شَرْحُ الْمَعْرِفَةِ وَبَذْلُ النَّصِيحَةِ
Sharḥu al-Maʿrifati wa-Badhlu al-Naṣīḥati
Expounding Knowledge of God and Offering Counsel
الْحَارِثُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ الْمُحَاسِبِيُّ
Al-Ḥārithu bnu ʾAsadin al-Muḥāsibiyyu
Al-Ḥārith ibn Asad al-Muḥāsibī
Source page 52
[بَابُ الشَّفَقَةِ]
[Bābu al-shafaqati]
[Chapter on Compassion]
قَالَ الْمُحَاسِبِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللّٰهُ تَعَالَى:
Qāla al-Muḥāsibiyyu raḥimahu Allāhu taʿālā:
Al-Muḥāsibī said, may God Most High have mercy on him:
فَهٰذَا الْبَابُ بَابُ الشَّفَقَةِ، وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ مَا يَصْحَبُ، وَآخِرُ مَا يَبْقَى التَّوَاضُعُ. فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا كُنْتَ مِنْ أَصْفِيَاءِ الرَّحْمٰنِ، وَأَحْبَابِهِ، وَكُنْتَ مِنْ أَعْدَاءِ إِبْلِيسَ فَهٰذَا بَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ.
Fa-hādhā al-bābu bābu al-shafaqati, wa-huwa ʾawwalu mā yaṣḥabu, wa-ʾākhiru mā yabqā al-tawāḍuʿu. Fa-ʾinnaka ʾidhā kunta min ʾaṣfiyāʾi al-raḥmāni, wa-ʾaḥbābihi, wa-kunta min ʾaʿdāʾi ʾIblīsa fa-hādhā bābu al-raḥmati.
This gateway is the gateway of compassion. It is the first thing that accompanies [you], and the last thing that remains is humility [the printed connection between these clauses is unclear]. If you are among the chosen ones and beloved friends of the All-Merciful, and among the enemies of Iblīs, this is the gateway of mercy.
وَقَطَعْتَ مِنْ قِبَلِكَ طَرِيقَ الْكِبْرِ، وَحِبَالَ الْعُجْبِ، وَتَجَنَّبْتَ دَرَجَةَ التَّعَزُّزِ فِي نَفْسِكَ، فِي الدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا، وَهٰذَا صَلَاحُ الْعِبَادَةِ، وَشَرَفُ الْعَابِدِينَ الزَّاهِدِينَ، فَلَا شَيْءَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ، وَلَا يَتِمُّ لَكَ عَمَلٌ إِلَّا بِهٰذَا الْبَابِ.
Wa-qaṭaʿta min qibalika ṭarīqa al-kibri, wa-ḥibāla al-ʿujbi, wa-tajannabta darajata al-taʿazzuzi fī nafsika, fī al-dīni wa-al-dunyā, wa-hādhā ṣalāḥu al-ʿibādati, wa-sharafu al-ʿābidīna al-zāhidīna, fa-lā shayʾa ʾafḍalu minhu, wa-lā yatimmu laka ʿamalun ʾillā bi-hādhā al-bābi.
You cut off, on your part, the path of arrogance and the cords of self-admiration, and avoid a position of self-exaltation in religion and worldly life. This is what makes worship sound and gives honor to worshipers who renounce the world. Nothing is better than it, and no deed of yours is complete except through this gateway.
وَبِهٰذَا الْبَابِ تُخْرِجُ الْغِلَّ مِنْ قَلْبِكَ، وَالْكِبْرَ، وَالْبَغْيَ، وَكَانَ لِسَانُكَ وَاحِدًا فِي الْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ، وَيَكُونُ الْخَلْقُ عِنْدَكَ فِي النَّصِيحَةِ وَاحِدًا.
Wa-bi-hādhā al-bābi tukhriju al-ghilla min qalbika, wa-al-kibra, wa-al-baghya, wa-kāna lisānuka wāḥidan fī al-khayri wa-al-sharri, wa-yakūnu al-khalqu ʿindaka fī al-naṣīḥati wāḥidan.
Through this gateway you remove rancor, arrogance, and aggression from your heart. Your tongue speaks consistently in good and bad circumstances, and you treat all people equally in your sincere concern for them.
Source page 53
وَلَا تَكُ مِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ لِلْخَلْقِ، طَالَمَا تَذْكُرُ أَحَدًا بِسُوءٍ، أَوْ تُحِبُّ أَنْ يُذْكَرَ عِنْدَكَ بِسُوءٍ. فَهٰذِهِ آفَاتُ الْعَابِدِينَ، وَهَلَاكُ الزَّاهِدِينَ، إِلَّا مَنْ عَصَمَهُ اللّٰهُ تَعَالَى، وَأَعَانَهُ عَلَى حِفْظِ لِسَانِهِ.
Wa-lā taku mina al-nāṣiḥīna li-al-khalqi, ṭālamā tadhkuru ʾaḥadan bisūʾin, ʾaw tuḥibbu ʾan yudhkara ʿindaka bisūʾin. Fa-hādhihi ʾāfātu al-ʿābidīna, wa-halāku al-zāhidīna, ʾillā man ʿaṣamahu Allāhu taʿālā, wa-ʾaʿānahu ʿalā ḥifẓi lisānihi.
You are not among those sincerely concerned for creation as long as you speak badly of anyone or like to hear him spoken of badly in your presence. These are the failings of worshipers and the ruin of those who renounce the world, except those whom God Most High protects and helps to guard their tongues.
فَهٰذِهِ الْعَشَرَةُ خِصَالٌ، حَافِظْ عَلَيْهِنَّ، وَأَبْشِرْ بِالزِّيَادَةِ مِنَ اللّٰهِ الْكَرِيمِ، نَسْأَلُهُ جَلَّ وَتَعَالَى أَنْ يَمُنَّ عَلَيْنَا، وَعَلَيْكَ بِهِ، فَنَعْمَلَ بِهَا، إِنَّهُ جَوَادٌ كَرِيمٌ.
Fa-hādhihi al-ʿasharatu khiṣālun, ḥāfiẓ ʿalayhinna, wa-ʾabshir bi-al-ziyādati mina Allāhi al-karīmi, nasʾaluhu jalla wa-taʿālā ʾan yamunna ʿalaynā, wa-ʿalayka bihi, fa-naʿmala bihā, ʾinnahu jawādun karīmun.
These, then, are the ten qualities. Preserve them, and welcome the promise of increase from God, the Generous. We ask Him, majestic and exalted, to favor us and you with it so that we may put them into practice. He is generous and noble.
قَالَ الْمُحَاسِبِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللّٰهُ تَعَالَى:
Qāla al-Muḥāsibiyyu raḥimahu Allāhu taʿālā:
Al-Muḥāsibī said, may God Most High have mercy on him:
اعْلَمْ أَنَّ مَنْ تَرَكَ هٰذِهِ الْعَشَرَةَ خِصَالٍ الْمَذْكُورَةَ، وَلَمْ يَأْتِ بِهَا، فَقَدْ عَطِبَ، وَهَلَكَ هَلَاكَ الْأَبَدِ.
Iʿlam ʾanna man taraka hādhihi al-ʿasharata khiṣālin al-madhkūrata, wa-lam yaʾti bihā, fa-qad ʿaṭiba, wa-halaka halāka al-ʾabadi.
Know that whoever abandons these ten qualities just mentioned and does not practice them is ruined and has perished forever.
وَتَعَلَّمْ أَنَّ إِبْلِيسَ لَا يَتْرُكُ بَابًا مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الشَّرِّ، إِلَّا وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُوقِعَكَ فِيهِ، وَلَا تَعْمَلُ بَابًا مِنَ الْخَيْرِ إِلَّا وَهُوَ يَحْرِصُ فِي فَسَادِهِ، فَهُوَ يُطَالِبُكَ فِي فَسَادِ الدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا، وَالْآخِرَةِ جَمِيعًا. فَالْحَذَرَ، عَلَيْكَ بِالْجِدِّ فِي مُخَالَفَتِهِ.
Wa-taʿallam ʾanna ʾIblīsa lā yatruku bāban min ʾabwābi al-sharri, ʾillā wa-huwa yurīdu ʾan yūqiʿaka fīhi, wa-lā taʿmalu bāban mina al-khayri ʾillā wa-huwa yaḥriṣu fī fasādihi, fa-huwa yuṭālibuka fī fasādi al-dīni wa-al-dunyā, wa-al-ʾākhirati jamīʿan. Fa-al-ḥadhara, ʿalayka bi-al-jiddi fī mukhālafatihi.
Learn that Iblīs leaves no door of evil without wanting to make you fall through it. Whenever you undertake some form of good, he strives to corrupt it. He pursues you to ruin your religion, your worldly life, and your life to come, all together. Beware, and be earnest in opposing him.
[النِّيَّةُ أَسَاسُ التَّقْوَى]
[Al-niyyatu ʾasāsu al-taqwā]
[Intention Is the Foundation of Mindfulness of God]
Source pages 53–54
وَاعْلَمْ، رَحِمَكَ اللّٰهُ، أَنَّ أَسَاسَ التَّقْوَى، وَأَصْلَ مَا بَنَى عَلَيْهِ الْعَابِدُونَ عِبَادَتَهُمْ، وَالَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا اللّٰهَ تَعَالَى، إِنَّمَا هُوَ النِّيَّةُ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا أَرَادُوا بِهِ، فِي تَرْكِ مَعْصِيَةٍ، أَوْ عَمَلٍ بِطَاعَةٍ.
Wa-iʿlam, raḥimaka Allāhu, ʾanna ʾasāsa al-taqwā, wa-ʾaṣla mā banā ʿalayhi al-ʿābidūna ʿibādatahum, wa-alladhīna ṣadaqū Allāha taʿālā, ʾinnamā huwa al-niyyatu fī jamīʿi mā ʾarādū bihi, fī tarki maʿṣiyatin, ʾaw ʿamalin biṭāʿatin.
Know, may God have mercy on you, that the foundation of mindfulness of God, and the basis on which worshipers and those true to God Most High have built their worship, is intention in everything they seek through it, whether abandoning a sin or performing an act of obedience.
Source page 54
فَعَلَيْكَ بِصَلَاحِ نِيَّتِكَ، فَإِنَّ بِهَا صَلَاحَ آخِرَتِكَ وَدُنْيَاكَ جَمِيعًا، فَاقْصِدْ أَوَّلَ مَا تَقْصِدُ إِلَى نِيَّتِكَ، فَإِنَّمَا الْعَزْمُ بِالنِّيَّةِ، وَلَا يَصِلُ إِلَيْكَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الرَّبِّ تَعَالَى إِلَّا بِهِ.
Fa-ʿalayka biṣalāḥi niyyatika, fa-ʾinna bihā ṣalāḥa ʾākhiratika wa-dunyāka jamīʿan, fa-iqṣid ʾawwala mā taqṣidu ʾilā niyyatika, fa-ʾinnamā al-ʿazmu bi-al-niyyati, wa-lā yaṣilu ʾilayka shayʾun min maʿrifati al-rabbi taʿālā ʾillā bihi.
Attend to making your intention sound, for through it both your next life and this life become sound. Direct your attention first of all to your intention. Resolve depends on intention, and no knowledge of the Lord Most High reaches you except through it.
فَعَلَيْكَ بِنِيَّتِكَ، فَإِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ خَفِيٌّ فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ اللّٰهِ، فَلَا تَعْمَلْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا بِنِيَّتِكَ، يَكُونُ فِيهَا لِلّٰهِ رِضًا، وَلَا تَأْكُلْ، وَلَا تَشْرَبْ، وَلَا تَتَكَلَّمْ، وَلَا تَنْظُرْ، وَلَا يَرَاكَ اللّٰهُ تَعْمَلُ شَيْئًا إِلَّا بِالنِّيَّةِ.
Fa-ʿalayka biniyyatika, fa-ʾinnahu ʿamalun khafiyyun fīmā baynaka wa-bayna Allāhi, fa-lā taʿmal shayʾan ʾillā biniyyatika, yakūnu fīhā li-llāhi riḍan, wa-lā taʾkul, wa-lā tashrab, wa-lā tatakallam, wa-lā tanẓur, wa-lā yarāka Allāhu taʿmalu shayʾan ʾillā bi-al-niyyati.
Attend to your intention, for it is a hidden act between you and God. Do nothing without an intention in which God takes pleasure. Do not eat, drink, speak, or look, and do not let God see you doing anything, except with intention.
وَاعْلَمْ رَحِمَكَ اللّٰهُ أَنَّكَ إِذَا كَانَتْ نِيَّتُكَ جَيِّدَةً، صَحِيحَةً، كَانَ مَعَكَ الْجُنْدُ الَّذِي لَا يُهْزَمُ، وَالْقَيُّومُ الَّذِي لَا يَنَامُ، وَالْحَارِسُ الَّذِي لَا يَغْفُلُ، وَهِيَ رَأْسُ مَالِكَ، وَهِيَ مَالٌ لَا يَنْفَدُ.
Wa-iʿlam raḥimaka Allāhu ʾannaka ʾidhā kānat niyyatuka jayyidatan, ṣaḥīḥatan, kāna maʿaka al-jundu alladhī lā yuhzamu, wa-al-qayyūmu alladhī lā yanāmu, wa-al-ḥārisu alladhī lā yaghfulu, wa-hiya raʾsu mālika, wa-hiya mālun lā yanfadu.
Know, may God have mercy on you, that when your intention is good and sound, you have with you an army that cannot be defeated, the Ever-Sustaining One who never sleeps, and a guardian who never grows heedless. Your intention is your capital, a wealth that never runs out.
Source page 55
فَاللّٰهَ، اللّٰهَ فِي صَلَاحِ نِيَّتِكَ.
Fa-Allāha, Allāha fī ṣalāḥi niyyatika.
For God's sake, for God's sake, make your intention sound!
وَلَا تَكُونُ النِّيَّةُ إِلَّا بِالْمَعْرِفَةِ، وَلَا تَكُونُ الْمَعْرِفَةُ إِلَّا بِنِيَّةٍ، وَلَا تَسْتَغْنِي إِحْدَاهُمَا عَنِ الْأُخْرَى، فَجِدَّ وَاجْتَهِدْ فِي صَلَاحِ نِيَّتِكَ، فَإِنَّ بِهَا تُدْرِكُ الْخَلَاصَ، وَالْإِخْلَاصَ.
Wa-lā takūnu al-niyyatu ʾillā bi-al-maʿrifati, wa-lā takūnu al-maʿrifatu ʾillā biniyyatin, wa-lā tastaghnī ʾiḥdāhumā ʿani al-ʾukhrā, fa-jidda wa-ijtahid fī ṣalāḥi niyyatika, fa-ʾinna bihā tudriku al-khalāṣa, wa-al-ʾikhlāṣa.
There can be no intention without knowledge, and no knowledge without intention. Neither can do without the other. Be earnest and strive to make your intention sound, for through it you attain deliverance and sincerity.
فَاقْصِدْ إِلَى نِيَّتِكَ، وَنَقِّهَا مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْآفَاتِ، مَنَّ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْنَا، وَعَلَيْكَ بِمَعْرِفَةِ النِّيَّةِ، وَصَلَاحِهَا مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْعُيُوبِ. وَعَلَيْكَ بِمَعْرِفَةِ الْعُيُوبِ الْجَارِحَةِ، وَعُيُوبِ الطَّاعَاتِ، وَالْمَعَاصِي كُلِّهَا، فَإِنَّهُ بَابٌ عَظِيمٌ، بِهِ تَصِلُ إِلَى التَّقْوَى.
Fa-iqṣid ʾilā niyyatika, wa-naqqihā min jamīʿi al-ʾāfāti, manna Allāhu ʿalaynā, wa-ʿalayka bimaʿrifati al-niyyati, wa-ṣalāḥihā min jamīʿi al-ʿuyūbi. Wa-ʿalayka bimaʿrifati al-ʿuyūbi al-jāriḥati, wa-ʿuyūbi al-ṭāʿāti, wa-al-maʿāṣī kullihā, fa-ʾinnahu bābun ʿaẓīmun, bihi taṣilu ʾilā al-taqwā.
Turn to your intention and cleanse it of every defect. May God favor us and you with understanding intention and making it sound, free of every fault. You must recognize damaging faults, the faults in acts of obedience, and all sins. This is a great gateway through which you reach mindfulness of God.
وَاعْلَمْ رَحِمَكَ اللّٰهُ أَنَّكَ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَى طَهَارَةِ قَلْبِكَ، وَإِلَى حُسْنِ نِيَّتِكَ، إِلَّا بِالتَّوْبَةِ النَّصُوحِ، وَاجْتِنَابِ الْمَحَارِمِ، وَتَرْكِ الشَّهَوَاتِ كُلِّهَا، وَالْوُقُوفِ عِنْدَ الشُّبُهَاتِ، وَلَا تَرَى مِثْلَ خَلَّةٍ إِلَّا سَدَدْتَهَا، وَلَا فَسَادًا إِلَّا أَصْلَحْتَهُ.
Wa-iʿlam raḥimaka Allāhu ʾannaka lā taṣilu ʾilā ṭahārati qalbika, wa-ʾilā ḥusni niyyatika, ʾillā bi-al-tawbati al-naṣūḥi, wa-ijtinābi al-maḥārimi, wa-tarki al-shahawāti kullihā, wa-al-wuqūfi ʿinda al-shubuhāti, wa-lā tarā mithla khallatin ʾillā sadadtahā, wa-lā fasādan ʾillā ʾaṣlaḥtahu.
Know, may God have mercy on you, that you reach purity of heart and goodness of intention only through sincere repentance, avoidance of forbidden things, abandonment of all desires, and stopping short of doubtful matters. Whenever you see anything like a breach, close it; whenever you see corruption, put it right.
Source page 56
[اتَّبِعْ وَلَا تَبْتَدِعْ]
[Ittabiʿ wa-lā tabtadiʿ]
[Follow and Do Not Innovate]
وَيُعِينُكَ عَلَى ذٰلِكَ اتِّبَاعُ طَرِيقِ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَإِيَّاكَ وَالْمُحْدَثَاتِ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ، وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ، وَالضَّلَالَةُ وَأَهْلُهَا فِي النَّارِ، أَعَاذَنَا اللّٰهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ.
Wa-yuʿīnuka ʿalā dhālika ittibāʿu ṭarīqi ʾaṣḥābi al-nabiyyi ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallama, wa-ʾiyyāka wa-al-muḥdathāti mina al-ʾumūri, fa-ʾinna kulla muḥdathatin bidʿatun, wa-kulla bidʿatin ḍalālatun, wa-al-ḍalālatu wa-ʾahluhā fī al-nāri, ʾaʿādhanā Allāhu wa-ʾiyyākum mina al-nāri.
Following the path of the Companions of the Prophet, God bless him and grant him peace, helps you in this. Beware of newly introduced matters, for every newly introduced matter is an innovation, and every innovation is error. Error and its people are in the Fire. May God protect us and you from the Fire.
فَتَعَلَّمْ أَنَّكَ إِذَا أَخَذْتَ طَرِيقَ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحْتَ، وَأَفْلَحَتْ حُجَّتُكَ، وَنِلْتَ بُغْيَتَكَ، وَلَا تُخَالِفْهُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْأَشْيَاءِ، فَإِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى الْحَقِّ الْمُبِينِ، وَالنُّورِ الْوَاضِحِ، فَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَهُمْ، وَلَا تُخَالِفْهُمْ فَيُخَالَفَ بِكَ.
Fa-taʿallam ʾannaka ʾidhā ʾakhadhta ṭarīqa ʾaṣḥābi rasūli Allāhi ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallama fa-qad ʾaflaḥta, wa-ʾaflaḥat ḥujjatuka, wa-nilta bughyataka, wa-lā tukhālifhum fī shayʾin mina al-ʾashyāʾi, fa-ʾinnahum kānū ʿalā al-ḥaqqi al-mubīni, wa-al-nūri al-wāḍiḥi, fa-ittabiʿ sabīlahum, wa-lā tukhālifhum fa-yukhālafa bika.
Learn that when you take the path of the Companions of God's Messenger, God bless him and grant him peace, you have succeeded, your case has prevailed, and you have attained what you seek. Do not oppose them in anything, for they followed manifest truth and clear light. Follow their way and do not depart from them, lest you be taken along a different path.
وَتَعْتَصِمُ بِاللّٰهِ فِي جَمِيعِ حَرَكَاتِكَ، وَأَحْوَالِكَ، وَعَلَيْكَ بِالْقَصْدِ فِي مَطْعَمِكَ، وَمَلْبَسِكَ، وَالْقَصْدِ فِي صَلَاتِكَ، وَصِيَامِكَ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ.
Wa-taʿtaṣimu bi-Allāhi fī jamīʿi ḥarakātika, wa-ʾaḥwālika, wa-ʿalayka bi-al-qaṣdi fī maṭʿamika, wa-malbasika, wa-al-qaṣdi fī ṣalātika, wa-ṣiyāmika, wa-lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata ʾillā bi-Allāhi.
Hold firmly to God in all your movements and circumstances. Practice moderation in your food and clothing, and moderation in your prayer and fasting. There is no power and no strength except through God.
Source page 57
[الرِّفْقُ بِالنُّفُوسِ وَأَثَرُهُ]
[Al-rifqu bi-al-nufūsi wa-ʾatharuhu]
[Gentleness with the Self and Its Effects]
وَعَلَيْكَ بِالرِّفْقِ، فَإِنَّ نَفْسَكَ هِيَ مُهْجَتُكَ، فَلَا تُنَفِّرْهَا، وَخُذْ مِنْهَا لَهَا، وَبِاللّٰهِ تَعَالَى فَاسْتَعِنْ فِي أُمُورِكَ كُلِّهَا، فَإِنَّهُ الْمُعِينُ عَلَيْهَا.
Wa-ʿalayka bi-al-rifqi, fa-ʾinna nafsaka hiya muhjatuka, fa-lā tunaffirhā, wa-khudh minhā lahā, wa-bi-Allāhi taʿālā fa-istaʿin fī ʾumūrika kullihā, fa-ʾinnahu al-muʿīnu ʿalayhā.
Be gentle, for your self is your very life. Do not drive it away; take from it for its own benefit. Seek the help of God Most High in all your affairs, for He is the One who helps with them.
لِأَنَّ بِيَدِهِ إِعَانَةَ الْقُلُوبِ، وَأَنْفَاسَ الْخَلْقِ أَجْمَعِينَ، يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى، وَهُوَ فَتَّاحُ الْقُلُوبِ لِمَا يُحِبُّهُ وَيَرْضَاهُ.
Li-ʾanna biyadihi ʾiʿānata al-qulūbi, wa-ʾanfāsa al-khalqi ʾajmaʿīna, yaʿlamu al-sirra wa-ʾakhfā, wa-huwa fattāḥu al-qulūbi limā yuḥibbuhu wa-yarḍāhu.
In His hand are the support of hearts and the breaths of all creatures. He knows what is secret and what is more hidden still, and He opens hearts to what He loves and approves.
فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللّٰهِ تَعَالَى فِي أُمُورِكَ كُلِّهَا، وَلَا تُبَالِي بِمَنْ عَادَاكَ، إِذَا كَانَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالَى مَعَكَ، وَكَفَى بِاللّٰهِ حَفِيظًا، كَانَ اللّٰهُ لَنَا وَلَكَ، فَإِنَّهُ الْقَائِدُ السَّائِقُ إِلَى كُلِّ خَيْرٍ.
Fa-istaʿin bi-Allāhi taʿālā fī ʾumūrika kullihā, wa-lā tubālī biman ʿādāka, ʾidhā kāna Allāhu taʿālā maʿaka, wa-kafā bi-Allāhi ḥafīẓan, kāna Allāhu lanā wa-laka, fa-ʾinnahu al-qāʾidu al-sāʾiqu ʾilā kulli khayrin.
Seek God's help in all your affairs, and do not be concerned about who is hostile to you when God Most High is with you. God is enough as a guardian. May God be there for us and for you, for He leads and drives us toward every good.
قَالَ الْمُحَاسِبِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللّٰهُ تَعَالَى:
Qāla al-Muḥāsibiyyu raḥimahu Allāhu taʿālā:
Al-Muḥāsibī said, may God Most High have mercy on him:
فَلَا تَكُنْ هِمَّتُكَ فِي كَثْرَةِ الْعَمَلِ، إِلَّا إِذَا صَحِبَتِ الْإِخْلَاصَ لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى، وَأَمَّا عَمَلٌ دُونَ إِخْلَاصٍ، فَهُوَ مَرْدُودٌ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ.
Fa-lā takun himmatuka fī kathrati al-ʿamali, ʾillā ʾidhā ṣaḥibati al-ʾikhlāṣa li-llāhi taʿālā, wa-ʾammā ʿamalun dūna ʾikhlāṣin, fa-huwa mardūdun ʿalā ṣāḥibihi.
Do not make an abundance of deeds your aim unless it is accompanied by sincerity toward God Most High. Deeds without sincerity are rejected and returned to the one who performs them.
Source page 58
[الْإِخْلَاصُ وَالْبُعْدُ عَنِ الْمُحَرَّمَاتِ]
[Al-ʾikhlāṣu wa-al-buʿdu ʿani al-muḥarramāti]
[Sincerity and Keeping Away from Forbidden Things]
وَإِنَّمَا تَكُونُ هِمَّتُكَ فِي إِخْلَاصِ الْعَمَلِ، وَإِنْ قَلَّ، وَتُخَلِّصُهُ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْآفَاتِ، لِأَنَّ مَا أُرِيدَ بِهِ وَجْهُهُ لَيْسَ بِقَلِيلٍ.
Wa-ʾinnamā takūnu himmatuka fī ʾikhlāṣi al-ʿamali, wa-ʾin qalla, wa-tukhalliṣuhu min jamīʿi al-ʾāfāti, li-ʾanna mā ʾurīda bihi wajhuhu laysa biqalīlin.
Let your aim be sincerity in your deeds, however few, and free them of every defect, for whatever is done seeking His face is never little.
وَخُذْ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ، وَالصِّيَامِ، وَالذِّكْرِ، قَصْدًا، وَدَوَامًا، وَإِذَا فَتَحَ اللّٰهُ لَكَ بَابًا مِنَ الْخَيْرِ فَالْزَمْهُ، وَعَلَيْكَ بِالتَّأَنِّي فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِكَ كُلِّهَا إِلَّا فِي فَرَائِضِ اللّٰهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَأَدْرِكْ كُلَّ فَرْضٍ فِي وَقْتِهِ.
Wa-khudh mina al-ṣalāti, wa-al-ṣiyāmi, wa-al-dhikri, qaṣdan, wa-dawāman, wa-ʾidhā fataḥa Allāhu laka bāban mina al-khayri fa-ilzamhu, wa-ʿalayka bi-al-taʾannī fī jamīʿi ʾumūrika kullihā ʾillā fī farāʾiḍi Allāhi ʿazza wa-jalla, wa-ʾadrik kulla farḍin fī waqtihi.
Take up prayer, fasting, and remembrance with moderation and constancy. When God opens a door of good for you, stay with it. Be deliberate in all your affairs except in the obligations of God, mighty and majestic, and perform each obligation at its proper time.
وَأَمَّا الْمُحَرَّمَاتُ، فَإِنْ قَدَرْتَ أَنْ تَتْرُكَهَا فِي سَاعَةٍ فَافْعَلْ مَعَ الِاسْتِعَانَةِ بِاللّٰهِ تَعَالَى، فَإِذَا وَجَدْتَ الْقُوَّةَ فِي قَلْبِكَ فَاحْمَدِ اللّٰهَ عَلَى مَا مَنَّ بِهِ عَلَيْكَ.
Wa-ʾammā al-muḥarramātu, fa-ʾin qadarta ʾan tatrukahā fī sāʿatin fa-ifʿal maʿa al-istiʿānati bi-Allāhi taʿālā, fa-ʾidhā wajadta al-quwwata fī qalbika fa-iḥmadi Allāha ʿalā mā manna bihi ʿalayka.
As for forbidden things, if you can give them up in a single hour, do so, seeking the help of God Most High. When you find strength in your heart, praise God for what He has graciously bestowed on you.
وَلِلْقُوَّةِ فِي الْقَلْبِ عَلَامَةٌ تُعْرَفُ بِهَا، وَهِيَ النَّشَاطُ لِلْعِبَادَةِ دُونَ تَكَاسُلٍ، وَتَشْكُرُ اللّٰهَ عَلَى مَا مَنَّ بِهِ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ دَوَامِ الْقُوَّةِ فِي قَلْبِكَ، وَالْحَذَرُ وَالشَّفَقَةُ يَصْحَبَانِكَ أَبَدًا، وَالْحُزْنُ وَالْأَسَفُ عَلَى مَا فَاتَكَ مِنْ طَاعَةِ اللّٰهِ، نَادِمًا عَلَى مَا مَضَى مِنْ تَقْصِيرِكَ فِي عُمُرِكَ، وَتَقْصِيرِكَ فِيمَا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَمَضَى.
Wa-li-al-quwwati fī al-qalbi ʿalāmatun tuʿrafu bihā, wa-hiya al-nashāṭu li-al-ʿibādati dūna takāsulin, wa-tashkuru Allāha ʿalā mā manna bihi ʿalayka min dawāmi al-quwwati fī qalbika, wa-al-ḥadharu wa-al-shafaqatu yaṣḥabānika ʾabadan, wa-al-ḥuznu wa-al-ʾasafu ʿalā mā fātaka min ṭāʿati Allāhi, nādiman ʿalā mā maḍā min taqṣīrika fī ʿumurika, wa-taqṣīrika fīmā qad salafa wa-maḍā.
Strength in the heart has a recognizable sign: energy for worship without laziness. You thank God for the lasting strength He has granted your heart, while caution and apprehension always accompany you, along with grief and sorrow for the obedience to God you have missed. You regret the shortcomings of your past life and your failings in what has already gone by.
Source page 59
فَإِذَا وَجَدْتَ هٰذِهِ الْعَلَامَةَ عَطَفْتَ بِالْمُحَاسَبَةِ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ، فَانْتَبِهْ لِأَمْرِكَ بِالْفِكْرِ، وَعَلَيْكَ بِدَوَامِ الْحَذَرِ، وَتَصِلُ إِلَى الْحَذَرِ بِحِفْظِ اللِّسَانِ مَعَ ضَبْطِ الْبَطْنِ، وَالْعُزْلَةِ.
Fa-ʾidhā wajadta hādhihi al-ʿalāmata ʿaṭafta bi-al-muḥāsabati ʿalā qalbika, fa-intabih li-ʾamrika bi-al-fikri, wa-ʿalayka bidawāmi al-ḥadhari, wa-taṣilu ʾilā al-ḥadhari biḥifẓi al-lisāni maʿa ḍabṭi al-baṭni, wa-al-ʿuzlati.
When you find this sign, turn back to your heart with self-examination. Awaken to your condition through reflection and remain constantly cautious. You attain caution by guarding the tongue, controlling the stomach, and seeking seclusion.
أَدَامَ اللّٰهُ لَنَا وَلَكَ تَمَامَ النِّعْمَةِ، وَعَرَّفَنَا إِيَّاكَ مَا يَنْفَعُنَا مِمَّا يَضُرُّنَا، وَفَتَحَ اللّٰهُ أَسْمَاعَ قُلُوبِنَا حَتَّى تَعْقِلَ أَمْرَ اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى، مِنْ أَمْرِ عَدُوِّهِ، وَنَهْيَ اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى مِنْ نَهْيِ عَدُوِّهِ.
ʾAdāma Allāhu lanā wa-laka tamāma al-niʿmati, wa-ʿarrafanā ʾiyyāka mā yanfaʿunā mimmā yaḍurrunā, wa-fataḥa Allāhu ʾasmāʿa qulūbinā ḥattā taʿqila ʾamra Allāhi taʿālā, min ʾamri ʿaduwwihi, wa-nahya Allāhi taʿālā min nahyi ʿaduwwihi.
May God sustain the fullness of His blessing for us and you, and teach us [and] you to distinguish what benefits us from what harms us [the printed construction lacks the connecting word]. May God open the hearing of our hearts so that they distinguish God's command from His enemy's command, and God's prohibition from His enemy's prohibition.
فَإِذَا سَارَعْتَ فِي ذٰلِكَ، وَتَخَلَّقْتَ بِهِ، أَوْصَلَكَ اللّٰهُ إِلَى طَهَارَةِ الْقَلْبِ، وَصَفَائِهِ مِنْ ظُلْمَةِ الْهَوَى.
Fa-ʾidhā sāraʿta fī dhālika, wa-takhallaqta bihi, ʾawṣalaka Allāhu ʾilā ṭahārati al-qalbi, wa-ṣafāʾihi min ẓulmati al-hawā.
When you hasten to do this and make it part of your character, God brings you to purity of heart and freedom from the darkness of desire.
فَإِذَا انْجَلَى قَلْبُكَ نَظَرْتَ مَا دَعَاكَ اللّٰهُ إِلَيْهِ فَاتَّبَعْتَهُ، وَنَظَرْتَ مَا دَعَاكَ إِلَيْهِ عَدُوُّ اللّٰهِ إِبْلِيسُ، مَعَ مَا دَعَتْكَ إِلَيْهِ نَفْسُكَ فَتَرَكْتَهُ، وَاجْتَنَبْتَهُ. فَإِذَا صَلَحَ الْقَلْبُ صَلَحَ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِإِذْنِ اللّٰهِ، وَسَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ هُوَ الْجَوَارِحُ.
Fa-ʾidhā injalā qalbuka naẓarta mā daʿāka Allāhu ʾilayhi fa-ittabaʿtahu, wa-naẓarta mā daʿāka ʾilayhi ʿaduwwu Allāhi ʾIblīsu, maʿa mā daʿatka ʾilayhi nafsuka fa-taraktahu, wa-ijtanabtahu. Fa-ʾidhā ṣalaḥa al-qalbu ṣalaḥa sāʾiru al-jasadi bi-ʾidhni Allāhi, wa-sāʾiru al-jasadi huwa al-jawāriḥu.
When your heart becomes clear, you see what God calls you toward and follow it. You see what God's enemy Iblīs calls you toward, along with what your self calls you toward, and abandon and avoid it. When the heart is sound, the rest of the body becomes sound, by God's permission; the rest of the body means the limbs.
وَبِاللّٰهِ يُدْرَكُ كُلُّ خَيْرٍ، وَبِهِ يُتْرَكُ كُلُّ شَرٍّ.
Wa-bi-Allāhi yudraku kullu khayrin, wa-bihi yutraku kullu sharrin.
Through God every good is attained, and through Him every evil is abandoned.
[شِدَّةُ مُحَاسَبَةِ النَّفْسِ]
[Shiddatu muḥāsabati al-nafsi]
[Rigorous Self Examination]
Source pages 59–60
وَحَاسِبْ نَفْسَكَ مُحَاسَبَةَ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ قَادِمٌ عَلَى اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى، وَيَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ جَمِيعِ مَا يَكُونُ مِنْهُ فِي السِّرِّ وَالْجَهْرِ، وَيَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْجُو مِنَ اللّٰهِ إِلَّا بِالصِّدْقِ، وَالِاسْتِقَامَةِ، مَعَ عَفْوِ اللّٰهِ وَجُودِهِ، وَكَرَمِهِ.
Wa-ḥāsib nafsaka muḥāsabata man yaʿlamu ʾannahu qādimun ʿalā Allāhi taʿālā, wa-yaʿlamu ʾanna Allāha yasʾaluhu ʿan jamīʿi mā yakūnu minhu fī al-sirri wa-al-jahri, wa-yaʿlamu ʾannahu lā yanjū mina Allāhi ʾillā bi-al-ṣidqi, wa-al-istiqāmati, maʿa ʿafwi Allāhi wa-jūdihi, wa-karamihi.
Call yourself to account as someone who knows that he is coming before God Most High, that God will question him about everything he does privately and openly, and that he can escape God's punishment only through truthfulness and uprightness, together with God's pardon, generosity, and noble grace.
Source page 60
فَاعْمَلْ ذِكْرَكَ فِي قَتْلِ هَوَى نَفْسِكَ، وَاحْذَرْ مِنَ الْأَمَانِيِّ، وَالتَّسْوِيفِ، أَعَانَنَا اللّٰهُ وَإِيَّاكَ عَلَيْهَا، بِلَا عُقُوبَةٍ مِنْهُ لَنَا.
Fa-iʿmal dhikraka fī qatli hawā nafsika, wa-iḥdhar mina al-ʾamāniyyi, wa-al-taswīfi, ʾaʿānanā Allāhu wa-ʾiyyāka ʿalayhā, bilā ʿuqūbatin minhu lanā.
Practice your remembrance in putting your self's desire to death [the printed phrasing is unusual]. Beware of wishful thinking and procrastination. May God help us and you against them without punishing us.
فَإِذَا اجْتَهَدْتَ فِي زَوَالِ هٰذِهِ الظُّلْمَةِ، وَالْأَخْلَاقِ الرَّدِيَّةِ مِنْ قَلْبِكَ، فَقَدْ طَهُرْتَ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ.
Fa-ʾidhā ijtahadta fī zawāli hādhihi al-ẓulmati, wa-al-ʾakhlāqi al-radiyyati min qalbika, fa-qad ṭahurta ʿinda rabbika.
When you strive to remove this darkness and these bad traits from your heart, you have become pure before your Lord.
وَاعْلَمْ رَحِمَكَ اللّٰهُ: أَنَّكَ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَى طَهَارَةِ الْقَلْبِ، وَفِيهِ آفَةٌ مِنَ الْآفَاتِ، لَا ظَاهِرَةٌ، وَلَا بَاطِنَةٌ، وَتَكُونُ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ سَيِّئَةٌ، أَوْ يَكُونُ فِيهِ عَيْبٌ، أَوْ خُلُقٌ رَدِيءٌ.
Wa-iʿlam raḥimaka Allāhu: ʾannaka lā taṣilu ʾilā ṭahārati al-qalbi, wa-fīhi ʾāfatun mina al-ʾāfāti, lā ẓāhiratun, wa-lā bāṭinatun, wa-takūnu fīhi khaṣlatun sayyiʾatun, ʾaw yakūnu fīhi ʿaybun, ʾaw khuluqun radīʾun.
Know, may God have mercy on you, that you cannot attain purity of heart while it contains any defect, outward or inward, or while it contains a bad quality, a fault, or an evil trait.
فَإِذَا عَلِمْتَ ذٰلِكَ مِنْ قَلْبِكَ فَعَلَيْكَ بِالتَّثَبُّتِ، فَإِنَّهُ بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الطَّهَارَةِ، فَالْعَبْدُ إِذَا كَانَ هٰكَذَا، لَا يَأْمَنُ قَلْبُهُ، وَلَا تَسْكُنُ رَوْعَتُهُ، حَتَّى يُخَلِّفَ جِسْرَ جَهَنَّمَ.
Fa-ʾidhā ʿalimta dhālika min qalbika fa-ʿalayka bi-al-tathabbuti, fa-ʾinnahu bābun min ʾabwābi al-ṭahārati, fa-al-ʿabdu ʾidhā kāna hākadhā, lā yaʾmanu qalbuhu, wa-lā taskunu rawʿatuhu, ḥattā yukhallifa jisra jahannama.
When you recognize this in your heart, be painstakingly careful, for this is one of the gateways to purity. When a servant is like this, his heart does not feel secure and his dread does not subside until he leaves the bridge over Hell behind him.
Source pages 60–61
فَهُوَ أَبَدًا مَكْرُوبًا، مَهْمُومًا، مَغْمُومًا، مَحْزُونًا، انْكَسَرَ الْحُزْنُ فِي قَلْبِهِ، فَلَيْسَ لَهُ رَاحَةٌ، وَلَا فَرَحٌ دُونَ الْمُعَايَنَةِ.
Fa-huwa ʾabadan makrūban, mahmūman, maghmūman, maḥzūnan, inkasara al-ḥuznu fī qalbihi, fa-laysa lahu rāḥatun, wa-lā faraḥun dūna al-muʿāyanati.
He is always distressed, worried, anxious, and sorrowful. “Grief has broken within his heart” [the printed wording is unclear]. He has neither rest nor joy short of seeing for himself.
Source page 61
[كَيْفَ تَصِلُ إِلَى حَلَاوَةِ الْعِبَادَةِ]
[Kayfa taṣilu ʾilā ḥalāwati al-ʿibādati]
[How to Attain the Sweetness of Worship]
قَالَ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ الْمُحَاسِبِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللّٰهُ:
Qāla al-Ḥārithu bnu ʾAsadin al-Muḥāsibiyyu raḥimahu Allāhu:
Al-Ḥārith ibn Asad al-Muḥāsibī said, may God have mercy on him:
وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَى طَهَارَةِ الْقَلْبِ وَصَفَائِهِ، إِلَّا بِالتَّحَوُّلِ عَنْ جَمِيعِ مَا يَكْرَهُ اللّٰهُ إِلَى جَمِيعِ مَا يُحِبُّهُ، وَتُخْرِجُ مِنْ قَلْبِكَ كُلَّ مَا تُحِبُّهُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا، وَتُخْرِجُ مِنْ قَلْبِكَ هُمُومَ الدُّنْيَا.
Wa-iʿlam ʾannaka lā taṣilu ʾilā ṭahārati al-qalbi wa-ṣafāʾihi, ʾillā bi-al-taḥawwuli ʿan jamīʿi mā yakrahu Allāhu ʾilā jamīʿi mā yuḥibbuhu, wa-tukhriju min qalbika kulla mā tuḥibbuhu mina al-dunyā, wa-tukhriju min qalbika humūma al-dunyā.
Know that you reach purity and clarity of heart only by turning away from everything God dislikes toward everything He loves. Remove from your heart everything you love of this world, and remove its worldly concerns.
فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَى حَلَاوَةِ الْعِبَادَةِ، وَفِي قَلْبِكَ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا، فَإِذَا خَرَجَ مِنْ قَلْبِكَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ أُمُورِ الدُّنْيَا دَخَلَ مَكَانَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنْ عُلُومِ الْآخِرَةِ.
Fa-ʾinnaka lā taṣilu ʾilā ḥalāwati al-ʿibādati, wa-fī qalbika shayʾun mina al-dunyā, fa-ʾidhā kharaja min qalbika shayʾun min ʾumūri al-dunyā dakhala makānahu ʿilmun min ʿulūmi al-ʾākhirati.
You cannot attain the sweetness of worship while anything of this world remains in your heart. Whenever something worldly leaves your heart, some knowledge of the next world enters in its place.
فَلَا تَزَالُ كَذٰلِكَ فِي الْبَحْثِ فِي عُيُوبِ نَفْسِكَ، مَتَى مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْكَ خُلُقٌ سَيِّئٌ، نَفَاهُ خُلُقٌ حَسَنٌ، حَتَّى تُورَثَ بِذٰلِكَ الطَّهَارَةَ، وَالِالْتِجَاءَ إِلَى اللّٰهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.
Fa-lā tazālu ka-dhālika fī al-baḥthi fī ʿuyūbi nafsika, matā mā ẓahara minka khuluqun sayyiʾun, nafāhu khuluqun ḥasanun, ḥattā tūratha bi-dhālika al-ṭahārata, wa-al-iltijāʾa ʾilā Allāhi ʿazza wa-jalla.
Continue like this, searching out your self's faults. Whenever a bad trait appears in you, let a good trait drive it out, until through this you are granted purity and the practice of taking refuge in God, mighty and majestic.
[الزُّهْدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالطَّرِيقُ إِلَيْهِ]
[Al-zuhdu fī al-dunyā wa-al-ṭarīqu ʾilayhi]
[Renouncing the World and the Path to It]
قَالَ الْمُحَاسِبِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللّٰهُ:
Qāla al-Muḥāsibiyyu raḥimahu Allāhu:
Al-Muḥāsibī said, may God have mercy on him:
Source pages 61–62
اعْلَمْ أَنَّ سَبَبَ الزُّهْدِ فِي الدُّنْيَا الصَّمْتُ إِلَّا عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى، مَعَ دَوَامِ الْفِكْرِ، وَيَعْرِفُ الْعَبْدُ نَفْسَهُ بِكَثْرَةِ ذَمِّهِ إِيَّاهَا، وَيَعْرِفُ نِعَمَ اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى بِكَثْرَةِ ذِكْرِهَا.
Iʿlam ʾanna sababa al-zuhdi fī al-dunyā al-ṣamtu ʾillā ʿan dhikri Allāhi taʿālā, maʿa dawāmi al-fikri, wa-yaʿrifu al-ʿabdu nafsahu bikathrati dhammihi ʾiyyāhā, wa-yaʿrifu niʿama Allāhi taʿālā bikathrati dhikrihā.
Know that renunciation of the world comes from silence, except for the remembrance of God Most High, together with constant reflection. A servant comes to know his self by frequently censuring it, and comes to know God's blessings by frequently recalling them.
Source page 62
وَعَلَى قَدْرِ فِكْرَتِكَ فِي شِدَّةِ عِقَابِ اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى، يَعْظُمُ خَوْفُكَ، وَعَلَى قَدْرِ ذَمِّ الْعَبْدِ لِنَفْسِهِ فِي تَقْصِيرِ الشُّكْرِ يَسْتَوْجِبُ الزِّيَادَةَ مِنْ رَبِّهِ تَعَالَى.
Wa-ʿalā qadri fikratika fī shiddati ʿiqābi Allāhi taʿālā, yaʿẓumu khawfuka, wa-ʿalā qadri dhammi al-ʿabdi linafsihi fī taqṣīri al-shukri yastawjibu al-ziyādata min rabbihi taʿālā.
Your fear grows in proportion to your reflection on the severity of God's punishment. A servant becomes deserving of increase from his Lord Most High in proportion to his censure of himself for falling short in gratitude.
Source pages 62–63
وَاعْلَمْ رَحِمَكَ اللّٰهُ أَنَّ لِعَدُوِّكَ إِبْلِيسَ مَكَايِدَ، وَمَخَادِعَ، يَكِيدُ بِهَا الْعَبِيدَ، وَيَخْدَعُهُمْ بِهَا.
Wa-iʿlam raḥimaka Allāhu ʾanna liʿaduwwika ʾIblīsa makāyida, wa-makhādiʿa, yakīdu bihā al-ʿabīda, wa-yakhdaʿuhum bihā.
Know, may God have mercy on you, that your enemy Iblīs has schemes and tricks with which he plots against servants and deceives them.
Source page 63
فَأَوَّلُ مَكَايِدِهِ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْعَبْدُ مُشْتَغِلًا بِأَمْرِ اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى، مُقْبِلًا عَلَى طَاعَتِهِ، فَيَدْعُوهُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلَى كَسْبِ الْحَلَالِ بِزَعْمِهِ، وَيَقُولُ لَهُ: لَا بَأْسَ عَلَيْكَ فِي الْكَسْبِ مِنَ الْحَلَالِ، تَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ، وَتُجَاهِدُ، وَتَحُجُّ، وَتَغْزُو، وَتَصِلُ رَحِمَكَ.
Fa-ʾawwalu makāyidihi ʾan yakūna al-ʿabdu mushtaghilan bi-ʾamri Allāhi taʿālā, muqbilan ʿalā ṭāʿatihi, fa-yadʿūhu al-shayṭānu ʾilā kasbi al-ḥalāli bizaʿmihi, wa-yaqūlu lahu: lā baʾsa ʿalayka fī al-kasbi mina al-ḥalāli, tataṣaddaqu bihi, wa-tujāhidu, wa-taḥujju, wa-taghzū, wa-taṣilu raḥimaka.
His first scheme is this: while the servant is occupied with God's command and devoted to obeying Him, Satan invites him to earn what he claims is lawful. He says to him: “There is no harm in earning lawfully. You can give it in charity, strive in God's cause, make the pilgrimage, go on military expeditions, and maintain your family ties.”
فَإِنْ ظَفِرَ بِكَ مِنْ هٰذَا الْبَابِ، فَقَدْ أَوْحَى لَكَ، فَاتَّهِمْهُ فِي ذٰلِكَ، وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللّٰهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهِ.
Fa-ʾin ẓafira bika min hādhā al-bābi, fa-qad ʾawḥā laka, fa-ittahimhu fī dhālika, wa-istaʿin bi-Allāhi ʿazza wa-jalla ʿalayhi.
If he gets the better of you through this door, “he has inspired you” [the printed expression is uncertain in meaning]. Suspect him in this, and seek the help of God, mighty and majestic, against him.
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