Arabian Wisdom Part 1

Arabian Wisdom.

by John Wortabet.

INTRODUCTION

The wise sayings and proverbs of ancient and modern times, and in all the languages I know or to which I had access in translations, have always had a great attraction for me. Drawn from the experiences and study of human life, they have been reduced by wise men to short, pithy sentences, generally expressed in some quaint or striking form, for conveying sound moral truths. They are intended to be maxims of life, or rules of conduct, chiefly for the young, but may be read with pleasure and profit by both young and old. It was with such an object in view that the Editors of the _Wisdom of the East_ series have lately issued a number of small books on this subject carefully translated by competent specialists, and which have been highly appreciated by the English press and public. Their chief desire, however, appears to be "that these books shall be the amba.s.sadors of good-will and understanding between East and West," and also that "the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity which neither despises nor fears the nations of another creed and colour." (See Editorial Note.)

It was also from such motives, but long before I had seen these books, that I have employed a part of my leisure hours in translating into Arabic some of the best sayings of M. Aurelius, Shakespeare, Tennyson, English and other proverbs, and, quite lately, selections from _The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep_ and _Sadi's Scroll of Wisdom_. They were published in the best Arabic magazines, and have been read by many Christians, Moslems, and Jews in Egypt, Syria, and other countries; and I have been told by some of these Oriental readers that they found in them much matter for thought and instruction, while their views of the community and bonds of human nature among all nations, and in all parts of the world, have been broadened and enlarged.

The Arabic language is particularly rich in this kind of literature, and its proverbs are often appropriately introduced in conversation, letters, and books, and add much force to what is said or written.

Many are light and colloquial, and bring a smile or laughter to both speaker and hearer; but many also are distinguished by their cla.s.sical form and the serious weighty ideas which they convey or inculcate. It was easy, therefore, to find abundant material for this little book, but it was somewhat difficult to make a wise selection, to cla.s.sify the different subjects under proper heads, and to translate Arabic idioms into good English. Other difficulties were when the proverb in Arabic is formed of two parts which a.s.sonate or rhyme, when the piquancy of a short sentence depends so much on the quaintness of its expression, when an untranslatable pun or play upon words is used, or when the phrase is too elliptical or too Oriental in its reference to be easily understood by English readers. The translation I have made is generally literal, sometimes free, but always true to the original.

Some I have left in their Oriental form to show the Arabian bent of thought and mode of life. The renderings from the Koran are all mine, and I alone am responsible for them. All that I have tried to do was for ordinary readers--and for them alone.

Many proverbs are common to all languages, and in them all--notably among Semitic nations--there is often an exaggeration,[1] or a one-sided view,[2] or a paradox,[3] which must be taken with some lat.i.tude and with the natural limitations required by common sense. It will also be observed that many Arabic proverbs have a close resemblance to the Proverbs of Solomon, and often a.s.sume that rhetorical form or parallelism in which Hebrew poetry abounds when the same idea is repeated in other words, or where its positive and negative sides are put into contrast. The following quotation, taken from the eighth chapter of that book, may serve as an example of what has just been said, and as an appropriate introduction to this little book:

"Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.

For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favour of the Lord.

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death."

[1] "A fool throws a stone into a well, and a thousand wise men cannot get it out."

[2] "A man is safe when alone." "Paradise without human companions is not worth living in."

[3] "Do no good, and you will meet with no evil."

THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE KORAN

In the name of G.o.d, who is abundant in mercy and compa.s.sion! Praise be to G.o.d, the Lord of the universe, the most merciful and compa.s.sionate, the Sovereign of the day of judgment. Thee alone we worship, and from Thee alone we seek help. Guide us to the right path--the path of them to whom Thou hast been gracious--not of them with whom Thou art angry, nor of them who have gone astray. Amen.[1]

[1] This opening chapter of the Koran--very short as it is--contains the fundamental principles of the whole book--the doctrine of G.o.d, His infinite mercy, the immortality of the soul, the rewards and punishments of the world to come, and the duty of prayer, and thanksgiving, and adoration, and obedience. It is a fair specimen of all that is best in the "Revealed Book" of the Moslems, and is as frequently repeated by them as the Lord's Prayer is by Christians.

REPENTANCE, AND G.o.d'S FORGIVING MERCY

_Koran_. O ye who believe, repent unto G.o.d, for He loveth them who are penitent. O ye who believe in me, who by much sin have done a great wrong to themselves, despair not of the mercy of G.o.d, for He forgiveth all sins. Verily He forgiveth and is merciful.

_Traditions_. Sorrow for sin is repentance. He who repents is like him who has not sinned.

_Wise Sayings and Proverbs_. No intercession succeeds so effectually as repentance.

The most truthful man is he who is true to his repentance.

Two sins only G.o.d does not forgive--worship of false G.o.ds and injury to men.

A SINNER'S CRY UNTO G.o.d[2]

[2] The original Arabic is in verse.

O Thou who knowest every thought, and hearest every cry, Who art the source of all that is, or ever shall be, Who art the only hope in every trouble, The only help in every plaint and every woe, Whose treasures of bounty and word creative are one, G.o.d of all good, hear my prayer!

One sole plea I have--my need of Thee; But needing Thee my need is filled.

One only resource I have--to stand and knock; And if unheard at Thy mercy-gate, to whom shall I go?

Whom shall I call, what Name shall I invoke, If Thy needy servant shall in vain Thy bounty seek?

But far be it from Thee, G.o.d of grace, to refuse a sinner's cry.

Too good and gracious art Thou to send me thus away.

Contrite, I stand at Thy door, Believing that contrite prayer availeth much with Thee.

Suppliant, I stretch forth my hands, And with all my soul look up to Thee.

Save me, G.o.d, from every ill, and be Thy favour ever mine!

FORGIVING OTHERS

_Koran_. G.o.d forgiveth past sins; let men forgive and pardon. Forgive freely. Forgiving others is the nearest thing to piety.

_Traditions_. He who forgiveth others, G.o.d forgiveth him.

Be merciful, and you will have mercy; forgive and you will be forgiven.

_Sayings and Proverbs_. Of all things G.o.d loveth best forgiveness when one is able to inflict harm, and forbearance when one is angry.

The pleasure of forgiving is sweeter than the pleasure of revenge.

Forgiveness is perfect when the sin is not remembered.

The most wicked of men is he who accepts no apology, covers no sin, and forgives no fault.

Small men transgress, great men forgive.

A n.o.ble man condones and pardons, and when by chance he finds out a sin, he conceals it.

A man said to another who had spoken evil of him: "If what you have said be true, may G.o.d forgive me; and if false, may He forgive you."

CLEMENCY, FORBEARANCE, AND GENTLENESS

_Koran_. Those who worship the Merciful One are they who walk on the earth gently, and who, when fools speak to them, say "Peace." (25, 64.)