My Advice to You

Work with such smartness and agility that even the men are amazed.

Take care of the children well. Care for them when they are sick and [simultaneously] attend to the domestic work.

Do not let one need make you lose a hundred necessities. [In other words, in seeing to one thing you neglect many other important things.] See to everything, and at times check what is happening outside as well.

If all these attributes are present [in you], you can fix what’s wrong, and if anything goes wrong then your mind will teach you how to fix it.

You will understand friends as friends and enemies as enemies. What you want to say, you will say with understanding, not harming yourself or others.

Fights and quarrels will be far away from you, and you will be welcomed everywhere. Even your enemies will become friends, and no one will have a chance to complain about you. Everyone will treat you with love because of your wise behaviour.

Even if something goes wrong, it won’t be considered wrong. Even if a wise person does something foolish, it is still considered good. As for a foolish person, even if they say something good, they are still not considered good. A foolish person spoils things with their ignorance and turns friends into enemies, whereas a wise person turns enemies into friends.

All the advice I have given and will give can be understood and carried out by applying the mind. Understand well that all the good in this world and in the Aakhirat are acquired by virtue of the mind. The mind and modesty are two great jewels. Modesty is also something that saves one from all ills.

(Husn-e-Mu’aasharat)