The brother whom you benefit from is better than the brother [for] whom you increase [benefit]
أَخٌ تَسْتَفِيدُهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَخٍ تَسْتَزِيدُهُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Do not accompany anyone but the intelligent and pious; and do not associate with anyone but the knowledgeable and righteous; and do not mention your secret to anyone but the trustworthy and loyal
لَا تَصْحَبْ إِلَّا عَاقِلًا تَقِيّاً وَلَا تُعَاشِرْ إِلَّا عَالِماً زَكِيّاً وَلَا تُودِعْ سِرَّكَ إِلَّا مُؤْمِناً وَفِيّاً
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Beware of antipathy, for it corrupts brotherhood and makes one despised by Allah and the people
إِيَّاكَ وَالْجَفَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ يُفْسِدُ الْإِخَاءَ وَيُمَقِّتُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالنَّاسِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Be careful not to drive away your friend in a way that removes all the affection he has for you, and leave some room from your friendship for him so that he may rely on returning back to it
إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُخْرِجَ [تُحْرِجَ] صَدِيقَكَ إِخْرَاجاً [إِحْرَاجاً] يُخْرِجُهُ عَنْ مَوَدَّتِكَ وَاسْتَبْقِ لَهُ مِنْ أُنْسِكَ مَوْضِعاً يَثِقُ بِالرُّجُوعِ إِلَيْهِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
If you want to cut off ties with your brother [in faith] then leave some of your friendship for him, so that he may return to it someday if he so wishes
إِنْ أَرَدْتَ قَطِيعَةَ أَخِيكَ فَاسْتَبْقِ لَهُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ بَقِيَّةً يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهَا إِنْ بَدَا لَهُ ذَلِكَ يَوْماً مَا
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
[Even] if you have gained confidence and trust in your close friend, safeguard some of your affairs and conceal some of your secrets [from him], for it is possible that you may regret [revealing them] at some time [in the future]
إِنِ اسْتَنَمْتَ إِلَى وَدُودِكَ فَأَحْرِزْ لَهُ مِنْ [معه] أَمْرِكَ وَاسْتَبْقِ لَهُ مِنْ سِرِّكَ مَا لَعَلَّكَ أَنْ تَنْدِمَ عَلَيْهِ وَقْتاً مَا
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
When you love [something or someone] then do not be excessive [in your love]
إِذَا أَحْبَبْتَ فَلَا تُكْثِرْ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Keep away from harbouring grudges against each other, hating each other, quarrelling with one other and not lending a supporting hand to each other, [and by doing this] you will gain mastery over your affairs
تَجَنَّبُوا تَضَاغُنَ الْقُلُوبِ وَتَشَاحُنَ الصُّدُورِ وَتَدَابُرَ النُّفُوسِ وَتَخَاذُلَ الْأَيْدِي تَمْلِكُوا أَمْرَكُمْ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Pretend to have forgotten the bad actions of your brothers and their affection [towards you] will last longer
تَنَاسَ مَسَاوِيَ الْإِخْوَانِ تَسْتَدِمْ وُدَّهُمْ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
The embellishment of brotherhood is good companionship and [giving] support despite [financial] difficulty
حُسْنُ الْإِخَاءِ يُجْزِلُ الْأَجْرَ وَيُجْمِلُ الثَّنَاءَ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Many a friend is scorned because of his ignorance, not because of his intention
رُبَّ صَدِيقٍ يُؤْتَى مِنْ جَهْلِهِ لَا مِنْ نِيَّتِهِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Many a brother has not been born to your mother
رُبَّ أَخٍ لَمْ تَلِدْهُ أُمُّكَ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Take comfort for yourself in solitude rather than bad company
كُنْ بِعَدُوِّكَ الْعَاقِلِ أَوْثَقَ مِنْكَ بِصَدِيقِكَ الْجَاهِلِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Be more confident of your intelligent foe than your ignorant friend
كُلَّمَا طَالَتِ الصُّحْبَةُ تَأَكَّدَتِ الْحُرْمَةُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Sometimes the reliable advisor may betray [you] and the one who is [deemed] disloyal may give good advice
لَرُبَّمَا خَانَ النَّصِيحُ الْمُؤْتَمَنُ وَنَصَحَ الْمُسْتَخَانُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
With disagreement there is no harmony
لَيْسَ مَعَ الْخِلَافِ ائْتِلَافٌ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
One who spoils [his relationship with] his friend has reduced his own number
مَنِ اسْتَفْسَدَ صَدِيقَهُ نَقَصَ مِنْ عَدَدِهِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
One who demands too much from his friend will sever his friendship
مَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِمَوَالِيهِ اسْتَثْقَلَ وَطْأَةَ مُعَادِيهِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
One who is courteous to his companion will gain his acceptance, and one who is harsh to him will drive him away and get separated from him
مَنْ لَمْ يَرْضَ مِنْ صَدِيقِهِ إِلَّا بِإِيثَارِهِ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ دَامَ سَخَطُهُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
He who makes his brothers miserable does not gain felicity
مَا سَعِدَ مَنْ شَقِيَ إِخْوَانُهُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Do not sanction for yourself that [action] which you would disapprove of from others
لَا تَسْتَحْسِنْ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ مَا مِنْ غَيْرِكَ تَسْتَنْكِرُهُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Do not alienate a person whose separation will harm you
لَا تُوحِشَنَّ [لَا تُوحِشِ] امْرَأً يَسُوؤُكَ فِرَاقُهُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Never hold on to one who turns back and do not separate from the one who moves forward
لَا تَتَمَسَّكَنَّ بِمُدْبِرٍ وَلَا تُفَارِقَنَّ مُقْبِلًا
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Never extend your friendship when you do not find a [suitable] place for it
لَا تَبْذُلَنَّ وُدَّكَ إِذَا لَمْ تَجِدْ مَوْضِعاً
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Associating with the ignorant stems from lack of intelligence
لَا تَتَّخِذَنَّ عَدُوَّ صَدِيقِكَ صَدِيقاً فَتُعَادِيَ صَدِيقَكَ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Do not declare your enmity to your enemy and do not rebuke your friend; and accept the excuse [you are given] even if it is a lie, and do not give [a forceful] response despite having the power to do so, even if it be your right
لَا تُنَابِذْ عَدُوَّكَ وَلَا تُقَرِّعْ صَدِيقَكَ وَاقْبَلِ الْعُذْرَ وَإِنْ كَانَ كَذِباً وَدَعِ الْجَوَابَ عَنْ قُدْرَةٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ لَكَ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Do not frequent the company of a wicked person, for if you are bestowed with a blessing, he will envy you and if a misfortune befalls you, he will abandon you
لَا تَسْتَكْثِرَنَّ مِنْ إِخْوَانِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ عَجَزْتَ عَنْهُمْ تَحَوَّلُوا أَعْدَاءً وَإِنَّ مَثَلَهُمْ كَمَثَلِ النَّارِ كَثِيرُهَا يُحْرِقُ وَقَلِيلُهَا يَنْفَعُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech