16ـ أيْنَ مَنِ ادَّخَرَ واعْتَقَدَ، وجَمَعَ المالَ عَلَى المالِ فَأكْثَرَ؟!

16ـ أيْنَ مَنِ ادَّخَرَ واعْتَقَدَ، وجَمَعَ المالَ عَلَى المالِ فَأكْثَرَ؟! Where is the one who fortified and strengthened, and adorned and decorated? 17ـ أيْنَ مَنْ حَصَّنَ وأكَّدَ، وزَخْرَفَ ونَجَّدَ؟! Where is the one who accumulated and increased, and stored and amassed, and considered the future of his son? 18ـ أيْنَ مَنْ جَمَعَ فَأكْثَرَ، واحْتَقَبَ واعْتَقَدَ، ونَظَرَ بِزَعْمِهِ لِلْوَلَدِ؟! Where are those who lived longer than you and left a greater heritage?

19ـ أيْنَ مَنْ كانَ مِنْكُمْ أطْوَلَ أعْماراً وأعْظَمَ آثاراً؟! Where are the ones who were larger in numbers, had stronger armies and had greater effect? 20ـ أيْنَ مَنْ كانَ أعَدَّ عَديداً، وَأَكْنَفَ (إكْثَفَ)جُنُوداً، وأعْظَمَ آثاراً؟! Where are the kings and Khosraus? 21ـ أيْنَ المُلُوكُ والأكاسِرَةُ؟! Where are the children of the Yellow[^6] and the pharaohs? 22ـ أيْنَ بَنُو الأصْفَرِ والفَراعِنَةُ؟! Where are those who ruled the extremities of this world?

23ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ مَلَكُوا مِنَ الدُّنيا أقاصِيَها؟! Where are those who used to humiliate their enemies and take possession of their forelocks [by enslaving them]? 24ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ اسْتَذَلُّوا الأعْداءَ، ومَلَكُوا نَواصِيَها؟! Where are those to whom the nations were subservient? 25ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ دانَتْ لَهُمُ الأُمَمُ؟! Where are those who attained their highest ambitions in this world? 26ـ أيْنَ الَّذينَ بَلَغُوا مِنَ الدُّنْيا أقاصِيَ الهِمَمِ؟!

Verily for those who remain [behind] there is an example in those who have passed. 27ـ إنَّ لِلْباقِينَ بِالماضينَ مُعْتَبَراً. Verily for the latter there is an admonishment in the former. 28ـ إنَّ لِلآخِرِ بِالأوَّلِ مُزْدَجَراً. Verily the passing away of those who depart is a lesson for the community that remains behind. 29ـ إنَّ ذَهابَ الذّاهِبينَ لَعِبْرَةٌ لِلْقَوْمِ المُتَخَلِّفينَ. Taking example yields [the fruit of] inerrancy. 30ـ اَلاِعْتِبارُ يُثْمِرُ العِصْمَةَ.

Time shows you examples. 31ـ اَلزَّمانُ يُريكَ العِبَـرَ. Taking lesson is beneficial in [attaining] right guidance. 32ـ الاِعْتِبارُ يُفيدُ الرَّشادَ. When Allah loves a servant, He gives him direction through examples. 33ـ إذا أحَبَّ اللّهُ عَبْداً وَعَظَهُ بِالعِبَرِ. You have been left with examples from the vestiges of those who passed away before you, so take lesson from them. 34ـ خُلِّفَ لَكُمْ عِبَرٌ مِنْ آثارِ الماضينَ قَبْلَكُمْ لِتَعْتَبِرُوا بِها.