Nahjul Balaaghah about Knowledge

Nahjul Balaaghahabout Knowledge

By A.S. Hashim. MD

Nahjul Balaaghah about Knowledge

Supplication

الرحيم الرحمن الله بـســـم

In the Name of God,

Lord of Mercy and

Lord of Grace


Nahjul Balaaghah

Nahjul Balaaghah, a highly valued book, consists of:– 254 sermons, – 48 letters, and – 212 sayings of Imam Ali

Nahjul Balaaghah is unique to Imam Ali

None of the Sahaaba was ever able to produce anything like it:1. neither in substance

2. nor in literary eloquence.

No wonder Ali was referred to as:1. Sayyid al-Bulaghaa' (Pinnacle of Literary Expression) and

2. Sayyid al-Fu'qahaa, (Pinnacle of the Jurisprudents)


References about knowledge

Nahjul Balaaghah contains 18 references about Knowledge, some of which appear in the following slides:

The quotes appear in various sermons, – said at variable occasions and – about different subjects.

1. The Arabic quotes are from the book of Nahjul Balaaghah, by Dr. Subhi Al-Salih, and so is the numbering of the sermons and pages, 1st Edition, Beirut 1967.

2. The Number of the sermons may differ by a factor of 1 in other volumes of Nahjul Balaaghah

3. The references are quotes by Abd al-Zahra' al-Husayni in vols. I & IV of his work (see Al-Islam.org, internet)


Time Element

The majority of Ali's sayings and speeches were stated:– During his Khilaafah when in Kufa, – At Different Places– At Different Occasions– Often at Khutba of Jumu’ah


In Sermon 5, Page 52 Delivered when the Holy Prophet died

After the Prophet’s death Abu Sufyan was eager to sow discord by asking Ali to stand up to his Rights and fight off Abu Bakr. Seeing Abu Sufyan’s malicious scheme, Ali rejected the offer and explained it in this Sermon

See next slide pleaseOther sources:

1. Sibt ibn al-Jawzi, Tadhkirah, bab 6, 137;

2. al-Tabarsi, al-'Ihtijaj, I, 127;

3. al-Bayhaqi, al-Mahasin, II, 139, see Àrshi.


In Sermon 5, Delivered when the Prophet died

Oh people! Deliver yourselves from the malice of discord, avoid paths of dissension, and put away the crowns of pride.

Prosperous is the one who has power, or else he who wants peace, so others enjoy ease. The aspiration for Khilaafah is like turbid water or a morsel that chocks him who swallows it. One who plucks fruits before being ripe is like one who cultivates in a field that belongs to someone else.

If I object they would call me covetous for power, but if I keep quiet they would say I was scared to die. It is a pity that after all the ups and downs I have been through, by Allah the son of Abu Talib is more familiar with death than an infant anxious for his mother’s breast.

I have been given hidden knowledge, if I were to disclose it you would tremble like ropes in deep wells.

الف�ت ن� م%و اج أ ق)وا ش* /اس*، الن )ها أ ي

ع ن% ج*وا و ع ر5 /ج اة�، الن ف*ن� �س* ب�يج ان ت و ض ع*وا ة�، الـم*ن اف ر ط ريق�

ة�. الـم*ف اخ ر أو� ن اح، �ج ب ن ه ض م ن% أ ف%ل ح

Eق%م ة* و ل ، Eن�آج Eم اء ، ف أ راح ل م ت س% اس%ة� /ثم ر ال �ي ت ن و م*ج% *ه ا، �ل آك �ه ا ب ي غ ص)%ر� �غ ي ب ارع� كالز/ �ين اع�ه ا إ و ق%ت� %ر� �غ ي ل

ض�ه�. ر%أ

: ع ل ى ح ر ص *وا ي ق*ول أق*ل% �ن% ف إ : *وا ي ق*ول *ت% ك س%

أ و إن% ، الـم*ل%ك� ! ب ع%د %ه ات ه ي الم و%ت� م�ن ج زع ! أ بي %ن* ال ب و الله� �ي /ت و ال /ا /ت ي الل

الط5ف%ل� م�ن بالم و%ت� آن س* ط ال�بم5ه�،

* أ �ث د%ي بع�ل%م *ون� %ن م ك ع ل ى %د م ج%ت* ان ب ل�

اب اض%ط�ر *م* %ت ب ال ض%ط ر �ه� ب *ح%ت* ب ل و%! الب ع�يد ة� الط/و�ي5 في ي ة� ش� اال %ر%


In Sermon 18, Page 60 Ali: About the Opinionated Theologians

When Allah is One, the Quran is One, and the Prophet is One then the religion should also be One. And when the religion is one how can there be divergent opinions and orders about any theological matter? Divergence, then, can only be in case the theologian has:

1. Forgotten it, or is 2. Oblivious to it, or when3. Senselessness overtakes him, or 4. He willfully desires entanglement in these labyrinths, since Allah and the

Prophet are above all these things.


1. Ibn Talhah, Matalib, I, 141; 2. al-Tabarsi, al-'Ihtijaj, I, 139;3. al-Qadi al-Nu`man, Daà'im, I, 93;4. Narrated by Ibn Udhaynah from al-'Imam al-Sadiq (A) in al-Nuri, Mustadrak

al-Wasa'il, III, 174; see also al-Saffar, Basa'ir al-darajat.


In Sermon 18, Ali: About the Opinionated Theologians

When a theological query is put before one of the judges he gives his verdict out of his imagination. When the same query is presented before another one he passes a different verdict. Then these judges give their verdicts to the Justice (who had appointed them) and he accepts their contradictory verdicts. All this and their Lord is One, their Prophet is One, and their Book is One (yet their verdicts are not the same!!).

Is it that Allah ordered them to differ and they obeyed Him? Or He prohibited them from it but they disobeyed Him? Or has Allah sent an incomplete faith and He sought their help to complete it? Or is that they were His partners, so they utter something and He has to agree?

/ة* الق ض�ي أح د�ه�م* ع ل ى ت ر�د**م* ف ي ح%ك � اال %ح%ك ام م�ن %م ح*ك في

%ك �ل ت ت ر�د* *م/ ث �ه�، ي% أ �ر ب ف�يه ا

%ر�ه� غ ي ع ل ى �ه ا %ن �ع ي ب /ة* الق ض�ي*م/ ث �ه�، ق و%ل �خ�الف� ب ف�يها *م* ف ي ح%ك

%د ن ع� �ذل�ك ب الق*ض اة* ت م�ع* ي ج%ت ق%ض اه*م، اس% /ذ�ي ال إمام�ه�م

،r ج م�يعا اء ه*م% آر *ص و5ب* ف ي ! ! Eد و اح� )ه*م% �ي و ن ب Eد�و اح �له*ه*م% و إ

! Eد و اح� *ه*م% �ت اب و كـ ان ه* %ح ب س* ـ الله* ه*م* م ر

أ ف أ ! أ م% ف أ ط اع*وه* �االخ%تال ف� ب

! ل %ز أ ن أ م% ف ع ص و%ه* %ه* ع ن ن ه اه*م% r ن اق�صا r د�ينا ان ه* %ح ب س* الله*

! %م ام�ه� �ت إ ع ل ى �ه�م% ب ت ع ان ف اس%أ ن% ف ل ه*م% ل ه* ك اء ر ش* *وا ك ان أ م%

ض�ى؟ ي ر% أ ن% %ه� و ع ل ي *وا ي ق*ول


In Sermon 87, Page 119 Ali: of the ignorant pretending to be a scholar

Ali describes people who claim to know it all yet they are actually ignorant, in the following slide:


1. Al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, bab al-ìzz wa al-sharaf; see also Ibn Abi al-Hadid, II, 132.


In Sermon 87, Ali: of the ignorant pretending to be a scholar

While the other (kind of) man is he who calls himself learned but he is not so. He has gleaned ignorance from the ignorant and misguidance from the misguided. He has set for the people a trap of deceit and untrue speech.

He takes the Quran according to his opinion and mutated the Truth by way of his wishes. He makes people feel safe from big sins and takes light the serious sins.

He claims that he stops at the doubtful but he remains plunged therein, and that he is aloof from innovations yet he is immersed in them.

His shape is that of a man, but his heart is that of a beast. He does not know the gate of guidance to follow it nor the gate of misguidance to keep away from it. These men are alive but actually are living-dead.

r ع الم�ا م/ى ت س ق د% و آخ ر*م�ن% �ل ه ائ ج ف اق%ت ب س �ه�، ب %س و ل ي

/ل، ض*ال م�ن% �يل و أ ض ال ج*ه/الم�ن% r اكا ر أ ش% /اس� �لن ل و ن ص ب

ور، ز* و ق و%ل� ور، غ*ر* حبال��ه�، ائ آر ع ل ى �ت اب %ك ال ح م ل ق د%

�ه�، أ ه%و ائ ع لى %ح ق/ ال و ع ط ف *ه و5ن* و ي ،� �م %ع ظ ائ ال م�ن *ؤ%م�ن* ي

،� �م ائ %ج ر ال �ير ك ب :، *ه ات� ب الش) %د ن ع� أ ق�ف* ي ق*ول*

: ع%ت ز�ل* أ و ي ق*ول* و ق ع ، و ف�يه ا

اض%ط ج ع ، %ن ه ا و ب ي �د ع ، %ب الان، %س �ن إ ة* ص*ور ة* ف الص)ور

ي ع%ر�ف* ال ي و ان، ح ق ل%ب* %ق ل%ب* و الب اب و ال �ع ه*، /ب ف ي ت %ه*د ى ال ب اب

5ت* م ي ف ذل�ك %ه*، ع ن في ص*د/ %ع م ى ال! ي اء اال %ح%


In Sermon 91, Page 125 Ali: About the deeply versed in knowledge

Ali delivered this sermon from the pulpit of the mosque of Kufa when someone asked him: O' Amir al-Mu'minin! describe Allah for us in such a way that we may imagine that we see Him with our eyes, thus we would love more Him and be more knowledge about Him.See next slide please for part of the sermonOther sources:

1. Masàdah ibn Sadaqah, author of Khutab Amir al-Mu'minin; 2. Ibn Àbd Rabbih, al-Ìqd, II, 406;3. al-Saduq, al-Tawhid, 34;4. al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, bab al-mala'ikah;5. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, discusses its unusual (gharib) phrases in

several places;6. Ibn Tawus, Faraj al-mahmum, 56.


In Sermon 91, Ali: About the deeply versed in knowledge

The firm-in-knowledge are the ones who desist from probing the barriers to the hidden unknown,

and their acknowledgement of ignorance about the hidden unknown prevents them from further probe.

Allah, glory to Him, praises them for their admission that knowledge not allowed to them are beyond them. They do not delve into discussion of what is not enjoined about knowing Him, affirmatively so.

O’ people! Be content with this, and do not limit Allah’s Might because of the limitation of your minds, or else you be among the ruined ones.

ف�ي خ�ين اس� الر/ أ ن/ و اع%ل م%ع ن� أ غ%ن اه*م% /ذ�ين ال ه*م* � %م %ع�ل ال

وب ة� %م ض%ر* ال د د� الس) � �ح ام اق%ت ، *وب� %غ*ي ال د*ون

*وا ج ه�ل م ا �ج*م%ل ة� ب ار* �%ق%ر اال%ب� %غي ال م�ن ه* ير ت ف%س�

، م ح%ج*وب� ـ% الـ ت ع ال ى ـ الله* ف م د ح

ت ن او*ل� ع ن% %ع ج%ز� �ال ب اف ه*م% �ر اع%ت ،r %ما ل ع� �ه� ب *ح�يط*وا ي ل م% م ا

ف�ي ما /ع م)ق الت ك ه*م* ت ر% م/ى و س %ه�ه� *ن ك ع ن% %ب ح%ث ال 5ف%ه*م* *ك ل ي ل م%

،r س*وخا ر**ق د5ر% و ال ت ، �ك ذ ل ع ل ى فاق%ت ص�ر%

ع ل ى ان ه* %ح ب س* الله� ع ظ م ة م�ن *ون ف ت ك ع ق%ل�ك ق د%ر�

. �ك�ين %ه ال ال


In Sermon 103, Page 149 About attributes of the scholarly person

In his analysis of people’s knowledge Ali gives comments as shown in the following slideSee next slide pleaseOther sources:

1. Al-Kulayni, Rawdah, 139; 2. al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 143;3. al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi, II, 225;4. Ibn Qutaybah, Ùyun, II, 352;5. al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, 219;6. Ibn Talhah, Matalib, I, 202;7. al-Qadi al-Qudaì, Dustur, 48;8. al-Khuzaì, al-Fitan, see (9)9. Ibn Tawus, al-Malahim, 27;10. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, V, 131.


In Sermon 103, Ali: About attributes of the scholarly person

The learned person is he who knows his worth. Suffice it for a man to remain ignorant if he knows not his worth.

Certainly, the despised man with Allah is he whom Allah has left him for his own self. Such a person goes astray from the right path, and proceeds without a guide.

If he is called to the plantation of this world he is active, but if he is called to the plantation of the next world he is passive.

As though what he is active for is enjoined upon him whereas in whatever he is passive was not required of him.

ه*، ق د%ر ف ع ر م ن% �م* %ع ال ال / أ ال r ج ه%ال %م رء� �ال ب و ك ف ى

; ه* ق د%ر ي ع%ر�ف ج ال� الر5 %غ ض أ ب م�ن% �ن/ و إالله* /ل ه* و ك Eد% ل ع ب الله� �ل ى إ

ق ص%د� ع ن% Eر� ائ ج ه�، ن ف%س� �ل ى إ�يل، د ل %ر� ب غ ي Eر� ائ س ، �يل� ب الس/

%ي ا الد)ن ث� ح ر% �ل ى إ د*ع�ي �ن% إة� %خ�ر اال ث� ح ر% �ل ى إ أو% ، ع م�ل

! ل ك س� Eب�و اج ل ه* ع م�ل م ا ن/

ك أ ف�يه� و ن ى م ا ن/

و ك أ %ه�، ع ل ي! %ه* ع ن Eقط� ا س


In Sermon 110, Page 164 Ali: The learned who does not apply

Ali urges people to learn and understand the Quran, giving comments as shown in the following slide:


1. Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 104;

2. al-Saduq, Man la yahduruh, I, 131;

3. al-Saduq, Ìlal, 114;

4. al-Barqi, al-Mahasin, 233;

5. al-Tusi, al-'Amali, I, 220.


In Sermon 110, Ali: The learned who does not apply

Learn the Quran for it is the fairest of discourses; and understand the Quran thoroughly for it is the blossom of the hearts.

Seek cure with its light for it is the cure for hearts. Recite it well for it is well nigh the best narration.

Certainly, a scholar who acts not according to his knowledge is like the off-headed ignorant who finds no relief from his ignorance,

But the plea of Allah is greater on the learned and the grief more incumbent, and before Allah he is more blameworthy.

/ه* �ن ف إ آن %قر% ال /م*وا و ت ع لو ت ف ق/ه*وا ، %ح د�يث� ال أ ح%س ن*

، %ق*ل*وب� ال �يع* ب ر /ه* �ن ف إ ف�يه�/ه* �ن ف إ *ور�ه� �ن ب ف*وا ت ش% و اس%*وا ن و أ ح%س� الص)د*ور�، ف اء* ش�. %ق ص ص� ال %ف ع* أ ن /ه* �ن ف إ �ال و ت ه* ت%ر� �غ ي ب %ع ام�ل ال �م %ع ال ال �ن/ و إ

/ذ�ي ال �ر� %ح ائ ال %ج اه�ل� ك ال %م�ه� ل ع��ه�، ه%ل ج م�ن% ت ف�يق* ي س% ال

، أ ع%ظ م* %ه� ع ل ي %ح*ج/ة* ال ب ل�و ه*و ، م* %ز أ ل ل ه* ة* ر %ح س% و ال

%و م* لأ الله� %د .ع ن


In Sermon 116, Page 173 Ali: About knowing ahead

Ali brings attention to his own knowledge, and what reaction of the people would be.


1. Ibn Àbd Rabbih, al-Ìqd, VI, 249;

2. al-Masùdi, Muruj, III, 150;

3. al-'Azhari, Tahdhib, VII, 101 (kh.d.r);

4. Ibn Faqih, al-Buldan, 181;

5. al-Harawi, al-Jam`, see Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, II, 41, V, 170;

6. al-Muttaqi, Kanz, VI, 87;

7. al-Daylami, al-'Irshad, I, 33.


In Sermon 116, Ali: About knowing ahead

If you were to know the concealed from you as what I know, you would have certainly gone out weeping over your deeds, beating yourselves in grief,

And you would have abandoned your property without leaving guards or deputies.

And everyone would have cared for none but his self, paying no attention to others.

Lo! You people have forgotten what you were taught and felt safe from what you had been warned. Therefore, your minds have gone astray and your affairs have splintered.

م�م/ا أ ع%ل م* م ا ت ع%ل م*ون و ل و% r �ذا إ *ه*، %ب غ ي *م% %ك ع ن ط*و�ي

، الص)ع*د ات� �ل ى إ *م% ت ج% ل خ ر ، *م% �ك أ ع%م ال ع ل ى *ون %ك ت ب

، *م% ك %ف*س� أ ن ع ل ى %ت د�م*ون و ت لال *م% م%و ال ك

أ *م% %ت ك و ل ت ر %ه ا، ع ل ي خ ال�ف و ال لها ح ار�س *م% %ك م�ن ام%ر�ىء *ل/ ك و ل ه م/ت%

; %ر�ه ا غ ي �ل ى إ %ت ف�ت* ي ل ال ه*، ن ف%س* ، *م% ت 5ر% ذ*ك م ا *م% يت ن س� *م% /ك �ن و ل ك

ف ت اه ، *م% ت ح*ذ5ر% م ا *م% %ت و أ م�ن/ت ت و ت ش ، *م% *ك %ي أ ر *م% %ك ع ن

. *م% ك م%ر*أ *م% %ك ع ل ي


In Sermon 154, Page 216 Ali: Acting with knowledge or without it

Ali urges people to carefully consider their decisions and the path they are to take, as shown in the following slide:


1. Al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 252, 324, 331;

2. al-Yamani, al-Taraz, I, 217


In Sermon 154, Ali: Acting with knowledge or without it

The one who sees with his heart and acts with insight should assess: Does the deed go for me or against me? If the deed goes for him he should proceed, otherwise he should avoid.

For, he who acts without knowledge is like one who treads without a map. His deviation from the path will do nothing but increase his distance from his goal.

But a person who acts according to knowledge is like the one who treads the clear path.

Therefore, let the one who can perceive: should he proceed or should he go back.

%ع ام�ل* ال ، %ق ل%ب� �ال ب �اظ�ر* و الن�ه� ع م ل * %ت د أ م*ب *ون* ي ك %ب ص ر�، �ال ب

! : ل ه*؟ أ م% %ه� ع ل ي *ه* أ ع م ل ي ع%ل م أ ن%�ن% و إ ف�يه�، م ض ى ل ه* ك ان �ن% ف إ

. %د ه* ن ع� و ق ف %ه� ع لي ك ان ع�ل%م %ر� ب غ ي %ع ام�ل ال �ن/ ف إ

ط ر�يق، %ر� غي ع ل ى �ر� ائ ك الس/الط/ر�يق� ع ن� *ع%د*ه* ب ي ز�يد*ه* ف ال

�ه�، ت ح اج م�ن% r *ع%دا ب / �ال إ %و اض�ح� ال�ر� ائ ك الس/ � %م %ع�ل بال %ع ام�ل* و ال

، %و اض�ح� ال الط/ر�يق� ع ل ى : أ م% ه*و Eر� ائ س

أ Eر�ن اظ %ظ*ر% %ي ن ف لEع�اج !ر


In Sermon 189, Page 280 Ali: Ask me before you miss me

Ali alludes to the vastness of his knowledge, even to urge people to keep learning from him before he is gone, as shown in the following slide:See next slide please

Other sources:1. Al-Thaàlibi, al-'I`jaz, 32; 2. al-Saffar, Basa'ir, 31; on p. 202 from (3)3. Masàdah ibn Sadaqah, Khutab Amir al-Mu'minin (A);4. al-Saduq, Ùyun, I, 164;5. al-Saduq, al-Khisal, II, 164;6. al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 80, narrated by (7)7. al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak, II, 466;8. Ibn Àbd al-Birr, Jami`, I, 114;9. Ibn Hajar, al-'Isabah, II, 509;10. al-Tabari, al-Riyad, 198;11. al-Suyuti, Ta'rikh al-khulafa', 124;12. Dahlan, al-Futuhat, II, 337;13. al-Qunduzi, Yanabi` al-mawaddah, 224


In Sermon 189, Ali: Ask me before you will miss me

Certainly, our case is arduous and complicated; whose burden cannot be discharged except by a believer whom Allah has tried his heart with belief. Our traditions will be upheld only by men of trustworthy hearts and honorable station.

O' people! ask me before you will miss me,

Since I am more acquainted with the matters of heavenly life than the ways of the earthly life,

Do so before the malice of discord springs upon its feet, trampling and destroying the hopes and wishes of so many people.

Eص ع%ب نا م%ر أ �ن/ إ

/ �ال إ *ه* ت م�ل ي ح% ال ، Eت ص%ع ب م*س%الله* ام%ت ح ن Eن�م*ؤ%م Eد% ع بي ع�ي و ال ، �يم ان� �ال ل %ب ه* ق ل

،Eين ة�أ م Eص*د*ور / �ال إ ح د�يث ن ا. Eين ة�ز ر Eو أ ح%ال م

%ل ق ب *وني ل س /اس*، الن )ه ا يأ ت ف%ق�د*وني، أ ن%

ماء� الس/ ق� �ط*ر* ب ف ال ن ااال %ر%ض�، ق� �ط*ر* ب 5ي م�ن أ ع%ل م*

�ه ا ل �ر�ج% ب غ ر ت ش% أ ن% %ل ق بخ�ط ام�ه ا ف�ي * ت ط أ Eن ة% ف�ت

ق و%م�ه ا � ح%ال م�أ ب و ت ذ%ه ب*


In Sermon 214, Page 331 Ali: Character of the scholarly

Ali enumerates some of the characters of the true scholarly, as shown in the following slide:


1. Al-'Amidi, Ghurar;

2. Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Sharh, III, 23


In Sermon 214, Ali: Character of the scholarly

Be aware that the servants of Allah who preserve His knowledge:

They protect what He desires to be protected, and clarify His wellsprings for others. They are in friendliness with others and affection on meeting each other. They drink from cups of wisdom, quenching their thirst to their full.

They repel suspicions, and rebuff backbiting; since Allah forged their nature with good manners. Through His love they love each other and by it they meet each other.

They are the select above others, like good seeds among others. The selection has distinguished them and purified them.

الله� ب اد ع� أ ن/ و اع%ل م*وا%م ه*، ع�ل ت ح%ف ظ�ين %م*س% ال

م ص*ون ه*، *ون ي ص*ون*ون ه*، ع*ي ون *ف ج5ر* و ي

%و�ال ي ة�، �ال ب ي ت و اص ل*ون /ة�، ب م ح ـ% بال و ي ت ال ق و%ن

/ة، و�ي ر %س �ك أ ب اق و%ن و ي ت س /ة، �ر�ي ب ون و ي ص%د*ر*

و ال يب ة*، الر5 *ه*م* وب ت ش* ال . ع ل ى %غ�يب ة* ال ف�يه�م% ر�ع* *س% ت

%ق ه*م% ل خ ع ق د ذل�ك %ه� ف ع ل ي ، و أ خ%ال ق ه*م%

، ي ت و اص ل*ون �ه� و ب ، )ون ي ت ح اب%ب ذ%ر� ال ك ت ف اض*ل� *وا ف ك ان

%ه* م�ن *و%خ ذ* ف ي %ت ق ى، *ن يه* /ز م ي ق د %ق ى، *ل و يو هذ/ب ه* /خ%ل�يص*، الت

/م%حيص* . الـت


In Letter 31, Page 397 a selection from Ali’s letter to his son

After returning from the Battle of Siffin, Imam Ali gave advice to one of his sons (Some historians claim it to Imam Al-Hasan while others claim it to Muhammad ibn

Al-Hanafiya). He wrote the letter in the form of a will, which deals with almost every aspect of life and what makes a truly manly person-- brave, humane, generous, virtuous and pious.

See next slide please


In Letter 31, a selection of Ali’s letter to al-Hasan

Son! Let there be a scale between you and others to measure your behavior:

What you like or dislike for yourself, like it or dislike it for others. Do not oppress or tyrannize anyone, just as you surely do not like to be oppressed or tyrannized.

Be kind and sympathetic to others just as you like others to treat you with kindness. If you find a loathsome habit in others, abstain from it. If you are pleased by receiving a goodly behavior, then behave with others in the same pleasing manner.

Do not talk of what you don’t know, or even if you know little. And do not speak of others in the manner you do not want them to speak about you.

ك ن ف%س اج%ع ل% *ن ي/، ب ي ا%ن و ب ي %ن ك ب ي ف�ي ما r انا م�يز

، %ر�ك غ ي*ح�ب) ت م ا %ر�ك �غ ي ل �ب% ح%ب

ف أ م ا ل ه* ه% %ر و اك ، �ن ف%س�ك ل

ال ك م ا �م% ت ظ%ل و ال ل ه ا، ه* %ر ت ك ، *ظ%ل م ت أ ن% *ح�ب) ت

أ ن% *ح�ب) ت ك م ا ن% و أ ح%س��ح% ت ق%ب و اس% ، %ك �ل ي إ ن *ح%س ي

م�ن% �ح* ت ق%ب ت س% م ا ن ف%س�ك م�ن%/اس� الن م�ن و ار%ض ، %ر�ك غ ي

م�ن% ل ه*م% ض اه* ت ر% �م ا ب ، ن ف%س�ك

�ن% و إ ت ع%ل م* ال م ا ت ق*ل% و ال ال م ا ت ق*ل% و ال ، تع%ل م* م ا ق ل/

. ل ك *ق ال ي أ ن% *ح�ب) ت


Be in Allah’s Care

Thank you and May God Bless you.

Dr. A.S. Hashim

Documents

Nahjul Balaaghah about Knowledge