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تَعَلَّمْ فَلَيْسَ الْمَرْءُ يُولَدُ عَالِمًا by Imam Al-Shafi'i — Analysis & Translation

2 min read Arabic

Original Poem

تَعَلَّمْ فَلَيْسَ الْمَرْءُ يُولَدُ عَالِمًا وَلَيْسَ أَخُو عِلْمٍ كَمَنْ هُوَ جَاهِلُ وَإِنَّ كَبِيرَ الْقَوْمِ لَا عِلْمَ عِنْدَهُ صَغِيرٌ إِذَا الْتَفَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْجَحَافِلُ وَإِنَّ صَغِيرَ الْقَوْمِ إِنْ كَانَ عَالِمًا كَبِيرٌ إِذَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِ الْمَحَافِلُ

Translation (English)

Learn, because a person isn't born knowing everything And someone who knows isn't like someone who doesn't Even a leader without knowledge Is insignificant when armies surround him But a young person who knows Becomes important when gatherings turn to him

About the Poet

Imam Al-Shafi'i (Islamic Golden Age)

Imam Al-Shafi'i was a prominent Islamic scholar and poet, known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and Arabic literature. He lived during the Islamic Golden Age and is one of the four great Imams of Sunni Islam.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Historical Context

Literary Form
Classical Arabic poetry
When Written
Islamic Golden Age
Background
The poem emphasizes the importance of learning and knowledge, contrasting the learned with the ignorant, and highlighting the value of wisdom over mere social status.

Sources: https://mawdoo3.com/أجمل_أقوال_الشافعي, https://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/تعلم_فليس_المرء_يولد_عالما, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_poetry

Detailed Explanation

This poem by Imam Al-Shafi'i underscores the significance of acquiring knowledge. It begins by stating that no one is born with knowledge, emphasizing the necessity of learning. The poem contrasts the knowledgeable and the ignorant, suggesting that a person with knowledge is inherently superior to one without it. It further illustrates that a leader without knowledge is insignificant, especially in critical situations like when armies gather. Conversely, even a young person can be considered great if they possess knowledge, as people will naturally turn to them for guidance. This reflects the Islamic value placed on education and wisdom, suggesting that true greatness comes from understanding and learning rather than age or social position.

Themes

  • Knowledge
  • Ignorance
  • Leadership
  • Wisdom

Literary Devices

  • Contrast: between knowledge and ignorance
  • Metaphor: armies gathering as a test of leadership
  • Parallelism: structure of contrasting knowledgeable and ignorant individuals

Word Dictionary

Word Meaning Translation Transliteration
تَعَلَّمْ اكتسب المعرفة Learn ta'allam
فَلَيْسَ ليس is not fa-laysa
الْمَرْءُ الإنسان person al-mar'u
يُولَدُ يأتي إلى الحياة comes into life yuwladu
عَالِمًا ذو معرفة knowing aaliman
وَلَيْسَ ليس is not wa-laysa
أَخُو صديق friend akhu
عِلْمٍ دراية understanding ilmin
كَمَنْ مثل من like one who kaman
هُوَ هو he huwa
جَاهِلُ غير واعي unaware jahil
وَإِنَّ وحقًا and indeed wa-inna
كَبِيرَ ضخم important kabira
الْقَوْمِ الجماعة the people al-qawmi
لَا ليس not la
عِلْمَ دراية understanding ilma
عِنْدَهُ لديه with him indahu
صَغِيرٌ قليل الأهمية insignificant saghirun
إِذَا حين when idha
الْتَفَّتْ تجمعت surrounded iltaffat
عَلَيْهِ حول around him alayhi
الْجَحَافِلُ الجيوش armies al-jahafil
صَغِيرَ قليل الأهمية unimportant saghira
إِنْ إذا if in
كَانَ كان was kana
كَبِيرٌ عظيم great kabirun
رُدَّتْ أعيدت turned back ruddat
إِلَيْهِ إلى to him ilayhi
الْمَحَافِلُ التجمعات assemblies al-mahafilu

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