Poetic Wisdom of Imam al-Shafi’i
- We criticize our time, yet the fault lies within us.
And there is no flaw in our time except us.
We blame this era for no wrongdoing,
If time could speak, it would chastise us.
Wolves do not devour the flesh of their own kind,
Yet we consume each other openly.
- If a person does not care for you except out of obligation,
Then let them be, and do not lament excessively.
In people, there are substitutes, and in letting go, there is peace,
And the heart can endure love, even when it is neglected.
Not everyone you love holds your heart dearly,
And not everyone you befriend will remain loyal.
If the sweetness of affection is not innate,
Then there is no value in love that is forced.
Nor is there value in a friend who betrays his buddy,
Then turns to you with indifference after affection has waned.
He denies a life that once flourished,
And reveals a secret that was previously concealed.
Peace be upon the world if it holds not,
A genuine friend who promises loyalty and fairness.
- There is no comfort for a wise and cultured person,
In staying put; so leave your homeland and seek other lands.
Travel, and you will find compensation for those you part from,
And establish, for the pleasure of life is in the effort.
I have seen stagnant water ruin itself;
If it flows, it becomes pleasant, if it does not, it remains bitter.
Without separation, the lion would not hunt,
And the arrow would not hit if it did not part from the bow.
If the sun were to forever remain in one sky,
People would grow weary of it, both the foreigner and the Arab.
Gold is like dirt, lying in familiar places,
And a tree in its soil is merely firewood.
If this one departs, it becomes rare and coveted,
But if that one leaves, it is as valuable as gold itself.
Poetic Wisdom of Ali ibn Abi Talib
- Preserve your soul and uplift it to that which adorns it,
So you may live in peace, and the praise of you is beautiful.
Do not show others anything but your best self,
If adversity comes, or a friend turns against you.
And if today’s provision is scant, remain patient until tomorrow,
Perhaps the challenges of time will pass you by.
The rich in spirit remains grand even with little wealth,
While the wealthy in gold remains lowly and unworthy.
There is no good in the friendship of a fickle person,
For when the winds shift, he too will change direction.
He is generous when you do not need his wealth,
But in times of need, he becomes miserly.
How many friends appear when counted,
Yet they are few in times of crisis.
- Do not oppress if you are in a position to do so,
For oppression’s outcome leads only to regret.
Your eye may sleep, while the oppressed remains aware,
Calling upon you, and the eye of God is never closed.
Poetic Wisdom of Abu Tammam
- Relocate your heart wherever you will in love,
For love is only truly for the first beloved.
How many homes on earth a young man knows,
And his longing always returns to the first one.
- If you emulate those with lowly character,
You are as those you imitate.
The honorable avoids shame,
And loyalty protects him from treachery.
No difficulty arises that will not also lead to ease,
For I have witnessed this in a world that has taught me through experience.
Should the head of a household turn away,
They will find estrangement from others.
A person lives as long as they maintain their dignity,
And the wood stays strong as long as the bark remains intact.
By God, there is no good in life,
Nor in the world if modesty departs.
If you do not fear the consequences of nights,
And if you are not ashamed, then do as you please.
Shameful behavior from noble people is upheld,
And among them, you will always find disdain.
Poetic Wisdom of Al-Mutanabbi
- Of enmity, there is that which benefits you,
And of friendship, there is that which harms and hurts.
Worries consume the stout, leading to thinness,
And gray hair discovers the innocence of youth while aging.
The wise suffers in pleasures through his intellect,
While the ignorant enjoys a carefree existence in pain.
People have cast aside their morals, so a libertine,
Forgets what has been given to him, while the noble feels regret.
Do not be deceived by the tears of an enemy,
And spare your youth from a merciful enemy.
High honor cannot escape harm,
Until blood is spilled upon its edges.
- Do not meet your world without indifference,
As long as your spirit is alongside your body.
What gives lasting joy is transient,
And no sorrow can bring back what has passed.
Not everything a person wishes for can be attained,
As winds blow contrary to what ships yearn for.
- People have shared this era before us,
And the burdens they faced are what now challenge us.
They departed with a sigh, all of them, from it—
Yet some may find joy in it at times.