The Azd: A Sword Against All Enemies
The Azd are a sword against all their foes.
They preceded Ahmad, to whom the Arabs submitted.
A people who, when surprised, are resilient, and even if defeated,
they do not falter nor know what retreat is.
A nation whose attire in every battle
is thin white and durable fabrics like armor.
Their helmets shine bright above them, while their hearts burn with valor.
Their fingers dance with the fluidity of the sword and lance.
Which day among them lacks
deeds that evoke awe beyond measure?
The Azd are among the most honored who walk on earth,
and they are held in high regard when mounted.
O assembly of the Azd, you are a proud tribe
who do not weaken when hardship arises.
Your loyalty is unwavering, and keeping promises is your virtue,
and your truth has never mingled with falsehood in times of old.
When angered, all creatures fear your might,
and sometimes, anger from you may pass lightly.
O assembly of the Azd, I am among you,
pleased, for you are the leaders of the matter, not the followers.
The Azd will never despair of mercy and redemption,
and God will protect them wherever they go.
You are well, just as you were in your prime,
and the thorn cannot grow from the vine of grapes.
And if the Azd are challenged or surpass others,
or boast and rise above, or confront and prevail,
or multiply and endure, or are overwhelmed and yet resist,
They have a divine protection that purifies them.
For their purity is not tainted by amusement or folly.
From their excellent morals, their gatherings are pleasant,
with neither ignorance nor discord found among them.
They are like the rain that rewards no less than they are due,
and even the lion fears them when it is enraged.
They are the most liberal givers when requested,
and the most steadfast among men when they are summoned.
May God reward them for what they have given and offered
to the Messenger and all the righteous they have secured.
The Shift in Affection and Brotherhood
Ali, may God be pleased with him, speaks of betrayal among friends:
Friendship and brotherhood have faded,
and sincerity has dwindled, and hope has been severed.
Time has delivered me to a friend,
marked by treachery, having no shame at all.
How many brothers I have been faithful to,
but their loyalty does not endure.
So-called friends may remain loyal as long as I am in need,
and become foes in times of misfortune.
They continue affection while they see me,
and their fondness persists until we meet again.
But when I become self-sufficient, they abandon me
and retaliate with what I could do without.
What would enrich me is that which enriches me no longer,
for neither poverty nor wealth endures.
And all friendships established for God’s sake are pure,
and true friendship cannot coincide with wickedness.
Every wound has its remedy,
yet bad character has no cure.
Neither pleasure nor pain is everlasting,
just as misery cannot last indefinitely.
If I deny a commitment with a dear one,
in myself, I find generosity and modesty.
When the chief of the household departs,
they become distant from the rest of mankind.
O Hussein, I am Counsellor and Teacher
And he says, encouraging his son Al-Hassan:
O Hussein, I am a counselor and a guide,
so understand, for you are the wise, the educated.
Keep your father’s advice close to your heart,
nurtured in manners to avoid falling into ruin.
My children, sustenance is guaranteed,
so strive with moderation in what you seek.
Do not prioritize wealth above all else,
and fear your God; make what you earn legitimate.
God has ensured the sustenance of every creation,
and wealth is but a temporary loan that comes and goes.
Provision is swifter than the glance of an observer,
being part of human endeavors when one strives.
From the rivers to their places of rest,
and the birds, to their nests, when they settle.
O children, in remembrance there are lessons,
who among us learns from admonishments?
Read the Book of God with earnestness and recite it,
with contemplation, humility, and closeness to Him.
Indeed, the intimate is with the one who is sincere,
and worship your God in devotion.
Listen to the parables that are recited,
and when you come across a verse of admonition,
that describes torment, stop and let your tears flow.
O He who punishes whom He wishes with justice,
do not place me among those who are punished.
Indeed, I confess my lapses and sins to You,
I turn to You, for there is no refuge from You.
When you encounter a verse praising His grace,
a description of His bountiful rewards,
ask your God sincerely with repentance,
for the abode of eternity is a question of those who draw near.
Strive, so you may enter His land,
and attain the spirit of everlasting homes.
And obtain a life with no interruption to its duration,
and a kingdom of honor that can never be taken away.
Rush towards goodness if you aspire to righteousness,
for fear of calamities that may come unexpectedly.
And when you intend to do wrong, close your eyes to it,
and avoid actions that are harmful.
Bow your head to friends, and treat them with care,
like a father would to his children with kindness.
And honor your guests as best as you can,
until they consider you as their rightful heir.
Choose your friend as one who, if you forge a bond,
will uphold brotherhood and never betray you.
Seek them earnestly, like a sick person seeking healing,
and avoid the deceitful, for they are not trustworthy.
Preserve your friend in all situations,
and be wary of the man who is known for lying.
Reduce proximity to deceitful individuals;
for a liar is appalling to associate with.
Stay away from the envious, even if they seem sincere once,
remove them from your view, for they are detrimental.
Weigh your words when you speak, and do not be,
a chatterbox in every gathering.
Protect your tongue, and be cautious with your speech,
for one’s words can either save or harm them.
Keep your secrets to yourself; do not disclose them,
for they become captive as long as they are silent.
Be diligent in preserving hearts from harm,
for too hard to mend once they become distant.
Indeed, when hearts turn away from one another,
their fragmentation resembles that of shattered glass.
And likewise, for a man, if he is not discreet,
his secrets, once exposed, multiply and deceive.
Do not become overly attached; excess leads to distress,
as well as suffering exhaustion from anxiety.
And worry not, for the sustenance is not drawn by plotting,
as many, although incapacitated, gather riches.
Deliver your trustworthiness, and abstain from treachery;
be just, or prosperity will bless you.
And when you face a calamity, be patient,
for who have you seen that is exempt from calamities?
And if you find trouble amid your time,
and face distress, the most challenging kind,
call upon your God, for He is nearest to those
who invoke Him, more immediate than their own jugular vein.
Keep yourself apart from the crowd as much as possible,
for too many in the world become burdensome.
Choose a companion who will elevate you,
a witty, wise, and well-mannered guide.
Be cautious of the oppressed, for their prayers are answering,
and know that their supplication is never obstructed.
And if you find sustenance scarce in your town,
make your escape, for the land of God is vast.
East and west, it stretches long and wide.
Indeed, I have advised you if you have heeded my counsel,
for counsel is the most precious gift to offer.
Take this poem as a gift from me,
woven like strands of pearls, it is truly remarkable.
With wisdom, etiquette, and many teachings,
its lessons are written for those with insight.
Pay heed to this verse of guidance I have provided,
one majestic in the realm of knowledge and virtue.
My sincere respect goes to Ali and the cousin of Muhammad,
who brought honor to the esteemed lineage.
O Lord, send Your blessings upon the Prophet and his family,
counting the creations of His finest creation.
Seeking a Livelihood Does Not Come from Wishful Thinking
Indeed, seeking a livelihood does not arise from desire,
but rather, cast your bucket into the fountain.
It will bring you abundance day by day,
it may return with mud and a little water.
Do not idle, relying solely on your wishes,
as fate and destiny cannot be outmaneuvered.
For indeed, the decrees of the Merciful flow,
distributing sustenance from the heavens to the men.
Measured by grasping or by expansion,
the helpless man’s woes become evident.
Praise the day, for indeed, Saturday is indeed auspicious,
for hunting should you wish it, without reservation.
And Sunday brings construction, for it is in it
that God manifests in the creations of the sky.
And if you travel on Monday,
you will achieve success and wealth.
For those who seek healing, let it be on Tuesday,
for then the blood will flow.
And if a man drinks a potion for his ailment,
praise the day: Wednesday is indeed blessed.
And on Thursday, the conclusion of desires,
for therein God permits supplications to rise.
While Fridays are for marriages and festivities,
the joys of men abound with women.
This knowledge is known only to
a Prophet or the appointed successor of Prophets.
Yet how can I treat his wounds,
if indeed the remedy itself grows weak?
God: Eternal, Capable, and Absolute
God, ever-living, eternal, capable, absolute,
none shares in His kingdom, not a soul.
It is He who has revealed to the infidels their end,
and the believers will receive their promised reward.
If a state has come before us as a lesson,
can one expect to find anything but foolishness within?
God aids those who stand with Him, verily,
bestowing upon them victory against transgressors.
Thus, if you speak with pride, we pay you no heed,
for it includes those amongst our brethren who have fallen.
If Talhah has betrayed us while in slumber,
there erupt flames between us that fiercely ignite.
The man, Uthman, brought down by our arrows,
has his wife mourning his demise once warned.
Among nine men and a banner held high,
they did not flinch at the gates of death when they arrived.
These men emerged with lions of Quraysh displaying honor,
wherever nostrils were raised up, and among that abundance.
And Ahmad’s goodness prevailed this time,
he, beneath the dust, remains industrious.
Thus the birds and jackals will swiftly descend upon him,
and those carrying his remains shall soon recline.
Anyone you kill for what is remarkable,
will have the assurance of bliss to come.
For them are gardens of delight in paradise,
where neither heat nor cold will touch them.
May God continually bless them every time they are mentioned,
for how many scenes of truth they witnessed.
A people who were true to the Messenger’s covenant,
who kept faith and honored the oath they pledged.
They stood firm, warning Hamzah the lion,
and Mus’ab, who was similarly glorious in fortitude,
even when faced with death, fearlessly endured.
They are not like those slain among the infidels doomed
to the fiery pit eternally waiting on its threshold.