English    Türkçe    فارسی   

4
1962-2011

  • (By this means) your intelligence becomes superior to (that of) others; but through preserving (retaining in your mind) that (knowledge) you are heavily burdened.
  • You, (occupied) in wandering and going about (in search of knowledge), are a preserving (recording) tablet; the preserved tablet is he that has passed beyond this.
  • The other intelligence is the gift of God: its fountain is in the midst of the soul.
  • When the water of (God-given) knowledge gushes from the breast, it does not become fetid or old or yellow (impure); 1965
  • And if its way of issue (to outside) be stopped, what harm? for it gushes continually from the house (of the heart).
  • The acquired intelligence is like the conduits which run into a house from the streets:
  • (If) its (the house’s) water-way is blocked, it is without any supply (of water) Seek the fountain from within yourself!
  • Story that some one was consulting another, who said, "Consult some one else, for I am your enemy."
  • A certain person was consulting some one, that he might be delivered from perplexity and from a quandary.
  • “O man of good name,” he replied, “seek another, not me, and explain to him the matter for consultation. 1970
  • I am an enemy to you: do not attach yourself to me; one is never successful (never wins success) from the counsel of an enemy.
  • Go, seek one who is a friend to you: undoubtedly a friend seeks (what is) good for his friend.
  • I am an enemy: it is inevitable that from egoism I should go crookedly (play false) and show enmity towards you.
  • Tis not a (just) condition to demand of a wolf (that he should perform) the task of a watchman (shepherd): to demand (anything) from the wrong place is a negation of the demand.
  • Without any doubt I am an enemy to you: how should I show you the way? I am a highwayman. 1975
  • Whoever is sitting with friends is amidst a flower-garden (though he be) in a bath-furnace.
  • Whoever in the world sits with an enemy, he is in a bath-furnace (though he be) in a flower-garden.
  • Vex not your friend by egoism, lest your friend become your adversary and enemy.
  • Do good unto the people for your God's sake or for the peace of your own soul,
  • That you may always see (them) friendly in your sight, and that ugly ideas arising from hatred may not come into your heart. 1980
  • Since you have behaved with enmity (towards me), abstain (from consulting me): consult a friend who arouses (your) affection.”
  • He replied, “I know you, O Bu ’l-Hasan, to be one who has long deemed me an enemy;
  • But you are a reasonable and spiritual man: your reason will not allow you to go crookedly (play false).”
  • The (carnal) nature desires to take revenge on its adversary: the reason is an iron chain upon the flesh.
  • It comes and prevents it (the flesh) and restrains it: the reason is like a police-inspector for it in its good and evil (actions). 1985
  • The reason that is allied to Faith is like a just police-inspector: it is the guardian and magistrate of the city of the heart.
  • It is mentally alert like a cat: the thief remains in the hole, like a mouse.
  • Wherever the mouse gets the upper hand, no cat is there, or (at least) there is (only) the (unreal) form of a cat.
  • What cat (is to be compared with the reason)? The Faith-regarding reason which is in the body is the lion that overthrows the lions.
  • Its roar is the magistrate (controller) of the tearing (carnivorous) animals; its shout is the preventer of the browsing (herbivorous) animals. 1990
  • (If) the city is full of thieves and clothes-robbers, let there be a police-inspector if you will, or let there be none.
  • How the Prophet, on whom be peace, appointed a youth of Hudhayl to be commander of an expeditionary force in which there were elders and veteran warriors.
  • The Prophet was sending a force to fight against the unbelievers and repel insolence.
  • He chose a youth of Hudhayl and appointed him commander of the army and leader of the cavalry.
  • The foundation of an army is unquestionably the chief in command: a people without a chief are a body without a head.
  • That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief. 1995
  • On account of laziness and avarice and egoism you are drawing your head back (behaving in a headstrong manner) and making yourself the head.
  • (You are) like the beast that flees from the burden: it takes its head (goes its own way) into the mountains.
  • Its master is running after it, crying, “O giddy-headed one, on every side there is a wolf in quest of an ass.
  • If thou disappear now from mine eye, the mighty wolf will approach thee from every direction.
  • He will chew thy bones like sugar, so that thou wilt never see life again. 2000
  • (Or) do not suppose that (immediate destruction); at any rate thou wilt be left without fodder: fire is (finally) extinguished by lack of faggots.
  • Beware! Do not flee from my control and from the heaviness of the burden, for I am thy (rational) soul.”
  • You also are a beast (of burden), for your carnal soul predominates: the predominant (quality) determines (a thing's nature), O worshipper of self.
  • The Almighty did not call you an ass, He called you a horse: the Arabs say to the Arab horse “ta‘ál” (“come”).
  • Mustafá (Mohammed) was God's stable-overseer for the beasts, (which are) the iniquitous carnal soul. 2005
  • Moved by lovingkindness, He (God) said, “Say, ‘ta‘álaw (come ye), to the end that I may train you: I am the trainer.’”
  • (The Prophet said), “Since I have trained the carnal souls, I have suffered many kicks from these beasts.
  • Wherever there is one fond of training, he hath no means of avoiding kicks.
  • Of necessity the most affliction falls on the prophets, for ’tis an affliction to give training to the raw (ignorant).
  • Ye are stumbling along: at my word (in obedience to my command) go at a jog-trot, that ye may become gentle and be suitable for the king to ride. 2010
  • The Lord said, ‘Say, Come ye, say, Come ye, O beasts that have shied away from discipline.