Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

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These are some selections from the beautiful diwan of Ali ibn Abi Talib r.a. These lines of poetry are filled with wisdom and guidance.
Translations:
The Dunya
لِلنّاسِ حِرصٌ عَلى الدُنيا بِتَدبيرِ * وَصَفوُها لَكَ مَمزوجٌ بَتَكديرِ
The people obsess over the dunya, trying to control it
While its best for you is adulterated with filth
كَم مِن مُلِحٍّ عَلَيها لا تُساعِدُهُ * وَعاجِزٍ نالَ دُنياهُ بِتَقصيرِ
How many a persistent one does it not help
And how many an incapable one attains his dunya, while incompetent
لَم يُرزَقوها بِعَقلٍ حينما رُزِقوا * لَكِنَّهُم رُزِقوها بِالمقاديرِ
It was not bestowed upon them for their intelligence, when it was bestowed
But it was bestowed by decree.
لَو كانَ عَن قُوَّةٍ أَو مُغالَبَةٍ * طارَ البُزاةُ بِأَرزاقِ العَصافيرِ
Were it [attained] by strength and overpowering,
The falcons would have flown away with the sustenance of the sparrows
وَلُقمَةٌ بِجَريشِ الملِحِ آكُلُها * أَحَبُّ مِن لُقمَةٍ تُحشى بِزَنبورِ
A morsel that I eat with a pinch of salt
Is more beloved (to me) than a morsel covered with hornets
كَم لُقمَةٍ جَلَبَت حَتفاً لِصاحِبِها * كَحَبَةِ القَمحِ دَقَّت عُنقَ عُصفورِ
And how many a morsel has brought death to its companion
Like a kernel of wheat blocking the sparrow's throat!
Patience
فإِن تَسأَلَنّي كَيفَ أَنتَ فَإِنَّني * صَبورٌ عَلى رَيبِ الزَمانِ صَعيبُ
حَريصٌ عَلى أَن لا يُرى بي كَآبَةٌ * فَيشمُتَ عادٍ أَو يُساءَ حَبيبُ
If you ask me how I am, then indeed
I am patient against time’s hidden afflictions, and enduring
Careful that no weakness is seen upon me
Lest an enemy be delighted or a friend saddened
Money and Status
يُغَطّي عُيوبَ المَرءِ كَثرَةُ مالِهِ * يُصَدَّقُ فيما قالَ وَهوَ كَذوبُ
وَيُرزي بِعقلِ المَرءِ قِلَّةُ مالِهِ * يُحَمِّقُهُ الأَقوامُ وَهوَ لَبيبُ
A person’s shortcomings are covered up by the abundance of his wealth
He is believed when he is a persistent liar
A person’s intellect is underestimated due to the scarcity of his wealth
He is taken for a fool by the people, when he is wise

Intellect
لَيسَ البَلِيَّةُ في أَيّامِنا عَجَباً * بَلِ السَلامَةُ فيها أَعجَبُ العَجَبِ
Tribulations in our days, are not surprising
But safety, during it, is the wonder of wonders
لَيسَ الجَمالُ بِأَثوابٍ تُزَيِّنُنا * إِنَّ الجَمالَ جَمالُ العَقلِ وَالأَدَبِ
Tis not the beauty of clothing that beautifies us
But indeed, true beauty is beauty of intelligence and character
لَيسَ اليَتيمُ الَّذي قَد ماتَ والِدُهُ * إِنَّ اليَتيمَ يَتيمُ العِلمِ وَالأَدَبِ
The orphan is not one whose father has died,
But indeed the orphan is the one lacking intelligence and character

Lineage
كُن اِبنَ مَن شِئتَ واِكتَسِب أَدَباً * يُغنيكَ مَحمُودُهُ عَنِ النَسَبِ
Be the son of anyone you wish, but acquire character
For its merits will free you from the need of lineage
فَلَيسَ يُغني الحَسيبُ نِسبَتَهُ * بِلا لِسانٍ لَهُ وَلا أَدَبِ
The noble-born is not helped by his lineage,
If he has no speech or character of worth
إِنَّ الفَتى مَن يُقولُ ها أَنا ذا * لَيسَ الفَتى مَن يُقولُ كانَ أَبي
Indeed the man is one who says ‘I am so and so’
And not the one who says ‘My father was’


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