O Ali! Verily, to avoid pleasing anyone at the expense of displeasing God; and to avoid thanking anyone for a favor that God has done you; and to avoid reproaching anyone for something that God has not given you—these are parts of true conviction…

يا عَليُّ، إنّ مِن اليقينِ أنْ لا تُرضِيَ أحَداً بِسخطِ اللهِ، ولا تَحمِدَ أحَداً بِما آتاكَ اللهُ، وَلا تذُمَّ أحداً على ما لَم يُؤتِكَ الل

Verily, out of His wisdom and all-graciousness, God has made relief and delight lie in conviction and satisfaction, and made care and grief lie in suspect and malice.

إنّ اللهَ بِحُكمه وفَضْلهِ جَعلَ الرَّوْحَ والفَرحَ في اليقينِ والرَّضا، وجعلَ الهَمَّ وَالحُزنَ في الشَّكِّ والسَخطِ

O Ali! No poverty can be harsher than ignorance. No fortune can be better than rationality. No loneliness can be drearier than vanity. No support can be better than seeking advice. No reason can be tantamount to moderation. No lineage can excel good manners. And no worship can match meditation.

يا عَليُّ، إنّهُ لا فَقْرَ أشَدُّ مِن الجَهْلِ، ولا مالَ أعْوَدُ مِن العَقلِ، ولا وَحدةَ أوْحَشُ مِن العُجْبِ، ولا مُظاهَرةَ أحْسَنُ مِن الـمُشَاورَةِ، ولا عَقْلَ كالتَّدبيرِ، ولا حَسَبَ كحُسن الخُلُقِ، ولا عِبادَةَ كالتَّفَكُّرِ

O Ali! Telling untruths is the blight of speech. Oblivion is the blight of learning knowledge. Laziness is the blight of worship. Reminding others reproachfully of your favors to them is the blight of tolerance. Transgression is the blight of bravery. Showing off is the blight of handsomeness. And arrogance is the blight of pedigree.

يا عَليُّ، آفَةُ الحَديثِ الكَذبُ، وآفَةُ العِلْمِ النَّسْيانُ، وَآفةُ العِبادَةِ الفَتْـرَةُ، وَآفَةُ السَّماحَةِ الـمَنُّ، وَآفَةُ الشّجاعَةِ البَغْيُ، وآفَةُ الجَمالِ الخُيَلاءُ، وآفَةُ الحَسَبِ الفَخْرُ

O Ali! Keep up telling only the truth. Never allow your mouth to utter any single lie. Never approach any act of treason. Fear God as if you see Him before you. Sacrifice your property and soul for the sake of your faith. Adorn yourself with good manners, and side step ill manners.

يا عَليُّ، عَلَيكَ بالصِّدْقِ، ولا تَخرُجْ مِن فِيكَ كِذبَةٌ أبَداً، ولا تَجتَرِئَنْ عَلى خِيانَةٍ أبَداً؛ وَالخَوْفِ مِن اللهِ كَأنَّكَ تَراهُ. وابْذِلْ مَالَكَ وَنَفسكَ دُونَ دِينِكَ. وَعَليْكَ بِمَحاسِنِ الأخْلاقِ فَارْكَبْها. وَعَليْكَ بِمَسَاوِي الأخْلاقِ فَاجْتَنِبْها

O Ali! The dearest of all acts to God are these three: The best of all worshippers of God is he who fulfills his obligatory duties towards God perfectly. The most pious of all people is he who abstains from whatever God has deemed forbidden. And the wealthiest of all people is he who satisfies himself with that which God has given him.

يا عَليُّ، أَحَبُّ العَمَلِ إلى اللهِ ثَلاثُ خِصالٍ: مَنْ أتَى اللهَ بِما افْتَرَضَ عَلَيهِ فَهوَ مِنْ أعْبَدِ النَّاسِ. وَمَنْ وَرعَ عَنْ مَحارِمِ اللهِ فَهُوَ مِنْ أوْرَعِ النَّاسِ. وَمَنْ قَنِعَ بِما رَزَقَهُ اللهُ فَهوَ مِنْ أغْنَى النَّاسِ

O Ali! These three qualities are within the highest moral standards: For you is to keep associating with him who has ruptured his relations with you; to give him who deprived you of his bestowals; and to pardon him who wronged you.

يا عَليُّ، ثَلاثٌ مِنْ مَكارِمِ الأخْلاقِ: تَصِلُ مَنْ قَطَعكَ، وَتُعْطي مَنْ حَرَمَكَ، وَتَعْفُو عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ