( 572 )

ON PREDESTINATION

78. A man enquired from Amir al-mu'minin: Was our going to fight against the Syrians destined by Allah? Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, gave a detailed reply, a selection from which is hereunder:

Woe to you. You take it as a final and unavoidable destiny (1) (according to which we are bound to act). If it were so, there would have been no question of reward or chastisement and there would have been no sense in Allah's promises or warnings. (On the other hand) Allah, the Glorified, has ordered ills people to act by free will and has cautioned them and refrained them (from evil). He has placed easy obligations on them and has not put heavy obligations. He gives them much (reward) in return for little (action). He is disobeyed, not because He is overpowered. He is obeyed but not under force. He did not send prophets just for fun. He did not send down the Book for the people without purpose. He did not create the skies, the earth and all that is in between them in vain. That is the imagination of those who disbelieve; then woe to those who disbelieve - because of the fire. (Qur'an, 38:27)


(1). The' end of this story is that after this the man enquired, "What kind of destiny it was by which we had to go?" and Amir al-mu'minin said, "qada' (destiny)" means command of Allah. For example, He has said, "wa qada rabbuka alla ta'budu illa iyyihu" (And commanded your Lord has that you shall worship not [any one] but Him" [Qur'an, 17: 23]). Here "qada' " stands for commanded.


( 573 )

78. ومن كلام له عليه السلام: للسائل الشامي لما سأله: أَكان مسيرنا إِلى الشام بقضاءٍ من الله وقدر؟ بعد كلام طويل هذا مختاره:

و َيْحَكَ! لَعَلَّكَ ظَنَنْتُ قَضَاءً (4517) لاَزِماً، وَقَدَراً (4518) حَاتِماً (4519) وَلَوْ كَانَ ذلِكَ كَذلِكَ لَبَطَلَ الثَّوَابُ والْعِقَابُ، وَسَقَطَ الْوَعْدُ وَالْوَعِيدُ. إِنَّ اللهَ سُبْحَانَهُ أَمَرَ عِبَادَهُ تَخْيِيراً، وَنَهَاهُمْ تَحْذِيراً، وَكَلَّفَ يَسِيراً، وَلَمْ يُكَلِّفْ عَسِيراً، وَأَعْطَى عَلَى الْقَلِيلِ كَثِيراً، وَلَمْ يُعْصَ مَغْلُوباً، وَلَمْ يُطَعْ مُكْرِهاً، وَلَمْ يُرْسِلِ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ لَعِباً، وَلَمْ يُنْزِلِ الْكِتَابَ لِلْعِبَادِ عَبَثاً، وَلاَ خَلَقَ السَّماوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَاطِلاً: (ذلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ).

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( 574 )

79. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Take wise points from wherever they may be, because if a wise saying is in the bosom of a hypocrite it flutters in his bosom till it comes out and settles with others of its own category in the bosom of the believer.

80. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: A wise saying is a lost article 4f the believer. Therefore, get wise sayings even though from people of hypocrisy.

81. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: The worth of every man is in his, attainments. (1)

as- Sayyid ar-Radi says: This is the sentence whose value cannot be assessed, with which no wise saying can be weighed and with which no other sentence can be matched.

82. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: I impart to you five things which, if you ride your camels fast in search of them, you will find them worth it.

No one of you should repose hope save in his Lord (Allah); no one of you should fear anything save his sin; no one should feel ashamed of saying "I do not know" when he is asked a matter which he does not know; no one should feel ashamed of learning a thing that he does not know; and you should practise endurance, because endurance is for belief what the head is for the body, so that just as there is no good in a body without the head there is no good in belief without endurance.


(1). The real value of a person is his knowledge (and perfection of attainments). his worth and position would be in accordance with the position of knowledge and attainment he holds. Eyes that are conscious of real values do not look at the face, features, tallness of stature, size or worldly pomp and position but look at the attainments of a person and assess his worth according to these attainments. The conclusion is that a man should strive to acquire distinction and knowledge.

The worth of every person U according to the extent of his knowledge.


( 575 )

79. وقال عليه السلام: خُذِ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنَّى كَانَتْ، فَإِنَّ الْحِكْمَةَ تَكُونُ في صَدْرِ الْمُنَافِقِ فَتَتَلَجْلَجُ (4520) فِي صَدْرِهِ حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ فَتَسْكُنَ إِلَى صَوَاحِبِهَا فِي صَدْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ.

80. وقال عليه السلام: الْحِكْمَةُ ضَالَّةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ، فَخُذِ الْحِكْمَةَ وَلَوْ مِنْ أَهْلِ النِّفَاقِ.

81. وقال عليه السلام: قِيمَةُ كُلِّ امْرِىءٍ مَا يُحْسِنُهُ.

قال الرضي: وهي الكلمة التي لاتُصابُ لها قيمةٌ، ولا توزن بُها حكمةٌ، ولا تُقرنُ إِليها كلمةٌ.

82. وقال عليه السلام: أُوصِيكُمْ بِخَمْسٍ لَوْ ضَرَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهَا آبَاطَ الْإِِبِلِ (4521) لَكَانَتْ لِذلِكَ أَهْلاً: لاَ يَرْجُوَنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ إِلاَّ رَبَّهُ، وَلاَ يَخَافَنَّ إِلاَّ ذَنْبَهُ، وَلاَ يَسْتَحْيِيَنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ إِذَا سُئِلَ عَمَّا لاَ يَعْلَمُ أَنْ يَقُولَ: لاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَلاَ يَسْتَحْيِيَنَّ أَحَدٌ إِذَا لَمْ يَعَلَمِ الشَّيْءَ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَهُ. وَ عَلَيْكُمْ َبِالصَّبْرِ، فَإِنَّ الصَّبْرَ مِنَ الْإِِيمَانِ كَالرَّأْسِ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ، وَلاَ خَيْرَ فِي جَسَدٍ لاَ رأْسَ مَعَهُ، وَلاَ في إِيمَانٍ لاَ صَبْرَ مَعَهُ.

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( 576 )

83. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said about a man who praised him much, although he did not admire him: I am below what you express and above what you feel in your heart.

84. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: The survivors of the sword (from getting killed) are large in number and have a large progeny.

85. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Whoever abandons saying, "I do not know" meets his destruction.

86. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: I love the opinion of an old man more than the determination of a young man; (or according to another version) more than the martyrdom of a young man.

87. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: I wonder about the man who loses hope despite the possibility of seeking forgiveness.

88. (Imam) Abu Ja`far Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon both of them, has related from Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, that he said:

There were two sources of deliverance from the Allah's punishment, one of which has been raised up, while the other is before you. You should therefore adhere to it. The source of deliverance, which has been raised up is the Messenger of Allah (may He bless him and his descendants), while the source of deliverance that remains is the seeking of forgiveness. Allah, the Glorified, has said: And Allah is not to chastise them while you are among them, nor is Allah to chastise them while yet they seek forgiveness. (Qur'an, 8:33)

as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: This is one of the most beautiful way of deducing the meaning and the most delicate manner of interprctation.


( 577 )

83. وقال عليه السلام لرجل أفرط في الثناء عليه، وكان له مُتَّهماً: أَنَا دُونَ مَا تَقُولُ، وَفَوْقَ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ.

84. وقال عليه السلام: بَقِيَّةُ السَّيْفِ (4522) أَبْقَى عَدَداً، وَأَكْثَرُ وَلَداً.

85. وقال عليه السلام: مَنْ تَرَكَ قَوْلَ: لاَ أَدْري، أُصِيبَتْ مَقَاتِلُهُ (4523) .

86. وقال عليه السلام: رَأْيُ الشَّيْخِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ جَلَدِ الْغُلاَمِ (4524) وَروي: مِنْ مَشْهَدِ الْغُلاَمِ (4525) .

87. وقال عليه السلام: عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يَقْنَطُ وَمَعَهُ الْإِِسْتِغْفَارُ.

88. وحكى عنه أبوجعفر محمد بن علي الباقر أَنّه قال:

كَانَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمَانَانِ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَهُ، وَقَدْ رُفِعَ أَحَدُهُمَا، فَدُونَكُمُ الْآخَرَ فَتَمَسَّكُوا بِهِ: أَمَّا الْأَمَانُ الَّذِي رُفِعَ فَهُوَ رَسُولُ اللهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمِ. وَأَمَّا الْأَمَانُ الْبَاقِي فَالْإِِسْتِغْفَارْ، قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالي: (وَمَا كَانَ اللهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنْتَ فِيهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ اللهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ).

قال الرضي وهذا من محاسن الاستخراج ولطائف الاستنباط.

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( 578 )

89. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: If a man behaves properly in matters between himself and Allah, then Allah keeps proper the matters between him and other people; and if a man keeps proper tile affairs of his next life then Allah keeps proper for him the affairs of this world. Whoever is a preacher for himself is protected by Allah.

90. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: The perfect jurist of Islam is he who does not let people lose hope from the mercy of Allah, does not make him despondent of Allah's kindness  and does not make him feel safe from Allah's punishment.

91. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: The hearts get disgusted as bodies get disgusted; so look for beautiful wise saying for them.

92. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: The most humble knowledge is that which remains on the tongue and the most honourable one is that which manifests itself through (the action of) the limbs and the organs of the body.

93. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: None of you should say, "O' Allah, I seek Your protection from trouble" because there is no one who is not involved in trouble, but whoever  seeks Allah's protection he should seek it from misguiding troubles, because Allah, the Glorified, says: And know you! That your wealth and your children are a temptation. (Qur'an, 8:28) and its meaning is that He tries people with wealth and progeny in order to distinguish one who is displeased with his livelihood from the one who is happy with what he has been given. Even though Allah, the Glorified, knows them more than they know themselves yet He does so to let them perform actions with which they earn reward or punishment because some of them like to have male (children) and dislike to have female (children), and some like to amass wealth, and dislike adversity.


( 579 )

89. وقال عليه السلام: مَنْ أَصْلَحَ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ اللهِ أَصْلَحَ اللهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ النَّاسِ، وَمَنْ أَصْلَحَ أَمْرَ آخِرَتِهِ أَصْلَحَ اللهُ لَهُ أَمْرَ دُنْيَاهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ وَاعِظٌ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اللهِ حَافِظٌ.

90. وقال عليه السلام: الْفَقِيهُ كُلُّ الْفَقِيهِ مَنْ لَمْ يُقَنِّطِ النَّاسَ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللهِ، وَلَمْ يُؤْيِسْهُمْ مِنْ رَوْحِ (4526) اللهِ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنْهُمْ مِنْ مَكْرِ (4527) اللهِ.

91. وقال عليه السلام: إِنَّ هذِهِ الْقُلُوبَ تَمَلُّ كَمَا تَمَلُّ الْأَبْدَانُ، فَابْتَغُوا لَهَا طَرَائِفَ الْحِكْمَِ (4528) .

92. وقال عليه السلام: أَوْضَعُ الْعِلْمِ (4529) مَا وُقِفَ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ (4530) وَأَرْفَعُهُ مَا ظَهَرَ فِي الْجَوَارِحِ وَالْأَرْكَانِ (4531) .

93. وقال عليه السلام: لاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بكَ مِنَ الْفِتْنَةِ، لاََِنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ وَهُوَ مُشْتَمِلٌ عَلَى فِتْنَةٍ، وَلكِنْ مَنِ اسْتَعَاذَ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ مِنْ مُضِلاَّتِ الْفِتَنِ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ سُبْحَانَهُ يَقُولُ: (وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلاَدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ)، وَمَعْنَى ذلِكَ أَنَّهُ يَخْتَبِرُهُمْ بِالْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلاَدِ لِيَتَبَيَّنَ السَّاخِط لِرِزْقِهِ وَالرَّاضِي بِقِسْمِهِ، وإِنْ كَانَ سُبْحَانَهُ أَعْلَمَ بِهِمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ، وَلكِن لِتَظْهَرَ الْأَفْعَالُ الَّتي بِهَا يُسْتَحَقُّ الثَّوَابُ وَالْعِقَابُ، لاََِنَّ بَعْضَهُمْ يُحِبُّ الذُّكُورَ وَيَكْرَهُ الْإِِنَاثَ، وَبَعْضَهُمْ يُحِبُّ تَثْمِيرَ الْمَالِ (4532) وَيَكْرَهُ انْثِلاَمَ الحَالِ (4533) .

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( 580 )

as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: This is one of the wonderful interpretations related from him.

94. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, was asked what is good and he replied: Good is not that your wealth and progeny should be much, but good is that your knowledge should be much, your forbearance should be great, and that you should vie with other people in worship of Allah. If you do good deeds you thank Allah, but if you commit evil you seek forgiveness of Allah. In this world good is for two persons only; the man who commits sins but rectifies them by repentance; and the man who hastens towards good actions.

95. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Action accompanied  by fear for Allah does not fail, and how can a thing fail that has been accepted. (10)

96. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: The persons most attached to the prophets are those who know most what the prophets have brought. Then Amir al-mu'minin recited the verse: Verily, of men the nearest to Abraham are surely those who followed him and this (Our) Prophet (Muhammad) and those who believe (Qur'an, 3:68). Then he said: The friend of Muhammad is he who obeys Allah, even though he may have no blood relationship, and the enemy of Muhammad is he who disobeys Allah even though he may have near kinship.

97. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, heard about a Kharijite who said the mid-night prayers and recited the Qur'an, then he said: Sleeping in a state of firm belief is better than praying in a state of doubtfulness.

98. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: When you hear a tradition test it according to the criterion of intelligence


(10). As Allah says:

. . . Verily, Verily, Allah do accept (an offering only) from those who guard (themselves against evil). (Qur'an, 5:27)


( 581 )

قال الرضي: وهذا من غريب ما سمع منه عليه السلام في التفسير.

94. وسئل عليه السلام وعن الخير ما هو؟ فقال: لَيْسَ الْخَيْرُ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ مَالُكَ وَوَلَدُكَ، وَلكِنَّ الْخَيْرَ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ عِلْمُكَ، وَأَنْ يَعْظُمَ حِلْمُكَ، وَأَنْ تُبَاهِيَ النَّاسَ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّكَ، فَإِنْ أَحْسَنْتَ حَمِدْتَ اللهَ، وَإِنْ أَسَأْتَ اسْتَغْفَرْتَ اللهَ. وَلاَ خَيْرَ فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ لِرَجُلَيْنِ: رَجُلٍ أَذْنَبَ ذُنُوباً فَهُوَ يَتَدَارَكُهَا بِالتَّوْبَةِ، وَرَجُلٍ يُسَارِعُ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ.

95. وقال عليه السلام: لاَيَقِلُّ عَمَلٌ مَعَ التَّقْوَى، وَكَيْفَ يَقِلُّ مَا يُتَقَبَّلُ ؟

96. وقال عليه السلام: إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَعْلَمُهُمْ بِمَا جَاؤُوا بِهِ، ثُمَّ تَلاَ: (إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا واللهُ وَليُّ الْمُؤْمِنينَ). ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّ وَلِيَّ مُحَمَّدٍ مَنْ أَطَاعَ اللهَ وإِنْ بَعُدَتْ لُحْمَتُهُ (4534) وَإِنَّ عَدُوَّ مُحَمَّدٍ مَنْ عَصَى اللهَ وَإِنْ قَرُبَتْ قَرَابَتُهُ!

97. وقد سمع عليه السلام رجلاً من الحرورية (4535) يتهجّد (4536) ويقرأ، فقال: نَوْمٌ عَلَى يَقِينٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَلاَةٍ فِي شَكٍّ.

98. وقال عليه السلام: اعْقِلُوا الْخَبَرَ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُوهُ عَقْلَ رِعَايَةٍ

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( 582 )

not that of mere hearing, because relaters of knowledge are numerous but those who guard it are few.

99. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, heard a man recite: Verily we are Allah's and verily to Him shall we return (Qur'an, 2:156). Then he said: Our saying inna li'llah" (Verily we arc Allah's) is an admission of His Majesty over us and our saying "wa inna ilayhi raji 'un" (and verily to Him shall we return)  is an admission of our being mortal.

100. Some people praised Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, to his face, then he said: O' my Allah! You know me better than myself, and I know myself more than they know. O' my Allah! make us better than what they think and forgive us what they do not know.

101. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Fulfilment of (others') needs becomes a lasting virtue in three ways:-- regarding it small so that it attains bigness, concealing it so that it may manifest itself, and doing it quickly so that it becomes pleasant.

102. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Shortly a time will come for people when high positions will be given only to those who defame others, when vicious people will be regarded as witty and the just will be regarded as weak. People will regard charity as a loss, consideration for kinship as an obligation, and worship grounds for claiming greatness among others. At this time, authority will be exercised through the counsel of women, the posting of young boys in high positions and the running of the administration by eunuchs.


( 583 )

لاَ عَقْلَ رِوَايَةٍ، فَإِنَّ رُوَاةَ الْعِلْمِ كَثِيرٌ، وَرُعَاتَهُ قَلِيلٌ.

99. وسمع رجلاً يقول: (إنَّا لله وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ). فقال عليه السلام:

إِنَّ قَوْلَنا: (إِنَّا لله) إِقْرَارٌ عَلَى أَنْفُسِنَا بِالْمُلْكِ (4537) وقولَنَا: (وإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ) إِقْرَارٌ عَلَى أَنْفُسِنَا بِالْهُلْكِ (4538) .

100. وقال عليه السلام وقد مدحه قوم في وجهه: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِي مِنْ نَفْسِي، وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِنَفْسِي مِنْهُمْ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا خَيْراً مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ.

101. وقال عليه السلام: لاَ يَسْتَقِيمُ قَضَاءُ الْحَوَائِجِ إِلاَّ بِثَلاَثٍ: بِاسْتِصْغَارِهَا (4539) لِتَعْظُمَ، وَبِاسْتِكْتَامِهَا (4540) لِتَظْهَرَ، بِتَعْجِيلِهَا لِتَهْنَؤَ (4541) .

102. وقال عليه السلام: يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لاَ يُقَرَّبُ فِيهِ إِلاَّ الْمَاحِلُ (4542) وَلاَ يُظَرَّفُ (4543) فِيهِ إِلاَّ الْفَاجِرُ، وَلاَ يُضَعَّفُ (4544) فِيهِ إِلاَّ الْمُنْصِفُ، يَعِّدُونَ الصَّدَقَةَ فِيِه غُرْماً (4545) ، وَصِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ مَنّاً (4546) وَالْعِبَادَةَ اسْتِطَالَةً (4547) عَلَى النَّاسِ! فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ يَكُونُ السُّلْطَانُ بِمَشُورَةِ النِّسَاءِ، وَإِمَارَةِ الصِّبْيَانِ، وَتَدْبِيرِ الْخِصْيَانِ!

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( 584 )

103. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, was seen in worn-out clothes with patches and when it was pointed out to him he said: With it the heart fears, the mind feels humble and the believers emulate it. Certainly, this world and the next are two enemies against each other and two paths in different directions. Whoever likes this world and loves it hates the next arid is its enemy. These two are like East and West. If the walker between them gets near to one, he gets farther from the other. After all, they are like two fellow-wives.

104. It is related by Nawf al-Bikali that: I saw that one night Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, came out from his bed and looked at the stars, then he said to me: "O' Nawf, are you awake or sleeping?" I said: "I am awake, O, Amir al-mu'minin." Then he said:

O' Nawf! blessed be those who abstain from this world and are eager for the next world. They are the people who regard this earth as a floor; its dust as their bed-cloth; and its water as their perfume; they recite the Qur'an in low tones and supplicate in high tones and then they are cut off from the world like 'Isa (Jesus).

O' Nawf! The prophet Dawud (David), peace be upon him, rose up at a similar hour one night and said, "This is the hour when whatever a person prays for is granted to him unless he is a tax-collector, an intelligence man, a police officer, a lute player or a drummer.

as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: It is also said that " 'artabah" means tabl (drum) and "kubah" means 'lute'.

105. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Allah has placed on you some obligations which you should not ignore, has laid down for you limits which you should not transgress, has prohibited you from certain things which you should not


( 585 )

103. ورئي عليه إزار خَلَقٌ مرقوع، فقيل له في ذلك, فقال: يَخْشَعُ لَهُ الْقَلْبُ، وَتَذِلُّ بِهِ النَّفْسُ، وَيَقْتَدِي بِهِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ. إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ عَدُوَّانِ مُتَفَاوِتَانِ، وَسَبِيلاَنِ مُخْتَلِفَانِ، فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ الدُّنْيَا وَتَوَلاَّهَا أَبْغَضَ الْآخِرَةَ وَعَادَاهَا، وَهُمَا بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ، وَمَاشٍ بَيْنَهُمَا، كُلَّمَا قَرُبَ مِنْ وَاحِدٍ بَعُدَ مِنَ الْآخَرِ وَهُمَا بَعْدُ ضَرَّتَانِ!

104. وعن نوفٍ البِكاليّ، قال: رأيت أميرالمؤمنين عليه السلام ذات ليلة، وقد خرج من فراشه، فنظر في النجوم فقال: يا نوف، أراقد أنت أم رامق؟ فقلت: بل رامق (4548) . قال: يَا نَوْفُ، طُوبَى لِلزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا، الرَّاغِبِينَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ، أُولئِكَ قَوْمٌ اتَّخَذُوا الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطاً، وَتُرَابَهَا فِرَاشاً، وَمَاءَهَا طِيباً، وَالْقُرْآنَ شِعَاراً (4549) وَالدُّعَاءَ دِثَاراً (4550) ثُمَّ قَرَضُوا (4551) الدُّنْيَا قَرْضاً عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ (4552) الْمَسِيحِ. يَا نَوْفُ، إِنَّ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَامَ فِى مِثْلِ هذِهِ السَّاعَةِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ: إِنَّهَا سَاعَةٌ لاَ يَدْعُو فِيهَا عَبْدٌ إِلاَّ اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَشَّاراً (4553) أَوْ عَرِيفاً (4554) أَوْ شُرْطِيّاً (4555) أَوْ صَاحِبَ عَرْطَبَةٍ (وهي الطنبور) أَوْ صَاحِبَ كَوْبَةٍ (وهي الطبل، وقد قيل أيضاً: إنّ العَرْطَبَةَ: الطبلُ، والكوبةَ: الطنبور).

105. وقال عليه السلام: إِنَّ اللهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمُ فَرَائِضَ فَلاَ تُضَيِّعُوهَا، وَحَدَّ لَكُمْ حُدُوداً فَلاَ تَعْتَدُوهَا، وَنَهَاكُمْ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ

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( 586 )

violate, and has kept quiet about certain things, but He has not left them out by mistake so that you should not find them.

106. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: If people give up something relating to religion to set right their worldly affairs, Allah will inflict upon them something more harmful than that.

107. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Often the ignorance of a learned man ruins him while the knowledge he has does not avail him.

108. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: In man there is a piece of flesh attached to him with a vein and it is the strangest thing in him. It is the heart. It has a store of wisdom and things contrary to wisdom. If it sees a ray of hope, eagerness humiliates it and when eagerness increases, greed ruins it. If disappointment overtakes it, grief kills it. If anger rises in it, a serious rage develops. If it is blessed with pleasure, it forgets to be cautious. If it becomes fearing, it becomes heedless. If peace extends all round, it becomes neglectful. If it earns wealth, freedom from care puts it in the wrong. if trouble befalls it, impatience makes it humble. If it faces starvation, distress overtakes it. If hunger attacks it, weakness makes it sit down. If its eating increases, heaviness of stomach pains it. Thus, every shortness is harmful to it and every excess is injurious to it.

109. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: We (the members of the Prophet's family) are like the pillow in the middle. He who lags behind has to come forward to meet it while he who has exceeded the bounds has to return to it.


( 587 )

فَلاَ تَنْتَهِكُوهَا (4556) وَسَكَتَ لَكُمْ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ وَلَمْ يَدَعْهَا نِسْيَاناً فَلاَ تَتَكَلَّفُوهَا (4557) .

106. وقال عليه السلام: لاَ يَتْرُكُ النَّاسُ شَيْئاً مِنْ أَمْرِ دِينِهِمْ لْإِسْتِصْلاَحِ دُنْيَاهُمْ إلاَّ فَتَحَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا هُوَ أَضَرُّ مِنْهُ.

107. وقال عليه السلام: رُبَّ عَالِمٍ قَدْ قَتَلَهُ جَهْلُهُ، وَعِلْمُهُ مَعَهُ لاَ يَنْفَعُهُ.

108. وقال عليه السلام: لَقَدْ عُلِّقَ بِنِيَاطِ (4558) هذَا الْإِنْسَانِ بَضْعَةٌ " (4559) هِيَ أَعْجَبُ مَا فِيهِ: وَذلِكَ الْقَلْبُ، وَلَهُ مَوَادَّ مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ وَأَضْدَادٌ مِنْ خِلاَفِهَا، فَإِنْ سَنَحَ (4560) لَهُ الرَّجَاءُ أَذَلَّهُ الطَّمَعُ، وَإِنْ هَاجَ بِهِ الطَّمَعُ أَهْلَكَهُ الْحِرْصُ و اِنْ مَلَكَهُ الْيَأْسُ قَتَلَهُ الْأَسَفُ، وإِنْ عَرَضَ لَهُ الْغَضَبُ اشتَدَّ بِهِ الْغَيْظُ، وَإِنْ أَسْعَدَهُ الرِّضَى نَسِيَ التَّحَفُّظَ (4561) ، إِنْ غَالَهُ الْخَوْفُ شَغَلَهُ الْحَذَرُ، وَإِن اتَّسَعَ لَهُ الْأَمْرُ اسْتَلَبَتْهُ الْغِرَّةُ (4562) وَإِنْ أَفَادَ (4563) مَالاً أَطْغَاهُ الغِنَى، وَإِن أَصَابَتهُ مُصِيبَةٌ فَضَحَهُ الْجَزَعُ، وَإِنْ عَضَّتْهُ الْفَاقَةُ (4564) شَغَلَهُ الْبَلاَءُ، وَإِنْ جَهَدَهُ (4565) الْجُوعُ قَعَدَ بِهِ الضَّعْفُ، وإِنْ أَفْرَطَ بِهِ الشِّبَعُ كَظَّتْهُ (4566) الْبِطْنَةُ (4567) . فَكُلُّ تَقْصِيرٍ بِهِ مُضِرٌّ، وَكُلُّ إِفْرَاطٍ لَهُ مُفْسِدٌ.

109. وقال عليه السلام: نَحْنُ الْنُّمْرُقَهُ الْوُسْطَي (4568) , بِهَا يَلْحَقُ التَّالِي، وَإِلَيْهَا يَرْجِعُ الْغَالِي (4569) .

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( 588 )

110. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: No one can establish the rule of Allah, the Glorified, except he who shows no relenting (in the matter of right), who does not behave like wrong doers and who does-not run after objects of greed.

111. Sahl ibn Hunayf al-Ansari died at Kufah after his return from the battle of Siffin and he was very much loved by Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him. On this occasion Amir al-mu'minin said: Even if a mountain had loved me, it would have crumbled down.

as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: The meaning of this is that since the trial of the man who loves Amir al-mu'minin will be so, severe troubles would leap towards him, and this is not the case except with the God-fearing, the virtuous and select good. There is another similar saying of Amir al-mu'minin 's individuals, namely:

112. Whoever loves us, members of the Household (of the Prophet), should be prepared to face destitution.

as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: This has been interpreted in a different way as well, but on this occasion is not fit to mention here. (1)

113. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: No wealth is more profitable than wisdom, no loneliness is more estranging than vanity, no wisdom is as good as tact, no honour is like fear from Allah, no companion is like the goodness of moral character, no inheritance is like civility, no guide is like promptitude, no trade is like virtuous acts, no profit is like Divine reward, no self- control is like inaction in time of doubt, no abstention is like that (which is) from prohibitions, no knowledge is like thinking, no


(1). Perhaps the other meaning of this saying is that: "Whoever loves us should not hanker after worldly matters even though in consequence he may have to face destitution and poverty; but he should rather remain content  and avoid seeking worldly benefits."


( 589 )

110. وقال عليه السلام: لاَ يُقِيمُ أَمْرَ اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ إلاَّ مَنْ لاَ يُصَانِعُ (4570) وَلاَ يُضَارِعُ (4571) وَلاَ يَتَّبِعُ الْمَطَامِعَ (4572) .

111. وقال عليه السلام وقد توفي سهل بن حُنَيْفٍ الاَنصاري بالكوفة بعد مرجعه معه من صفين، وكان من أحبّ الناس إليه:

لَوْ أَحَبَّنِي جَبَلٌ لَتَهَافَتَ (4573) . معنى ذلك: أنّ المحنة تغلظ عليه، فتسرع المصائب إليه، ولا يفعل ذلك إلاَّ بالْأَتقياء الْأَبرار والمصطفين الْأَخيار، وهذا مثل قوله عليه السلام :

112. مَنْ أَحَبَّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَلْيَسْتَعِدَّ لِلْفَقْرِ جِلْبَاباً. وقد تُؤُوّل ذلك على معنى آخر ليس هذا موضع ذكره.

113. وقال عليه السلام: لاَ مَالَ أَعْوَدُ (4574) مِنَ الْعَقْلِ، وَلاَ وَحْدَةَ أَوْحَشُ مِنَ الْعُجْبِ (4575) ، وَلاَ عَقْلَ كَالتَّدْبِيرِ، وَلاَ كَرَمَ كَالتَّقْوَى، وَلاَ قَرِينَ كَحُسْنَ الْخُلْقِ وَلاَ مِيرَاثَ كَالْأَدَبِ، وَلاَ قَائِدَ كَالتَّوْفِيقِ، وَلاَ تِجَارَةَ كَالْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ، وَلاَ رِبْحَ كَالثَّوَابِ، وَلاَ وَرَعَ كالْوُقُوفِ عِنْدَ الشُّبْهَةِ، وَلاَ زُهْدَ كَالزُّهْدِ فِي الْحَرَامِ، ولاَ عِلْمَ كَالتَّفَكُّرِ، وَلاَ

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( 590 )

worship is like the discharge of obligation, no belief is like modesty and endurance, no attainment is like humility, no honour is like knowledge, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation.

114. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: At a time when virtue is in vogue in the world and among people, if a person  entertains an evil suspicion about another person from whom nothing evil has ever been seen, then he has been unjust. And at a time when vice is in vogue in the world and among people, if a man entertains a good idea about another person he has flung himself in peril.

115. It was said to Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him: How are you, O' Amir al-mu'minin? and he replied: How can he be whom life is driving towards death, whose state of healthiness can change into sickness any moment and who is to be caught (by death) from his place of safety.

116. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: There are many people who are given time (by Allah) through good treatment towards them, and many who are deceived because their sinful activities are veiled (by Allah), and many who are enamoured by good talk about themselves. And Allah does not try anyone as seriously as He tries him whom He allows time (to remain sinful).

117. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Two categories of persons will face ruin on account of me: he who loves me with exaggeration, and he who hates me intensely.

118. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: To miss an apportunity brings about grief.

119. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: The example  of the world is like a serpent. It is soft to the touch but


( 591 )

عِبَادَةَ كَأَدَاءِ الْفَرائِضِ، وَلاَ إِيمَانَ كَالْحَيَاءِ وَالصَّبْرِ، وَلاَ حَسَبَ كَالتَّوَاضُعِ، وَلاَ شَرَفَ كَالْعِلْمِ، وَلاَ عِزَّ كَألْحَلْمِ. وَلاَ مُظَاهَرَةَ أَوْثَقُ مِن الْمُشَاوَرَةِ.

114. وقال عليه السلام: إِذَا اسْتَوْلَى الصَّلاَحُ عَلَى الزَّمَانِ وَأَهْلِهِ, ثُمَّ أَسَاءَ رَجُلٌ الظَّنَّ بِرَجُلٍ لَمْ تَظْهَرْ مِنْهُ حَوْبَةٌ (4576) فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ! وَإِذَا اسْتَوْلَى الْفَسَادُ عَلَى الزَّمَانِ وأَهْلِهِ فَأَحْسَنَ رَجُلٌ الظَّنَّ بِرَجُلٍ فَقَدْ غَرَّرَ (4577) !

115. وقيل له عليه السلام: كيف نجدك يا أميرالمؤمنين؟ فقال: كَيْفَ يَكُونُ مَنْ يَفْنَى بِبِقَائِهِ (4578) , وَيَسْقَمُ بِصِحَّتِهِ (4579) وَيُؤْتَى مِنْ مَأْمَنِهِ (4580) .

116. وقال عليه السلام: كَمْ مِنْ مُسْتَدْرَجٍ (4581) بِالْإِحْسَانِ إلَيْهِ، وَمَغْرورٍ بِالسَّتْرِ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَفْتُونٍ بِحُسْنِ الْقَوْلِ فِيهِ! وَمَا ابْتَلَى (4582) اللهُ أَحَداً بِمِثْلِ الْإِمْلاَءِ لَهُ (4583) .

117. وقال عليه السلام: هَلَكَ فِيَّ رَجُلاَنِ: مُحِبٌّ غَالٍ (4584) وَ مُبْغِضٌ قَالٍ (4585) .

118. وقال عليه السلام: إضَاعَةُ الْفُرْصَةِ غُصَّةٌ.

119. وقال عليه السلام: مَثَلُ الدُّنْيَا كَمَثَلِ الْحَيَّةِ لَيِّنٌ مَسُّهَا،

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its inside is full of venom. An ignorant person who has fallen into deceit is attracted towards it but a wise and intelligent man keeps on his guard against it.

120. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, was asked about the Quraysh, when he replied: As for Banu Makhzum they are the blossoms of the Quraysh. It is delightful to talk to their men and to marry their women. As for Banu 'Abd Shams, they are farsighted  and cautious about all that is hidden from them. As for ourselves (Banu Hashim) we spend whatever we get and are very generous in offering ourselves in death. Consequently, those people are more numerous, more contriving and more ugly while we are more eloquent, well-wishing and handsome.

121. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: What a difference there is between two kinds of actions: an act whose pleasure passes away but its (ill) consequence remains, and. the act whose hardship passes away but its reward stays.

122. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, was accompanying funeral when he heard someone laugh. Then He said : Is it that death has been ordained only for others? Is it that right is obligatory only on others? Is it that those whom we see departing on their journey of death will come back to us? We lay them down in their graves and then enjoy their estate (as if we will live for good after them). We have ignored every preacher, man or woman, and have exposed ourselves to every catastrophe.

123. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Blessed be lie who humbles himself, whose livelihood is pure, whose heart is chaste, whose habits are virtuous, who spends his savings


( 593 )

وَالسُّمُّ النَّاقِعُ فِي جَوْفِهَا، يَهْوِي إِلَيْهَا الْغِرُّ الْجَاهِلُ، وَيَحْذَرُهَا ذُواللُّبِّ الْعَاقِلُ!

120. وقال عليه السلام وقد سئل عن قريش: أَمَّا بَنُو مَخْزُومٍ فَرَيْحَانَةُ قُرَيْشٍ، نُحِبُّ حَدِيثَ رِجَالِهِمْ، وَالنِّكَاحَ فِي نِسَائِهِمْ. وَأَمَّا بَنُو عَبْدِ شَمسٍ فَأَبْعَدُهَا رَأْياً، وَأَمْنَعُهَا لِمَا وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهَا. وَأَمَّا نَحْنُ فَأَبْذَلُ لِمَا فِي أَيْدِينَا، وَأَسْمَحُ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ بِنُفُوسِنَا. وَهُمْ أَكْثَرُ وَأَمْكَرُ وَأَنْكَرُ، وَنَحْنُ أَفْصَحُ وَأَنْصَحُ وَأَصْبَحُ.

121. وقال عليه السلام: شَتَّانَ مَا بَيْنَ عَمَلَيْنِ: عَمَلٍ تَذْهَبُ لَذَّتُهُ وَتَبْقَى تَبِعَتُهُ، وَعَمَلٍ تَذْهَبُ مَؤُونَتُهُ وَيَبْقَى أَجْرُهُ.

122. وتبع جنازة فسمع رجلاً يَضحك، فقال عليه السلام: كَأَنَّ الْمَوْتَ فِيهَا عَلَى غَيْرِنَا كُتِبَ، وَكَأَنَّ الْحَقَّ فِيهَا عَلَى غَيْرِنَا وَجَبَ، وَكَأَنَّ الَّذِي نَرَى مِنَ الْأَمْوَاتِ سَفْرٌ (4586) عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ إِلَيْنَا رَاجِعُونَ! نُبَوِّئُهُمْ (4587) أَجْدَاثَهُمْ (4588) نَأْكُلُ تُرَاثَهُمْ (4589) كَأَنَّا مُخَلَّدُونَ، بَعْدَهُمْ ! ثُمَّ قَدْ نَسِينَا كُلَّ وَاعِظٍ وَوَاعِظَةٍ، وَرُمِينَا بِكُلِّ فَادِحٍ وَ جَائِحَةٍ (4590) !!

123. وقال عليه السلام: طُوبَى لِمَنْ ذَلَّ فِي نَفْسِهِ، وَطَابَ كَسْبُهُ، وَصَلَحَتْ سَرِيرَتُهُ، وَحَسُنَتْ خَلِيقَتُهُ (4591) َوأَنْفَقَ الْفَضْلَ مِنْ

* * * * *


( 594 )

(in the name of Allah), who prevents his tongue from speaking nonsense, who keeps people safe from evil, who is pleased with the (Prophet's) sunnah, and who is unconnected with innovation (in religion).

as-Sayyid ar-Radi Says: Some people attribute this and the previous saying to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and his descendants).

124. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: The jealousy of a woman (with co-wives) is heresy, while the jealousy of a man is a part of belief.

125. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: I am defining  Islam as no one has defined before me: Islam is submission, submission is conviction, conviction is affirmation, affirmation is acknowledgement, acknowledgement is discharge (of obligations), and discharge of obligations is action.

126. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: I wonder at the miser who is speeding towards the very destitution from which he wants to run away and misses the very ease of life which he covets. Consequently, he passes his life in this world.like the destitute, but will have to render an account in the next world like the rich.

I wonder at the proud man who was just a drop of semen the other day and will turn into a corpse tomorrow. I wonder at the man who doubts Allah although he sees His creations. I wonder at him who has forgotten death although he sees people dying. I wonder at him who denies the second life although he has seen the first life. I wonder at him who inhabits this transient abode but ignores the everlasting abode.

127. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Whoever falls short of actions falls into grief, and Allah has nothing to


( 595 )

مَالِهِ، وَأَمْسَكَ الْفَضْلَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ، وَعَزَلَ عَنِ النَّاسِ شَرَّهُ، وَوَسِعَتْهُ السُّنَّةُ، وَلَمْ يُنْسَبْ إِلَى الْبِدْعَةِ.

قال الرضي: أقول: ومن الناس من ينسب هذا الكلام إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. وكذالك الذي قبله.

124. وقال عليه السلام: غَيْرَةُ الْمَرْأَةِ كُفْرٌ (4592) وَغْيْرَةُ الرَّجُلِ إيمَانٌ.

125. وقال عليه السلام: لاَََنْسُبَنَّ الْإِسْلاَمَ نِسْبَةً لَمْ يَنسُبْهَا أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي. الْإِسْلاَمُ هُوَ التَّسْلِيمُ، وَالتَّسْلِيمُ هُوَ الْيَقِينُ، وَالْيَقِينُ هُوَ التَّصْدِيقُ، وَالتَّصْدِيقُ هُوَ الْإِقْرَارُ، وَالْإِقْرَارُ هُوَ الْأَدَاءُ، وَالْأَدَاءُ هَوَ الْعَمَلُ.

126. وقال عليه السلام: عَجِبْتُ لِلْبَخِيلِ يَسْتَعْجِلُ الْفَقْرَ (4593) الَّذِي مِنْهُ هَرَبَ، وَيَفُوتُهُ الْغِنَى الَّذِى إِيَّاهُ طَلَبَ، فَيَعِيشُ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَيْشَ الْفُقَرَاءِ، وَيُحَاسَبُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ حِسَابَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ. وَعَجِبْتُ لِلْمُتَكَبِّرِ الَّذِي كَانَ بِالْأَمْسِ نُطْفَةً، وَيَكُونُ غَداً جِيفَةً. وَعَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ شَكَّ فِي اللهِ، وَهُوَ يَرَى خَلْقَ اللهِ. وَعَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ نَسِيَ الْمَوْتَ، وهُوَ يَرَى الْمَوْتَى. وَعَجِبْتُ لِمَن أَنْكَرَ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُخْرَى، وَهُوَ يَرَى النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَى. وَعَجِبْتُ لِعَامِرٍ دَارَ الْفَنَاءِ، وَتَارِكٍ دَارَ الْبَقَاءِ.

127. وقال عليه السلام: مَنْ قَصَّرَ فِي الْعَمَلِ ابْتُلِيَ بِالْهَمِّ، وَلاَ

* * * * *


( 596 )

do with him who spares nothing from his wealth in the name of Allah.

128. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Guard against cold in its (seasonal) beginning and welcome it towards its end because it effects bodies in the same way as it effects plants. In the beginning, it destroys them but in the end it gives them fresh leaves. (1)

129. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Greatness of the Creator appreciated by you would belittle the creatures in your view.

130. When Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, returned from (the battle of) Siffin and noticed the graves outside Kufah,


(1). During autumn, protection from cold is necessary because with the change of weather the temperature of the body also changes and ailments such as flue, catarrh, cough etc., occur. This is because bodies are accustomed to hot weather and when suddenly cold comes on tissues become contracted and cold dryness increases in the body. Thus, bathing with cold water soon after bathing with hot water is harmful for this very reason that with hot water the tissues expand and so they at once admit the effect of cold water, and in consequence the natural heat of the body is effected. On the other hand, there is no need of protection from cold during spring season nor is it harmful for the health, because the body is already accustomed to cold. Thus, the temperate cold of the spring is not unpleasant to the body. Rather, with the decline of cold there is an increase of heat and dampness in the body as a result of which growth gets impetus, natural heat rises, the body grows, the temperament feels pleasant and the spirit is joyful.

Similarly, there is the same effect in the plant world. Thus, during autumn due to the prevalence of coldness and dryness, the leaves wither, the vegetative power decreases, the freshness of the plants fades and there is a death-like effect on the green areas. Spring brings the message of life for them. Then with the blowing of healthy winds the blossoms begin to sprout, plants become fresh and healthy, and forests and wildernesses acquire  a green hue.


( 597 )

حَاجَةَ لِلَّهِ فِيمَنْ لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ نَصِيبٌ.

128. وقال عليه السلام: تَوَقَّوا الْبَرْدَ (4594) فِي أَوَّلِهِ، وَتَلَقَّوْهُ (4595) فِي آخِرِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ يَفْعَلُ فِي الْأَبْدَانِ كَفِعْلِهِ فِي الْأَشْجَارِ، أَوَّلُهُ يُحْرِقُ وَ آخِرُهُ يُورقُ (4596) .

129. وقال عليه السلام: عِظَمُ الخالِقِ عِنْدَكَ يُصَغِّرُ الْمَخْلُوقَ فِي عَيْنِكَ.

130. وقال عليه السلام وقد رجع من صفين، فأَشرف على القبور بظاهر الكوفة:

* * * * *


( 598 )

he said: O' residents of houses which give a sense of loneliness, of depopulated areas and gloomy graves. O' people of the dust, O' victims of strangeness, O' people of loneliness and O' people of desolateness! You have gone ahead and preceded us while we are following you and will meet you. The houses (you left) have been inhabited by others; the wives (you left) have been married by others; the properties have been distributed (among heirs). This is the news about those around us; what is the news about things around you?

Then Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, turned to his companions and said: Beware If they were allowed to speak they would inform you that: Verily, the best provision is fear of Allah. (Qur'an, 2:197)

ABOUT THOSE WHO FALSELY ACCUSE THIS WORLD

131. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, heard a man abusing the world and said: O' you who abuse the world, O' you who have been deceived by its deceit and cheated by its wrongs. Do you covet the world and then abuse it? Do you accuse it or it should accuse you? When did it bewilder you or deceive you whether by the decay and fall of your forefathers, or by the sleeping places of your mothers under the ground? How much you looked after them in their illness and nursed them during sickness, desiring them to be cured and consulting physicians for them in the morning when your medicine did not avail them and your wailing for them did not benefit them. Your mourning over them did not prove useful to them and you could not achieve your aims. You could not ward off (death) from them with all your power. In fact, through the dying man the world presented an illustration for you and showed you by the example of his falling down how you would (also) fall.

Certainly, this world is a house of truth for him who appreciates it; a place of safety for him who understands it ; a house


( 599 )

يَا أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ الْمُوحِشَةِ (4597) وَالْمَحَالِّ الْمُقْفِرَةِ (4598) وَالْقُبُورِ الْمُظْلِمَةِ, يَا أَهْلَ التُّرْبَةِ، يَا أَهْلَ الْغُرْبَةِ، يَا أَهْلَ الْوَحْدَةِ، يَا أَهْلَ الْوَحْشَةِ، أَنْتُمْ لَنَا فَرَطٌ (4599) سَابِقٌ، وَنَحْنُ لَكُمْ تَبَعٌ (4600) لاَحِقٌ. أَمَّا الدُّورُ فَقَدْ سُكِنَتْ، وَأَمَّا الْأَزْوَاجُ فَقَدْ نُكِحَتْ، وَأَمَّا الْأَمْوَالُ فَقَدْ قُسِمَتْ. هذَا خَبَرُ مَا عِنْدَنَا، فَمَا خَبَرُ مَا عِنْدَكُمْ؟ ثم التفت إِلى أَصحابه فقال: أَمَا لَوْ أُذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْكَلاَمِ لِأَخْبَرُوكُمْ أَنَّ (خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى).

131. وقال عليه السلام وقد سمع رجلاً يذم الدنيا: أَيُّهَا الذَّامُّ لِلدُّنْيَا، الْمُغْتَرُّ بِغُرُورِهَا، الْمَخْدُوعُ بِأَبَاطِيلِهَا! أَتَغْتَرُّ بِالدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ تَذُمُّهَا؟ أَنْتَ الْمُتَجَرِّمُ (4601) عَلَيْهَا، أَمْ هِيَ الْمُتَجَرِّمَةُ عَلَيْكَ؟ مَتَى اسْتَهْوَتْكَ (4602) أَمْ مَتى غَرَّتْكَ؟ أَبِمَصَارِعِ (4603) آبَائِكَ مِنَ الْبِلَى (4604) أَمْ بِمَضَاجِعِ أُمَّهَاتِكَ تَحْتَ الثَّرَى (4605) ؟ كَمْ عَلَّلْتَ (4606) بِكَفَّيْكَ، وَكَمْ مَرَّضْتَ بِيَدَيْكَ! تَبْتَغِي لَهُمُ الشِّفَاءَ، وَتَسْتَوْصِفُ (4607) لَهُمُ الْأَطِبَّاءَ ،غَدَاةَ لاَيُغْنِي عَنْهُمْ دَوَاؤُكَ، وَلاَ يُجْدِي عَلَيْهِمْ بُكَاؤُكَ. لَمْ يَنْفَعْ أَحَدَهُمْ إِشْفَاقُكَ (4608) وَلَمْ تُسْعَفْ فِيهِ بِطِلْبَتِكَ (4609) وَلَمْ تَدْفَعْ عَنْهُ بِقُوَّتِكَ! قَدْ مَثَّلَتْ لَكَ بِهِ الدُّنْيَا نَفْسَكَ (4610) وَبِمَصْرَعِهِ مَصْرَعَكَ. إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا دَارُ صِدْقٍ لِمَنْ صَدَقَهَا، وَدَارُ عَافِيَةٍ لِمَنْ فَهِمَ

* * * * *


( 600 )

of riches for him who collects provision from it (for the next world); and a house of instructions for him who draws instruction from it. It is the place of worship for the lovers of Allah; the place of praying for the angels of Allah; the place where the revelation  of Allah descends; and the marketing place for those devoted  to Allah. Herein they earned mercy and herein they acquired Paradise by way of profit.

Therefore, who can abuse it when it has announced its departure and called out that it would leave! It had given news of its own destruction and the death of its people. By its hardship it set an example of their hardships. By its pleasures it created eagerness for the pleasures (of the next world). It brings ease in the evening and grief in the morning by way of persuasion, dissuasion, alarm and warning. People abuse it on the morning of their repentance but there are others who will praise it on the Day of Judgement. The world recalled to them the next life and they bore it in mind. It related to them (things of the next life) and they acknowledged them. It preached to them and they took lesson therefrom. (1)

132. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: There is an angel of Allah who calls out every day, "Beget children for death, collect wealth for destruction, and raise construction for ruin."


(1). Every speaker and preacher manifests the force of his speaking in subjects in which he is well-versed. If he has to change the subject neither will his mind move nor will his tongue be able to speak out. But he whose intellect has the capability of adaptation and whose mind has the power of imagination can turn round his utterances in whatever manner he likes, and can show the excellence of speaking on whatever subject he desires. Consequently, when the tongue which had for so long been abusing the world and unveiling its deceitfulness starts praising the world it shows the same mastery of speaking and power of arguing that had ever been its chief distinction An I then, the use of commendatory words does not alter the principle and although the ways are different the object remains the same.


( 601 )

عَنْهَا، وَدَارُ غِنىً لِمَنْ تَزَوَّدَ مِنْهَا (4611) وَدَارُ مَوْعِظَةٍ لِمَنْ اتَّعَظَ بِهَا. مَسْجِدُ أَحِبَّاءِ اللهِ، وَمُصَلَّى مَلاَئِكَةِ اللهِ، وَمَهْبِطُ وَحْيِ اللهِ، وَمَتْجَرُ أَوْلِيَاءِ اللهِ، اكْتَسَبُوا فِيهَا الرَّحْمَةَ وَرَبِحُوا فِيهَا الْجَنَّةَ. فَمَنْ ذَا يَذُمُّهَا وَقَدْ آذَنَتْ (4612) بِبَيْنِهَا (4513) وَنَادَتْ بِفِراقِهَا، وَنَعَتْ نَفْسَهَا (4614) وَأَهْلَهَا، فَمَثَّلَتْ لَهُمْ بِبَلاَئِهَا الْبَلاَءَ،شَوَّقَتْهُمْ بِسُرُورِهَا إِلَى السُّرُورِ؟! رَاحَتْ بِعَافِيَةٍ (4615) وَابْتَكَرَتْ (4616) بِفَجِيعَةٍ (4617) , ترغِيباً وَتَرْهِيباً، وَتَخْوِيفاً وَتَحْذِيراً، فَذَمَّهَا رِجَالٌ غَدَاةَ النَّدَامَةِ، وَحَمِدَهَا آخَرُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ. ذَكَّرَتْهُمُ الدُّنْيَا فتََذَكَرُوا، وَحَدَّثَتْهُمْ فَصَدَّقُوا، وَوَعَظَتْهُمْ فَاتَّعَظُوا.

132. وقال عليه السلام: إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَلَكاً يُنَادِي فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ: لِدُوا (4618) لِلْمَوْتِ، وَاجْمَعُوا لِلْفَنَاءِ، وَابْنُوا لِلْخَرَابِ.

* * * * *


( 602)

133. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: This world is a place for transit, not a place for stay. The people herein are of two categories. One is the man who sold away his self (to his passions) and thus ruined it, and the other is the man who purchased his self (by control against his passions) and freed it.

134. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: A friend is not a friend unless he affords protection to his comrade on three occasions: in his adversity, in his absence and at his death.

135. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: He who is bestowed four things is not disallowed four things: he who is allowed to pray is not deprived of the response to it; he who is allowed to offer repentance is not deprived of its acceptance; he who is allowed to seek forgiveness is not deprived of forgiveness; and he who is allowed to be grateful is not deprived of furtherance of favours.

as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: This is confirmed by the Book of Allah. About praying, Allah says: "Call you to Me, I will answer you" (Qur'an, 4:60). About forgiveness Allah says: "And whoever  does evil, or wrongs his own self and thereafter seeks pardon  of Allah, shall find Allah Oft-forgiving, Merciful" (Qur'an, 4:110). About gratefulness He says: "If you be grateful I will increase (my favours) to you" (Qur'an, 14:7). About repentance He says: "Verily, repentance (acceptable) with Allah is only for those who do evil ignorantly and then turn (to Allah) soon (after); these (are those) Allah will turn (merciful) to them; and Allah is All-knowing, All-wise" (Qur'an, 4: 17).

136. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: For the God-fearing prayers is a means of seeking nearness to Allah; and for the weak the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is as good as jihad (fighting in the way of Allah). For every thing there is a levy; and the levy of the body is fasting. The jihad of a woman is to afford pleasant company to her husband.


( 603 )

133. وقال عليه السلام: الدُّنْيَا دَارُ مَمَرٍّ لاَ دَارِ مَقَرٍّ، وَالنَّاسُ فِيهَا رَجُلاَنِ: رَجُلٌ بَاعَ فِيهَا نَفْسَهُ فَأَوْبَقَهَا (4619) وَرَجُلٌ ابْتَاعَ نَفْسَهُ (4620) فَأَعْتَقَهَا.

134. وقال عليه السلام: لاَ يَكُونُ الصَّدِيقُ صَدِيقاً حَتَّى يَحْفَظَ أَخَاهُ فِي ثَلاَثٍ: فِي نَكْبَتِهِ، وَغَيْبَتِهِ، وَوَفَاتِهِ.

135. وقال عليه السلام: مَنْ أُعْطِيَ أَرْبعاً لَمْ يُحْرَمْ أَرْبَعاً: مَنْ أُعْطِيَ الدُّعَاءَ لَمْ يُحْرَمِ الْإِجَابَةَ، وَمَنْ أُعْطِيَ التَّوْبَةَ لَمْ يُحْرَمِ الْقَبُولَ، وَمَنْ أُعْطِيَ الْإِسْتِغْفَارَ لَمْ يُحْرَمِ الْمَغْفِرَةَ، وَمَنْ أُعْطِيَ الشُّكْرَ لَمْ يُحْرَمِ الزِّيَادَةَ. قال الرضي: وتصديقُ ذَلكَ في كتَابِ اللهِ، قَالَ اللهُ في الدّعَاء: (ادْعُونِي أسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ)، وقال في الإِستغفار: (وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ سُوءاً أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللهَ يَجِدِ اللهَ غَفُوراً رَحِيماً)، وقال في الشكر: (لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لاََزِيدَنّكُمْ)، وقال في التوبة: (إنّما التّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُم يَتُوبُونَ مِنْ قَرِيبٍ فأُولَئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً).

136. وقال عليه السلام: الصَّلاَةُ قُرْبَانُ كُلِّ تَقِيٍّ، وَالْحَجُّ جِهَادُ كُلِّ ضَعِيفٍ، وَلِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ زَكَاةٌ، وَزَكَاةُ الْبَدَنِ الصِّيَامُ، وَجِهَادُ الْمَرْأَةِ حُسْنُ التَّبَعُّلِ (4621) .

* * * * *


( 604)

137. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Seek livelihood by giving alms.

138. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: He who is sure of a good return is generous in giving.

139. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Assistance is allowed according to need.

140. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: He who is moderate does not become destitute.

141. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: A small family is one of the ways of (securing) ease.

142. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Loving one another is half of wisdom

143. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Grief is half of old age.

144. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Endurance comes according to the affliction. He who beats his hand on the thigh in his affliction ruins all his good actions.

145. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: There is many a person who fasts whose fast is nothing but just hunger and thirst, and many an offerer of prayers whose prayer is no better than wakefulness and hardship. The sleep as well as the eating and drinking of the intelligent (God-knowing) person is far better.

146. Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said: Protect your belief by charity; guard your wealth by paying Allah's share; and ward off the waves of calamity by praying.


( 605 )

137. وقال عليه السلام: اسْتَنْزِلُوا الرِّزْقَ بِالصَّدَقَةِ.

138. وقال عليه السلام: ومَنْ أَيْقَنَ بِالْخَلَفِ جَادَ بِالْعَطِيَّةِ.

139. وقال عليه السلام: تَنْزِلُ الْمَعُونَةُ عَلَى قَدْرِ الْمَؤُونَةِ.

140. وقال عليه السلام: مَا عَالَ (4622) مَنِ اقْتَصَدَ.

141. وقال عليه السلام: قِلَّةُ الْعِيَالِ أَحَدُ الْيَسَارَيْنِ.

142. وقال عليه السلام: التَّوَدُّدُ نِصْفُ الْعَقْلِ.

143. وقال عليه السلام: وَالْهَمُّ نِصْفُ الْهَرَمِ.

144. وقال عليه السلام: يَنْزِلُ الصَّبْرُ عَلَى قَدْرِ الْمُصِيبَةِ، وَمَنْ ضَرَبَ يَدَهُ عَلَى فَخِذِهِ عِنْدَ مُصِيبَتِهِ حَبِطَ (4623) عَمَلُهُ.

145. وقال عليه السلام: كَمْ مِنْ صَائِمٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ إِلاَّ الْجُوعُ وَ الظَّمَأُ، وَكَمْ مِنْ قَائِمٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ قِيَامِهِ إِلاَّ السَّهَرُ وَ الْعَنَاءُ، حَبَّذَا نَوْمُ الْأَكْيَاسِ (4624) وَإِفْطَارُهُمْ!

146. وقال عليه السلام: سُوسُوا (4625) إِيمَانَكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ، وَحَصِّنُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بِالزَّكَاةِ، وَادْفَعُوا أَمْواجَ الْبَلاَءِ بِالدُّعَاءِ.

* * * * *

. القضاء: علم الله السابق بحصول الأَشياء على أحوالها في أو ضاعها

. القَدَر: إيجاد الله للأَشياء عند وجود أسبابها، ولا شيء من القضاء والقدر منهما لايضطر العبد لفعل من أفعاله

. الحاتم: الذي لامفرّ من وقوعه حتماً

. تَتَلَجْلَجُ أي: تتحرك

. الآبَاط: جمع إبْط، وضَرْب الآباط: كناية عن شدّ الرِّحال وحثّ المسير

. بَقِيّة السيف: هم الذين يبقون بعد الذين قتلوا في حفظ شرفهم ودفْعِ الضَيْم عنهم وفضلوا الموت على الذلّ، فيكون الباقون شُرَفاء نُجَدَاء، فعددهم أبقىولدهم يكون أكثر، بخلاف الأَذِلاّء، فإنّ مصيرهم إلى المحو والفناء

. مَقَاتِلُه: مواضع قتله

. جَلَد الغلام: صبره على القتال

. مَشْهَد الغلام: إيقاعه بالأَعداء

. رَوْح الله ـ بفتح الراء ـ : لطفه ورأفته

. مَكْرُالله: أخذه للعبد بالعقاب من حيث لا يشعر

. طرائف الحكمة: غرائبها المستطرفة

. (أَوْضَع العلمِ) :أي أدناه

. ما وقف على اللسان :أي لم يظهر أثره في الأَخلاق والأَعمال

. أركان البدن: أعضاؤه الرئيسة كالقلب والمخ

. تثمير المال: إنماؤه بالربح

. انثِلام الحال: نقصه

. لُحْمَتُهُ ـ بالضم ـ أي: نسبه

. الحَرورِيّة ـ بفتح الحاء ـ : الخَوَارج الذين خرجوا على عليّ بحَرُوراء

. (يتهجّد): أي يصلّي بالليل

. إقْرَار بالمُلْك: لأَن اللام في قوله تعالى: (إنّا لله) هي لام التمليك

. الهُلْك ـ بالضم ـ : الهلاك.

. المراد استصغارها في الطلب لتعظم بالقضاء.

. اسْتِكْتَامُها: أي الحرص على كتمانها عند محاولتها لتظهر بعد قضائها، فلا تُعْلَم إلا مقضية.

. تَهْنُؤ :أي تصير هنيئة فيمكن التمتع بها.

. الماحِل: الساعي في الناس بالوشاية.

. يُظَرّف ـ بتشديد الراء مبنياً للمجهول ـ : يعدّ ظريفاً.

. يضعّف ـ بالتشديد مبنياً للمجهول ـ : يعدّ ضعيفاً.

. الغُرْم ـ بالضم ـ :أي الغَرَامة.

. المَنّ: ذكرك النعمة على غيرك مظهراً بها الكرامة عليه.

. الْإستطالة على الناس: التفوّق عليهم والتزيّد عليهم في الفضل.

. أراد( بالرامق ): منتبه العين، في مقابلة الراقد بمعنى النام، يقال: رَمَقَهُ، إذا لحظه لحظاً خفيفاً.

. شِعاراً: يقرؤونه سراً للاعتبار بمواعظه والتفكّر في دقائقه، وأصل الشعار: ما يلي البدن من الثياب.

. دِثاراً:أصل ادِثار ما يعلو البدَن من الثياب، والمراد من اتخاذهم الدعاء دِثاراً جهرهم به إظهاراً للذلّة والخضوع لله.

. قَرَضوا الدنيا: مزقوها كما يمزّق الثوب المِقْراضُ.

. على منهاج المسيح: طريقه في الزهادة.

. العَشّار: من يتول أخذ أَعْشار المال، وهو المَكّاس.

. العَرِيف: من يتجسّس على أحوال الناس وأسرارهم فيكشفها لاَميرهم مثلاً.

. الشُرْطيبضم فسكون نسبة إلى الشُرْطة ـ : واحد الشُرَط ـ كرُطَب ـ وهم أعوان الحاكم.

. أي لا تنتهكوا نهيه عنها بإتيانها، والْإنتهاك: الْإهانة والْإضعاف.

. لا تتكَلّفوها: أي لا تكلّفوا أَنفسكم بها بعد ما سكت الله عنها.

. النِيَاط ـ ككِتاب ـ : عِرْق معلّق به القلب.

. البَضْعة ـ بفتح الباء ـ : القطعة من اللحم، والمراد بها ها هنا القلب.

. سَنَحَ له: بدا وظهر.

. التَحفّظ: هو التَوَقّي والتّحرّز من المضرات.

. الغِرّة ـ بالكسر ـ : الغفلة، و(اسْتَلَبَتْهُ): أي سَلَبَتْهُ وذهبت به عن رُشْدِه.

. أفَاد المال: استفاده.

. الفاقة: الفقر.

. جَهَدَهُ: أَعْياه وأتعبه.

.( كَظّتْهُ ) أي: كربته وآلمته.

. البِطْنَة ـ بالكسر ـ : امتلاء البطن حتى يضيق النفس.

. النُمْرُقَةُ ـ بضم فسكون فضم ففتح ـ : الوِسادة؛ وآل البيت أشبه بها للاستناد إليهم في أمورالدين، كما يستند إلى الوسادة لراحة الظهر واطمئنان الْأَعضاء, و وصفها بالوسطى لاتصال سائر النمارق بها، فكأن الكل يعتمد عليها إما مباشرة أو بواسطة ما بجانبه، وآل البيت على الصراط الوسط العدل، يلحق بهم من قصر، ويرجع إليهم من غلا وتجاوز.

. الغالي: المبالغ المجاوز للحدّ.

. ( لايُصانع ): أي لا يداري في الحق.

. المُضارعَة: المشابهة، والمعنى أنه لا يتشبه في عمله بالمبطلين.

. اتباع المطامع: الميل معها وإن ضاع الحق.

. تَهَافت: تَساقَطَ بعد ما تصدّعَ.

. أعْوَدُ: أَنْفَع.

. العُجْب ـ بضم العين ـ : الْإعجاب بالنفس.

. ( الحَوْبَة) :هي الْإثم .

. غَرّرَ أي: أوْقَعَ بنفسه في الغَرَر وهو الخطر.

. ( يفني ببقائه ): كلما طال عمره ـ وهو البقاء ـ تقدم إلى الفناء.

. يَسْقَمُ بصحّته: أي كلما مدّت عليه الصحة تقرب من مرض الهَرَم، وسَقِم ـ كفرح ـ : مَرِض.

. يأتيه الموت من مأمنه: أي الجهة التي يأمن إتيانه منها، فان أسبابه كامنة في نفس البدن.

. المُسْتَدْرَج: هوالذي تابع الله نعمته عليه وهو مقيم على عصيانه، إبلاغاً للحجة وإقامة للمعذرة في أخذه.

. ابْتَلى: امتحن.

. الْإملاء له: الْإمهال.

. الغالي: المتجاوز الحد في حبه بسبب غيره، أو دعوى حلول اللاهوت فيه، أو نحو ذلك.

. القالي: المبغض الشديد البغض.

. سَفْر: أي مسافرون.

. سَنُبَوئهُم: ننزلهم .

. أجْداثهم: قبورهم.

. التُرَاث: أي الميراث.

. الجائحة: الآفة تُهْلِك الْأَصل والفرْع.

. الخَلِيقة: الخلق والطبيعة.

. غَيْرَة المرأة كُفْرٌ: أي تؤدي إلى الكفر، فانها تحرم على الرجل ما أحلّ الله له من زواج متعددات، أما غيرة الرجل فتحريم لما حرّمه الله، وهو الزنى.

. (البخيل يستعجل الفقر): يريد أنه يهرب من الفقر. بجمع المال، وتكون له الحاجة فلا يقضيها، ويكون عليه الحق فلا يؤديه.

. ( تَوَقّوا البرد ): أي احفظوا أنفسكم من أذاه.

. تَلَقّوه: استقبلوه.

. آخِرُه يُورِق: لاَن البرد في آخره يمس الْأَبدان بعد تعودها عليه، فيكون عليها أخف.

. المُوحِشة: الموجبة للوَحْشَة ضد الْأَنس.

. المَحَالّ ـ جمع مَحَلّ ـ :أي الْأَركان المُقْفِرة، من أقفر المكان: إذا لم يكن به ساكن ولا نابت.

. الفَرَط ـ بالتحريك ـ : المتقدّم إلى الماء، للواحد وللجمع، والكلام هنا على الْإطلاق، أي المتقدمون.

. التَبَع ـ بالتحريك ـ : التابع.

. تَجَرّمَ عليه: ادّعى عليه الجُرْم ـ بالضم ـ :أي الذنب.

. استهواه: ذهب بعقله وأذله فحيره.

. المَصارِع: جمع المَصْرَع، وهو مكان الْإنصارع أي السقوط، أي مكان سقوط آبائك من الفناء.

. البِلى ـ بكسر الباء ـ : الفناء بالتحلل.

. الثَرَى: التراب.

. عَلّل المريض: خدمه في علته ـ كمرّضهُ ـ خدمه في مرضه.

. اسْتَوْصَفَ الطبيبَ: طلب منه وصف الدواء بعد تشخيص الداء.

. إشفاقك: خوفك.

. الطِلْبَة ـ بالكسر وبفتح فكسر ـ : المطلوب، وأسعفه بمطلوبه: أعطاه إياه على ضرورة إليه.

. مَثّلَتْ لك به الدنيا نَفْسَك: أي أن الدنيا جعلت الهالك قبلك مثالاً لنفسك تقيسها عليه.

. تزَوّدَ: أي أخذ منها زاده للآخرة.

. آذَنَتْ ـ بمد الهمزة ـ :أي أَعلمت أهلها.

. بَيْنها: أي بُعدها وزوالها عنهم.

. نَعَاه: إذا أخبر بفقده.

. راح إليه: وافاه وقت العشي، أي أنها تمشي بعافية.

. تَبْكِر: أي تصبح.

. فَجِيعة :أي مصيبة فاجعة.

. لِدُوا: فعل أمر من الولادة لجماعة المخاطبين.

. أوْبَقَها: أهلكها.

. ابْتَاع نفسه: اشتراها وخلصها من أسر الشهوات.

. حُسْنُ التَبَعّل: إطاعة الزوج.

. عَالَ: افتقرَ.

. حبِطَ أجره: بطل، لاَنه يحرم ثوابه.

. الأكياس ـ جمع كَيّس بتشديد الياء ـ أي: العقلاء العارفون يكون نومهم وفِطْرُهم أفضل من صوم الحمقى وقيامهم.

. سُوسُوا: أمر من السياسة، وهي حفظ الشيء بما يَحُوطه من غيره، والصدقة تستحفظ

الشفقة، والشفقة تستزيد الايمان وتذكر الله.