al-Nasihah al-Waladiyyah - Abu al-Walid al-Baji - (33)

al-Nasihah al-WaladiyyahAbu al-Walid al-Baji

Nothing Will Reach You Except What Has Been Decreed for You

If either of you is in need, let him seek what he needs with dignity and restraint. What has been decreed for him will not pass him by, and he will not attain what has not been decreed for him. Allah Most High relates the counsel that the righteous servant gave his son concerning such matters:

“O my son, even if something were only the weight of a mustard seed, hidden within a rock or anywhere in the heavens or the earth, Allah would bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Most Subtle, All-Aware.” Luqmān 16

Whoever Approaches the Ruler Is Put to Trial

Avoid the ruler’s company as far as you both can, and endeavor to remain as distant from him as possible. Distance from him is better than the honor gained by proximity to him. The ruler’s companion is fearful and never secure, treacherous and never trusted, and deemed an offender even when he does good. He is feared, causes others to live in fear, and is viewed with suspicion because of his association with the ruler. If he is brought near, he is put to trial; and if he is kept at a distance, he grieves. Your friend envies you when the ruler is pleased with you, while your child and your parents disown you when he is angry with you. Those who blame you multiply when the ruler denies a request, while those who thank you are few once they have had their fill. Such is your condition even when you remain safe with him, and there is no way to remain safe from whoever succeeds him.

Accompanying the Ruler in What Is Right

If either of you is tried by having to accompany him, or necessity compels him to do so, let him remain modest in wealth and circumstances. He must not backbite anyone in the ruler’s presence, press a claim against anyone before him, or disobey any command of his that is right. Nor should he entice the ruler into disobeying Allah Most High, for the ruler will then demand similar deeds from him and come to regard him as one of those who commit them. Even if such conduct outwardly wins him the ruler’s favor, the ruler inwardly despises him.

Keeping Away from the Pursuit of Prestige

Neither of you should aspire to rank above everyone else or to be the greatest among them

لَا يصلك إِلَّا مَا قدر لَك وَمن احْتَاجَ مِنْكُمَا فليجمل فِي الطّلب فَإِنَّهُ لَا يفوتهُ مَا قدر لَهُ وَلَا يدْرك مَا لم يقدر لَهُ وَقد ذكر الله تَعَالَى مَا وعظ بِهِ العَبْد الصَّالح ابْنه فِي مثل هَذَا فَقَالَ يَا يَبْنِي إِنَّهَا إِن تَكُ مِثْقَال حَبَّة من خَرْدَل فتكن فِي صَخْرَة أَو فِي السَّمَوَات أَو فِي الأَرْض يَأْتِ بهَا الله إِن الله لطيف خَبِير لُقْمَان ١٦ من أَتَى السُّلْطَان افْتتن واجتنبا صُحْبَة السُّلْطَان مَا استطعتما وتحريا الْبعد مِنْهُ مَا أمكنكما فَإِن الْبعد مِنْهُ أفضل من الْعِزّ بِالْقربِ مِنْهُ فَإِن صَاحب السُّلْطَان خَائِف لَا يَأْمَن وخائن لَا يُؤمن ومسيء إِن أحسن يخَاف مِنْهُ وَيخَاف بِسَبَبِهِ ويتهمه النَّاس من أَجله إِن قرب فتن وَإِن أبعد أَحْزَن يحسدك الصّديق على رِضَاهُ إِذا رَضِي ويتبرأ مِنْك ولدك ووالداك إِذا سخط وَيكثر لائموك إِذا منع ويقل شاكروك إِذا شبع فَهَذِهِ حَال السَّلامَة مَعَه وَلَا سَبِيل إِلَى السَّلامَة مِمَّن يَأْتِي بعده مصاحبة السُّلْطَان فِي الْمَعْرُوف فَإِن امتحن أَحَدكُمَا بِصُحْبَتِهِ أَو دَعَتْهُ إِلَى ذَلِك ضَرُورَة فليتقلل من المَال وَالْحَال وَلَا يغتب عِنْده أحدا وَلَا يُطَالب عِنْده بشرا وَلَا يعْص لَهُ فِي الْمَعْرُوف أمرا وَلَا يستنزلة إِلَى مَعْصِيّة الله تَعَالَى فَإِنَّهُ يَطْلُبهُ بِمِثْلِهَا وَيصير عِنْده من أَهلهَا وَإِن حظي عِنْده بِمِثْلِهَا فِي الظَّاهِر فَإِن نَفسه تمقته فِي الْبَاطِن الْبعد عَن طلب الجاه وَلَا يرغب أَحَدكُمَا فِي أَن يكون أرفع النَّاس دَرَجَة وأتمهم