Nahj al-Balāgha

١٥. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): مَا كُلُّ مَفْتُونٍ يُعَاتَبُ.

15. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Every mischief monger cannot even be reproved. [1]

١٧. وَسُئِلَ (عليه ‏السلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الرَّسُولِ (صلى‌ الله‌ عليه‌ وآله‌ وسلم): غَيِّرُوا الشَّيْبَ وَلَا تَشَبَّهُوا بِالْيَهُودِ. فَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام):

17. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, was asked to explain the saying of the Messenger of Allāh: “Banish your old age (by hair-dye) and do not acquire resemblance to the Jews.” Amīr al-mu’minīn replied:

إِنَّمَا قَالَ (صلى‌ الله‌ عليه‌ وآله‌ وسلم) ذَلِكَ وَالدِّينُ قُلٌّ فَأَمَّا الْآنَ وَقَدِ اتَّسَعَ نِطَاقُهُ وَضَرَبَ بِجِرَانِهِ فَامْرُؤٌ وَمَا اخْتَارَ.

The Prophet (S) said this at a time when the religion was confined to a few, but now that its expanse has widened and it is firmly settled everyone is free in his action. [1]

١٨. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام) فِي الَّذِينَ اعْتَزَلُوا الْقِتَالَ مَعَهُ: خَذَلُوا الْحَقَّ، وَلَمْ يَنْصُرُوا الْبَاطِلَ.

18. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said about those who avoided fighting on his side: They abandoned right but did not support wrong. [1]

٢٠. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): أَقِيلُوا ذَوِي الْمُرُوءَاتِ عَثَرَاتِهِمْ فَمَا يَعْثُرُ مِنْهُمْ عَاثِرٌ إِلَّا وَيَدُهُ بِيَدِ اللهِ يَرْفَعُهُ.

20. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Forgive the shortcomings of people of virtue and honor because when they fall into error Allāh raises them up.

٢١. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): قُرِنَتِ الْهَيْبَةُ بِالْخَيْبَةِ وَالْحَيَاءُ بِالْحِرْمَانِ وَالْفُرْصَةُ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِ، فَانْتَهِزُوا فُرَصَ الْخَيْرِ.

21. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: The consequence of fear is disappointment and of bashfulness is frustration. Opportunity passes away like the cloud. Therefore, make use of good opportunities. [1]

٢٣. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): مَنْ أَبْطَأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ حَسَبُهُ.

23. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: He whose deeds accord (him) a back position cannot be given a front position because of his lineage.

٢٤. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): مِنْ كَفَّارَاتِ الذُّنُوبِ الْعِظَامِ إِغَاثَةُ الْمَلْهُوفِ، وَالتَّنْفِيسُ عَنِ الْمكْرُوبِ.

24. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Rendering relief to the grief-stricken and providing comfort in hardship are among the means of atonement for great sins.

٢٦. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): مَا أَضْمَرَ أَحَدٌ شَيْئاً إِلَّا ظَهَرَ فِي فَلَتَاتِ لِسَانِهِ وَ صَفَحَاتِ وَجْهِهِ.

26. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Whenever a person conceals a thing in his heart it manifests itself through unintentional words from his tongue and (in) the expressions of his face. [1]

٢٧. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): امْشِ بِدَائِكَ مَا مَشَى بِكَ.

27. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Keep walking in your sickness as long as you can. [1]