Whoever continually disciplines his soul derives [great] benefit.
مَنِ اسْتَدامَ رِياضَةَ نَفْسِِهِ اِنْتَفَعَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever is pleased with himself, many are angry with him.
مَنْ رَضِيَ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ كَثُرَ السّاخِطُ عَلَيْهِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever indulges his soul in that which it loves, its wretchedness in that which it does not love...
مَنْ سامَحَ نَفْسَهُ فيما تُحِبُّ طالَ شَقاؤُها فيما لاتُحِبُّ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever preoccupies himself with that which is not necessary, lets the matters that are obligatory...
مَنْ شَغَلَ نَفْسَهُ بِما لايَجِبْ ضَيَّعَ مِنْ أمْرِهِ ما يَجِبُ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever holds himself accountable preserves his standing and the outcomes of his affair are praised.
مَنْ واخَذَ نَفْسَهُ صانَ قَدْرَهُ وحُمِدَ عَواقِبُ أمْرِهِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever neglects his soul corrupts his affair.
مَنْ أهْمَلَ نَفْسَهُ أفْسَدَ أمْرَهُ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever commands you to reform yourself is most deserving of your obedience.
مَنْ أمَرَكَ بِإصْلاحِ نَفْسِكَ فَهُوَ أحَقُّ مَنْ تُطيعُهُ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever scrutinizes himself remains safe from the scrutiny of others.
مَنِ اسْتَقْصى عَلى نَفْسِهِ أمِنَ اسْتِقْصاءَ غَيْرِهِ عَلَيْهِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever oppresses himself is more oppressive to others.
مَنْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُ كانَ لِغَيْرِهِ أظْلَمَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever is great in his own eyes is low in the sight of Allah.
مَنْ كانَ عِنْدَ نَفْسِهِ عَظِيماً كانَ عِنْدَ اللّهِ حَقِيراً۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who is ignorant about himself is more ignorant about others.
مَنْ جَهِلَ نَفْسَهُ كانَ بِغَيْرِ نَفْسِهِ أجْهَلَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever is miserly with himself is more miserly with others.
مَنْ بَخِلَ عَلى نَفْسِهِ كانَ عَلى غَيرِهِ أبْخَلَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One whose soul is honourable endeavours to purify it from the lowliness of worldly pursuits.
مَنْ شَرُفَتْ نَفْسُهُ نَزَّهَها عَنْ دَناءَةِ الْمَطالِبِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who knows the value of his soul does not abase it with transient things.
مَنْ عَرَفَ قَدْرَ نَفْسِهِ لَمْ يُهِنْها بِالفانِياتِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever troubles himself with that which does not benefit him gets caught in that which harms him.
مَنْ أتْعَبَ نَفْسَهُ فيما لايَنْفَعُهُ وَقَعَ فيما يَضُرُّهُ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One whose soul is content is assisted by it to become pure and remain chaste.
مَنْ قَنِعَتْ نَفْسُهُ أعانَتْهُ عَلَى النَّزاهَةِ والعَفافِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One whose soul is noble finds it easy to give generously and help others.
مَنْ كَرُمَتْ نَفْسُهُ اِسْتَهانَ بِالبَذْلِ والإسْعافِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who considers his soul to be honourable does not abase it by sinning.
مَنْ كَرُمَتْ عَلَيْهِ نَفْسُهُ لَمْ يُهِنْها بِالمَعْصِيَةِ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One whose soul is vigilant and careful has protectors from Allah watching over him.
مَنْ كانَ لَهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ يَقْظَةٌ كانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اللّهِ حَفَظَةٌ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who knows himself understands others better.
مَنْ عَرَفَ نَفْسَهُ فَهُوَ لِغَيْرِهِ أعْرَفُ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who considers his soul to be honourable, his [lustful] desires become insignificant to him.
مَنْ كَرُمَتْ عَلَيْهِ نَفْسُهُ هانَتْ عَلَيْهِ شَهْوَتُهُ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
One who is lenient with his soul in that which he loves is troubled by it in that which he hates.
مَنْ سامَحَ نَفْسَهُ فيما يُحِبُّ أتْعَبَهُ فيما يَكْرَهُ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever accuses himself has indeed overpowered Satan.
مَنِ اتَّهَمَ نَفْسَهُ فَقَدْ غالَبَ الشَّيْطانَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
Whoever opposes his [carnal] soul has indeed defeated Satan.
مَنْ خالَفَ نَفْسَهُ فَقَد غَلَبَ الشَّيْطانَ۔
—Ghurar al-Hikam
—غُرَرُ الحِکَم و دُرَرُ الکَلِم
