وصيّة أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) لابنه محمد بن الحنفيّة (73) وقال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام في وصيّته لابنه محمد بن الحنفيّة: يا بنيّ، إيّاك والاتكال على الأماني، فانّها بضائع النّوكى، وتثبيط عن
الآخرة، ومن خير حظّ المرء قرين صالح. جالس أهل الخير تكن منهم، باين أهل الشرّ ومن يصدّك عن ذكر الله عزّ وجلّ، وذكر الموت بالأباطيل المزخرفة، والأراجيف الملفّقة تبن منهم، ولا يغلبنَّ عليك سوء الظّن
بالله عزّ وجلّ، فإنّه لن يدع بينك وبين خليلك صلحاً.
IMAM ALI'S COMMANDMENT FOR HIS SON MOHAMMED BIN AL-HANAFIYYA
(73) In his commandment for his son Mohammed bin al-Hanafiyya, Amir ul-Mu'minin (a) said:
O son, beware of relying on hopes, for they are the goods of the foolish. They also frustrate of getting the (means of the) life to come. It is highly fortunate to have a good friend. Sit
with the people of charity and you will be one of them. Be away from those who preclude you from mentioning Allah and death by means of decorated falsities and fabricated lies and you will be
discriminated from them. Do not let mistrust of Allah overcome you, for it will spoil every conciliation between your friends and you.
( 127 )
ذكّ بالأدب قلبك كما يذكّى النار بالحطب، فنعم العون الأدب للخيرة التجارب لذوي اللّبّ، اُضمم آراء الرجال بعضها إلى بعض ثمّ اختر أقربها إلى الثواب وأبعدها من الارتياب. يا بنيّ، لا شرف أعلى من
الإسلام ولا كرم أغنى من التقوى ولا معقل أحرز من الورع ولا شفيع أنجح من التوبة ولا لباس أجمل من العافية ولا وقاية أمنع من السلامة ولا كنز أقنع من القنوع ولا مال أذهب للفاقة من الرضا بالقوت. ومن
اقتصر على بلغة الكفاف فقد انتظم الراحة وتبوّأ خفض الدعة. الحرص داع إلى التقحّم في الذنوب، ألق عنك واردات الهموم بعزائم الصبر.
Kindle your heart with good manners like fire when kindled with wood, for good manners are the best support to the charitable people and experiments are the best support to the intelligent.
Collect the opinions of men then choose the nearest to the reward and the remotest from suspect.
O son, there is no honor higher than Islam, no generosity more glorious than God-fearing, no fortress more protective than piety, no interceder more successful than repentance, no dress
fitter than good health, no defense more shielding than safety, no treasure more sufficient than satisfaction, and no wealth more dismissive of poverty than satisfaction with the sustenance. He
who confines himself to the minimum necessity will have rest before others and will find himself a place in the tranquil life. Acquisitiveness is the key to the plunging into sins. Repeal the
incoming grieves by means of the resolutions of patience.
( 128 )
عوّد نفسك الصبر فنعم الخلق الصبر، وحملها على ما أصابك من أهوال الدنيا وهمومها. فاز الفائزون ونجا الّذين سبقت لهم من الله الحسنى، فإنّه جنّة من الفاقة، والجئ نفسك في الاُمور كلّها إلى الله
الواحد القهّار فانّك تلجئها إلى كهف حصين، وحرز حريز، ومانع عزيز، واخلص المسألة لربّك فإنّ بيده الخير والشرّ، والإعطاء والمنع، والصلّة والحرمان.
وقال عليه السلام في هذه الوصّية: يا بنيّ، الرزّق رزقان ; رزق تطلبه ورزق يطلبك، فإن لم تأته أتاك، فلا تحمل همّ سنتك على همّ يومك، وكفاك كلّ يوم ما هو فيه.
Accustom yourself to steadfastness, for it is the best of moralities and make yourself stand the worldly horrors and griefs that befall you. The triumphant ones have won and those to whom
Allah has already promised blessings have been saved, … for it is a guard from poverty. In all of your affairs, rely exclusively upon Allah, the One the Omnipotent, for, if you do so, you will
entrust them to a protective cavern, defending fortress, and shielding stronghold. Pray to Allah sincerely because good, evil, giving, deprivation, granting, and divestment-all are in His hand
exclusively.
IN THE SAME COMMANDMENT, IMAM ALI (A) SAID:
O son, sustenance is of two kinds-one is that which you seek and one is that which seeks you and will come to you even if you do not approach it. Do not apply the care of your year on the
care of your day, for every new day will cover all your needs (of that day).
( 129 )
فإن تكن السنة من عمرك فإنّ الله عزّ وجلّ سيأتيك في كلِّ غد بجديده ما قسّم لك. فإن لم تكن السنة من عمرك فما تصنع بغمّ وهمّ ما ليس لك. واعلم أنّه لم يسبقك إلى رزقك طالب، ولن يغلبك عليه غالب،
ولن يحتجب عنك ما قدّر لك، فكم رأيت من طالب متعب نفسه مقترّ عليه رزقه، ومقتصد في الطلب قد ساعدته المقادير، وكل مقرون به الفناء. اليوم لك وأنت من بلوغ غد على غير يقين، ولربّ مستقبل يوماً ليس
بمستدبره، ومغبوط في أوّل ليلة قام في آخرها بواكيه.
If that year is decided to be within your age, Allah will take to you all that which is decided for you every new day. If it is not, what is your business with the care and grief that are
not yours?
You should also know that no seeker will precede you to the sustenance that is decided for you and no one, no matter how powerful he is, will seize it against you. All that which is
determined for you will not be kept against you. Many are those who fatigue themselves for seeking earnings, but their sustenance is withheld against them and many are those who are moderate (in
seeking earnings), but the decrees of fate helped them (in enjoying abundant provisions). Nevertheless, everybody is subject to extinction. Today is yours, but it is uncertain that you will
attain tomorrow! It often happens that an individual who begins a day cannot see its end and it often happens that an individual who is happy in the first hours of a night will shed tears in the
last hours (of the same night).
( 130 )
فلا يغرنّك من الله طول حلول النعم، وإبطاء موارد النقم فانّه لو خشى الفوت عاجل بالعقوبة قبل الموت. يا بنيّ، أقبل من الحكماء مواعظهم، وتدبّر أحكامهم. وكن آخذ الناس بما تأمر به، وأكفّ الناس
عمّا تنهى عنه، وأمر بالمعروف تكن من أهله. فإنَّ استتمام الاُمور عند الله تبارك وتعالى الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر، وتفقّه في الدين فإنّ العلماء ورثة الأنبياء. إنَّ الأنبياء لم يورثّوا ديناراً
ولا درهماً ولكنّهم ورّثوا العلم، فمن أخذ منه أخذ بحظّ وافر.
Do not be deceived by the long term of Allah's showering of graces and the postponement of His punishments, for He would have anticipated the punishment before (your) death if He had
expected your escape.
O son, accept the sermons of the wise people and ponder over their dicta. Precede others in applying (to yourself) the matters with which you ask people to do and stop committing the
matters against which you forbid others. Enjoin good and you will be one of its people, for the perfection of matters in the sight of Allah is to enjoin good and forbid evil. Learn the religious
questions, for the scholars are the heirs of the prophets. The prophets did not bequeath dinars and dirhams, but they bequeathed knowledge. He who acquires knowledge is surely acquiring great
goodness.
( 131 )
واعلم أنَّ طالب العلم يستغفر له من في السّماوات والأرض حتّى الطير في جوّ السماء والحوت في البحر، وإنّ الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضى به وفيه شرف الدّنيا والفوز بالجنّة يوم القيامة،
لأنّ الفقهاء هم الدعاة إلى الجنان، والأدلاّءِ على الله تبارك وتعالى. وأحسن إلى جميع النّاس كما تحبّ أن يحسن إليك. وارض لهم ممّا ترضاه، واستقبح لنفسك ممّا تستقبحه من غيرك. أحسن مع جميع النّاس خلقك
حتّى إذا غبت عنهم حنّوا إليك، وإذا متّ بكوا عليك وقالوا: إنّا لله وإنّا إليه راجعون، ولا تكن من الذّين يقال عند موته: الحمد لله ربّ العالمين.
You should also know that all those who are in the heavens and the earth, including the birds in the sky and whales in the oceans, are seeking Allah's forgiveness to the seekers of
knowledge. As a sign of submission, the angels low their wings for the seeker of knowledge, which achieves honor in this world and the obtainment of Paradise in the life to come, for the scholars
are the callers to the paradises and the guide to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. Treat all people kindly as long as you want them to treat you kindly.
Accept for them whatever you accept for yourself, and find ugly for yourself all that which you find ugly for others. Treat all people with good manners so that they will long for you when
you are absent and will weep for you and say, 'We all are Allah's and to Him we will return,' (Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi raji'oun) when you depart this life. Do not be one of those about whom
people say, 'All praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,' when they depart this life.
( 132 )
واعلم انَّ رأس العقل بعد الإيمان بالله عزّ وجلّ مداراة الناس، ولا خير فيمن لا يعاشر بالمعروف مَن لا بدّ مِن معاشرته حتى يجعل الله إلى الخلاص منه سبيلا، فإنّي وجدت جميع ما يتعايش به الناس
وبه يتعاشرون ملء مكيال، ثلثاه استحسان وثلثه تغافل، وما خلق الله عزّ وجلّ شيئاً أحسن من الكلام ولا أقبح منه. بالكلام ابيضّت الوجوه، وبالكلام اسودّت الوجوه. واعلم أنّ الكلام في وثاقك ما لم تتكلّم
به فإذا تكلمت به صرت في وثاقه. فاخزن لسانك كما تخزن ذهبك وورقك، فإنَّ اللّسان كلب عقور بأن أنت خليته عقر، وربّ كلمة سلبت نعمة.
You should also know that compliance with people's moods is the head of intelligence after believing in Allah, Powerful and Majestic is He. Those who do not associate courteously with the
ones the association with whom is inescapable, until Allah makes for them a way of salvation, are worthless. I have found that all the affairs of people's mutual association can be considered as
one measure, two-thirds of which is approval and one is negligence. Wording is both the nicest and the most hideous thing that Allah has ever created. By means of wording, some faces have become
white and by means of wording, some faces have become black.
You should know that wording is under your control so long as you do not say it. If you say it, you will be under its control. Save your tongue in the same way as you save your gold and
currencies. The tongue is as same as a mordacious dog; if you give free rein to it, it will bite others. It happens that a single word causes the removal of a grace.
( 133 )
من سيّب عذاره قاده إلى كلّ كريهة وفضيحة، ثمّ لم يخلّص من وهده إلاّ على مقت من الله عزّ وجلّ، وذمّ من النّاس. قد خاطر بنفسه من استغنى برأيه، ومن استقبل وجوه الآراء عرف مواقع الخطأ، من توّرط
في الامور غير ناظر في العواقب قد تعرّض مقطّعات النّوائب، والتدبير قبل العوامل، يؤمنك من الندم. والعاقل من وعظه التجارب وفي التّجارب علم مستأنف، وفي تقلب الأحوال عرف جواهر الرجال، الأيّام تهتك لك
عن السرائر الكامنة. فافهم وصيّتي هذه ولا تذهبنَّ عنك صفحاً، فإنّ خير القول ما نفع.
He who gives full rein to his tongue will be driven to every item of misfortune and scandal. Then, he will not get rid of such consequences before he becomes the subject of the detestation
of Allah and the censure of people. He who pursues his opinions exclusively is risking. He who propounds the various opinions will realize the places of errors. He who engages himself in affairs
without looking in their outcomes will suffer scandalous misfortunes. Planning before acting saves against regret.
The true intelligent is he who learns lessons from (others') experiments. In experiences lies resumed knowledge. The inwardness of men is realized in the vicissitudes of time. Days show you
the hidden secrets. You therefore should understand my commandment and avoid neglecting it. In fact, the best wording is the most useful.
( 134 )
اعلم يا بنيّ، إنّه لابدّ لك من حسن الإرتياد، وبلاغك من الزّاد ومع خفّة الظهر فلا تحمل على ظهرك فوق طاقتك فيكون عليك ثقيلاً في حشرك ونشرك في القيامة، فبئس الزاد إلى المعاد العدوان على
العباد، واعلم أنَّ أمامك مهالك ومهاوى وجسوراً وعقبة كؤوداً لا محالة وأنت هابطها وإنّ مهبطها امّا على جنّة أو على نار. فارتد لنفسك قبل نزولك إيّاها، فإذا وجدت من أهل الفاقة، من يحمل زادك إلى
القيامة فيوافيك فيه غدا حيث تحتاج إليه فاغتنم وحمّله وأكثر من تزوّده وأنت قادر عليه فلعلك تطلبه فلا تجده.
Know-my son-that it will be inevitable for you to be returned and asked about your provisions. Hence, try to be light-burdened. Do not load your back beyond your power lest its weight
becomes a mischief for you when you will be resurrected and interrogated on the Day of Resurrection. Violence against the servants -of Allah- is the worst supplies to the world to come. Know that
in front of you lie pitfalls, abysses, bridges, and impassable valley; your terminating point at the other end of this passage will necessarily be either Paradise or Hell. Therefore, prepare the
place before getting down. If a person is willing to borrow from you in the days of your affluence to pay it back to you at the time of your need then make use of this opportunity and borrow him
as much as possible so long as you are able to do so. Put in that provision as much as you are able to, for it is likely that if you may need him (afterwards), you may not get hold of
him.
( 135 )
وإيّاك أن تثق لتحميل زادك من لا ورع له ولا أمانة فيكون مثلك مثل ظمآن أتى سرابا حتّى إذا جاءه لم يجده شيئاً فتبقى في يوم القيامة منقطعاً بك.
وقال عليه السلام في هذه الوصيّة: يا بنيّ، البغى سابق إلى الجبن، لن يهلك امرؤ عرف قدره. من خطر شهوته صان قدره، قيمة كلّ امرأ ما يحسنه، الاعتبار يفيدك الرّشاد وأشرف الغنى ترك المُنى، الحرص
فقرٌ حاضر، المودّة قرابة مستفادة، صديقك أخوك لأبيك واُمّك، وليس كلّ أخ لك لأبيك واُمّك صديقك، لا تتّخذن عدوّ صديقك صديقاً فتعادي صديقك.
Beware of relying upon the impious and the distrustful in the question of loading your supplies. If you do it, you will be like the thirsty that is advancing to mirage; when he reached it,
he found nothing. Hence, you will be alone without any supplies on the Day of Resurrection.
IN THE SAME COMMANDMENT, IMAM ALI (A) SAID:
O son, oppression takes to destruction. A man who appreciates himself very precisely will not fail. He who controls his passions will guard his prestige. The value of a man is what he does
expertly. Learning lessons (from others) achieves good sense. The honorable wealth is to neglect hopes. Acquisitiveness is the permanent poverty. Affection is an advantageous kinship. Your friend
is your full brother, but not every full brother is your friend. Do not befriend the enemy of your friend lest you become the enemy of your friend.
( 136 )
كم من بعيد أقرب منك من قريب، وصَول معدمٌ خيرٌ من مثرٍ جافٍ. الموعظة كهف لمن وعاها، من منّ بمعروف أفسده. من أساء خلقه عذّب نفسه وكانت البغضة أولى به، ليس من العدل القضاء بالظنّ على الثقة. ما
أقبح الأشر عند البطر والكائنة عند النائبة المغلظة والقسوة على الجاه، والخلاف على الصاحب، والحنث من ذي المروءة، والغدر من السلطان. كفر النعمة موق، ومجالسة الأحمق شؤم. اعرف الحقّ لمن عرضه لك شريفاً
كان أو وضيعاً. من ترك القصد جار، من تعدَّى الحقّ ضاق مذهبه، كم من دَنف قد نجا، وصحيح قد هوى.
Many are the remote ones who are closer than the nearer (kinship). A poor man who keeps good relations is better than a wealthy one who breaks his relations (with others). Admonition is the
haven of him who keeps it. He who reminds reproachfully of his favors is spoiling his favors. The mentality of the ill-mannered individuals is always bad and it would better to hate such ones. It
is not fair to depend upon conjecture in issuing judgments.
How ugly wickedness in situations of ingratitude is! How ugly depression in excessive hardships is! How ugly severity with the neighbors is! How ugly disagreement with the (intimate)
associate is! How ugly the perjury of the men of personality is! How ugly the treachery of the powerful is! Ingratitude is foolishness. Sitting with the foolish is evil omen. Respect the rights
of everybody, whether masters or humble individuals. He who ignores moderation will wrong. He who trespasses the right will be detained in narrow courses. Many diseased persons were cured and
many healthy ones passed away.
( 137 )
قد يكون اليأس إدراكاً والطمع هلاكاً، استعتب من رجوت عتابه، لا يثيبنّ من أمر على غدر، الغدر شرّ لباس المرء المسلم، من غدر ما أخلق أن لا يوفي له. الفساد يبير الكثير والاقتصاد ينمي اليسير. من
الكرم الوقار بالرحم، من كرم ساد، ومن تفهّم ازداد، أمحض أخاك النصيحة وساعده على كلّ حال ما لم يحملك على معصية الله عزّ وجلّ، زل معه حيث زال. لا تصرم أخاك على ارتياب ولا تقطعه دون استعتاب لعل له
عذر وأنت تلوم. إقبل من متنصّل عذره فتنالك الشفاعة.
Despair may be success and greed may be destruction. Blame him whom you wish to blame. Matters of cheating are rewardless. The evilest dress of Muslims is betrayal. It is quite proper to be
disloyal to the betrayers.
Corruption destructs the much amount while moderation causes the small to grow. Regard of the relatives is a sing of generosity. He who is generous will be master and he who understands
(something) will seek more (knowledge about it). Offer proper advice to your friends and help them in every situation except those who lead to the acts of disobedience to Allah. Follow your
friends in every situation. Do not desert your friend due to suspicion and do not leave him before you blame him. Perhaps, he has his excuse while you are blaming him. Accept the apology of
everyone so that you will be included with the Intercession.
( 138 )
وأكرم الّذين بهم تصول، وازدد لهم على طول الصحّة برّاً وإكراماً وتبجيلاً وتعظيماً فليس جزاء من عظّم شأنك أن تضيّع من قدره، ولا بجزاء من سترك أن تسوءه. أكثر البرّ ما استطعت بجليسك فانّك إذا
شئت رأيت رشده، من كساءه الحياء ثوبه اختفى عن العيون عيبه. من تحرّى القصد خفت عليه المؤن، من لم يعط نفسه شهواتها أصاب رشده، مع كل شدّة رخاء، ومع كلّ أكلة غُصص ٌ. لا تنال نعمة إلاّ بعد أذى، لِنْ
لمن غاضك تظفر بطلبتك، ساعات الهموم ساعات الكفّارات والسّاعات تنفد عمرك ولا خير في لذّة من بعدها النّار، وما خير بخير بعدها النار.
Honor those who support you and increase your charity, honor, respect, and reverence to them as long as you enjoy good health. It is improper for you to disregard him who respects you or
injure him who covers up your defects. Treat your companion with kindness as much as you can, for you can gain his righteous deeds if you will. He who betakes pudency as his dress will have his
defects screened from eyes.
The burdens of those who seek moderation are light. He who prevents his soul from its passion will gain his right guidance. Comfort lies with every hardship and choking is expected in every
bite. No grace can be obtained unless it is preceded by harm. Be lenient with him who enraged you so that you will win your need. Times of care are times of forgiveness. Hours, however, take your
age to termination. The pleasure that is followed by Hell is worthless and every good matter that is followed by Hell is also worthless.
( 139 )
وما شرّ بشرّ بعده الجنة، كلّ نعيم دون الجنّة محقور، وكل ّ بلاء دون النّار عافية. لا تضيّعنّ حقّ أخيك اتّكالاً على ما بينك وبينه، فإنّه ليس لك بأخ من أضعت حقّه، لا يكوننّ أخوك على قطيعتك
أقوى منك على صلة، ولا على الإساءة إليك أقوى منك على الإحسان إليه. يا بُنيّ، إذا قويت فاقوَ على طاعة الله عزّ وجلّ، وإذا ضعفت فاضعف عن معصية الله عزّ وجلّ، وإن استطعت أن لا تملّك المرأة من أمرها
ما جاوز نفسها فافعل، فانّه أدوم لجمالها، وأرخى لبالها، وأحسن لحالها. فإنّ المرأة ريحانة وليست بقهرمانة، فدارها على كلّ حال، وأحسن الصحبة لها فيصفو عيشك.
Likewise, the evil that produces Paradise is not evil. Any bliss other than Paradise is valueless and any misfortune other than Hell is (regarded as) good health.
Do not ignore your friends' rights in reliance on your relationship, for those whose rights are ignored by you are not your true friends. Do not make the disregard of your friend control
your building good relation with him and do not make his mistreatment with you control your kind act to him. O son, if you are strong, employ your strength in the fields of acts of obedience to
Allah, and if you are weak, employ your weakness to avoid the acts of disobedience to Him. If you can deprive women of the possession of matters other than the personal, then you should do it,
for this is better for achieving prosperous and peaceful life and permanent beauty with them. A woman is a flower, not an administrator. To enjoy tranquil life with a woman, treat her so
kindly.
( 140 )
واحتمل القضاء بالرضا، وإن أحببت أن تجمع خير الدنيا والآخرة فاقطع طمعك ممّا في أيدي النّاس، والسلام عليك ورحمة الله وبركاته.
Stand the satisfaction with the acts of Allah. If you want to have the good of this life and the life to come altogether, you should drive yourself to despair of all that which is in
people's possession. Peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you.103
____________ 103. Refer to Men La Yahdhuruh ul-Faqih; 4:391 H.5834, A'lam ud-Din; 486, Tanbih ul-Khawattir; 2:39, Ibn Abi al-Hadid's Sharhu Nahj ul-Balagha; 16:96 & 19:301, Bihar
ul-Anwar; 73:160 H.7, Wassail ush-Shi'a; 17:61 "19" H.21984.
