Login with Google42. I had, in the past, a brother-in-faith and his view of the world as something insignificant made him great in my eyes. He was above being controlled by the needs of his appetency and thus he never craved for what he could not get nor would he ask for more of what he got. He was silent most of the time but when he spoke, he silenced the other speakers and quenched the thirst [for answers] of questioners. He was [apparently] weak and feeble but at the time of battle he was like the lion of the forest or the serpent of the valley. He would not put forth an argument unless it was decisive. He would not accuse anyone in an excusable matter until he had heard his excuse. He would not mention any suffering except after recovering from it. He would do as he says and not say that which he does not do [himself]. Even when (or if) he could be exceeded in speaking, he could not be excelled in silence. He was more eager to listen than he was to speak. When two things came before him, he would see which of the two was closer to vain desire and would oppose it. You should [all] adopt these qualities, thus acquire them and compete with each other in them. And if you cannot acquire them, you should know that acquiring a little is better than giving up plenty.
42. I had, in the past, a brother-in-faith and his view of the world as something insignificant made him great in my eyes. He was above being controlled by the needs of his appetency and thus he never craved for what he could not get nor would he ask for more of what he got. He was silent most of the time but when he spoke, he silenced the other speakers and quenched the thirst [for answers] of questioners. He was [apparently] weak and feeble but at the time of battle he was like the lion of the forest or the serpent of the valley. He would not put forth an argument unless it was decisive. He would not accuse anyone in an excusable matter until he had heard his excuse. He would not mention any suffering except after recovering from it. He would do as he says and not say that which he does not do [himself]. Even when (or if) he could be exceeded in speaking, he could not be excelled in silence. He was more eager to listen than he was to speak. When two things came before him, he would see which of the two was closer to vain desire and would oppose it. You should [all] adopt these qualities, thus acquire them and compete with each other in them. And if you cannot acquire them, you should know that acquiring a little is better than giving up plenty.
42 كانَ لي فيما مَضى أخٌ فِي اللّهِ وكانَ يُعَظِّمُهُ في عَيني صِغَرُ الدُّنيا في عَيْنِه وكانَ خارِجاً مِنْ (عنْ) سُلْطانِ بَطْنِهِ، فلا يَشْتَهي ما لا يَجِدُ ولا يُكْثِرُ إذا وَجَدَ وكانَ أكثَرَ دَهْرِهِ صامِتاً فَإنْ قالَ بَذَّ القائِلينَ ونَقَعَ غَليلَ السَّائلينَ وكانَ ضَعيفاً مُسْتَضْعَفَاً فَإنْ جاءَ الجِدُّ فَهُوَ لَيْثٌ عاد وَصِلٌّ واد لا يُدْلي بِحُجَّة حَتّى يَأتِيَ قاضِياً وَكانَ لايَلُومُ أحَداً عَلى ما (لا) يَجِدُ العُذْرَ في مِثلِهِ حتّى يَسْمَعَ اعْتِذارَهُ وكانَ لا يَشْكُو وَجَعاً إلاّ عِنْدَ بُرْئِهِ وَكانَ يَفْعَلُ ما يَقُولُ ولا يَقُولُ ما لايَفْعَلُوكانَ إذا (إن) غُلِبَ عَلَى الكَلامِ لَمْ يُغْلَبْ عَلَى السُّكُوتِ وكانَ على أنْ يَسمَعَ أحْرَصَ مِنْهُ على أنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ وَكانَ إذا بَدَهَهُ أمرانِ نَظَرَ أيُّهُما أقْرَبُ إلى الهَوى فَخالَفَهُ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِهذِهِ الخلائِقِ فَالْزَمُوها وتَنافَسُوا فيها فَإنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطيعُوها فَاعْلَمُوا أنَّ أخْذَ القَليلِ خَيرٌ مِنْ تَركِ الكَثيرِ.
