Ethics Lessons from Kitab al-Mustathraf

 

Ethics Lessons from Kitab al-Mustathraf

I was given a gift by my friend and teacher Prof Dr KH Ahmad Imam Mawardi (postgraduate lecturer at UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya) a unique book, namely al-Mustathraf fi kulli fann mustazhraf. This book was written by Syihabuddin Abu al-Fath Muhammad al-Absyihi al-Muhalla who was born in 1388, and died in 1446 AD - around 570 years ago. Al-Absyihi is a figure from Egypt who belongs to the Shafi'i sect and has memorized the Qur'an since he was 10 years old.

The contents of this book are varied…from legal, historical, spiritual, medicine, food, to humor and music.

Below I quote some of the ethical lessons from this unique book. The language shift does make the verses below no longer as poetic as the original, and I also refrain from providing additional syarh or explanation, so I'll just leave the quote as it is. If someone is confused about the meaning, let's just say that we are both confused

I quote randomly from pages 48 – 52:

The ugliest people are those who help the wrongdoers and ignore those who are wronged

*The doubt of a wise person (aqil) is more authentic than the belief of a fool (jahil)

*If you ask an ignorant person he will lead you to falsehood

*Don't open a door that will blame you if you close it, and don't let go of an arrow you can't pull back

*One of the biggest sins is looking good at our bad.

*Priority is achieved by increasing manners, not the joy of dawab

*The truth that hurts (yadhurr) is better than falsehood that is pleasant (yasurr)

* Accompanying smart people will revive the soul

*The worst thing is to take a jealous friend

*Don't laugh without curiosity, and don't walk aimlessly

*Deliberation is the essence of guidance, while he who makes his own decisions will accept the risk

The richest person (al-ghina) is the one who abandons his desires (al-muna)

*Not mentioning other people is better than saying their names by blaming them

*Doubt is the brother of regret

* A noble person has a soft heart, while a person with less intellect has a big arrogance

* Sometimes that doubt leads to the truth.

* Find out who you will be walking with before asking about the route

and find out who the neighbors are before asking about the house

*Don't take anyone as your enemy, because you are never free from the enmity of fools and intelligent people; so beware of the wisdom of the intelligent and the ignorance of the foolish

*Those who laugh while confessing their sins are better than those who cry but are still arrogant in front of God

* Don't show faults to the wrong person because even though he gets knowledge from you, he will still think of you as his enemy

*It's really embarrassing if you praise others in front of them but you insult them behind their backs

It is said: benefiting others will bring love, hurting others will bring hatred. Discord brings enmity, agreement brings goodness, justice brings hearts together and tyranny brings separation; good morals lead to friendship, and bad morals lead to feelings of distance.

*Openness brings friendliness, closedness brings loneliness; pride brings disgust, humility brings greatness.

*Greatness brings praise, stinginess brings blame, doubt brings loss, firmness brings happiness.

Caution brings salvation, and good management brings grace, and with deliberation what is sought becomes easy. By being a good friend, love will last, and with humility others will find your friendliness.

* By maintaining morale, livelihood will be good. Underestimating others brings separation. With much silence you inspire admiration and with eloquence you will earn respect.

*With justice, bonds are made, and with virtue your life will increase. With good morals your actions will produce, and by facing difficulties you will master the matter.

*By being gentle with fools you will find many helpers to deal with them, with kindness and hospitality you will be worthy of being called noble, and by leaving things that do not need to be your concern, then your priorities will be perfect.