BEŞİNCİ BAB · DÖRDÜNCÜ FASIL · Dördüncü Madde
**Fourth Article**
This completely details the order that valuable scholars and eminent jurists observe in their outward dealings, and the customs and traditions they adhere to when mingling among the common people.
O esteemed one! Know that Imam al-A’zam Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him) observed the high intellect of the second Imam, Abu Yusuf (may Allah be pleased with him), his admirable qualities, his refined speech, and the people's inclination towards him. Consequently, he entrusted to him the codification of all important outward matters, taught him in outline how to maintain good relations with people (observing formalities and established customs), and instructed him, saying:
“O Jacob! Obey and respect the governor of your province. Approach rulers in a manner befitting their status. Never speak falsely before them. Do not visit them unless summoned for a matter of scholarly clarification. For if you frequent them too often, you will undoubtedly diminish your own worth in their eyes. Therefore, treat rulers as fire—benefit from them while keeping your distance. For they do not consider the welfare of others as they do their own; be aware of this. Do not speak extensively on matters of learning before a ruler, lest you become ashamed of praising yourself and be considered ignorant in the eyes of his entourage.
For he will take your words and repeat them to those around him, presenting himself as more knowledgeable than you and diminishing you in the sight of the people. Recognize your own worth and the value of others in his presence, so that neither do you suffer harm from another nor lose your reputation in the eyes of the ruler. When entering upon a ruler, do not precede any scholar whom you do not know. If he is superior to you, avoid preceding him lest you incur harm; and if his scholarly standing is below yours, do not humiliate him by exceeding him in the ruler’s presence.
If a ruler entrusts you with a state office, do not accept it unless you are certain that he is pleased with your rulings and trusts in your knowledge. Otherwise, you may be compelled to follow the opinion of others in matters of state administration. If you become close to a ruler, remain close to him but distant from all his associates, so that you maintain respect in his eyes through your position and worth. Do not respond to anything beyond what is asked of you when dealing with commoners or merchants; do not converse with them on topics other than those found in their manuals. Otherwise, they may suspect you of greed and accuse you of accepting bribes.
When encountering a commoner, do not smile, nor even display a pleasant expression. Do not frequent the marketplace often to observe its needs. Avoid speaking with young men that might lead to gossip. Instead, greet children and orphans with smiles and kind words, showing them compassion and stroking their heads.
Do not walk alongside elderly people from among the common folk. Lest you dishonor your knowledge by preceding them or disrespect an elder by lagging behind. Do not fall under the admonition in the hadith: “He who does not show mercy to those younger than him nor respect to those older than him is not one of us.”
Do not linger on roads frequented by people. If you must sit, do so only in mosque courtyards and avoid amusement elsewhere. Do not eat bread in mosques or marketplaces; do not drink from faucets or basins. Do not go to the marketplace to sit in shops. Do not wear silk garments like a *diba* (fine cloth). Lest you sink into the mire of self-admiration and pride through clothing, whose true purpose is to protect oneself.
Within your marital bed, do not speak of other matters or women. Do not excessively caress, kiss, or embrace her. Rather, briefly convey necessary words with a pleasant expression and be done with it. Approach her after some playful interaction with the invocation (*bismillah*). Otherwise, she may become overly familiar with you and begin to mention foreign men.
To the extent possible, do not take a woman who has parents. Lest you remain in their tongues. Unless you have taken her under the condition that you will not visit her relatives. For it is likely that you will find some comfort then. For a woman’s property belongs to her father and mother; they know its value. They consider her daughters as entrusted assets in their hands. If a daughter's father does not go to his home, she and her husband live comfortably.
Do not become an *istihkam* (son-in-law) who dwells in his wife’s father’s house; do not become a captive releasing your wealth to the people. Do not take a woman who has a son or daughter; you will not be held more precious than her children. Such a woman hoards all her wealth for them and steals from yours, unbeknownst to you. Do not take two women. If you are foolish enough to do so, do not live with both of them in the same house. Do not marry unless you have the strength to earn a living. First acquire knowledge; then seek to accumulate lawful wealth; and only then marry, lest you neglect your studies during your youth by being preoccupied with earning a livelihood. For possessing wealth leads to marriage and servants, and before acquiring knowledge, engaging in worldly affairs and becoming occupied with women results in wasting the most precious of times on things that are transient. As family members increase and children multiply, you will abandon the pursuit of knowledge altogether and turn to managing their affairs.
First, in the early years of youth, when the heart is free from various thoughts and calculations related to worldly matters, devote yourself to acquiring knowledge. Afterward, seek to earn a lawful living and then…
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He has announced that he will be your protector and helper. Therefore, if you inform people of an error regarding a fundamental principle of the religion in the life of a person holding authority, God Almighty will surely be your helper, and the people will gain reverence for your stance; no one will dare to introduce innovation into religious matters, nor will that error of the person in authority remain uncorrected.
When you see the sultan committing an action not conforming to religious guidance, you should advise him with gentle words within the bounds of obedience. For his power is greater than yours. In this situation, suffice with uttering a single word. If the person holding authority does not gain respect from you by mentioning the error in absentia and having it heard, and he persists in committing that error, then you must go to his position and meet with him privately, advising him with soft and sweet words. If he insists on embracing innovation, engage in argumentation with him and present evidence from the Quran and Sunnah as comes to mind. If he accepts, so much the better; otherwise, dissuade him from it without angering him.
Do not forget death and pray for mercy and forgiveness from God for your teachers. Continue reciting the Quran and visiting graves. Frequently visit the blessed individuals (the esteemed Sufis) and the blessed places of your time. Welcome and listen to those of the common people who relate to you matters they have presented; narratives of the prophets and saints, sayings related to righteous individuals, events they have witnessed in mosques, homes, and graves, and their dreams.
Do not sit or converse with someone from the people of disbelief and innovation. If possible, invite them to religion. Otherwise, do not attend gatherings filled with disbelief, amusement, and rebellion. When the muezzin calls the adhan, be awake and ready for prayer; thus, you may arrive at the mosque before everyone else.
Do not reside near the administrator’s home. A fault seen in a neighbor is a trust; conceal it immediately and do not reveal anyone's secret to anyone. Whoever seeks counsel from you, direct him towards truth and guide him accordingly. Point out to him the path leading to actions that will bring him closer to God.
Listen attentively and accept these recommendations so that you may benefit from them both in this world and in the Hereafter. Thus, you will find God’s help with you. Do not be stingy in what you spend for God's sake, lest you become one to be detested. Do not be greedy (covetous) or a liar, lest you stray far from humanity. Do not mix truth with falsehood, lest you experience betrayal. In all your endeavors, observe integrity (generosity of spirit). Dress in white garments in times of hardship and prosperity, and appear self-sufficient. If you fall into poverty, do not present your needs to anyone. Do not pursue worldly desires with greed and turn towards the direction of avarice. Set a high goal and do not remain low. So that you may not be disrespected due to the scantness of your striving. When walking, look straight ahead and do not gaze to the sides. If you go to the bathhouse, do not bargain with the bather over the price but pay it generously and promptly. Demonstrate your integrity in the eyes of those at the bathhouse and gain their respect.
Do not yourself go to workshops and factories to buy or sell things. Do not measure grains with your hand nor count money. Hold the world, which is contemptible among scholars, in low esteem so that you may attain a state of prosperity superior to and eternal beyond this world. Find a trustworthy agent to manage your worldly affairs so that he may provide for your needs, and you may devote yourself to knowledge and action.
Never speak with the insane. Do not converse with those who are scholars but lack sufficient knowledge to substantiate issues and engage in argumentation, nor with those who enter into discussions of current matters to gain position or prestige. For they will not respect you; rather, they will expose your ignorance and try to silence you. Even if they definitively know that you are upon the truth, they will still oppose you.
If you enter a gathering where important people (influential figures) are present, do not sit in the place of honor unless invited. If you find yourself among a congregation, do not spontaneously step forward for leadership (imamate) unless they show respect and invite you to lead.
Do not go to the bathhouse before sunrise or at midday. Do not linger in places of recreation frequented by women and children. Do not attend gatherings where sin is committed and idle talk is spoken so that you may not be a partner in sin and avoid betrayal. Never become angry in an assembly of scholars, nor relate stories suitable for refutation to the people.
When you desire to hold a gathering for a scholar, observe whether it is a meeting for discussing legal (fikh) matters; then go yourself and express what you know to be true. Thus, the people will not be deceived by considering him a scholar. Your presence will remove any doubt they may have. If he says something that conforms to the ruling (fatwa), say it in that gathering. If his statement does not conform to the fatwa, do not let him pretend you learned it from him; rather, leave that place. Perhaps you can leave a student of yours as a listener so that he may learn the nature and scholarly level of that person.
Do not be present at gatherings tainted with innovation. Do not sit in the place where your own student is giving a sermon to influence him. Indeed, by doing so, you will deceive the trusted people of your neighborhood. Send one of your students as a listener to his sermon. Abandon performing such tasks as wedding ceremonies, funeral prayers, and Friday prayers to the Friday preacher.
If your aim is religion, transcend the world;
Pass beyond all things towards God.