Learn from Your Elders

Oh Girls! Look at your elders and learn intelligence from them. Follow them, and acquire shame, modesty, intelligence and wisdom, thus achieving success and wellbeing in this world and in the hereafter. Live your life with honour, pride, and goodness.

When no good or bad examples are in front of you, and the situations, manner of social interaction, teachings and upbringing of the past are not fully shown, and the way of girls of that time are not expressed in clear words, then you will never understand and acquire those qualities which are in actual fact the jewels of humanity, and you will not be able to compensate for your faults.

Do you know which priceless qualities are missing from you, which valuable things are not found in you, and which good qualities you are deprived of? No, [you do not know,] because you are completely inexperienced. No one’s education and training have had an impact on you. So much so that you don’t even know whether your parents are happy or unhappy with you. [In other words, you are so oblivious that you do not know what pleases your parents and what displeases them.]

(Husn-e-Mu’aasharat)