Poem: My Brother, You Shall Not Attain Knowledge Except Through Six
The poet Imam Al-Shafi’i expresses in his poem titled “My Brother, You Shall Not Attain Knowledge Except Through Six”:
My brother, you will not attain knowledge except through six
I will inform you of the details through explanation
Intelligence, diligence, perseverance, and language
Along with the companionship of a teacher and the passage of time.
Poem: Through Knowledge, Nations Reach the Pinnacles of Glory
The poet Khalil Mataran says in his poem “Through Knowledge, Nations Reach the Pinnacles of Glory”:
Through knowledge, nations reach the pinnacles of glory
And no civilization can rise without knowledge.
O those who have answered the call, your nobility is acknowledged
By the bounty of knowledge, gratitude is akin to that of a blooming garden
Those who give freely shall reap the lasting rewards
If you find generosity devoid of praise
It may prove to be a tool of demise.
Institutions of knowledge thrive on generous hearts
Building pathways for the future’s ascent.
And laying foundations in every school
Preserving a legacy for their people.
There lies a stark contrast between a house that nurtures
Empowered spirits and a house that safeguards ruins.
The East has endured only hardship
With ignorance as its shepherd, akin to lost cattle.
It is sufficient for them to dwell in past oblivion
For ages, and now it is high time for revival.
Today, the thirsty are deterred from knowledge
If one lacks awareness and insightful understanding.
Today, even the most basic sustenance is denied to seekers
So ponder wisely to avoid deprivation and seize opportunity.
And just as the group benefits from knowledge, so does the individual
Yearning for enlightenment in the face of darkness and oppression.
Poem: Knowledge is Like a Lock, If It Is Difficult to Open
The poet Abu Al-Ala Al-Ma’arri states in his poem “Knowledge is Like a Lock, If It Is Difficult to Open”:
Knowledge is like a lock, if you find it hard to open
Leave it, then return to it, and it will be unlocked.
Hope may betray you after its service
Like the West, which faded away after it had opened up.
Poem: With the Strength of Knowledge, Nations Fortify Their Might
The poet Mahmoud Sami Al-Baroudi articulates in his poem “With the Strength of Knowledge, Nations Fortify Their Might”:
By the strength of knowledge, the might of nations increases
For rule throughout history is attributed to the pen.
How much wisdom is expelled by swords
As opposed to what pens produce in wisdom.
If mankind were just, virtue would be measured
In a drop of ink, not in the shedding of blood.
Therefore, focus on knowledge to reach prestigious heights
In virtue, surrounded by honor and nobility.
For none reap the fruits of victory
From the garden of knowledge except those with earnest aspirations.
If there weren’t efforts to enlighten
Men would all stand equal in values.
And for a youth, time is an opportunity
If squandered will only lead to regret.
If the exchange of ideas hadn’t occurred, what treasures
Would remain unutilized between the plain and the learned?
How many nations studied their reflection
In the realm of words, and now their spirits linger with us.
Look at the two glorious pyramids, and you will find
Marvels unseen by the soul even in dreams.
Two monuments that have stood since time began
As parallels in shape and grandeur.
They encompass wisdom that has faded with time
Yet remains engraved on the pages of history.
A nation whose memory has been eclipsed by time and yet
Its recollection remains alive, celebrated across generations.
How many forms are nearly calling out to us
Silently, without any spoken tongue yet clear.
Reciting verses that allude
To profound virtue and splendid glory.
These verses of pride radiate light, becoming
Notable in both the language of the Arabs and the non-Arabs.
Between them, a flame signs the direction
To the East, observing the Nile from afar.
As if it were lying in wait for the leap of its prey,
It watches over it without ever sleeping.
This is a sign that when knowledge prevails
In Egypt, it rises from the depths of obscurity.
So awaken, O offspring of the homeland, and stand tall
For knowledge is the hub of justice among nations.
And do not assume that wealth will flourish while you stay detached
For knowledge is the greatest possession one could claim.
Thus, many with wealth are minimized through ignorance
And many of modest means are respected through knowledge.
Build schools, for they are the seedlings that, if watered,
Will bear fruits far superior to earthly delights.
Magnificent sciences await, wherein children immerse themselves
In lessons akin to birds in a sacred sanctuary.
From each wise elder, in the tender age of ten
His articulation is likely imbued with wisdom.
Poem: Knowledge Adorns Fine Attire
- The poet Abu Hafs Bin Umar expresses in his poem “Knowledge Adorns Fine Attire”:
Knowledge adorns fine attire
And knowledge revives the greatest potential.
How many sins turn into something great?
While others are lost in the depths of obscurity.
Prestige is derived solely from piety
Where do splendid souls wander?
Whoever seeks honor without piety
Will find their soul retreating in shame.
Turn away from this world, and you shall be a guide
Indeed, a king in this life and the hereafter.
Poem: When the Wind Blows from the Meadows of Knowledge
The poet Antarah Bin Shaddad writes in his poem “When the Wind Blows from the Meadows of Knowledge”:
When the wind blows from the meadows of knowledge
Its coolness alleviates the fever of longing and desire.
And it reminds me of people whose oaths I cherished
Yet they failed to recognize my worth or uphold my vows.
Had it not been for a maiden residing in tents
I would have preferred closeness to distance.
She, elegant and enchanting in her glances
Revives the dead from their graves when she speaks.
The sun beckoned her to emerge at dusk
She said, “When darkness settles, rise after me!”
And the illuminated moon replied, “Do unveil yourself,”
For you complement me in perfection and joy.
Timid, she turned away and let down her veil
As petals from her cheek rained down like flowers.
And she unsheathed a blade from between her lashes
Like the sharp sword of her father, keen and refined.
Her gaze combats with it while it remains sheathed
Astoundingly, how can a sword cut while confined?
Her body gently sways, a picture of strength
And her limbs adorned, a picture of grace.
While remnants of musk linger beneath her garments
Her breath emanates with the fragrance of paradise.
At dawn, light spills from beneath her brows
Shrouded by the night of her curling locks.
And between her lips, as she smiles
She pours fine wine mixed with sweetness.
Her tender neck is laden with silk ropes, lingering forlornly
What sorrow that neck possesses from its adornment.
Will the days grant permission, O daughter of Malik
For a bond that heals the heart from the pang of separation?
I will dream of my people, even if they shed my blood
And I will endure my sorrows in solitude.
By your right, my heart aches over your distance
So how can it harm you that I pine for you away?
I feared separation, which could tear us apart
And I had believed that I would never part from you.
If only I could see the saddles and their riders
I would pave their path with the touch of my cheek.