Stand for the Teacher, Show Him Respect
Ahmad Shawqi expresses:
Stand for the teacher, show him respect;
The teacher may almost be a messenger.
Did you not learn the honor or the nobility of one who
Builds and nurtures minds and souls?
Glory be to You, O God, the best teacher,
You taught by the pen in the early centuries.
You brought this intellect from its darkness,
Guiding it towards the clear light.
You shaped it by the hands of the teacher, sometimes
Rusty like iron, sometimes polished.
You sent Moses with the Torah as a guide,
And the son of the Virgin taught the Gospel.
You brought forth the fountain of eloquence, Muhammad,
Nourishing it with hadith and delivering the revelation.
You taught Greece and Egypt, yet they have
Turned their backs on the sun, wishing it to set.
Today, they seem to be in a state of childhood,
Lost in the knowledge that once flourished.
The suns of the East have captivated the skies,
But why does the West remain in darkness?
O land, since the teacher lost himself
Between the suns and your Eastern shadows.
The guardians of the truth of knowledge have vanished,
Choosing the painful joys of ignorance.
In a world where life is shackled,
Bound by constraints, feeling defeated.
It was overwhelmed by the sun’s harshness, leaving minds stunned.
Socrates took the cup, facing his fate,
As the lover craved a final embrace.
They portrayed life as a deception,
Yet he chose death over a life demeaned.
Courage may abound in hearts, yet
Few possess the bravery of intellect.
Indeed, he who created truth has a bitter tale,
Yet he has not left the truth a single generation.
Perhaps love vanquished its champions,
As love has often claimed victims.
Does every defender of the truth bear
Hatred and hostility among the ignorant?
If I believed in the cross and its doctrine,
I would center upon the essence of Christ.
O my teacher of valleys and the nurture of youth,
And those who will bear the weight of responsibility.
We once approached him lightly,
Yet calamities befell our paths.
Until we saw Egypt stepping forthright,
In knowledge, as the kingdoms sway with grace.
Those disbelievers, fraught with ignorance,
From the age of Khufu, have forgotten the flame.
You will find those who constructed the obelisk
Do not possess the skill to even thread a needle.
They seek guidance when led,
Like sheep that find comfort in leading.
Men recite their yearnings aloud,
Yet the successful ones remain wrapped in silence.
Ignorance cannot sustain a community;
How can life thrive under such constraints?
By God, if it weren’t for voices and pens,
Life would languish in the youth’s essence.
Those overseeing the spirits of youth,
Sow the seeds of hope and promise.
They understood the roots of their barrenness,
As gushing waters followed the clouds’ trails.
They perform goodwill for their nation, yet hesitate
To be met with graceful commendation.
What good is Dollin if not adrift,
In crises, they would be worth little.
They nurtured their youngsters on fairness,
You shall find them like a beacon of rights.
For he shapes honorable dispositions,
And courses the spirits towards justice.
He sets straight the words of every crooked argument,
And reveals a strong opinion on matters.
And if the teacher doesn’t possess fairness,
The spirit of justice among the youth is feeble.
And if the teacher’s insight is flawed,
His guidance will yield insights that wander.
When guidance stems from passion or delusion,
Label it as misleading.
And when people suffer ethical failings,
Establish a period of mourning and grief for them.
I indeed sympathize with you; I consider your burden
Among the burdens of men quite heavy.
And one shall find help beyond you,
In Egypt, there is the support that mothers seek.
And if women are raised in ignorance,
Men will breed ignorance and lethargy.
The orphan is not merely one abandoned by
Parents overwhelmed by life’s burdens.
But wise ones possess the world’s merit,
And through good nurturing of time, they find successors.
Indeed the true orphan is one who lacks
A mother who has deserted or a father engaged.
Egypt, when revisiting its past,
Has never encountered a great Saturday.
The parliament tomorrow expands its awning,
Providing shade upon the blissful valley.
We hope, if education awakens its spirit,
It shall not impose burdens on the land.
Tell the youth of today, blessed be your planting,
The fruits have ripened, all is now prepared.
Honor every martyr by acknowledging their absence,
Place wreaths on their stones.
Thus, may the living have bright days filled with gratitude,
And death might receive abundance in remembrance.
Let not the constitution be deprived of its essence,
Until its virtues are made evident.
Let those who question know of the choices,
Was it virtue or merely pretentiousness?
If you present the representative as lacking,
There, in completeness, will he never find himself.
So let us honor the trustworthy amongst them,
And grant precedence to the wise in insight.
The negligent will transform, yet you shall never see
In ignorance of nature, an end result.
Thus regarding words of men you might have heard,
And thus it concluded as though unsaid.
And how often have you supported dignity and passion,
When those around you were unacknowledged?
Generosity and forgiveness in youth can flourish,
As long as youth is blessed with virtue and inclinations.
Gather, unite the essence of parenthood, and uplift
The voice of youth in acceptance and favor.
How far are the aspirations, only to find
I firmly hold to you in the vision’s embrace.
Entrust your success to God and persevere,
For He is the best protector and supporter.
Be Patient with the Teacher’s Toughness
Imam Al-Shafi’i remarked:
Be patient with the bitterness of the teacher’s harshness,
For neglecting knowledge leads to regret.
Whoever has not tasted the bitterness of learning even once,
Shall endure the shame of ignorance throughout their life.
And whoever misses the chance for education in their youth,
May as well have passed from existence.
And the essence of a man, by God, with knowledge and piety,
If they lack these, their essence holds no value.
I Offer You Counsel if You Accept the Advice
As Al-Lawah states:
Seek knowledge, even if it takes you to China; work diligently.
Blindly overlook distractions with a stubborn determination.
The beginning of all knowledge is teaching the Quran; in it,
Teaching provides clarity in all paths of guidance.
Thus, be committed to it and do not tire. Be perceptive,
And to your teacher, be like a servant, gracious and kind.
For the teacher’s advice is given only in goodwill,
And know that by pleasing him, you will find guidance.
And if you finish, perfect it for memory’s sake,
Maintain regular attendance during morning and evening hours.
Join the congregation at the House of God, eagerly awaiting
To engage in fulfilling the obligatory prayers, letting tears flow.
Aim for the medicinal knowledge where reason abounds,
That sharpens intellect and nurtures spirit.
Welcome, O Knowledge, and its Disciplines
Hafez Ibrahim echoes:
Welcome, may you revive both knowledge and morality;
If you spread knowledge, it will flourish among you.
There is no life for you except within academia,
Which serves as a nurturing ground for scholars and a parent.
It builds men and raises high aspirations,
Creating honor and victories.
Establish hearts as foundations; I do not mean to say,
To lower your value to that of mere gold.
Build with your endeavors a fortress, and do not let
Words of the enemy deter you, for I know the cause.
Do not despair if you read what endows illusions;
That is the deceitful ruler retaliating against you.
And be mindful on a day when the reaper’s harvest arrives,
For every being will be recompensed per their deeds.
Construct upon the truth, high towers,
Higher than towers built on falsehood’s lies.
Respond with action that won’t be rattled,
By the claims of deniers or their speech.
Do not slumber; they will not rest indefinitely,
Seek them gently yet expertly in your requests.
Has news reached you about those who have climbed,
Leaving for posterity their astounding legacy?
In Carthage, the anchors were strong, bound,
As the ship grew weary, its tether became strained.
Congratulations, O Verdant Knowledge
Khalil Mutran articulates:
Congratulations, O esteemed knowledge,
Your place is above the realms of stars.
This throng surrounding you is of noble stature,
Like precious pearls in a well-crafted necklace.
When you are honored, it is indeed true honor,
For those virtues and sciences.
That justice safeguards every free soul,
And delivers the innocent from the toil of the guilty.
And that kindness you dispense, in it,
A balm for the wounds of the proud souls.
Generosity provides all valued pursuits,
As though pearls descend from the clouds of grace.
Oh, master who is sought for such majesty,
Whose dignified essence embodies beauty.
With the tenderness of a devoted guide,
Who elevates the sweetness of the cherished.
May God bless you against those who harm souls,
With goodness and guidance through dreams.
How often have you rectified the defects in individuals,
With your insightful and strong beliefs!