Arabian Wisdom Part 2

An inherited quality may be traced back to the seventh grandfather.

There are four points in a good character from which all other good traits take their origin--prudence, courage, continence, and justice.

When a woman has had more than one husband in this life, she will, in the future state, be free to be the wife of him whose character she esteemed the most.

BENEVOLENCE

_Koran_. Do good unto others as G.o.d has done unto you.

Is the reward of kindness anything but kindness?

He who does a kindly act shall be recompensed tenfold.

Ye can never be righteous unless ye give away from that which ye love.

_Traditions_. The upper hand [which giveth] is better than the lower hand [which taketh].

G.o.d's creatures are the objects of His care, and He loveth best that man who is most helpful to them.

_Proverbs_. Do not be ashamed to give little, for it is less than that, if you give nothing.

If you give, give freely, and if you strike, strike boldly.

He who soweth kindness shall reap thanks.

What a man does for G.o.d is never lost.

Be merciful to him who is beneath you, and you will have mercy from Him who is above you.

The best kind of good is that which is done most speedily.

Inopportune kindness is injustice.

No true joy but in doing good and no true sorrow but in doing evil.

Cruelty to animals is forbidden by G.o.d.

A peacemaker gets two-thirds of the blows.

GENEROSITY

Generosity is to do a kindness before it is asked, and to pity and give a man who asks.

A generous man is nigh unto G.o.d, nigh unto men, nigh unto paradise, far from h.e.l.l.

Overlook the faults of a generous man, for G.o.d helps him when he falls and gives him when he is needy.

A man who doeth good does not fall, and if he fall he will find a support.

Be not ashamed to give little--to refuse is less.

GRAt.i.tUDE

He is unthankful to G.o.d who is unthankful to man.

He who is unthankful for little is unthankful for much.

G.o.d continues His favours to him who is grateful.

He who is ungrateful for the good he receives deserves that it should be withdrawn from him.

Man can be thankful to G.o.d only so far as he does good to his fellow men.

If a man professes to thank G.o.d and his wealth decreases, his thanksgiving must be vitiated by his neglect of the hungry and naked.

Be grateful to him who has done you good, and do good to him who is grateful to you.

Grat.i.tude takes three forms--a feeling in the heart, an expression in words, and a giving in return.

The most worthless things on earth are these four--rain on a barren soil, a lamp in suns.h.i.+ne, a beautiful woman given in marriage to a blind man, and a good deed to one who is ungrateful.

RECOMPENSE

To recompense good for good is a duty.

Neglect of recompense is contemptible.

If a man do you a favour recompense him, and if you are unable to do so, pray for him.

The worst kind of recompense is to requite evil for good.

Reproach faults by kindness, and requite evil by good.

There is no glory in revenge.

Meet insult by insult, and honour by honour. Evil can be repelled only by evil.

What you put into the pot you will take out in the ladle.

He who plays with a cat must bear its scratches.

He who lives in a house of gla.s.s should not throw stones at people.

Sins may lurk, but G.o.d deals heavy blows.