Happy Muslim Mama: Imam Shafi's Advice

I came across this “nasiha” or advice at the Habibi Halaqa’s website. It is taken from Imam Shafi’s “Dīwān ash-Shāfiýī”. There was so much that spoke to me in this, particularly the words about covering your flaws with generosity and forgiveness hiding faults, that I wanted to share: Let time pass by, and do as it wishes; Be strong when the decreed is delivered to you. Wail not for your afflictions in the night For, worldly miseries are not everlasting When calamity strikes, face up like a man And let your traits be that of forgiveness and fidelity If your flaws are plenty and are manifest

And your wish is that they be concealed Know, that forgiveness hides every fault

And how many flaws are veiled by generosity! Neither does agony abide, nor happiness And neither bad-times nor times of joy and comfort Never should you seek to humiliate your enemies Because the desire to disgrace them is in itself a malady Do not expect forgiveness from a miser, The parched do not quench their thirst from fire Your sustenance will not diminish by neglect, And it will not increase by exertion or by more toil When you have a heart that is satisfied, content – You will be like the one who owns the whole world And those who have entered the sphere of death The earth cannot hide them nor heavens Surely, the land of Allāh is vast, but – When misfortune strikes, the air becomes stifling Let the world betray and deceive every moment – No matter what; there is no escape from death.

From Dīwān ash-Shāfiýī p.111; Khazānatu’l Adab 2/426; Jawāhiru’l Adab p.665