He who remembers death much is satisfied with small favors in this world. He who knows that his speech is also a part of his action speaks less except where he has some purpose.
Imam Ali’s (as) Maxims in Nahj Albalaghe
“He who speaks more commits more errors. He who commits more errors becomes shameless. He who is shameless will have less fear of Allah. He whose fear of Allah is less, his heart dies. He whose heart dies enters the Fire. He who observes the shortcomings of others and disapproves of them and then accepts them for himself is definitely a fool. Contentment is a capital that does not dwindle. He who remembers death much is satisfied with small favors in this world. He who knows that his speech is also a part of his action speaks less except where he has some purpose.”[1]
Note:
1.Syed Razi, Nahj Al Balagha, English translator: Moulana Mufti Jafar, vol.5, Wonderful Saying 349.
وقال علیه السلام: مَنْ نَظَرَ فِی عَیْبِ نَفْسِهِ اشْتَغَلَ عَنْ عَیْبِ غَیْرهِ، وَمَنْ رَضِیَ برِزْقِ اللهِ لَمْ یَحْزَنْ عَلَی مَا فَاتَهُ، وَمَنْ سَلَّ سَیْفَ الْبَغْیِ قُتِلَ بِهِ، وَمَنْ کَابَدَ الْأُمُورَ عَطِبَ وَمَنِ اقْتَحَمَ اللُّجَجَ غَرِقَ، وَمَنْ دَخَلَ مَدَاخِلَ السُّوءِ اتُّهِمَ، وَمَنْ کَثُرَ کَلاَمُهُ کَثُرَ خَطَؤُهُ، وَمَنْ کَثُرَ خَطَؤُهُ قَلَّ حَیَاؤُهُ، وَمَنْ قَلَّ حَیَاؤُهُ قَلَّ وَرَعُهُ، مَنْ قَلَّ وَرَعُهُ مَاتَ قَلْبُهُ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ قَلْبُهُ دَخَلَ النَّارَ، وَمَنْ نَظَرَ فِی عُیُوبِ النَّاسِ فَأَنْکَرَهَا ثُمَّ رَضِیَهَا لِنَفْسِهِ فذَاک الْأَحْمَقُ بِعَیْنِهِ. وَالْقَنَاعَهُ مَالٌ لاَ یَنْفَدُ، وَمَنْ أَکْثَرَ مِنْ ذِکْرِ الْمَوْتِ رَضِیَ مِنَ الدُّنْیَا بِالْیَسیرِ، مَنْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ کَلاَمَهُ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ قَلَّ کَلاَمُهُ إِلاَّ فِیَما یَعْنیِهِ