The Soul Weeps for Life and Its Knowledge
- Excerpt from the poem “The Soul Weeps for Life” by Ali ibn Abi Talib:
The soul mourns for the world, knowing well
That true safety lies in abandoning its confines.
For there is no dwelling for man, once dead,
Except for the one he built in life before his demise.
If he constructed it with goodness, its abode will be delightful,
But if built with wickedness, the builder’s failure will be apparent.
Where are the kings who once held dominion?
Even they were made to drink from the cup of death.
We collect our wealth for those who inherit,
While we construct homes destined for decay.
How many cities were erected in distant lands,
Now reduced to ruins, with death decreeing their fate?
For every soul, though anxious about the inevitable,
Clings to hopes that sustain and empower.
Yet, man expands those hopes, while time constricts them,
The soul spreads them wide, but death folds them up.
If You Dare to Pursue High Honor
- Lines from the poem “If You Dare to Pursue High Honor” by Al-Mutanabbi:
If you venture after an esteemed honor,
Do not settle for anything less than the stars.
The taste of death in trivial matters,
Is no different from the taste of death in great matters.
From the Makings of the Past
- Lines from the poem “From the Makings of the Past” by Zuhair ibn Abi Sulma:
I have grown weary of life’s burdens; anyone who lives
For eighty years—oh, the fatigue they must face!
I have seen death strike blind, viciously,
It takes some, while others linger on, growing old.
I understand the knowledge of today and yesterday,
Yet I remain ignorant of what tomorrow holds.
Those who do not bow to many affairs,
Will be crushed by fangs and trampled by the feet of rulers.
Whoever has virtue yet hoards it,
Will be deemed unworthy and will lose their worth.
And whosoever places kindness above their dignity,
Shall lose it, and those who do not guard against insults, will be insulted.
He who fails to defend his own rights,
Will falter, while he who mistreats others learns bitterly.
Fear the means to death, and you will encounter them,
Even if you ascend to the skies on a ladder.
He who breaks the edges of glass will suffer for it,
Obeying those atop who have risen to such heights.
He who fulfills his promises will not be blamed,
And he whose heart is inclined to righteousness will find peace.
And he who travels afar may mistake a foe for a friend,
While he who does not honor himself will not be honored.
Regardless of how one behaves,
Even if they believe it hidden from the eyes of others, it becomes known.
And whoever carries the weight of others,
Will find that fortune runs out as it tires.
Time is Twofold
- Lines from the poem “Time is Twofold” by Al-Shafi’i:
Time is twofold: one of safety, one of danger,
And life is of two types: one of ease, one of trouble.
Do you not see the sea strewn with corpses,
While treasures rest at the farthest depths?
In the sky, stars beyond reckoning shine,
Yet only the sun and moon are eclipsed.
Why Do You Taint Your Faith?
- Lines from the poem “Why Do You Taint Your Faith?” by Al-Shafi’i:
Why do you allow your faith to be tarnished,
When your life is washed clean from impurity?
You seek salvation, yet have not tread its path,
For the ship cannot sail upon dry land.
Every Completion is Followed by Diminution
- Lines from the poem “Every Completion is Followed by Diminution” by Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi:
For every completion, there comes a reduction,
So do not be deceived by the joy of life.
Such are the affairs, as you observe them—nations rise and fall,
Whose happiness in an era turns to sorrow in another.
This world leaves no one intact,
And no condition remains constant.
Indeed, calamities of time manifest in varied forms,
And for every time, there are joys and sorrows.
O heedless one, let this serve as your lesson,
If you lull in complacency, know that time is vigilant.
I Taught Him Archery Daily
Oh, how surprising it is, for the child I raised,
To whom I offered the ends of my fingers;
I taught him archery daily,
Yet when his strength grew, he shot me.
How often I instructed him in the art of poetry,
Yet when he spoke a verse, he reviled me.
I instilled in him nobility at every moment,
But as soon as he grew his mustache, he ceased to care.
According to the Measure of the Noble
- Lines from the poem “According to the Measure of the Noble” by Al-Mutanabbi:
According to the measure of the noble come endeavors,
And rewards reflect the honor of the generous.
Greatness appears small to those of little worth,
And diminishes in the eyes of the great.