748 — Muhammad ibn Ishkāb related to me: my father related to me, on the authority of al-Mubārak ibn Saīd, on the authority of Umar ibn Ubayd, who said: Abū al-Aswad al-Du'alī confided one of his secrets to a client of his, but the man divulged it. Abū al-Aswad then said:

“[Long meter]
I entrusted my secret to a man who lacked discretion,
Though of his sincere goodwill there could be no doubt.

He spread it among the people till it became
Like a fire on a lofty height, set ablaze with kindling.

Not everyone sincere will offer you sound counsel,
Nor is everyone with whom you exchange counsel wise.

But when both qualities are joined together in one man,
Then such a man truly deserves to be obeyed.”