Translations:On Dokuzuncu Lem'a/65/en
Also, many scholars(*[1])and literary figures(*[2])
being reduced to poverty because of the greed arising from their intelligence, and many stupid and incapable people becoming rich due to their innate contentedness(*[3])proves decisively that licit sustenance comes because of impotence and want, not by virtue of ability and will. Indeed, licit sustenance is in inverse proportion to ability and will. For the more children increase in ability and will, the more their sustenance decreases, the further it is from them and the more difficult to digest. According to the Hadith, “Contentment is an unfailing treasure,”(*[4])contentment is a treasury of good living and ease of life, while greed is a mine of loss and abasement.
- ↑ *It was asked of Bozorgmehr, the Wazir of the Persian Shah Nushirvan the Just and scholar famous for his intelligence, “Why are the learned to be seen at the doors of rulers and rulers not to be seen at the doors of the learned, whereas learning is superior to rulership?” He replied: “Because of the knowledge of the learned and the ignorance of the rulers.” That is to say, due to their ignorance, rulers do not know the value of learning so that they approach the doors of the learned to seek it. But because of their knowledge, the learned know the value of their rulers’ goods and possessions and seek them at the rulers’ doors. Explaining thus wittily the greed resulting from the cleverness of the learned, which causes some of them to be impecunious and in want, Bozorgmehr replied in a refined manner. Signed: Hüsrev
- ↑ *An event corroborating this: in France, a beggar’s licence was given to literary figures because they were so proficient at begging.Signed: Süleyman Rüştü
- ↑ *See, al-Daylami, al-Musnad, iv, 385.
- ↑ *See, Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat, vii, 84; Bayhaqi, al-Zuhd, ii, 88; al-‘Ajluni, Kashf al- Khafa’, ii, 133.