Indeed, the Virtues of Men Persist
Mohamed Sami Al-Baroudi remarked:
Indeed, the virtues of men truly endure,
And among them, four surpass all others:
Composure without arrogance, and forgiveness devoid of harm,
Generosity without expectation, and patience without disgrace.
Do Not Speak of Virtues After Your Departure
Hafez Ibrahim stated:
Do not speak of virtues after your departure,
For your misfortune is akin to ours.
You battled against your own virtues to contest
Ours, causing pain to both peoples.
You Built Your Reign Upon Virtue
Hafez Ibrahim recounted:
You constructed your reign upon the foundation of virtues,
Thus earning respect among nations.
Yet, why do I observe that virtue is now tarnished,
And weakness has taken hold?
I fear for you, a stumble after a rise,
For the rule of tyrants does not last.
You have forsaken bonds that, if honored,
Would not have led to conflict between nations.
After a departure devoid of honoring commitments,
And after painful wounds, reconciliation emerges.
If in the beauty of understanding lies our demise,
Then there is no blame on those who seek life.
If Morality Distinguishes Humanity, Embrace It
Abu Al-Alaa Al-Maari expressed:
If it is through morality that people are distinguished,
Then in the face of a bad character, they are worse.
Even if all of Eve’s descendants resembled me,
What a tragic offspring Eve hath produced.
My distance from others is a cure for their ailments,
For their presence brings sickness to wisdom and faith.
Like a house, I stand alone, without aid,
With no support, and no elegance in my speech.
You were called upon; you hesitated yet did not come,
Not to the desert’s silence, but toward the growth of springs.
For the darkness of ignorance alters you,
In the stark contrast of the lights of grey hair.
When stars rise amidst the night,
The eyes, full of compassion, remain troubled.
Patience is a Mark of Noble Character
A poet once said:
Patience is indeed a quality of noble character, so endure,
Even if the taste of patience resembles suffering.
Those who refuse to accept fate are forced,
To bear hardships against their will, as destiny decrees.
Whoever fails to admonish themselves,
Ends up like a vessel devoid of purpose.
Those who lack fruitful thought and guidance,
Will remain without fruit or foliage.
He who does not measure the difficulties ahead,
Will encounter trials blind to foresight.
He whose guide is not sound reasoning will find it difficult,
To traverse the path to salvation and will be in confusion.
And whoever does not see the hidden truths,
Will be overwhelmed by degradation and humiliation.
He who possesses greed, regardless of how long he lives,
Will be led to the most perilous waters.
Whoever fails to nourish himself with goodness,
Will find himself facing disgrace upon disgrace.
He who is unacquainted with death is oblivious,
To the paths leading to salvation; sight is not like news.
O, thou ignorant one, whose illusions deceive thee!
Thy longings are met with sorrow in old age.
Thou art heedless and careless, hoping for what thou desirest,
Alas! The observer sees through the blind.
Gathering wealth with tight-fistedness,
Likewise, your spouse’s disdain shall be your burden.
Your offspring’s spouse or your daughter’s husband?
Be aware of deception, akin to vipers at the door.
Had you possessed true insight, or been wise enough,
You would not have accepted such disgraceful fate.
If you had reflected upon past generations,
You would not have given in, but you lack contemplation.
I see your faith is aligned with that,
Which is inconsistent and stained with filth.
You seek salvation yet wander not its path,
For no sun can set upon a mound of clay.
You plead with God for mercy,
While your deeds draw you closer to the fire of Hell.
You claim to love the Creator, yet you oppose Him,
Being the fiercest adversary of His commands.
If your words were indeed sincere, you would not follow
Desires and temptations of Satan and the worldly.
You have entrusted your faith to a deceiver,
Hoping for promises grounded in falsehood.
Like one who wishes to grab high-flying stars,
His hand reaches out for emptiness.
Woe to those whose virtues thrive,
Yet they live without remorse or accountability.
True blindness lies not just in the eyes,
But in the hearts that cannot perceive the truth.
The intellect shines like light; if cloaked
In darkness, the truth cannot illuminate.
Here we are in this world, navigating,
Carrying our vision beyond what is apparent.
This world is merely a garden we cultivate,
And we like shepherds tending to blooming flowers.
Death lurks like a hunter, awaiting us,
In pitfalls, we have yet to comprehend.
Death of the deer or lions in their moments,
Seems paltry compared to the fading of fragile gazelles.
How long shall we prolong our stay in this abode of whims,
Turning away from repentance as we pursue pleasure?
Love leads us forth, while death drives us onward,
Shaping our ties through friendships and moments shared.
Yet, we must leave behind treasures gathered,
Not even a shard of our nails will remain.
What we amassed in this world shall part ways,
And our time here is nothing but transient.
A person, as he lives, shields himself
And in the end, becomes fodder for earth and stone.
Every outcome speaks of either torment,
Or eternal bliss with a sovereign of might.
O listener to the supplications of the penitent,
Grant me release from my burdens,
Perhaps Your gaze of mercy will bless me,
So that in tomorrow’s light, my vision may brighten.
And perhaps grace on resurrection will renew me,
As I shed the burdens heavy on my back.
Indeed, the Morality of Youth Reflects Their Era
Abu Al-Alaa Al-Maari asserted:
Indeed, the youth’s character mirrors their times,
In their eyes, both bright and dark shall thrive.
Our days consume us; each hour feels like a beast,
Trespassing through our moments as fearless as lions.
A person may fade in vigor,
And awaken later to dominance once more.
Do not covet another’s grace,
For it is disgraceful to be labeled envious.
In Search of Noble Morality
Mustafa Wahbi Al-Tal expressed:
I found no true moral excellence
In this world filled with empty words.
I concluded that cunning and deceit
Fail to meet the demands of integrity.
I liberated myself from the shackles of
Virtue that the honorable recognize.
And I plunged myself into the company of rogues,
Yet among the impoverished.
I called upon the cupbearer to hasten,
With the wine, oh lad!
Pour for the drinkers until
They become intoxicated with the cup of joy.
For among these men, vice
Is esteemed as virtue, and such is the norm.
Had reverence been your shield,
O’ elder, against those who shoot arrows of slander,
Those who desecrate the sacred house
Would not have stood unchanged.
And had the stories of events en route to Mina,
In the valleys, not burned into your mind,
Then refrain from elongating the narrative,
O Aboud; do not lend more blame.