The following text is advice extracted from Imam Abū Ḥanīfa’s al-Waṣiyyah to his student Yūsuf ibn Khālid al-Samṭī—not to be confused with the other Waṣiyyah to Abū Yūsuf.
This is a rough translation and has not been verified by my teachers, but I’m sharing it tonight as it’s been on my mind, especially tonight. Today is my birthday, and like every year, I find myself in quiet reflection—seeking out the next best version of myself.
Each line in this counsel is a seed of wisdom—succinct, practical, and deeply rooted in Islamic ethics. It is a guide to living with dignity, humility, and spiritual awareness. I hope to actively internalize this advice and carry it forward into the year ahead.
١) واستَجِدَّ ثيابكَ، وأكثرِ استعمالَ الطيبِ
Keep your clothes clean and fresh, and use perfume frequently.
٢) وقرِّب مَجلِسَك، وليكن ذلك في أوقاتٍ معلومةٍ.
Make your gathering place accessible, and let it be at known times.
٣) واجعل لنفسك خَلوةً ترمُّ بها حوائِجَكَ
Set aside for yourself a time of seclusion in which you may tend to your needs.
٤) وحافِظْ على صلواتِكَ
Be consistent in maintaining your prayers.
٥) وابذُل طعامك، فإنه ما سادَ بخيلٌ قطُّ
Offer your food generously, for no miser ever gained true leadership.
٦) وخذِ العفوَ وأمُرْ بالمعروفِ
Take to pardoning and command what is right.
٨) وتَغافَلْ عمَّا لا يَعْنِيكَ
Overlook that which does not concern you.
٩) إذا دخلتَ البصرةَ واستقبَلَكَ الناسُ، وزاروكَ وعَرَفوا حقَّك، فأنزِلْ كلَّ رجلٍ منهم مَنْزِلَتَه
When you enter Basra and people greet and visit you, and recognize your status, place each of them in their proper rank.
١٠) وأكْرِمْ أهلَ الشَّرفِ
Honor people of nobility.
١١) وعظِّم أهلَ العلمِ، ووقِّر الشيوخَ
Venerate the people of knowledge and show reverence to elders.
١٢) ولاطفِ الأحداثَ
Be gentle with the youth.
١٣) وتقرَّبْ مِنَ العامَّةِ
Draw close to the common people.
١٤) ودارِ الفجارَ
Be forbearing with the wicked.
١٥) واصْحَبِ الأخْيَارَ
Keep company with the virtuous.
١٦) ولا تتهاوَنْ بالسُّلطانِ
Do not take the authority lightly.
١٧) ولا تحقِرنَّ أحدًا يقصِدُك
Never belittle anyone who approaches you.
١٨) ولا تقصِّرنَّ في إقامةِ مودَّتِكَ إياهُم
Do not fall short in maintaining your affection toward them.
١٩) ولا تخرجنَّ سِرَّك إلى أحدٍ
Never reveal your secrets to anyone.
٢٠) ولا تثقنَّ بصحبةِ أحدٍ حتى تمتحنه
Do not trust the companionship of anyone until you have tested him.
٢١) ولا تُخَادِمْ خَسيسًا، ولا وضيعًا
Do not serve someone base or lowly.
٢٢) ولا تقولنَّ من الكلام ما يُنكَرُ عليكَ في ظاهرهِ
Do not say anything that will be outwardly criticized.
٢٣) وإياكَ والانبساطَ إلى السفهاءِ
Beware of being overly familiar with the foolish.
٢٤) ولا تجيبنَّ دعوةً، ولا تَقْبَلنَّ هديةً
Do not accept every invitation, nor every gift.
٢٥) وعليك بالمداراة والصبرِ والاحتمالِ وحُسنِ الخلُقِ وسَعةِ الصَّدرِ
Adopt tact, patience, endurance, good character, and a broad heart.
٢٦) وابحث عن أخبارِ حشَمِك، وتَقدَّم في تقويمهِم وتأديبهِم
Look into the affairs of your servants and take the lead in correcting and disciplining them.
٢٧) واستَعْمِلْ في ذلك الرِّفْقَ
Use gentleness in doing so.
٢٨) ولا تُكْثِرِ العَتَبَ فيهونَ العَذْلُ
Do not rebuke excessively, for it makes reproach insignificant.
٢٩) ولا تلِ تأديبَهم بنفسِكَ، فإنَّه أبقى لمائِك، وأهْيَبُ لك
Do not personally handle their discipline, for it better preserves your dignity and instills more awe.
٣٠) وليكنْ لكَ بِطانةٌ تُعرِّفُكَ أخبارَ الناسِ…
Have close associates who inform you of the people’s affairs…
٣١) واعمدْ في زِيارةِ مَنْ يَزورُك ومن لا يَزورُك، والإحسانِ إلى من أحسن إليكَ، أو أساءَ.
Be consistent in visiting those who visit you and those who do not, and show kindness to those who are good to you or even to those who wrong you.
٣٢) وبادر في إقامةِ الحقوقِ.
Be prompt in fulfilling rights.
٣٣) ومن مَرِضَ من إخوانِكَ فَعُدْهُ بنفسِك، وتعاهَدْهُ برُسُلِك
Visit your sick brothers yourself, and check on them through your messengers.
٣٤) ومن غابَ منهم فتفقَّدْ أحواله. ومنْ قعدَ منهم عنْك، فلا تقعُدْ أنت عنه.
Check on the affairs of those who are absent, and if one of them stops visiting you, do not cease from visiting him.
٣٥) وصِلْ مَنْ جفاكَ
Keep ties with the one who cuts you off.
٣٦) وأكرِمْ مَن أتَاك
Honor the one who comes to you.
٣٧) واعفُ عمَّن أساءَ إليكَ
Pardon the one who wrongs you.
٣٨) ومَن تكلَّمَ منهم بالقبيحِ فيك فتكلَّم فيه بالحَسَنِ الجميلِ
If someone speaks ill of you, respond with what is good and beautiful.
٣٩) ومن ماتَ قضيتَ له حقَّهُ، ومن كانَتْ له فَرْحَةٌ هنَّيتَهُ بها
Fulfill the rights of the deceased, and congratulate the joyful.
٤٠) ومن كانت له مصيبةٌ عزَّيتَهُ عنْهَا
Console those who face calamity.
٤١) ومن أصابَهُ همٌّ فتوجَّعْ له بهِ
Feel compassion for those who are afflicted with sorrow.
٤٢) ومَنِ استنْهضَكَ لأمرٍ من أمورِهِ نهضْتَ لهُ
Support those who ask your help in their matters.
٤٤) وأظهِرِ التودُّدَ إلى الناسِ ما استطَعْتَ
Show friendliness to people as much as you can.
٤٥) وأفشِ السلامَ، ولو على قومٍ لئامٍ
Spread peace—even to ignoble people.
٤٦) ومتى جمعَكَ وغيرَكَ مْجِلسٌ… لم تَبْدِ لهم منك خلافًا…
If you’re in a gathering where people speak contrary to what you know, do not show opposition. If asked, reply with what they recognize, then mention the other view with its proof…
٤٧) وخذهُم بجليِّ العلمِ دونَ دَقيقِهِ
Teach them the clear aspects of knowledge before delving into its subtleties.
٤٨) ءانِسْهُمْ ومَازِحْهُم أحيانا
Cheer them up and joke with them occasionally.
٤٩) وحادِثْهُم، فإنَّها تجلُبُ الموَدَّةَ وتستديمُ به مواظبةَ العلمِ
Converse with them, for it brings affection and maintains their commitment to learning.
٥٠) وأطعِمْهُم أحيانًا
Feed them from time to time.
٥١) واقضِ حوائجَهُم
Fulfill their needs.
٥٢) واعرفْ مقدارَهم
Recognize their status.
٥٣) وتغافلْ عن زلاَّتِهم
Overlook their slips.
٥٤) وارفِقْ بِهم وسَامِحْهُم
Be gentle and forgiving with them.
٥٦) وارضَ مِنْهُم ما ترضى لنفْسِكَ
Be pleased with them as you would be pleased for yourself.
٥٧) وعاملِ الناسَ مُعَامَلتَك لنفسِكَ
Treat people as you would treat yourself.
٥٨) واستعِنْ على نفسِك بالصيانةِ لها، والمراقبةِ لأحوالها
Discipline your soul through guarding it and being mindful of its states.
٥٩) ولا تضجُر لمن لا يضجُرُ عليك
Do not be annoyed by one who is not annoyed with you.
٦٠) ودعِ الشَّغَبَ
Avoid chaos and conflict.
٦١) واستمِع لمنْ يستَمِعُ مِنْكَ
Listen to those who listen to you.
٦٢) ولا تكلِّفِ الناسَ ما لا يكلِّفوكَ
Do not burden people with what they do not burden you.
٦٣) وارضَ لهم ما رَضُوا لنَفْسِهِم
Be content for them with what they are content with for themselves.
٦٤) وقدِّمْ حُسْنَ النيَّةِ
Begin with good intention.
٦٥) واستعملِ الصِّدْقَ
Use truthfulness.
٦٦) واطرحِ الكِبْرَ جانباً
Cast aside arrogance.
٦٧) وإيَّاكَ والغَدْرَ، وإنْ غَدَروا بك
Beware of treachery, even if others betray you.
٦٨) وأدِّ الأمانةَ، وإن خانوكَ
Fulfill trusts, even if others betray you.
٦٩) وتمسَّكْ بالوفاءِ
Hold firmly to loyalty.
٧٠) واعتصِمْ بالتقوى
Hold fast to piety.
٧١) وعاشِرْ أهلَ الأديانِ حسَبَ معاشرتِهم لكَ
Live with people of other religions as they live with you. If you hold to this advice, I hope you will be safe, God willing…
