Perfection of righteousness is in struggling against the [carnal] soul.
في مُجاهَدَةِ النَّفْسِ كَمالُ الصَّلاحِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
The guidance of the soul is in opposing it.
في خِلافِ النَّفْسِ رُشْدُها۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
The misguidance of the soul is in obedience to it.
في طاعَةِ النَّفْسِ غَيُّها۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
The corruption of the soul is [caused by] vain desire.
فَسادُ النَّفْسِ أَلْهَوى۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Your power over your soul is the best power and your authority over it is the best authority.
قُدْرَتُكَ عَلى نَفْسِكَ أفْضَلُ القُدْرَةِ وإمْرَتُكَ عَلَيْها خَيْرُ الإمْرَةِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
How can one who is not content with little have the ability to reform himself?!
كَيْفَ يَسْتَطيعُ صَلاحَ نَفْسِهِ مَنْ لايَقْنَعُ بِالقَليلِ؟!
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Being preoccupied with one’s soul is enough to keep a person distracted from the people.
كَفى بِالمَرْءِ شُغْلاً بِنَفْسِهِ عَنِ النّاسِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
At the time when you are most confident in your soul be equally cautious (or fearful) of its...
كُنْ أوْثَقَ ما تَكُونُ بِنَفْسِكَ أحْذَرَ (أخْوَفَ) ما تَكُونُ مِنْ خِداعِها۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Be the guardian of your soul, and do with your possessions that which you would like others to do...
كُنْ وَصِيَّ نَفْسِكَ وافْعَلْ في مالِكَ ما تُحِبُّ أنْ يَفْعَلَهُ فيهِ غَيْرُكَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Hold yourself to account and struggle against your evil nature, and beware of blaming your sins on...
كُنْ مُؤاخِذاً نَفْسَكَ مُغالِباً سُوءَ طَبْعِكَ وإيّاكَ أنْ تَحْمِلَ ذُنُوبَكَ عَلى رَبِّكَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Be a preventer and a forbidder for yourself [from evil], and a suppressor and a subjugator for your...
كُنْ لِنَفْسِكَ مانِعاً رادِعاً ولِثَرْوَتِكَ (وَلِنَزْوَتِكَ) عِنْدَ الحَمِيَّةِ (الحَفِيظَةِ) واقِماً قامِعاً۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
The souls have certain evil natures [and characteristics] and wisdom forbids [one from] them.
للِنُّفُوسِ طَبايِعُ سُوء والحِكْمَةُ تَنْهى عَنْها۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
There is no price for your souls except Paradise, so do not sell them for anything but it.
لَيْسَ لأنْفُسِكُمْ ثَمَنٌ إلاّ الجَنَّةُ فَلاتَبيعُوها إلاّ بِها۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
There is no expectation [of goodness] from the one who wrongs his own soul.
لَيْسَ مَنْ أساءَ إلى نَفْسِهِ بِذي مَأْمُول۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
There is none on the face of this earth more honoured in the sight of Allah, the Glorified, than...
لَيْسَ عَلى وَجْهِ الأرْضِ أكْرَمُ عَلَى اللّهِ سُبْحانَهُ مِنَ النَّفْسِ المُطِيعَةِ لأمْرِهِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who considers himself to be more [important or powerful than others] becomes less.
مَنْ تَكَبَّرَ بِنَفْسِهِ قَلَّ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who humbles himself is honoured.
مَنْ حَقَّرَ نَفْسَهُ عُظِّمَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who reforms his soul gains mastery over it.
مَنْ أصْلَحَ نَفْسَهُ مَلَكَها۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who neglects his soul destroys it.
مَنْ أهْمَلَ نَفْسَهُ أهْلَكَها۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who honours his [carnal] soul is abased by it.
مَنْ أكْرَمَ نَفْسَهُ أهانَتْهُ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever trusts his [carnal] soul is betrayed by it.
مَنْ وَثِقَ بِنَفْسِهِ خانَتْهُ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever neglects his soul incurs loss.
مَنْ أهْمَلَ نَفْسَهُ خَسِرَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who knows himself divests himself [of all worldly desires].
مَنْ عَرَفَ نَفْسَهُ تَجَرَّدَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever obeys his soul kills it.
مَنْ أطاعَ نَفْسَهُ قَتَلَها۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
