وَAndالْكِتَابُthe bookهُوَisالْجَلِيسُthe companionالَّذِيwhoلَاdoes notيُطْرِيكَflatter you
And the book is the companion who does not flatter you,
وَandالصَّدِيقُthe friendالَّذِيwhoلَاdoes notيَقْلِيكَdislike you
and the friend who does not dislike you,
وَandالرَّفِيقُthe associateالَّذِيwhoلَاdoes notيُمِلُّكَbore you
and the associate who does not bore you,
وَandالْمُسْتَمِيحُthe one who asks favorsالَّذِيwhoلَاdoes notيُؤْذِيكَharm you
and the seeker of favors who does not harm you,
وَandالْجَارُthe neighborالَّذِيwhoلَاdoes notيَسْتَبْطِئُكَdeem you slow
and the neighbor who does not find you slow,
وَandالصَّاحِبُthe companionالَّذِيwhoلَاdoes notيُرِيدُwantاسْتِخْرَاجَto extractمَاwhatعِنْدَكَyou haveبِthroughالْمَلَقِflattery
and the companion who does not want to extract what you have through flattery,
وَandلَاdoes notيُعَامِلُكَtreat youبِwithالْمَكْرِdeceit
nor does he treat you with deceit,
وَandلَاdoes notيَخْدَعُكَdeceive youبِthroughالنِّفَاقِhypocrisy
nor does he deceive you through hypocrisy.
وَAndالْكِتَابُthe bookهُوَisالَّذِيthe one thatإِنْifنَظَرْتَyou lookedفِيهِinto it
And the book is the one that if you look into it,
أَطَالَit lengthensإِمْتَاعَكَyour enjoyment
it prolongs your enjoyment,
وَandشَحَذَsharpensطِبَاعَكَyour nature
sharpens your temperament,
وَandبَسَطَbroadensلِسَانَكَyour tongue
broadens your tongue,
وَandجَوَّدَimprovesبَيَانَكَyour eloquence
improves your eloquence,
وَandفَخَّمَmakes grandأَلْفَاظَكَyour words
magnifies your vocabulary,
وَandعَمَّرَfillsصَدْرَكَyour chest
fills your heart,
وَandحَبَاكَgrants youتَعْظِيمَreverence ofالْأَقْوَامِpeoples
grants you the reverence of nations,
وَandمَنَحَكَbestows upon youصَدَاقَةَfriendship ofالْمُلُوكِkings
and bestows upon you the friendship of kings.
يُطِيعُكَIt obeys youفِيinاللَّيْلِthe nightطَاعَتَهُits obedienceبِinالنَّهَارِthe day
It obeys you at night as it obeys you by day,
وَandفِيinالسَّفَرِtravelطَاعَتَهُits obedienceفِيinالْحَضَرِresidence
and in travel as in residence.
وَAndهُوَit isالْمُعَلِّمُthe teacherالَّذِيwhoإِنْifافْتَقَرْتَyou were in needإِلَيْهِof him
It is the teacher who, if you are in need of him,
لَمْdoes notيُحَقِّرْكَbelittle you
does not belittle you,
وَandإِنْifقَطَعْتَyou cut offعَنْهُfrom itالْمَادَّةَmaterial support
and if you cut off material support from it,
لَمْit does notيَقْطَعْcut offعَنْكَfrom youالْفَائِدَةَbenefit
it does not cut off its benefit from you,
وَandإِنْifعُزِلْتَyou were dismissed
and if you are dismissed,
لَمْit does notيَدَعْabandonطَاعَتَكَyour obedience
it does not cease obeying you,
وَandإِنْifهَبَّتْblowعَلَيْكَupon youرِيحُthe wind ofأَعْدَائِكَyour enemies
and if the winds of your enemies blow against you,
لَمْit does notيَنْقَلِبْturnعَلَيْكَagainst you
it does not turn against you.
وَAndمَتَىwheneverكُنْتَyou areمُتَعَلِّقاًattachedبِtoهِitوَandمُتَّصِلاًconnectedمِنْهُto itبِbyأَدْنَىthe slightestحَبْلٍrope
And whenever you are attached to it and connected by even the slightest bond,
لَمْit does notيُضِرَّكَharm you withمِنْهُtherebyوَحْشَةُthe loneliness ofالْوَحْدَةِsolitudeإِلَىforجَلِيسِcompanion ofالسُّوءِevil
it saves you from the desolation of solitude and the harm of an evil companion.
وَAndإِنَّindeedأَمْثَلَthe best ofمَاwhatيَقْطَعُpassبِwithهِitالْفُرَّاغُthe idleنَهَارَهُمْtheir day
And truly, the best way for the idle to spend their day
وَandأَصْحَابُpeople ofالْكِفَايَاتِcompetenceسَاعَةَan hour ofلَيْلِهِمْtheir night
and for the capable to spend an hour of their night
نَظْرَةٌis a glanceفِيinكِتَابٍa book
is a glance into a book
لَاthat does notيَزَالُceaseلَهُمْfor themفِيهِin itازْدِيَادٌincreaseأَبَداًever
that continually yields an increase
فِيinتَجْرِبَةٍexperienceوَandعَقْلٍintellectوَandمُرُوءَةٍchivalryوَandصَوْنِguarding ofعِرْضٍhonorوَandإِصْلَاحِreforming ofدِينٍreligionوَandمَالٍwealth
in experience, intellect, chivalry, guarding of honor, and reforming of religion and wealth,
وَandرَبِّhow many aصَنِيعَةٍgood deedوَandابْتِدَاءِinitiation ofإِنْعَامٍblessing
and how many a beneficial deed and initiated blessing it contains.
وَAndلَوْifلَمْnotيَكُنْthere wereمِنْofفَضْلِهِits virtueعَلَيْكَover youوَandإِحْسَانِهِits benevolenceإِلَيْكَtoward you
And if its only virtue and benevolence toward you were
إِلَّاexceptمَنْعُهُits preventingكَyouمِنْfromالْجُلُوسِsittingعَلَىonبَابِكَyour doorstep
that it prevents you from sitting at your doorstep
وَandنَظَرُكَyour gazingإِلَىatالْمَارَّةِpassersbyبِكَby you
and gazing at those who pass by,
مَعَalong withمَاwhatفِيinذَلِكَthatمِنْofالتَّعَرُّضِexposureلِلْحُقُوقِto obligationsالَّتِيthatتَلْزَمُare binding
along with the exposure to binding obligations,
وَandفُضُولِidleالنَّظَرِgazing
idle staring,
وَandمُلَابَسَةِassociating withصِغَارِpettyالنَّاسِpeople
associating with petty people,
وَandحُضُورِpresence aroundأَلْفَاظِهِمُtheir wordsالسَّاقِطَةِvulgar
being present around their vulgar speech,
وَandمَعَانِيهِمُtheir meaningsالْفَاسِدَةِcorrupt
their corrupt concepts,
وَandأَحْوَالِهِمُtheir conditionsالرَّدِيَّةِwretched
their wretched states,
وَandطَرَائِقِهِمُtheir waysالْمَذْمُومَةِblameworthy
their blameworthy methods,
وَandأَفْعَالِهِمُtheir actionsالْخَبِيثَةِvileالْقَبِيحَةِugly
and their vile and ugly actions,
لَsurelyكَانَit would beفِيinذَلِكَthatالسَّلَامَةُsafetyثُمَّthenالْغَنِيمَةُthe bountyوَandإِحْرَازُsecuring ofالْأَصْلِthe foundationمَعَalong withاسْتِفَادَةِgainingالْفَرْعِthe branch
that alone would be safety, then bounty, and securing the foundation while gaining the branch.
وَAndلَوْifلَمْnotيَكُنْthere wereفِيinذَلِكَthatإِلَّاexceptأَنَّهُthat itيَشْغَلُكَoccupies youعَنْfromسُخْفِfoolishness ofالْمُنَىfantasies
And if there were nothing in it except that it distracts you from foolish fantasies,
وَandعَنْfromاعْتِيَادِhabituation toالرَّاحَةِidleness
from habitual idleness,
وَandعَنْfromاللَّعِبِplayوَandكُلِّeveryمَاwhatأَشْبَهَهُresembles it
from play and everything resembling it,
لَقَدْassuredlyكَانَit would beفِيinذَلِكَthatعَلَىforصَاحِبِهِits ownerأَسْبَغَthe amplestالنِّعْمَةِblessingوَandأَعْظَمَgreatestالْمِنَّةِfavor
that alone would be the most abundant blessing and greatest favor for its owner.
وَAndهُوَit isالَّذِيthat whichيَزِيدُincreasesفِيinالْعَقْلِthe intellect
It is that which increases the intellect,
وَandيَشْحَذُهُsharpens it
sharpens it,
وَandيُدَاوِيهِheals it
heals it,
وَandيُهَذِّبُهُrefines it
refines it,
وَandيَنْفِيexpelsالْخُبْثَcorruptionعَنْهُfrom it
expels corruption from it,
وَandيُفِيدُyieldsالْعِلْمَknowledge
yields knowledge,
وَandيُصَادِقُbefriendsبَيْنَكَbetween youوَandبَيْنَbetweenالْحُجَّةِthe proof
forms a friendship between you and the proof,
وَandيَقُودُكَleads youلِلْأَخْذِto takeبِbyالثِّقَةِreliability
leads you to embrace reliability,
وَandيُعَمِّرُprosperingالْحَالَone's state
prospers one's state,
وَandيَكْسِبُearnsالْمَالَwealth
and earns wealth.
وَAndهُوَit isمُنَبَّةٌan assetلِلْمُورِثِfor the one who leaves an inheritanceوَandكَنْزٌa treasureعِنْدَwithالْوَارِثِthe heir
And it is an asset for the testator and a treasure for the heir,
غَيْرَexceptأَنَّهُthat itكَنْزٌis a treasureلَاwith noزَكَاةَzakatفِيهِon itوَandلَاnoحَقَّrightلِforالسُّلْطَانِthe rulerيُخْرَجُto be extractedمِنْهُfrom it
except that it is a treasure upon which there is no zakat and for which no tax is owed to the ruler.
هُوَIt isكَlikeالضَّيْعَةِthe estateالَّتِيwhichلَاdoes notتَحْتَاجُneedإِلَىtoسَقْيٍirrigation
It is like an estate that does not need irrigation,
وَnorلَاdoes notإِسْجَالٍwater rightsبِbyإِيغَازٍdigging
nor water channels dug by labor,
وَnorلَاdoes notإِلَىtoشَرْطٍoverseersوَnorأَكَّارٍfarmworkers
nor overseers and farmworkers,
وَandلَيْسَthere is notعَلَيْهَاupon itعُشْرٌa titheلِforالسُّلْطَانِthe rulerوَnorخَرَاجٌland tax
and upon it there is neither ruler's tithe nor land tax.
وَAndلَوْلَاhad it not been thatمَاwhatرَسَمَتْdrewلَنَاfor usالْأَوَّائِلُthe ancientsفِيinكُتُبِbooksهَاtheir
And had it not been for what the ancients charted for us in their books,
وَandخَلَّدَتْimmortalizedمِنْofعَجِيبِwondrousحِكَمِwisdomهَاtheir
immortalized from their wondrous wisdom,
وَandدَوَّنَتْrecordedمِنْofأَنْوَاعِvariousسِيَرِbiographiesهَاtheir
and recorded of their diverse biographies,
حَتَّىso thatشَاهَدْنَاwe witnessedبِthroughهَاthemمَنْwhoeverغَابَwas absentعَنَّاfrom us
so that through them we witnessed those absent from us,
وَandفَتَحْنَاunlockedبِthroughهَاthemكُلَّeveryمُنْغَلَقٍlocked thingعَلَيْنَاto us
and unlocked every closed matter before us,
فَsoجَمَعْنَاwe gatheredفِيinقَلِيلِنَاour little timeكَثِيرَهُمْtheir much
gathering in our brief time what took them much time,
وَandأَدْرَكْنَاwe attainedمَاwhatلَمْwe would notنُدْرِكْهُhave attainedإِلَّاexceptبِthroughهُمْthem
and attaining what we could never have attained except through them,
لَقَدْassuredlyبُخِسَdiminished would beحَظُنَاour shareمِنْهُof it
our share of it would have been heavily diminished.
وَAndأَكْثَرُmostمِنْofكُتُبِهِمْtheir booksنَفْعاًbeneficialوَandأَشْرَفُnoblestمِنْهَاamong themحَظّاًin shareوَandأَحْسَنُfinestمَوْقِعاًin placement
And more beneficial than their books, noblest in share, and finest in position
كُتُبُare the books ofاللَّهِAllahعَزَّthe MightyوَandجَلَّMajestic
are the books of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic,
الَّتِيin whichفِيهَاthereinالْهُدَىis guidanceوَandالرَّحْمَةُmercyوَandالْإِخْبَارُtellingعَنْaboutكُلِّeveryعَبْرَةٍlesson
which contain guidance, mercy, accounts of every lesson,
وَandتَعْرِيفُdefinition ofكُلِّeveryسَيِّئَةٍevilوَandحَسَنَةٍgood deed
and the definition of every evil and good deed.
وَAndمَاstillزَالَتْhave beenكُتُبُthe books ofاللَّهِAllahجَلَّthe Majesticوَعَلَاand Exaltedفِيinالْأَلْوَاحِthe tabletsوَandالصُّحُفِscrollsوَandالْمَصَاحِفِcodices
And the books of Allah, Majestic and Exalted, have ever been in tablets, scrolls, and codices.
فَقَالَSoجَلَّthe MajesticذِكْرُهُHis mentionأَمْOrلَمْhas notيُنَبَّأْhe been informedبِمَاof whatفِيis inصُحُفِthe scrolls ofمُوسَىMosesوَإِبْرَاهِيمَand Abrahamالَّذِيwhoوَفَّىfulfilled
Thus He, whose mention is majestic, said: "Or has he not been informed of what is in the scrolls of Moses and of Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations]?"
فَذَكَرَSo He mentionedصُحُفَthe scrolls ofمُوسَىMosesالْمَوْجُودَةَexistingوَصُحُفَand the scrolls ofإِبْرَاهِيمَAbrahamالْبَائِدَةَvanished
mentioning the existing scrolls of Moses and the vanished scrolls of Abraham.
وَقَالَAnd He saidآلَمْAlif, Lam, MeemذَلِكَThatالْكِتَابُBookلَاthere is noرَيْبَdoubtفِيهِin it
And He said: "Alif, Lam, Meem. That is the Book about which there is no doubt."
وَقَالَAnd He saidعَزَّthe Mightyوَجَلَّand MajesticمَاnothingفَرَّطْنَاWe have neglectedفِيinالْكِتَابِthe Bookمِنْofشَيْءٍanything
And the Mighty and Majestic said: "We have not neglected anything in the Book."
وَقَالَAnd He saidكِرَاماًnobleكَاتِبِينَrecording
And He said: "Noble and recording [angels]."
وَقَالَAnd He saidوَأَمَّاand as forمَنْhe whoأُوتِيَis givenكِتَابَهُhis recordوَرَاءَbehindظَهْرِهِhis back
And He said: "And as for he who is given his record behind his back."
وَقَالَAnd He saidاقْرَأْReadكِتَابَكَyour recordكَفَىsufficientبِنَفْسِكَis your soulالْيَوْمَtodayعَلَيْكَagainst youحَسِيباًas accountant
And He said: "Read your record; sufficient is your soul against you today as an accountant."
وَلَوْAnd even ifلَمْnotتَكُنْwereتَكْتُبُbeing writtenأَعْمَالَهُمْtheir deedsلَكَانَتْthey would beمَحْفُوظَةًpreservedلَاwith noيَدْخُلُenteringذَلِكَinto thatالْحِفْظِpreservationنِسْيَانٌforgetfulness
And even if their deeds were not being written down, they would be preserved, with no forgetfulness entering that preservation.
وَلَكِنَّهُHoweverتَعَالَىHe, Most High,جَدُّهُis His majestyعَلِمَknewأَنَّthatنَسْخَهُits transcriptionأَوْكَدُis more emphaticوَأَبْلَغُmore eloquentوَأَهَيْبُand more awe-inspiringفِيinالصُّدُورِthe chests
However, He—Exalted is His majesty—knew that their transcription is more emphatic, eloquent, and awe-inspiring in the chests.
فَقَالَSoجَلَّthe MajesticذِكْرُهُHis mentionإِنَّاIndeed, Weكُنَّاwereنَسْتَنْسِخُtranscribingمَاwhatكُنْتُمْyou wereتَعْمَلُونَdoing
Thus He, whose mention is majestic, said: "Indeed, We were transcribing what you used to do."
وَلَوْAnd ifشَاءَHe willedاللَّهُAllahأَنْthatيَجْعَلَHe makeالْبِشَارَاتِthe tidingsبِالْمُرْسَلِينَregarding the messengersعَلَىuponالْأَلْسِنَةِtonguesوَلَمْand notيُودِعْهَاentrust themالْكُتُبَto booksلَفَعَلَHe would have done so
And had Allah willed to make the tidings of the messengers conveyable by tongues without entrusting them to books, He would have done so.
وَلَكِنَّهُHoweverتَبَارَكَBlessedوَتَعَالَىand ExaltedعَلِمَHe knewأَنَّthatذَلِكَthatأَتَمُّis more completeوَأَبْلَغُmore eloquentوَأَكْمَلُmore perfectوَأَجْمَعُand more comprehensive
However, He—Blessed and Exalted—knew that the written way is more complete, eloquent, perfect, and comprehensive.
وَفِيAnd inقَوْلِthe statement ofسُلَيْمَانَSolomonعَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُbe peaceاذْهَبْGoبِكِتَابِيwith this letter of mineهَذَاthisفَأَلْقِهْand deliver itإِلَيْهِمْto them
And in the statement of Solomon, upon him be peace: "Go with this letter of mine and deliver it to them,"
وَقَدْwhileكَانَthere wasعِنْدَهُwith himمَنْwhoيُبَلِّغُcould conveyالرِّسَالَةَthe messageعَلَىinتَمَامِهَاits entiretyمِنْfromعِفْرِيتٍa jinnوَإِنْسِيٍّand a humanوَغَيْرِهِمَاand others
while he had with him those who could convey the message in its entirety, from jinn, humans, and others,
فَرَأَىyet he sawالْكِتَابَthe letterأَبْهَىas more splendidوَأَحْسَنَfinerوَأَكْرَمَmore honorableوَأَفْخَمَmore grandioseوَأَنْبَلَand noblerمِنَthanالرِّسَالَةِverbal message
yet he saw the written letter as more splendid, finer, more honorable, grandiose, and nobler than a verbal message.
وَلَوْAnd ifشَاءَwilledالنَّبِيُّthe Prophetصَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grantوَسَلَّمَhim peaceأَنْthatلَاhe notيَكْتُبَwriteإِلَىtoقَيْصَرَCaesarوَكِسْرَىChosroesوَالنَّجَاشِيِّthe Negusوَالْمُقَوْقِسِthe Muqawqasوَإِلَىand toبَنِيthe sons ofالْجُلُنْدَىAl-Julandaوَإِلَىand toالْعَبَاهِلَةِthe AbahilahمِنْofحِمْيَرَHimyarوَإِلَىand toهَوْذَةَHawdhaوَالْمُلُوكِand the kingsالْعُظَمَاءِthe grandوَالسَّادَةِand the lordsالنُّجَبَاءِthe nobleلَفَعَلَhe would have done so
And had the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wished not to write to Caesar, Chosroes, the Negus, the Muqawqas, the sons of Al-Julanda, the Abahilah of Himyar, Hawdha, and the grand kings and noble lords, he would have done so,
وَلَوَجَدَand he would have foundالْمُبَلِّغَthe messengerالْمَعْصُومَprotectedمِنَfromالْخَطَإِerrorوَالزَّلَلِand lapseوَالتَّبَدُّلِand alteration
and he would have found a messenger protected from error, lapse, and alteration.
وَلَكِنَّهُHoweverعَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُbe peaceعَلِمَhe knewأَنَّthatالْكِتَابَthe written letterأَشْبَهُis more befittingبِتِلْكَof thatالْحَالَةِsituationوَأَلْيَقُand more appropriateبِتِلْكَfor thoseالْمَرَاتِبِranksوَأَبْلَغُand more eloquentفِيinتَعْظِيمِreveringمَاwhatحَوَاهُcontainedالْكِتَابُthe letter
However, upon him be peace, he knew that the letter was more befitting for that situation, more appropriate for those ranks, and more eloquent in exalting what the letter contained.
وَحَمْلُهُAnd carrying itإِنْifكَثُرَit growsوَرَقُهُits pagesفَلَيْسَis notمِمَّاsomething thatيُمَلُّcauses boredom
And carrying it, even if its pages multiply, is not something that causes boredom,
لِأَنَّهُbecauseوَإِنْeven ifكَانَit isكِتَاباًone bookوَاحِداًsingleفَإِنَّهُyet itكُتُبٌbooksكَثِيرَةٌmany
because even though it is a single book, it is actually many books.
فَإِنْSo ifأَرَادَone wantedقِرَاءَةَto readالْجَمِيعِall of itلَمْnotيَطُلْwould it drag onعَلَيْهِfor himالْبَابُchapterالْأَوَّلُthe firstحَتَّىbeforeيَهْجُمَhe rushesعَلَىintoالثَّانِيthe second
If one wants to read all of it, the first chapter does not drag on for him before he rushes into the second,
وَلَاnorالثَّالِثُthe thirdحَتَّىbeforeيَهْجُمَhe rushesعَلَىintoالرَّابِعِthe fourth
nor the third before he rushes into the fourth.
فَهُوَSo heأَبَداًeverمُسْتَفِيدٌgains benefitوَمُسْتَطْرِفٌand finds novelty
Thus he is forever gaining benefit and finding novelty,
وَبَعْضُهُand part of itيَكُونُisحَاثّاًurgingلِبَعْضٍthe other part on
and parts of it stimulate other parts.
وَلَاAndيَزَالُcontinuallyنَشَاطُهُhis vigorزَائِداًincreasingمَتَىwheneverخَرَجَhe departsمِنْfromأَثَرٍa narrativeصَارَhe entersفِيintoخَبَرٍa reportحَتَّىuntilيَخْرُجَhe passesمِنْfromخَبَرٍa reportإِلَىtoشِعْرٍpoetry
His vigor remains heightened whenever he moves from a narrative into a report, until he passes from a report to poetry,
وَمِنَand fromالشِّعْرِpoetryإِلَىtoالنَّوَادِرِanecdotes
from poetry to anecdotes,
وَمِنَand fromالنَّوَادِرِanecdotesإِلَىtoنُتَفٍfragmentsوَإِلَىand toمَوَاعِظَsermonsحَتَّىuntilيُفْضِيَit leadsبِهِhimإِلَىto
and from anecdotes to literary fragments and sermons, until it leads him to...