The Aphorisms (al-Ḥikam)

1. Chapter 19 · Aphorisms 173–179

   ¶ 173⋯
   رُبَّمَاmay at timesدَلَّهُمُled them, guided themالْاَدَبُcourtesy (toward God)عَلَىto, towardتَرْكِabandoning, giving upالطَّلَبِasking, requestingاعْتِمَادًاrelying, dependingعَلَىonقِسْمَتِهِHis apportioning, allotmentوَاشْتِغَالًاbeing occupied, absorbedبِذِكْرِهِwith remembering Himعَنْrather than, away fromمَسْئَلَتِهِpetitioning Him, asking Him

   Courtesy toward God may at times lead them to give up asking, relying on what He has allotted them and absorbed in remembering Him rather than in petitioning Him.

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2. ¶ 174⋯
   اِنَّمَاonlyيُذَكَّرُis remindedمَنْone whoيَجُوزُis possible, admissibleعَلَيْهِfor him (of him)الاِغْفَالُheedlessness, overlookingوَاِنَّمَاand onlyيُنَبَّهُis alerted, rousedمَنْone whoيُمْكِنُis possibleمِنْهُfrom himالاِهْمَالُneglect, disregard

   Only one who is capable of heedlessness is reminded, and only one from whom neglect is possible is alerted.

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3. ¶ 175⋯
   وُرُودُarrival, coming uponالفَاقَاتِdestitutions, states of needأَعْيَادُfestivals, feast-daysالمُرِيدِينَthe aspirants

   The coming of destitutions is a festival for aspirants.

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4. ¶ 176⋯
   رُبَّمَاit may be thatوَجَدْتَyou found / you findمِنَ(partitive) ofالْمَزِيدِincrease, spiritual gainفِىinالْفَاقَاتِtimes of destitutionمَاthat whichلَاnotتَجِدُهُyou find itفِىinالصَّوْمِfastingوَالصَّلَاةِand prayer

   It may be that you find, in times of destitution, an increase (of spiritual gain) that you do not find in fasting and prayer.

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5. ¶ 177⋯
   الْفَاقَاتُtimes of destitution, needsبُسُطُcarpets, spread-out matsالْمَوَاهِبِ(divine) gifts, bestowals

   Times of destitution are the carpets on which the gifts are spread.

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6. ¶ 178⋯
   اِنْifأَرَدْتَyou wantوُرُودَarrival, comingالْمَوَاهِبِthe gifts (divine bestowals)عَلَيْكَupon youصَحِّحِmake genuine, make soundالْفَقْرَpoverty, need of Godوَالْفَاقَةَand destitutionلَدَيْكَwithin you, in yourselfاِنَّمَاonly, solelyالصَّدَقَاتُthe almsلِلْفُقَرَاءِfor the poor

   If you want the divine gifts to come to you, make your poverty and destitution genuine within yourself: "Alms are only for the poor" (Qurʾān 9:60).

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7. ¶ 179⋯
   تَحَقَّقْrealize, make realبِأَوْصَافِكَyour (creaturely) attributesيُمِدَّكَHe will supply youبِأَوْصَافِهِHis (divine) attributesتَحَقَّقْrealize, make realبِذُلِّكَyour lowlinessيُمِدَّكَHe will supply youبِعِزِّهِHis mightتَحَقَّقْrealize, make realبِعَجْزِكَyour incapacityيُمِدَّكَHe will supply youبِقُدْرَتِهِHis powerتَحَقَّقْrealize, make realبِضَعْفِكَyour weaknessيُمِدَّكَHe will supply youبِحَوْلِهِHis strengthوَقُوَّتِهِand His force

   Realize your own attributes, and He will supply you with His attributes. Realize your lowliness, and He will supply you with His might. Realize your incapacity, and He will supply you with His power. Realize your weakness, and He will supply you with His strength and His force.

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Translations, word glosses and term notes are AI-generated (Claude) and marked as such; no published translation is reproduced.Word analysis is automatic (CAMeL Tools), guided by the text's vowelling. How this text was established.