BEŞİNCİ BAB · İKİNCİ FASIL · Üçüncü Madde
**Article Three**
It conveys the words of the elders regarding treating all people with beautiful character, acting with generosity, speaking in sweet tones, the necessity of befriending everyone according to their rational level, and choosing and preferring the most important thing in any endeavor undertaken [372/a].
O esteemed one! Know that those learned in propriety have said:
Generosity is a person’s adornment; forgiveness is the finest form of beneficence. Humility is the fruit of knowledge. The pillar of knowledge is gentleness, truthfulness, and generosity. Falsehood is disgrace and abjection. Salvation lies in truthfulness. Happiness and blessing lie in gentleness. Humility brings well-being and honor, while arrogance is the essence of ruin. Contentment is dignity and ease; greed and avarice are degradation and poverty. A promise is a disease whose cure lies only in fulfilling one’s pledge. Opposing reason leads to the most intense distress; silence is the finest response to a fool. The generous person gives thanks for small favors, while the ill-natured is ungrateful even for abundance. The tongue is the balance of a person; it distinguishes the intelligent from the unintelligent.
A believer acts with kindness towards one who does not act kindly toward him. Patience descends upon his heart in proportion to the affliction. A believer is docile and gentle. He inclines towards ease; people trust him, and he inspires confidence. The liar and trickster is Satan, yet outwardly appears as a human being. Gentleness and forgiveness (kindness and clemency) are necessary for rulers; gentleness and generosity (mildness and munificence) are essential for the populace. A generous person fulfills his promise but forgives those who break theirs.
Refraining from what is in the hands of the people is one of two acts of generosity. Praying for a beggar is one of two charities. A suitable spouse is one of two comforts. Proximity to God comes only through supplication. Approaching people is possible by not asking anything of them. A friend is like oneself; the difference between you is that he is not yourself. Seeking counsel brings you ease, and praying for the person you consult is a mercy upon him. The gentleness and humility of a gentle person spreads so widely and affects others so profoundly that all become his helpers against his enemies. Gentleness with humility is like power with forgiveness.
One who has made goodness their motto considers their actions as debts to be repaid. A miserly, ill-natured person considers the good deeds he performed in the past as debts owed by people to him, which he seeks to collect from them.
Friends are like a single soul residing in different bodies. A believer endures the torment of the people and no one is harmed by him; he does not suffer on his account. The generous person protects their honor with their wealth. The miserly and ill-natured person protects their wealth with their honor. Give aid so that you may be aided, and do good to one who wrongs you so that you may have mastery over him. Bestow upon whomever you wish to be their master; become independent of whomever you wish to be equal to them; become needy of whomever you wish to be their captive. Dress and adorn yourself in a way that neither brings fame nor disgrace. Speak the words you would desire for others, and forgive faults and conceal blemishes as much as your power allows.
Speak with people in whatever manner they speak to you, so that they feel safe from you, and you are secure from them; accept the apology of one who seeks it from you, and forgive one who does injustice to you, and be obedient to those greater than you so that those lesser than you may also be obedient to you. The believer’s hope is in God; he who hopes in anything besides Him will be deprived of what he desires. Avoid actions that disgrace their possessor, and when asked about who committed them, the perpetrator feels shame and denies his deed. If you betray a generous person, beware of him, and if you show favor to a miserly person, beware of him as well. Idle talk and jesting bring calamity. Wasting time with frivolous things is wasting one’s life. Beware of gossip and backbiting (malice), for these two distance the possessor from God and from people. Beware of miserliness, for relatives hate it, and strangers are angry with it.
The most precious treasure is to be the beloved of hearts. Gentleness and humility are qualities that are preferred and loved. A knower of God seeks forgiveness from people when necessary, disregards the behavior of an ill-natured person, and shows him respect [372/b]. The finest virtue of knowledge is gentleness and tranquility (mildness and serenity). The most beautiful attire is that which makes you appear beautiful and refined among people and prevents them from speaking ill of you.
The poor person comes to the door as an emissary of God; whoever gives him something has given it to his sender. He who rejects him turns away his sender. The finest quality of good character is to visit one who cuts off ties with you, to show favor to one who deprives you, and to forgive one who does injustice to you. The need of the people for you is a blessing from God and their desire for you; consider this as a bounty and do not be dismayed by it so that the blessing may not turn into punishment. When you speak, speak truthfully. When you possess something, administer it with gentleness. When you make a promise, fulfill your pledge. When you do good deeds, conceal what you have done. If you are in the company of a miser, suffice yourself with fasting. Treat an ill-natured person with gentleness so that you may plunge him into sorrows; this is to render him helpless. Beware of imitating someone with bad character.
Generosity leads to nobility, gratitude increases blessings. Acting appropriately leads to friendship. Gentleness leads to bravery. The companionship and friendship of one who lives by goodness and generosity continues. Generosity makes servants into masters. With gentleness…
The fruit of humility is exaltation. The fruit of contentment is possessing honor. Pleasant conversation increases affection, and good character is the foundation of all virtues. Good character is a fine companion for a person. A good habit is a beautiful helper to a person. You should cultivate friendships with people so that when you go somewhere, they seek you out, and if you pass away, they mourn you and remember you. The beginning of knowledge is gentleness and mildness. The beginning of gentleness is swallowing anger and being tolerant. The beginning of wisdom is smiling in the face of people and getting along well with them. The beginning of intelligence is love and friendship. Good character leads a person to bliss. A person’s gentleness and generosity cause their enemies to be affectionate towards them. The zakaat (obligatory charity) of gentleness is dealing kindly with people and getting along well with them. The zakaat of knowledge is teaching it to those worthy of it. The adornment of knowledge is gentleness and acceptance. The beauty of forbearance is enduring hardship. The beauty of power and might is showing mercy. The adornment of blessings is visiting relatives.
The cause of affection is generosity. The cause of intimacy is loyalty. The cause of separation is disputes. The cause of poverty is extravagance. It is the custom of the generous to speak softly and spread greetings. When you thank someone who is pleased with you, it makes them more pleased with you and increases their generosity towards you. When you thank someone who dislikes you, it obligates them to reconcile with you and be affectionate towards you. Gentleness and a smiling face are the keys to winning over an enemy’s heart. Serenity (a state of tranquility) in hearts is the most beautiful of adornments. Beautiful and faithful friends are the beauty of life and helpers against adversity.
A good character with generosity brings about wealth and abundance. Spreading greetings and speaking softly to people brings the love and friendship of all creation. The custom of the saints is to be gentle, generous, friendly, and sociable; to be joyful in times of trial, patient in hardship, and composed in moments of turmoil. Be generous with your wealth and sparing with your secrets so that one who squanders their wealth becomes precious and honorable, and one who does not protect a trust becomes despicable. A person whose tongue is sweet has many friends and acquaintances. Someone who praises you may even sacrifice for you. Someone who advises you will also speak of your faults.
It is necessary to have affection for someone who is gentle with you. One whose determination in a matter is revealed prematurely has slumbering resolve. Whoever seeks anything other than God is deserving of deprivation. Whoever does not inflict hardship on people, no one harbors animosity towards them. A person with good character will have a wide livelihood and an exalted status. He who fears you desires your death. Let him who entertains a good opinion of you confirm his suspicion. One should know that he who cannot be reformed with praise must be reformed with reproach, for it will fall upon the tongues of people and they will speak it. Swallowing one’s anger completes one's forbearance. He who gets along well with people finds safety. He who is master of his anger is gentle. He who is master of his desires is wise.
A person with a good character speaks softly; he both feels comfortable and makes others feel comfortable. The faults of someone who gets along well with people remain hidden. The faults of one who investigates the faults of the people are revealed one by one. One who accepts advice is saved from evils. You must help those who come to you seeking assistance. Respect for a scholar is respect for the Creator. Obedience to a ruler is obedience to God. Let someone who digs a pit for others fall into it themselves. Whoever belittles a small misfortune will be afflicted with something greater than it. Whoever reveals the hidden secrets of people, may God reveal their secrets. Those who investigate the hidden secrets of people are deprived of the love of hearts. He who does good to those who do evil to him finds all virtues.
One who gets along well with those above them achieves his desires. One who is impatient with the slightest fault of a friend will be alone in the sickness of death. Whoever does not thank God for what he has, has not thanked God. Whoever is ashamed before people is not modest before God. He who avoids looking at forbidden things finds peace in his heart. Someone who carries words for you may carry words from you as well. One who seeks thanks from someone else in your presence seeks it from you as well. He who condemns the lowborn, actually harms himself. Those who obey their parents and submit to them will find their own children obedient. A faithful friend is the greatest blessing. Knowing and confessing one’s own bad habits is the greatest honor. Being truthful, gentle, and possessing good character is a sign of success.
There is no dignity like servitude to God, nor treasure like contentment. There is no nobility like virtue, nor glory like knowledge. To overlook faults is not gentleness, nor to ignore them is cleverness. One should not obey the creation when it contradicts obedience to the Creator. Nothing good comes from a liar. It behooves an intelligent person to speak with people as a doctor addresses a patient – let him not become angry or rude, but rather let him be mild. Do not grasp the hand of the generous. As long as he gives, do not forbid him. So that he does not become someone who has had his generosity taken away.
Do not perform deeds that the people dislike so that they do not begin to slander you. Do not equate doing good with doing evil and do not forget those who do good from their prayers of blessing. Be affectionate towards those who are gentle with you, for it is necessary. One whose resolution in a matter is revealed prematurely has slumbering resolve. Whoever seeks anything other than God is deserving of deprivation. Whoever does not inflict hardship on people, no one harbors animosity towards them. A person with good character will have a wide livelihood and an exalted status. He who fears you desires your death. Let him who entertains a good opinion of you confirm his suspicion. One should know that he who cannot be reformed with praise must be reformed with reproach, for it will fall upon the tongues of people and they will speak it. Swallowing one’s anger completes one's forbearance. He who gets along well with people finds safety. He who is master of his anger is gentle. He who is master of his desires is wise.
A person with a good character speaks softly; he both feels comfortable and makes others feel comfortable. The faults of someone who gets along well with people remain hidden. The faults of one who investigates the faults of the people are revealed one by one. One who accepts advice is saved from evils. You must help those who come to you seeking assistance. Respect for a scholar is respect for the Creator. Obedience to a ruler is obedience to God. Let someone who digs a pit for others fall into it themselves. Whoever belittles a small misfortune will be afflicted with something greater than it. Whoever reveals the hidden secrets of people, may God reveal their secrets. Those who investigate the hidden secrets of people are deprived of the love of hearts. He who does good to those who do evil to him finds all virtues.
One who gets along well with those above them achieves his desires. One who is impatient with the slightest fault of a friend will be alone in the sickness of death. Whoever does not thank God for what he has, has not thanked God. Whoever is ashamed before people is not modest before God. He who avoids looking at forbidden things finds peace in his heart. Someone who carries words for you may carry words from you as well. One who seeks thanks from someone else in your presence seeks it from you as well. He who condemns the lowborn, actually harms himself. Those who obey their parents and submit to them will find their own children obedient. A faithful friend is the greatest blessing. Knowing and confessing one’s own bad habits is the greatest honor. Being truthful, gentle, and possessing good character is a sign of success.
He who does not forget is not a friend, but an enemy. One should not entrust the management and direction of affairs to women; for woman is like basil – she is not a hero. Do not burden her with responsibility.
Do not eagerly seek to sit above everyone in an assembly. Do not rise spontaneously without being invited.
Verse:
Approach that heart which surpasses you in worth,
For the heedless will cast you down.
This befits those of excellence.
Let his value be high, yet his spirit humble.