وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِof the wise men:
And some of the wise men said:
لَاDo notتَدَعِleaveالْحِيلَةَthe resourcefulnessفِيinالْتِمَاسِseekingالرِّزْقِsustenanceبِكُلِّin everyمَكَانٍplace,
Do not abandon resourcefulness in seeking sustenance in every place,
فَإِنَّfor indeedالْكَرِيمَthe noble personمُحْتَالٌis resourcefulوَالدَّنِيَّand the base personعَيَّالٌis dependent,
for indeed the noble person is resourceful and the base person is dependent,
وَقَالَand he said:
and he said:
فَسِرْSo travelفِيinبِلَادِthe lands ofاللَّهِGodوَالْتَمِسِand seekالْغِنَىwealth
So travel in the lands of God and seek wealth
تَعِشْyou will liveذَاpossessor ofيَسَارٍwealthأَوْorتَمُوتَyou will dieفَتُعْذَرَاand be excused
you will live in wealth or you will die and be excused
وَلَاAnd do notتَرْضَbe contentمِنْwithعَيْشٍa lifeبِدُونٍof deficiencyوَلَاand do notتَنَمْsleep
And do not be content with a deficient life and do not sleep
وَكَيْفَand howيَنَامُcan sleepاللَّيْلَthe nightمَنْhe whoكَانَisمُعْسِرَاhard-pressed
and how can he sleep at night who is hard-pressed
وَتَقُولُAnd saysالْعَرَبُthe Arabs:كَلْبٌA roaming dogجَوَّالٌis betterخَيْرٌthanمِنْa crouchingأَسَدٍlion.رَابِضٍcrouching.
And the Arabs say: A roaming dog is better than a crouching lion.
وَتَقُولُAnd they sayأَيْضاًalso:مَنْHe whoseغَلَىboiledدِمَاغُهُbrainصَائِفاًin summerغَلَتْwill boilقِدْرُهُhis potشَاتِياًin winter.
And they also say: He whose brain boils in summer, his pot will boil in winter.
وَوَقَعَAnd wroteعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنِTahirطَاهِرٍas a signature:مَنْHe whoسَعَىstrivesرَعَىpasturesوَمَنْand he whoلَزِمَadheres toالْمَنَامَsleepرَأَىseesالْأَحْلَامَdreams.
And Abdullah bin Tahir wrote as a signature: He who strives pastures, and he who adheres to sleep sees dreams.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْكَسْرَوِيُّAl-Kasrawi:أُخِذَIt was takenمِنْfromتَوْقِيعِthe signature ofأُنُوشِرْوَانَAnushirwanبِالْفَارِسِيَّةِin Persian:هَرْكِharkرُوذْrudخْرَذْkhradهَرْكِharkخَسِيذْkhasidhخَافْkhafوَيْنِذْwaynidhوَأَنْشَدَand he recited:
And Al-Kasrawi said: It was taken from the signature of Anushirwan in Persian: [Persian text], and he recited:
كَفَىIt is enoughحُزْناًas griefأَنَّthatالنَّوَىdistanceقَذَفَتْhas castبِنَاus
It is enough as grief that distance has cast us
بَعِيداًfar awayوَأَنَّand thatالرِّزْقَsustenanceأَعْيَتْhave weariedمَذَاهِبُهُits paths
far away and that the paths of sustenance have become wearisome
وَلَوْAnd ifأَنَّنَاthat weإِذْwhenفَرَّقَseparatedالدَّهْرُtimeبَيْنَنَاbetween us
And if when time separated us
غَنِيٌّa richوَاحِدٌoneمِنَّاof usتَمَوَّلَwould enrichصَاحِبُهُhis companion
a rich one of us would enrich his companion
وَلَكِنَّنَاBut weمِنْfromدَهْرِنَاour timeفِيare inمُؤُونَةٍhardship
But we are in hardship from our time
يُكَالِبُنَاit hounds usطَوْراًat timesوَطَوْراًand at timesنُكَالِبُهُwe hound it
it hounds us at times and at times we hound it
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
إِذَاWhenالْمَرْءُa manلَمْdoes notيَبْغِseekالْمَعَاشَa livelihoodلِنَفْسِهِfor himself
When a man does not seek a livelihood for himself
شَكَاhe complains ofالْفَقْرَpovertyأَوْorلَامَblamesالصَّدِيقَthe friendفَأَكْثَرَاexcessively
he complains of poverty or blames the friend excessively
وَصَارَAnd he becomesعَلَىuponالْأَدْنَيْنَthe close relativesكَلاًّa burdenوَأَوْشَكَتْand it is likely
And he becomes a burden upon close relatives and it is likely
صِلَاتُthat the ties ofذَوِيpossessors ofالْقُرْبَىkinshipلَهُto himأَنْwillتُنَكَّرَاbe denied
that the ties of kinship to him will be denied
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
وَمَنْAnd whoeverيَكُisمِثْلِيlike meذَاpossessor ofعِيَالٍdependentsوَمُقْتِراًand in straitened circumstances
And whoever is like me, having dependents and in straitened circumstances
مِنَofالْمَالِwealthيَطْرَحْthrowsنَفْسَهُhimselfكُلَّinto everyمَطْرَحِplace
of wealth, casts himself into every place
لِيَبْلُغَto attainعُذْراًan excuseأَوْorيَنَالَgainغَنِيمَةًspoils
to attain an excuse or gain spoils
وَمَبْلَغُand the limit ofنَفْسٍa soul reachingعُذْرُهَاits excuseمِثْلُis likeمُنْجِحِa successful one
and the utmost a soul can do to fulfill its excuse is like one who succeeds
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
وَلَيْسَAnd is notالرِّزْقُsustenanceعَنْfromطَلَبٍseekingحَثِيثٍeagerly
And sustenance is not obtained through eager seeking
وَلَكِنْbutأَلْقِcastدَلْوَكَyour bucketفِيamongالدِّلَاءِthe buckets
but cast your bucket among the buckets
تَجِيءُIt may comeبِمِثْلِهَاwith the like of itيَوْماًone dayوَيَوْماًand another day
It may come up full one day, and another day
تَجِيءُit comesبِحَمْأَةٍwith mudوَقَلِيلِand a littleمَاءِwater
it comes with mud and a little water
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
وَقَدْAnd I have learnedعَلِمْتُand the knowledge ofوَعِلْمُa manالْمَرْءِbenefits himيَنْفَعُهُthat
And I have learned—and a man's knowledge benefits him—
أَنَّthatالَّذِيthat whichهُوَisرِزْقِيmy sustenanceسَوْفَwillيَأْتِينِيcome to me
that what is my sustenance will surely come to me
أَسْعَىI striveلَهُfor itفَيُعَنِّينِيand seeking it wears me outتَطَلُّبُهُseeking it
I strive for it and seeking it wears me out
وَلَوْand ifقَعَدْتُI satأَتَانِيit would come to meلَاand it would notيُعَنِّينِيwear me out
and if I sat it would come to me without wearing me out
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
لَعَمْرُكَBy your lifeمَاnotكُلُّeveryالتَّبَطُّلِidlenessضَائِرٌis harmful
By your life, not every idleness is harmful
وَلَاnorكُلُّeveryشُغْلٍworkفِيهِin itلِلْمَرْءِfor a manمَنْفَعَهْis there a benefit
nor is there a benefit for a man in every work
إِذَاIfكَانَتِwereالْأَرْزَاقُsustenancesفِيinالْقُرْبِnearnessوَالنَّوَىand distance
If sustenances in nearness and distance
عَلَيْكَto youسَوَاءًalikeفَاغْتَنِمْthen seizeلَذَّةَthe pleasure ofالدَّعَهْease
are alike to you, then seize the pleasure of ease
وَإِنْAnd ifضِقْتَyou are straitenedفَاصْبِرْthen be patientيُفَرِّجِwill relieveاللَّهُGodمَاwhatتَرَىyou see
And if you are straitened, be patient; God will relieve what you see
أَلَاbeholdكُلُّeveryضِيقٍstraitnessفِيinعَوَاقِبِهِits aftermathسَعَهْis expanse
behold, every straitened condition has expanse in its aftermath
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
سَهِّلْMake easyعَلَيْكَupon yourselfفَإِنَّfor indeedالْأَمْرَthe matterمَقْدُورُis predestined
Make things easy upon yourself, for indeed the matter is predestined
وَكُلُّand everyمُسْتَأْنَفٍnew thingفِيinاللَّوْحِthe Tabletمَسْطُورُis written
and every new thing is written in the Tablet
يَأْتِيComesالْقَضَاءُthe decreeبِمَاwith whatفِيهِis in itلِمُدَّتِهِfor its appointed time
The decree comes with what is in it for its appointed time
وَكُلُّand everythingمَاthatلَمْwas notيَكُنْin itفِيهِthen it isفَمَحْظُورُforbidden
and whatever was not in it is forbidden
لَاDo notتَكْذِبَنَّlieوَخَيْرُand the best ofالْقَوْلِspeechأَصْدَقُهُis its truest
Do not lie, and the best of speech is its truest
إِنَّindeedالْحَرِيصَthe eager oneعَلَىforالدُّنْيَاthe worldلَمَغْرُورُis surely deluded
indeed the eager one for the world is surely deluded
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
لَاLet notيُتْعِبَنَّكَweary youشَيْءٌsomethingأَنْتَyouتَطْلُبُهُare seeking
Let not something you are seeking weary you
وَقَدْwhenتَقَدَّمَكَhas preceded youالْمَقْدُورُwhat is decreedوَالْقَلَمُand the Pen
when what is decreed and the Pen have already preceded you
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
لَاDo notتَعْتِبَنَّblameعَلَىthe servantsالْعِبَادِfor indeedفَإِنَّمَاcomes to you
Do not blame the people, for indeed
يَأْتِيكَyour sustenanceرِزْقُكَcomes to youحِينَwhenيُؤْذَنُit is permittedفِيهِconcerning it
your sustenance comes to you when permission is granted for it
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
هِيَThey areالْمَقَادِيرُthe decreesتَجْرِيrunningفِيinأَعِنَّتِهَاtheir reins
They are the decrees running in their reins
فَاصْبِرْso be patientفَلَيْسَfor there is notلَهَاfor itصَبْرٌpatienceعَلَىuponحَالِa state
so be patient, for they have no patience to remain upon one state
يَوْماًOne dayتُرِيشُit furnishesخَسِيسَthe baseالْقَوْمِof the peopleتَرْفَعُهُraising him
One day it furnishes the base of the people, raising him
دُونَbelowالسَّمَاءِthe skyوَيَوْماًand one dayتَخْفِضُit lowersالْعَالِيَاthe high one
below the sky, and another day it lowers the high one
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
اصْبِرْBe patientعَلَىwithزَمَنٍa timeجَمٍّof abundantتَلَوُّنُهُmutability
Be patient with a time whose mutability is abundant
فَلَيْسَfor there is notمِنْofشِدَّةٍhardshipإِلَّاexceptلَهَاfor itفَرَجُis relief
for there is no hardship except that there is relief for it
تَلْقَاهُYou meet itبِالْأَمْسِyesterdayفِيinعَمْيَاءَa blindمُظْلِمَةٍdarkness
You met it yesterday in a blind, dark state
وَيُصْبِحُand there dawnsالْيَوْمَtodayقَدْwhileلَاحَتْhave shone forthلَهُfor itالسُّرُجُthe lamps
and today dawns while its lamps have shone forth
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
أَلَاAhرُبَّmany aرَاجِيseeker ofحَاجَةٍa needلَاdoes notيَنَالُهَاattain it
Ah, many a seeker of a need does not attain it
وَآخَرَwhile anotherقَدْisتُقْضَىgrantedلَهُto himوَهُوَwhile he isآيِسُdespairing
while another is granted it while he is despairing
يَجُولُHe roamsلَهَاfor itهَذَاthis oneوَتُقْضَىand it is grantedلِغَيْرِهِto someone else
This one roams about for it, yet it is granted to someone else
فَتَأْتِيso comesالَّتِيthat whichتُقْضَىis grantedلَهُto himوَهُوَwhile he isجَالِسُsitting
so that which is granted to him comes to him while he is sitting
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
أَتَطْلُبُDo you seekرِزْقَthe sustenance ofاللَّهِGodمِنْfromعِنْدِnearغَيْرِهِsomeone other than Him
Do you seek the sustenance of God from near someone other than Him
وَتُصْبِحُand you becomeمِنْfromخَوْفِthe fear ofالْعَوَاقِبِconsequencesآمِناًsecure
while feeling secure from the fear of consequences?
وَتَرْضَىAnd you are contentبِصَرَّافٍwith a money-changerوَإِنْeven ifكَانَhe isمُشْرِكاًan idolater
And you are content with a money-changer even if he is an idolater
ضَمِيناًas a guarantorوَلَاand you are notتَرْضَىcontentبِرَبِّكَwith your Lordضَامِناًas a guarantor
as a guarantor, yet you are not content with your Lord as a guarantor
كَأَنَّكَIt is as ifلَمْyou did notتَقْنَعْbe contentبِمَاwith whatفِيis inكِتَابِهِHis Book
It is as if you were not content with what is in His Book
فَأَصْبَحْتَso you becameمَدْخُولَflawed inالْيَقِينِcertaintyمُبَايِناًand estranged
so you became flawed in certainty and estranged
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
إِنِّيIndeed Iلَأُكْرِمُhonorنَفْسِيmy soulأَنْfromأُدَنِّسَهَاdefiling it
Indeed I honor my soul from defiling it
بِشَيْنِwith the blemish ofعِرْضِيmy honorوَبَذْلِand the lowering ofالْوَجْهِfaceلِلَّناسِto people
with the blemish of my honor and lowering my face to people
وَاللَّهُAnd Godضَامِنُis the guarantor ofرِزْقِيmy sustenanceمَاas long asحَيِيتُI liveوَمَاand there is not
And God is the guarantor of my sustenance as long as I live, and there is not
فِيinضِمْنِthe guarantee ofذِيthe Possessor ofالْعَرْشِthe Throneمِنْanyشَكٍّdoubtوَلَاnorبَاسِharm
in what is guaranteed by the Possessor of the Throne any doubt or harm
إِنِّيIndeed IرَأَيْتُsawسُؤَالَaskingاللَّهِGodمَكْرُمَةًas an honor
Indeed I saw asking God as an honor
وَفِيand inسُؤَالِaskingسِوَاهُother than Himأَعْظَمُis the greatestالْيَاسِdespair
and in asking anyone other than Him is the greatest despair
قِيلَIt was said:وَوُجِدَand it was foundفِيinبَعْضِsomeخَزَائِنِtreasuries ofمُلُوكِthe kings ofالْعَجَمِthe Persians
It was said: And it was found in some treasuries of the kings of the Persians
لَوْحٌa tabletمِنْofحِجَارَةٍstoneفِيهِin whichمَكْتُوبٌwas written:
a tablet of stone in which was written:
كُنْBeلِمَاtoward whatلَاyou do notتَرْجُوhope forأَرْجَىmore hopefulمِنْكَthanلِمَاwhatتَرْجُوyou hope for
Be more hopeful for what you do not hope for than for what you hope for
فَإِنَّfor indeedمُوسَىMosesعَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُbe peace
for indeed Moses, upon him be peace
خَرَجَwent outيَقْتَبِسُseeking to acquireنَاراًa fireفَنُودِيَand he was calledبِالنُّبُوَّةِwith prophethood
went out seeking to acquire a fire and was called with prophethood.
وَأَنْشَدَAnd he recited:
And he recited:
وَلَمَّاAnd whenأَنْthatعَيِيتُI was weariedبِمَاby whatأُلَاقِيI encounter
And when I was wearied by what I encounter
وَأَعْيَتْنِيand wearied meالْمَسَائِلُthe issuesوَالْقُرُوضُand the debts
and issues and debts wearied me
ذَكَرْتُI rememberedاللَّهَGodلَاnotأَرْجُوhoping inسِوَاهُanyone other than Him
I remembered God, not hoping in anyone other than Him
وَرَبُّand the Lord ofالْعَرْشِthe Throneذُوis possessor ofفَرَجٍreliefعَرِيضِvast
and the Lord of the Throne is possessor of vast relief
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
يَاOصَاحِبَcompanion ofالْغَمِّsorrowإِنَّindeedالْغَمَّsorrowمُنْقَطِعٌis ceasing
O companion of sorrow, indeed sorrow is ceasing
أَبْشِرْrejoiceبِخَيْرٍwith goodكَأَنْas ifقَدْalreadyفَرَّجَhas relievedاللَّهُGod
rejoice in good, as if God has already brought relief
الْيَأْسُDespairيَقْطَعُcuts offأَحْيَاناًsometimesبِصَاحِبِهِits companion
Despair sometimes cuts off its companion
لَاdo notتَيْأَسَنَّdespairفَإِنَّfor indeedالصَّانِعَthe Creatorاللَّهُis God
do not despair, for indeed the Creator is God