The human being has two merits...

The human being has two merits: intellect and speech; he derives benefit through his intellect and benefits others by his speech. 18ـ لِلإنْسانِ فَضيلَتانِ: عَقْلٌ، ومَنْطِقٌ، فَبِالعَقْلِ يَسْتَفيدُ، وبِالمَنْطِقِ يُفيدُ. Lineage is not defined by the fathers and mothers, rather [it is defined] by the praiseworthy merits. 19ـ لَيْسَتِ الأنْسابُ بِالآباءِ والأُمَّهاتِ لكِنَّها بِالفَضائِلِ المَحْمُوداتِ. One whose merits are few, his means are weak.

20ـ مَنْ قَلَّتْ فَضائِلُهُ ضَعُفَتْ وَسائِلُهُ. From the best of merits is accepting the excuse of the wrongdoer. 21ـ مِنْ أحْسَنِ الفَضْلِ قَبُولُ عُذْرِالجاني. It is from the merit of a man not to put the one whom he has been forbearing with under obligation. 22ـ مِنْ فَضْلِ الرَّجُلِ أنْ لا يَمُنَّ بِمَا احْتَمَلَهُ حِلْمُهُ. Performing good deeds and spreading goodness are from the greatest virtues. 23 ـ مِنْ أفْضَلِ الفَضائِلِ اِصْطِناعُ الصَّنايِـعِ، وَبَثُّ المَعْـرُوفِ.

Through the gaining of merits the enemy is subdued. 24ـ بِاكْتِسابِ الفَضائِلِ يُكْبَتُ المُعادي. The consolidation of merits is in doing good to the freeman and being kind to the people of virtue. 25ـ جِماعُ الفَضْلِ فِي اصْطِناعِ الحُرِّ، والإحْسانِ إلى أهْلِ الخَيْرِ. Safeguarding the tongue and doing good to others are from the best merits of a human being. 26ـ حِفْظُ اللِّسانِ وبَذْلُ الإحْسانِ مِنْ أفْضَلِ فَضائِلِ الإنْسانِ. Become distinguished by virtues and renounce vices.

27ـ كُنْ مُتَّصِفاً بِالفَضائِلِ، مُتَبَرِّءً مِنَ الرَّذائِلِ. The best of virtues is granting the wishes and fulfilling the needs of the seeker and being moderate in what one seeks. 28ـ أفْضَلُ الفَضائِلِ بَذْلُ الرَّغائِبِ، وإسْعافُ الطَّالِبِ والإجْمالُ فِي المَطالِبِ. The best of virtues is establishing ties with the one who has distanced himself, being cordial with the one who is averse, and holding the hand of the one who stumbles.

29ـ أفْضَلُ الفَضائِلِ صِلَةُ الهاجِرِ، وإيناسُ النّافِرِ، والأخْذُ بِيَدِ العاثِرِ. Verily only the virtuous know the merit of the people of virtue. 30ـ إنَّما يَعْرِفُ الفَضْلَ لأهْلِ الفَضْلِ أُولُوا الفَضْلِ. Your virtue is proven by your action and your munificence by your open-handedness. 31ـ يُسْتَدَلُّ عَلى فَضْلِكَ بِعَمَلِكَ، وَعَلى كَرَمِكَ بِبَذْلِكَ. Previous…