Poem: Let the Days Do What They Will
Let the days do what they wish,
And be at peace when fate decrees.
Do not despair at the misfortunes of time,
For the events of this world are transient.
Be a man of courage in the face of adversity,
With generosity and loyalty as your traits.
Even if your faults are plenty among the people,
It is your secret to conceal them with generosity.
Do not show submission to enemies,
For the triumph of enemies is a burden to bear.
Do not expect kindness from the miser,
For there is no water in hell for the thirsty.
Your provision is not diminished by being deliberate,
Nor does hardship increase your sustenance.
Neither lasting sorrow nor joy,
Nor distress nor ease shall remain with you.
If death surrounds your realm,
No land shall protect you, nor the sky.
And though the earth is vast,
When fate descends, space becomes constrained.
Let the days betray every moment,
For medicine cannot avert death.
Short Verses by Al-Shafi’i on Patience
- The poet says:
Indeed, there are times that might overwhelm a man,
But with God, there is a way out.
It seemed constricted, but when its bonds tightened,
Relief came, though I had thought it would never arrive.
- The poet also states:
Do not carry the burden for one
Who boasts among people of his contributions.
Choose for yourself a fair share,
And be patient; for patience is a shield.
The burdens among men upon the hearts
Are harder than the sting of arrows.
- The poet further expresses:
Patience is beautiful; how close relief is,
For whoever observes God in their affairs will escape.
Whoever is truthful to God will not face harm,
And whoever hopes in Him will find fulfillment.
- Additionally, the poet says:
I have found myself in a gathering of people who lack
Reverence for knowledge and have sold wisdom for folly.
People are united, yet among them
There exist differences in intellect, manners, and lineage.
It is as if pure gold is marred by yellow,
And preference is given to gold above all.
The wood, if it did not carry sweet scents,
Would not be distinguished from mere firewood.
- A further saying by the poet:
If a lowly person insults me, I rise higher,
For no flaw exists, except for becoming like them.
And were my own soul not precious to me,
I would have allowed it to mingle with every lowly being.
If I were only pursuing my own benefit, most certainly
I would be too slow for what I seek.
But I strive to benefit my companion,
And it is a disgrace for the satiated when their friend is hungry.
Al-Shafi’i’s Poetry on Patience, Contentment, and Hope
And I would not be satisfied with what my time offers,
Yet I accept what fate has ordained.
If days have betrayed our promises,
I am at peace with them, though they may overpower me.
Times of trials are plentiful and unending,
And joys arrive like festive days.
The princes are ruled, their heads bowed,
While they become captives in the hands of the despicable.
Whenever I have my daily sustenance,
Release your worries from me, O happy one.
Do not let the troubles of tomorrow occupy my mind,
For surely tomorrow brings new provisions.
I submit when God desires a matter,
So I relinquish my own desires to His will.
What I will is irrelevant once
God wishes for what I do not intend.
Patience is beautiful; how close relief is!
For whoever observes God in their affairs will escape.
Whoever is truthful to God will not be harmed,
And whoever hopes for Him will find fulfillment.
A door shall open when another is closed,
Indeed, the burdens of challenges will become light.
And affairs will broaden after there was constriction,
During hardship, there are two eases.
So do not let worries weigh you down, nor sorrow,
For how often I found myself distressed by what made me suffer,
Yet nothing remained that deserved to instill fear.
How many clouds brought me chilling rain,
Yet I recovered and the clouds dissipated.
Provision reached me, though I did not pursue it,
And slumber did not ensue from effort.
Separated from family, yet within my absence,
Hope arose after despair’s departure.
Whoever survives the ocean after being overwhelmed
By its furious waves shall rejoice.
If people turn away from a seeker,
Then no barriers are between a seeker and God.
He returns with His grace to those who seek Him,
And who welcomes them in prayer consistently.
Do not grieve on the day something is lost,
When you have acceptance and hope in its stead.
Do you mock the supplication and disregard it,
While unaware of the power of prayer?
The arrows of the night do not miss,
Yet there is a time limit, and for every duration, there is an end.
Excerpts from Imam Al-Shafi’i’s Poetry on Patience
- The poet remarks on patience in seeking knowledge:
Be patient with the bitterness of hardship from a teacher,
For the failure of knowledge lies in its dismay.
Whoever does not taste the bitterness of learning for an hour,
Will taste the bitterness of ignorance throughout their life.
Whoever misses the opportunity for education in their youth,
Let them be mourned as if they have passed away.
For the essence of man—by God—is in knowledge and piety,
Without them, he is non-existent.
- The poet discusses patience in the face of adversarial words:
They said I was silent when confronted; I replied:
For the response is the key to the door of evil.
And silence in the face of a fool or ignorant person is an honor,
And serves to protect one’s reputation.
Do you not see how lions are feared when silent?
While a barking dog is scorned, without doubt.
- The poet shares his patience against injustice:
There are times I have been wronged, and I relied on fate,
For whatever is destined finds its way.
To me, Islam is only for the sake of worship,
And prayers that cannot be shielded with defenses.
And it suffices for you to know when the oppressor thrives,
There are arrows of supplication guided by sincerity.
- Next, the poet reflects on loneliness:
If I do not find a pure companion,
Then solitude is sweeter than an ill-fated bond.
I sit alone for worship in peace,
More restful for my eyes than a companion I must guard against.
- And the poet expressed:
When I sought among the people for help,
I looked for trusted friends in times of trial.
I tried both ease and hardship,
Crying out in the streets, is there any supporter?
Yet in my distress, I found nobody but scoffers;
And in what brought me joy, only the envious.
- As the poet eloquently puts it:
Lions may starve in the forests,
And dogs feast upon lambs.
A servant may sleep on silk,
While the noble sleeps on the ground.
What we have shared above are some of the most beautiful and profound verses by Al-Shafi’i on patience.