَفَةِ هَوَاكَ.

If you encounter two matters that you ignore which of them is the most correct and acceptable, you should leave the matter that is more favorable to the whim. The very much rightness lies in opposing the whims.

The Compassionate the Merciful

أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَرْفَعِ الْمُتَوَاضِعِينَ بِقَدْرِ تَوَاضُعِهِمْ وَ لَكِنْ رَفَعَهُمْ بِقَدْرِ عَظَمَتِهِ وَ مَجْدِهِ وَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنِ الْخَائِفِينَ بِقَدْرِ خَوْفِهِمْ وَ لَكِنْ آمَنَهُمْ بِقَدْرِ كَرَمِهِ وَ جُودِهِ فَمَا ظَنُّكَ بِالرَّءُوفِ الرَّحِيمِ الَّذِي يَتَوَدَّدُ إِلَى مَنْ يُؤْذِيهِ بِأَوْلِيَائِهِ فَكَيْفَ بِمَنْ يُؤْذَى فِيهِ وَ مَا ظَنُّكَ بِالتَّوَّابِ الرَّحِيمِ الَّذِي يَتُوبُ عَلَى مَنْ يُعَادِيهِ فَكَيْفَ بِمَنْ يَتَرَضَّاهُ‏ وَ يَخْتَارُ عَدَاوَةَ الْخَلْقِ فِيهِ.

God did not elevate the modest people measure of their modesty, but He elevated them according to the measure of His might and glory. He did not secure the fearful according to their fear, but He secured them out of His generosity and mercy.

What do you think about the Compassionate the Merciful Who curries favor with those who harm His disciple, how will He then behave to those whom are hurt due to their adherence to Him? What do you think about the Oft Returning the Merciful, Who accepts the repentance of His enemies, how will He then behave to those who accept Him and suffer people’s enmity for His sake?

The Worry of the Hereafter

مَنْ أَحَبَّ الدُّنْيَا ذَهَبَ خَوْفُ الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ وَ مَا أُوتِيَ عَبْدٌ عِلْماً فَازْدَادَ لِلدُّنْيَا حُبّاً إِلَّا ازْدَادَ مِنَ اللَّهِ بُعْداً وَ ازْدَادَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ غَضَباً.

The worry of the Hereafter will remove from the hearts of those who prefer the worldly pleasures. He, who favors the worldly affairs whenever he receives more knowledge, will be remoter and remoter from God and God will consequently intensify His wrath on him.

The True Intelligent

إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ اللَّبِيبَ مَنْ تَرَكَ مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَهُ بِهِ.

The true intelligent is that who avoids what he cannot bear.

Opposing the Passions

أَكْثَرُ الصَّوَابِ فِي خِلَافِ الْهَوَى وَ مَنْ طَالَ أَمَلُهُ سَاءَ عَمَلُهُ.

Most of correctitude lies in opposing the passions, and those who depend upon desires, their deeds will be worse.

March of the Death

لَوْ رَأَيْتَ مَسِيرَ الْأَجَلِ لَأَلْهَاكَ عَنِ الْأَمَلِ.

If you consider the march of the death, you will be diverted from desires.

Beware of Greed!

إِيَّاكَ وَ الطَّمَعَ وَ عَلَيْكَ بِالْيَأْسِ مِمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ وَ أَمِتِ الطَّمَعَ مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ فَإِنَّ الطَّمَعَ مِفْتَاحٌ لِلذُّلِ‏ وَ اخْتِلَاسُ الْعَقْلِ وَ اخْتِلَاقُ الْمُرُوَّاتِ‏ وَ تَدْنِيسُ الْعِرْضِ وَ الذَّهَابُ بِالْعِلْمِ.

Beware of greed. Never expect having what is in people’s hands. Deaden your expectation from the creatures. Certainly, greed is the key to humiliation. It reduces the mind, kills the acts of personality, soils the honors, and cancels knowledgeability.

Jihad against Whims

عَلَيْكَ بِالاعْتِصَامِ بِرَبِّكَ وَ التَّوَكُّلِ عَلَيْهِ وَ جَاهِدْ نَفْسَكَ لِتَرُدَّهَا عَنْ هَوَاهَا فَإِنَّهُ وَاجِبٌ عَلَيْكَ كَجِهَادِ عَدُوِّكَ.

You should hold fast to God and put your trust on Him. Strive against your whims to prevent your essence from ruination. This is as obligatory as fighting the enemies.

  • 1. . Tohaf al-Oqoul, p. 383.
  • 2. . The world is demanding because it tracks its people until they reach the day on which they will depart it -the world. It is also demanded because people wish to have more than what is limited for them. The Hereafter is demanding people until trap them when the day on which they depart this life falls. It is demanded because everyone longs for winning the pleasure there.
  • 3. . This means that pondering and meditation are the best ways of worshipping God. Intellect, in this regard, stands for the knowledge of the Essence and attributes of God.