When a Person Only Cares Out of Pretense
If a person only cares for you out of pretense,
Then let them be, and do not dwell on this with regret.
For in people, there are replacements, and in letting go, there is comfort.
And in the heart, there is patience for a beloved, even if they turn away.
Not everyone you admire loves you back with all their heart,
And not everyone you befriend will remain sincere.
If the essence of affection is not genuine,
Then there is no benefit in a bond formed out of obligation.
There is no value in a friend who betrays their companion,
And later meets them with disregard after having once loved.
They deny a life that once flourished,
And reveal a secret that had been concealed.
Greeting upon a world that holds no place for
A loyal friend, true to their promise and just.
I Complained to Wakee’ About My Poor Memory
I complained to Wakee’ about my poor memory,
He advised me to abandon sin.
He informed me that knowledge is a light,
And divine light is not bestowed upon a sinner.
Seize Opportunities When They Arise
When your winds blow favorably, seize them,
For each storm will eventually settle.
Do not neglect to act kindly during these moments,
For you never know when the calm will come.
Let Days Do as They Wish
Let the days do as they please,
And maintain your peace when fate decrees.
Do not despair over the trials of time,
For worldly events do not endure.
Be a man, steadfast in the face of adversity,
With generosity and loyalty as your traits.
Even if you have many flaws among people,
And you wish your faults to be concealed.
Cover yourself with generosity, for every defect
Can be hidden, as they say, by generosity.
Never show weakness to your adversaries,
For their gloating is a burden.
Do not expect kindness from a miser,
For there is no water for the thirsty in hell.
Your sustenance is not diminished by patience,
And hardship does not increase your fortune.
Neither sadness endures, nor joy,
Nor misery for you, nor ease.
And whoever is graced by death’s approach,
No land can shield them, nor sky.
Though the earth of God is vast,
When fate descends, space seems confined.
Let the days betray you time and again,
For no remedy can withstand death.
There Is No Peace for the Intelligent and Cultured
There is no peace for one endowed with intelligence and culture,
In the homeland, so venture out and explore.
Travel, and you will find a substitute for those you leave behind,
For the sweetest experiences are found in labor.
I have observed that stagnant water spoils,
If it flows, it is pure; if not, it spoils.
The lion would not have hunted without leaving its land,
And the arrow would not hit unless it strayed from the bow.
The sun, if it remained fixed in the sky,
Would bore people, both Arab and non-Arab.
Gold is worthless if it’s found in familiar places,
And wood grown in its land is just firewood.
If this one seeks change, its value sets high,
But if that one becomes distant, its worth is like precious gold.
Be Patient with the Teacher’s Harshness
Be patient with the bitterness of a teacher’s harshness,
For failure in learning is part of the journey.
Whoever has not tasted the bitterness of learning for a moment,
Will suffer in ignorance for the rest of their life.
And whoever misses learning during their youth,
Let them mourn four times for their demise.
And a youth’s worth is judged by their knowledge and piety;
If they lack these, their essence holds no value.
Acquire Knowledge, For No One is Born a Scholar
Acquire knowledge, for no one is born a scholar,
And he who is knowledgeable is not like the ignorant.
Even the elder of a tribe has no knowledge,
And is as small as a child when surrounded by the crowds.
But a young one, if knowledgeable,
Holds great stature when brought to the gatherings.
Sometimes Confrontations Prove Challenging
Indeed, there are confrontations that besiege a young man,
With no escape except through God.
When challenges tighten their grip,
They loosen, though I thought they would not.
The Fool Addresses Me with Rudeness
The fool addresses me with every form of rudeness,
And I resent being their respondent.
Their insolence only escalates, while my patience grows,
Like the wood that, when burned, becomes fragrant.
With Each Lesson Life Teaches Me
With each lesson, life reveals to me,
My mind’s deficits.
And as I gain more knowledge,
It only deepens my awareness of my ignorance.
Coins Speak After Silence
Coins speak after a period of silence,
Encouraging those who were once mute.
For they show no gratitude to anyone,
Nor recognize the worth of a generous deed.