Be sure to keep away from that which angers your Lord and...

Be sure to keep away from that which angers your Lord and alienates people from you, for the one who angers his Lord is faced with annihilation and one who alienates people renounces freedom. 20ـ إيّاكَ وما يُسْخِطُ رَبَّكَ، ويُوحِشُ النّاسَ مِنْكَ، فَمَنْ أسْخَطَ رَبَّهُ تَعَرَّضَ لِلْمَنِيَّةِ، ومَنْ أوْحَشَ النّاسَ تَـبَرَّأ مِنَ الحُرِّيَّةِ.

Be careful to keep away from turning your backs on each other, cutting off ties with each other, and abandoning the enjoining of good and prohibiting of evil [with respect to one another]. 21ـ إيّاكُمْ والتَّدابُـرَ، والتَّقاطُعَ، وتَرْكَ الأمْرِ بِالمَعْرُوفِ، والنَّهيِ عَنِ المُنْكَرِ. The most deserving of those whom you love is the one who does not forsake you. 22ـ أوْلى مَنْ أحْبَبْتَ مَنْ لايَقْلاكَ.

The most equitable conduct is for you to deal with people in the way you would like them to deal with you. 23ـ أعْدَلُ السيرَةِ أنْ تُعامِلَ النّاسَ بِما تُحِبُّ أنْ يُعامِلُوكَ بِهِ. The most unjust conduct is for you to seek equity from people while not dealing with them in the same way. 24ـ أجْوَرُ السِّيرَةِ أنْ تَنْتَصِفَ مِنَ النّاسِ ولاتُعامِلَهُمْ بِهِ. The most worthy of those whom you love is he whose benefit is for you and whose harm is for other than you.

25ـ أحَقُّ مَنْ أحْبَبْتَهُ مَنْ نَفْعُهُ لَكَ وضَرُّهُ لِغَيْرِكَ. Verily the best outward appearance [and demeanour] is that which makes you mingle with people and beautifies you among them and restrains their tongues from [speaking ill of] you. 26ـ إنَّ أحْسَنَ الزِّىِّ ما خَلَطَكَ بِالنَّاسِ، وَجَمَّلَكَ بَيْنَهُمْ، وكَفَّ ألْسِنَـتَهُمْ عَنْكَ. Make others incline towards you instead of distancing themselves from you. 27ـ أقِمِ الرَّغْبَةَ إلَيْكَ مَقامَ الحُرْمَةِ بِكَ.

Man is the son of his time.[^1] 28ـ اَلْمَرْءُ اِبْنُ ساعَتِهِ. Through good social interaction, affection lasts. 29ـ بِحُسْنِ العِشْرَةِ تَدُومُ المَوَدَّةُ. Through good social interaction friendships become intimate. 30ـ بِحُسْنِ العِشْرَةِ تَأْنَسُ الرِّفاقُ. By good social interaction ties (or companionship) last. 31ـ بِحُسْنِ العِشْـرَةِ تَدُومُ الوُصْلَةُ (الصُحْبَةُ). How evil an associate the spiteful person is! 32ـ بِئسَ العَشيرُ الحَقُودُ.

Good social interaction causes affection to endure. 33ـ حُسْنُ العِشْرَةِ يَسْتَديمُ المَوَدَّةَ. Interact with people through their [norms of] etiquette but separate yourself from them in [your] actions. 34ـ خالِقُوا النّاسَ بِأخْلاقِهِمْ وزايِلُوهُمْ فِي الأعْمالِ.