رِسَالَةُ الْأَمَانَةِ

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ، وَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ.

Ve’l-hamdü lillâh, ve lillâhi’l-hamd.

And praise is to God; and to God belongs all praise.

الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الْأَمَانَةَ نُورًا، فَمَنْ حَمَلَهَا اسْتَضَاءَ، وَمَنْ خَانَهَا احْتَرَقَ بِمَا حَمَلَ.

El-hamdü lillâhillezî ceale’l-emânete nûrâ, femen hamelehe’stedâ’, ve men hânehe’hterak bimâ hamel.

Praise belongs to God, who made trust (amānah) a light: whoever bore it was illumined, and whoever betrayed it was burned by the very thing he carried.

وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، الصَّادِقِ الْأَمِينِ، الَّذِي عَلَّمَنَا أَنَّ الرِّجَالَ لَا تُوزَنُ بِأَلْقَابِهَا، بَلْ بِصِدْقِهَا إِذَا وُضِعَتِ الْأَمَانَةُ فِي أَيْدِيهَا.

Ve’s-salâtü ve’s-selâmü alâ seyyidinâ Muhammedin, es-sâdıkı’l-emîn, ellezî allemenâ enne’r-ricâle lâ tûzenü bielkâbihâ, bel bisıdkıhâ izâ vudıati’l-emânetü fî eydîhâ.

And blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, the Truthful, the Trustworthy, who taught us that men are not weighed by their titles, but by their truthfulness when the trust is placed in their hands.

فَلَيْسَ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا يَدَّعِي. وَلَيْسَ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا يَقُولُ. وَلَيْسَ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا يَكْتُبُهُ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ مِنْ أَلْقَابٍ.

Feleyse’l-insânü mâ yeddaî. Ve leyse’l-insânü mâ yekûl. Ve leyse’l-insânü mâ yektübühû alâ sadrihî min elkâb.

Man is not what he claims. Man is not what he says. Man is not the titles he pins upon his chest.

فَإِذَا فُتِحَ لَهُ بَابٌ، ظَهَرَ أَصْلُهُ. وَإِذَا أُعْطِيَ اسْمٌ، ظَهَرَ أَدَبُهُ. وَإِذَا أُدْخِلَ فِي ثِقَةٍ، ظَهَرَ دِينُهُ. وَإِذَا رَأَى ضَعْفَ صَاحِبِهِ، ظَهَرَتْ حَقِيقَةُ صُحْبَتِهِ.

Feizâ fütiha lehû bâbün, zahera aslüh. Ve izâ u‘tıye ismün, zahera edebüh. Ve izâ üdhile fî sikatin, zahera dînüh. Ve izâ raâ da‘fe sâhibihî, zaherat hakîkatü suhbetih.

When a door is opened to him, his true root appears. When a name is granted him, his courtesy appears. When he is admitted into a trust, his religion appears. And when he sees his companion's weakness, the truth of his companionship appears.

فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الْبَابَ شَاكِرًا. وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَدْخُلُهُ طَامِعًا. وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَدْخُلُهُ ضَيْفًا. وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَدْخُلُهُ ثُمَّ يَتَصَرَّفُ كَأَنَّهُ صَاحِبُ الدَّارِ.

Femine’n-nâsi men yedhulü’l-bâbe şâkirâ. Ve minhüm men yedhulühû tâmiâ. Ve minhüm men yedhulühû dayfâ. Ve minhüm men yedhulühû sümme yetesarrafü keennehû sâhibü’d-dâr.

Among people is one who enters the door thankful; one who enters it coveting; one who enters it as a guest; and one who enters it, then behaves as though he were the owner of the house.

وَهُنَا يَفْتَرِقُ الرِّجَالُ.

Ve hünâ yefteriku’r-ricâl.

And here men part ways.

فَإِنَّ الْبَابَ إِذَا فُتِحَ لَكَ بِالثِّقَةِ، فَلَا تَدْخُلْهُ بِالْحِيلَةِ. وَإِذَا فُتِحَ لَكَ بِالصُّحْبَةِ، فَلَا تَدْخُلْهُ بِالطَّمَعِ. وَإِذَا فُتِحَ لَكَ بِالْأَهْلِ، فَلَا تَدْخُلْهُ بِنَفْسِكَ. وَإِذَا فُتِحَ لَكَ بِاسْمِ غَيْرِكَ، فَلَا تَنْسَ أَنَّ لِلِاسْمِ صَاحِبًا.

Feinne’l-bâbe izâ fütiha leke bi’s-sikati, felâ tedhulhü bi’l-hîleh. Ve izâ fütiha leke bi’s-suhbeti, felâ tedhulhü bi’t-tama‘. Ve izâ fütiha leke bi’l-ehli, felâ tedhulhü binefsik. Ve izâ fütiha leke bismi gayrike, felâ tense enne lil-ismi sâhibâ.

For if the door was opened to you by trust, do not enter it by cunning. If it was opened to you by companionship, do not enter it by greed. If it was opened to you by kinship, do not enter it by your ego. And if it was opened to you by another's name, do not forget that the name has an owner.

الِاسْمُ أَمَانَةٌ. وَالْبَابُ أَمَانَةٌ. وَالْأَهْلُ أَمَانَةٌ. وَالثِّقَةُ أَمَانَةٌ. وَالصُّحْبَةُ أَمَانَةٌ. وَحَتَّى سُكُوتُ الْكَرِيمِ أَمَانَةٌ.

El-ismü emâneh. Ve’l-bâbü emâneh. Ve’l-ehlü emâneh. Ve’s-sikatü emâneh. Ve’s-suhbetü emâneh. Ve hattâ sükûtü’l-kerîmi emâneh.

The name is a trust. The door is a trust. Kinship is a trust. Confidence is a trust. Companionship is a trust. Even the silence of the generous is a trust.

فَلَا تَظُنَّ أَنَّ سُكُوتَهُ غَفْلَةٌ. وَلَا تَظُنَّ أَنَّ صَبْرَهُ عَجْزٌ. وَلَا تَظُنَّ أَنَّ كَرَمَهُ دَيْنٌ عَلَيْكَ. وَلَا تَظُنَّ أَنَّ حِلْمَهُ إِذْنٌ لَكَ.

Felâ tezunne enne sükûtehû gafleh. Ve lâ tezunne enne sabrahû aczün. Ve lâ tezunne enne keramehû deynün aleyk. Ve lâ tezunne enne hilmehû iznün lek.

So do not suppose his silence is heedlessness. Do not suppose his patience is incapacity. Do not suppose his generosity is a debt you may collect. Do not suppose his forbearance is a permission granted to you.

فَإِنَّ الْكَرِيمَ قَدْ يُعْطِي لِيَرَى. وَقَدْ يَسْكُتُ لِيَزِنَ. وَقَدْ يَصْبِرُ لِيَسْتَبِينَ. وَقَدْ يَفْتَحُ لَكَ بَابًا، لَا لِتَمْلِكَهُ، بَلْ لِيَعْرِفَ مَا تَصْنَعُ عِنْدَهُ.

Feinne’l-kerîme kad yu‘tî liyerâ. Ve kad yesküt liyezin. Ve kad yasbir liyestebîn. Ve kad yeftahu leke bâben, lâ litemlikehû, bel liya‘rife mâ tasneu indeh.

For the generous one may give in order to see; may keep silent in order to weigh; may be patient in order to let things become clear; and may open a door for you — not for you to own it, but that he may know what you do at it.

فَإِذَا جَعَلْتَ الْبَابَ غَنِيمَةً، انْكَشَفْتَ. وَإِذَا جَعَلْتَ الِاسْمَ قِنَاعًا، انْكَشَفْتَ. وَإِذَا جَعَلْتَ الصُّحْبَةَ سُلَّمًا، انْكَشَفْتَ. وَإِذَا جَعَلْتَ ثِقَةَ النَّاسِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى مَنْفَعَتِكَ، انْكَشَفْتَ.

Feizâ cealte’l-bâbe ganîmeten, inkeşefte. Ve izâ cealte’l-isme kınâan, inkeşefte. Ve izâ cealte’s-suhbete süllemen, inkeşefte. Ve izâ cealte sikate’n-nâsi tarîkan ilâ menfeatike, inkeşefte.

So if you make the door a spoil, you are exposed. If you make the name a mask, you are exposed. If you make companionship a ladder, you are exposed. And if you make people's trust a road to your own gain, you are exposed.

وَمَا أَشَدَّ سُقُوطَ مَنْ لَا يُسْقِطُهُ خَصْمُهُ، بَلْ تُسْقِطُهُ أَفْعَالُهُ.

Ve mâ eşedde sükûta men lâ yüskıtuhû hasmuh, bel tüskıtuhû ef‘âlüh.

And how severe is the fall of one whom his adversary does not bring down — but his own deeds do.

لَا يَحْتَاجُ الْخَائِنُ إِلَى مَنْ يَفْضَحُهُ؛ تَكْفِيهِ الْأَمَانَةُ إِذَا لَمْ يَحْمِلْهَا. وَلَا يَحْتَاجُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ إِلَى مَنْ يَكْسِرُهُ؛ يَكْفِيهِ الْحَدُّ إِذَا وُضِعَ أَمَامَهُ. وَلَا يَحْتَاجُ الْمُدَّعِي إِلَى مَنْ يُكَذِّبُهُ؛ يَكْفِيهِ الصَّمْتُ إِذَا جَاءَ وَقْتُ الْعَمَلِ.

Lâ yahtâcü’l-hâinü ilâ men yefdahuh; tekfîhi’l-emânetü izâ lem yahmilhâ. Ve lâ yahtâcü’l-mütekebbirü ilâ men yeksiruh; yekfîhi’l-haddü izâ vudıa emâmeh. Ve lâ yahtâcü’l-müddeî ilâ men yükezzibüh; yekfîhi’s-samtü izâ câe vaktü’l-amel.

The traitor needs no one to expose him; the trust suffices — when he fails to bear it. The arrogant needs no one to break him; the boundary suffices — when it is set before him. The pretender needs no one to belie him; his silence suffices — when the time for action comes.

فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ قَدْ يَرْفَعُهُ لِسَانُهُ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ، ثُمَّ تُسْقِطُهُ خُطْوَتُهُ عِنْدَ الْحَدِّ.

Feinne’r-racüle kad yerfeuhû lisânühû fi’l-meclis, sümme tüskıtuhû hutvetühû inde’l-hadd.

For a man may be raised by his tongue in the gathering, then brought down by his step at the boundary.

وَالْمَنْصِبُ لَا يَسْتُرُ خِفَّةَ الرُّوحِ. وَاللَّقَبُ لَا يَحْمِلُ عَنْ صَاحِبِهِ سُوءَ الْأَدَبِ. وَالْكَلَامُ فِي الْمَالِ لَا يَجْعَلُ صَاحِبَهُ رَجُلًا. وَالْمَعْرِفَةُ بِالسُّوقِ لَا تُغْنِي عَنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الْحَدِّ.

Ve’l-mansıbü lâ yestürü hiffete’r-rûh. Ve’l-lakabü lâ yahmilü an sâhibihî sûe’l-edeb. Ve’l-kelâmü fi’l-mâli lâ yec‘alü sâhibehû racülâ. Ve’l-ma‘rifetü bi’s-sûkı lâ tüğnî an ma‘rifeti’l-hadd.

A position does not cover the lightness of one's spirit. A title does not carry away its bearer's ill manners. Talk of wealth does not make its speaker a [true] man. And knowledge of the market does not substitute for knowledge of the boundary.

فَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ حُدُودَ النَّاسِ، لَمْ يَعْرِفِ التِّجَارَةَ. وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ قَدْرَ الِاسْمِ، لَمْ يَعْرِفْ قَدْرَ الرِّزْقِ. وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ حُرْمَةَ الْبَابِ، لَمْ يُؤْتَمَنْ عَلَى الدَّارِ.

Femen lem ya‘rif hudûde’n-nâs, lem ya‘rifi’t-ticâra. Ve men lem ya‘rif kadra’l-ism, lem ya‘rif kadra’r-rızk. Ve men lem ya‘rif hurmete’l-bâb, lem yü’temen ale’d-dâr.

Whoever does not know people's limits does not know trade. Whoever does not know the worth of a name does not know the worth of provision. And whoever does not know the sanctity of the door is not entrusted with the house.

إِنَّ التِّجَارَةَ بِلَا أَمَانَةٍ احْتِيَالٌ. وَالصُّحْبَةَ بِلَا وَفَاءٍ قِنَاعٌ. وَالذَّكَاءَ بِلَا أَدَبٍ سُمٌّ. وَالطُّمُوحَ بِلَا حَدٍّ افْتِرَاسٌ.

İnne’t-ticârate bilâ emânetin ihtiyâl. Ve’s-suhbete bilâ vefâin kınâ‘. Ve’z-zekâe bilâ edebin sümm. Ve’t-tumûha bilâ haddin iftirâs.

Trade without trust is fraud. Companionship without loyalty is a mask. Intelligence without courtesy is poison. And ambition without limit is predation.

وَمِنْ أَخْطَرِ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَرَى فِي ضَعْفِ صَاحِبِهِ فُرْصَةً. لَا يَسْتُرُهُ. لَا يَحْمِلُهُ. لَا يَحْفَظُهُ. بَلْ يَقِيسُهُ. يَخْتَبِرُ مَدَى صَبْرِهِ. يَخْتَبِرُ مَدَى حَاجَتِهِ. يَخْتَبِرُ مَدَى سُكُوتِهِ. ثُمَّ يَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِهِ: هَذَا يُدَارُ.

Ve min ahtari’n-nâsi men yerâ fî da‘fi sâhibihî fursah. Lâ yestüruh. Lâ yahmilüh. Lâ yahfazuh. Bel yekîsüh. Yahtebiru medâ sabrih. Yahtebiru medâ hâcetih. Yahtebiru medâ sükûtih. Sümme yekûlü fî nefsih: hâzâ yüdâr.

Among the most dangerous of people is one who sees in his companion's weakness an opportunity. He does not cover him. He does not carry him. He does not protect him. Rather, he measures him: he tests the extent of his patience, the extent of his need, the extent of his silence. Then he says to himself: "This one can be managed."

وَهُنَا يَأْتِي الْقَدَرُ بِالْحَدِّ.

Ve hünâ ye’ti’l-kaderü bi’l-hadd.

And here destiny brings the boundary.

فَيَقُومُ مَنْ ظَنَنْتَهُ ضَعِيفًا. وَيَتَكَلَّمُ مَنْ ظَنَنْتَ سُكُوتَهُ خَوْفًا. وَيَغْلِقُ الْبَابَ مَنْ ظَنَنْتَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَعْرِفُ مِفْتَاحَهُ. وَيَقُولُ لَكَ:

Feyekûmü men zanentehû daîfâ. Ve yetekellemü men zanente sükûtehû havfâ. Ve yağliku’l-bâbe men zanente ennehû lâ ya‘rifü miftâhah. Ve yekûlü lek:

Then the one you thought weak rises. The one whose silence you thought was fear speaks. The one you thought did not know its key closes the door. And he says to you:

فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ الْحَدَّ إِهَانَةً، فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ فِي نَفْسِكَ مَا كَانَ يَعِيشُ عَلَى غِيَابِهِ.

Fein raeyte’l-hadde ihâneten, fa‘lem enne fî nefsike mâ kâne yeîşü alâ gıyâbih.

So if you see the boundary as an insult, know that within your soul there was something that had been living off its absence.

فَالسَّالِمُ لَا يَخَافُ مِنَ الْحَدِّ. وَالْأَمِينُ لَا يَكْرَهُ الْوُضُوحَ. وَالصَّادِقُ لَا يَضِيقُ مِنَ الْبَيِّنَةِ. وَالصَّاحِبُ لَا يَسْتَثْقِلُ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَهُ: هَذَا حَقُّ صَاحِبِكَ.

Fe’s-sâlimü lâ yehâfü mine’l-hadd. Ve’l-emînü lâ yekrahü’l-vudûh. Ve’s-sâdıku lâ yedîku mine’l-beyyineh. Ve’s-sâhibü lâ yestaskılü en yükâle leh: hâzâ hakku sâhibik.

For the sound of heart does not fear the boundary. The trustworthy does not hate clarity. The truthful is not distressed by proof. And the true companion does not find it burdensome to be told: "This is your companion's right."

إِنَّمَا يَضِيقُ مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْمَاءَ بِلَا بِئْرٍ. وَالثَّمَرَ بِلَا شَجَرٍ. وَالِاسْمَ بِلَا صَاحِبٍ. وَالْبَابَ بِلَا إِذْنٍ. وَالرِّبْحَ بِلَا وَفَاءٍ.

İnnemâ yedîku men kâne yürîdü’l-mâe bilâ bi’r. Ve’s-semere bilâ şecer. Ve’l-isme bilâ sâhib. Ve’l-bâbe bilâ izn. Ve’r-ribha bilâ vefâ‘.

Only he is distressed who wanted water without a well; fruit without a tree; a name without an owner; a door without permission; and profit without loyalty.

وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الرِّبْحَ بِلَا وَفَاءٍ، خَسِرَ الرِّبْحَ وَالْوَفَاءَ جَمِيعًا.

Ve men erâde’r-ribha bilâ vefâin, hasira’r-ribha ve’l-vefâe cemîâ.

And whoever wanted profit without loyalty lost both profit and loyalty together.

فَإِنَّ اللهَ قَدْ يَمْنَعُ عَنْكَ رِبْحًا لِيَكْشِفَ لَكَ رَجُلًا. وَقَدْ يُسْقِطُ صَفْقَةً لِيَحْفَظَ لَكَ اسْمَكَ. وَقَدْ يُغْلِقُ بَابًا لِيُنْقِذَ دَارَكَ. وَقَدْ يُرِيكَ حِرْصَ النَّاسِ عَلَى مَا عِنْدَكَ، لِتَعْرِفَ مَنْ يَسْتَحِقُّ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ.

Feinnellâhe kad yemneu anke ribhan liyekşife leke racülâ. Ve kad yüskıtu safkaten liyahfeza leke ismek. Ve kad yağliku bâben liyünkize dârek. Ve kad yürîke hırsa’n-nâsi alâ mâ indeke, lita‘rife men yestehıkku en yedhul.

For God may withhold a profit from you in order to reveal to you a man. He may let a deal fall through in order to guard your name for you. He may close a door in order to save your house. And He may show you people's greed for what you have, so that you may know who deserves to enter.

فَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَى بَابٍ أُغْلِقَ بَعْدَ أَنْ كَشَفَ اللهُ مَنْ وَقَفَ عِنْدَهُ. وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَى صُحْبَةٍ سَقَطَتْ عِنْدَ الْمَنْفَعَةِ؛ فَإِنَّهَا لَوْ كَانَتْ صُحْبَةً، لَمَا سَقَطَتْ. وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَى مَنْ لَمْ يَحْمِلِ اسْمَكَ بِأَدَبٍ؛ فَإِنَّ مَنْ لَا يَحْمِلُ الِاسْمَ، لَا يَحْمِلُ الْعَهْدَ. وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَى مَنْ جَعَلَ صَبْرَكَ دَلِيلًا عَلَى ضَعْفِكَ؛ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَرَى مِنْكَ إِلَّا مَا يَنْفَعُهُ.

Felâ tahzen alâ bâbin uğlika ba‘de en keşefe’llâhü men vekafe indeh. Ve lâ tahzen alâ suhbetin sekatat inde’l-menfaah; feinnehâ lev kânet suhbeten, lemâ sekatat. Ve lâ tahzen alâ men lem yahmili’s-meke biedeb; feinne men lâ yahmilü’l-isme, lâ yahmilü’l-ahd. Ve lâ tahzen alâ men ceale sabreke delîlen alâ da‘fike; feinnehû lem yekün yerâ minke illâ mâ yenfeuh.

So do not grieve over a door that was closed after God revealed who stood at it. Do not grieve over a companionship that fell at the point of gain; for had it been true companionship, it would not have fallen. Do not grieve over one who did not bear your name with courtesy; for whoever does not bear the name does not bear the covenant. And do not grieve over one who made your patience a proof of your weakness; for he saw in you only what benefited him.

إِذَا ظَهَرَ الْإِنْسَانُ، فَقَدِ انْتَهَى الْجِدَالُ.

İzâ zahera’l-insânü, fekadi’ntehe’l-cidâl.

When a man is revealed, the argument is over.

لَا تُطِلِ الْخُصُومَةَ مَعَ مَنْ كَشَفَتْهُ أَفْعَالُهُ. لَا تُكْثِرِ الْبَيَانَ لِمَنْ فَهِمَ وَأَنْكَرَ. لَا تَرْفَعْ صَوْتَكَ عَلَى مَنْ أَسْقَطَهُ صَمْتُهُ. لَا تُطَارِدْ مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْبَابِ الَّذِي فَتَحْتَهُ لَهُ.

Lâ tütıli’l-husûmete mea men keşefethü ef‘âlüh. Lâ tüksiri’l-beyâne limen fehime ve enker. Lâ terfa‘ savteke alâ men askatahû samtüh. Lâ tütârid men harace mine’l-bâbi’llezî fetahtehû leh.

Do not prolong the quarrel with one whom his own deeds have exposed. Do not multiply explanation for one who understood and denied. Do not raise your voice at one whom his own silence brought down. Do not chase one who has left through the door you opened for him.

دَعْهُ لِمَا اخْتَارَ. وَدَعْ نَفْسَكَ لِمَا عَلِمَتْ. وَدَعِ الْأَمْرَ لِمَنْ لَا تَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ خَافِيَةٌ.

Da‘hü limâ’htâr. Ve da‘ nefseke limâ alimet. Ve da‘i’l-emre limen lâ tahfâ aleyhi hâfiyeh.

Leave him to what he has chosen. Leave your soul to what it has known. And leave the matter to the One from whom nothing hidden is hidden.

فَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَنْ دَخَلَ شَاكِرًا، وَمَنْ دَخَلَ طَامِعًا. وَيَعْلَمُ مَنْ حَمَلَ الِاسْمَ أَمَانَةً، وَمَنْ لَبِسَهُ قِنَاعًا. وَيَعْلَمُ مَنْ أَرَادَ الصُّحْبَةَ، وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الطَّرِيقَ إِلَى الْمَنْفَعَةِ. وَيَعْلَمُ مَنْ وَقَفَ عِنْدَ الْحَدِّ، وَمَنْ كَسَرَهُ ثُمَّ سَمَّى ذَلِكَ عَمَلًا.

Fellâhü ya‘lemü men dehale şâkirâ, ve men dehale tâmiâ. Ve ya‘lemü men hamele’l-isme emâneten, ve men lebisehû kınâ‘â. Ve ya‘lemü men erâde’s-suhbete, ve men erâde’t-tarîka ile’l-menfaah. Ve ya‘lemü men vekafe inde’l-haddi, ve men keserahû sümme semmâ zâlike amelâ.

For God knows who entered thankful and who entered coveting. He knows who bore the name as a trust and who wore it as a mask. He knows who sought companionship and who sought the road to gain. And He knows who stood at the boundary and who broke it, then called that "business."