Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech Flaws And Faults Flaws and faults-العيب والنقص والعورة The greatest flaw is that you fault others for what is [also] in you. 1ـ أكْبَرُ العَيْبِ أنْ تَعيبَ غَيْرَكَ بِما هُوَ فيكَ. The most incompetent of all people is one who is able to remove a flaw in himself but does not do so. 2ـ أعْجَزُ النّاسِ مَنْ قَدَرَ عَلى أنْ يُزيلَ النَّقْصَ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ ولَمْ يَفْعَلْ.
Verily everyone has faults, so do not expose that which is hidden from you, for indeed Allah, the Glorified, has hidden them out of clemency; and hide the faults [of others] as much as possible, [and in return] Allah, the Glorified, will hide that which you would like to remain hidden. 3ـ إنَّ لِلنّاسِ عُيُوباً، فَلا تَكْشِفْ ما غابَ عَنْكَ، فَإنَّ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ يَحْلُمُ عَلَيْها، واسْتُرِ العَوْرَةَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ يَسْتُرِ اللّهُ سُبْحانَهُ ما تُحِبُّ سَتْـرَهُ.
The inner hearts will soon become aware of the secret faults. 4ـ تَكادُ ضَمائِرُ القُلُوبِ تَطَّلِعُ عَلى سَرائِرِ العُيُوبِ. Scrutinizing the faults of others is a fault [in itself]. 5ـ تَأَمُّلُ العَيْبِ عَيْبٌ. I am surprised at the one about whom it is said: ‘Indeed in him there is evil,’ and he knows it is in him, how can he be annoyed? 6ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يُقالُ: إنَّ فيهِ الشَّـرَّ الَّذي يَعْلَمُ أنَّهُ فيهِ كَيْفَ يَسْخَطُ.
I am amazed at the one who is described with a good trait that he knows is not in him, how can he be pleased? 7ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يُوصَفُ بِالخَيْرِ الَّذي يَعْلَمُ أنَّهُ لَيْسَ فيهِ كَيْفَ يَرضى. Those with faults love to spread the faults of people so that they get a greater excuse for their own faults. 8ـ ذَوُوا العُيُوبِ يُحِبُّونَ إشاعَةَ مَعائِبِ النّاسِ لِيَتَّسِعَ لَهُمُ العُذْرُ في مَعائِبِهِمْ.
I am amazed at one who disapproves of the faults of people while he has more faults himself and does not see them. 9ـ عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يُنْكِرُ عُيُوبَ النّاسِ ونَفْسُهُ أكْثَرُ شَـيْء مَعاباً وَلايُبْصِرُها. The eyes of the lover are blind to the faults of his beloved, and his ears are deaf to the ugliness of his evils. 10ـ عَيْنُ المُحِبِّ عَمِيَّةٌ عَنْ مَعائِبِ المَحْبُوبِ، وأُذُنُهُ صَمّاءٌ عَنْ قُبْحِ مَساويهِ. Covering up the faults [of others] is generosity and virtue.
11ـ غِطاءُ العُيُوبِ السَّخاءُ والعَفافُ. A person’s own faults are enough to keep him occupied from the faults of other people. 12ـ كَفى بِالمَرْءِ شُغْلاً (شُغْلُهُ) بِمَعائِبِه ِ عَنْ مَعائِبِ النّاسِ.