The lines we set
Every verse below is one MASHQ sets: some are ready paints on the store, the rest are made to order in our UAE workshop. Each opens in the Studio already composed, and each says where it comes from — the poet and the poem, the sura and the āya, or the collection and the number of a hadith — including when the honest answer is “attributed”.
Arabic
وقل رب زدني علماAnd say: my Lord, increase me in knowledgeإن مع العسر يسراWith hardship comes easeخير جليس في الزمان كتابThe best companion of all time is a bookالعلم نورKnowledge is lightالقناعة كنز لا يفنىContentment is a treasure that never runs outمن جدّ وجدWho strives, findsالجار قبل الدارThe neighbour before the houseفي التأني السلامةIn taking your time there is safetyالصبر مفتاح الفرجPatience is the key to reliefعلى قدر أهل العزم تأتي العزائمResolve comes in the measure of the resoluteالخيل والليل والبيداء تعرفنيThe horses, the night and the desert know meإذا غامرت في شرف مروم فلا تقنع بما دون النجومIf you venture after honour, settle for nothing short of the starsوإذا كانت النفوس كبارا تعبت في مرادها الأجسامWhen souls are great, bodies tire in their serviceالسيف أصدق أنباء من الكتبThe sword is a truer herald than the booksستبدي لك الأيام ما كنت جاهلاThe days will show you what you did not knowومن لا يكرم نفسه لا يكرمWho does not honour himself is not honouredأتاك الربيع الطلق يختال ضاحكاSpring has come to you, free and laughing, struttingأراك عصي الدمع شيمتك الصبرI see you hold back your tears; patience is your wayإني ذكرتك بالزهراء مشتاقاI remembered you at al-Zahra, longingزدني بفرط الحب فيك تحيراIncrease me, by excess of love for You, in bewildermentمحمد سيد الكونين والثقلينMuhammad, master of the two worlds and the two kindsوما نيل المطالب بالتمني ولكن تؤخذ الدنيا غلاباWishes do not win what is sought; the world is taken by strivingقم للمعلم وفه التبجيلا كاد المعلم أن يكون رسولاRise for the teacher and give him his due honour — a teacher is almost a messengerوطني لو شغلت بالخلد عنه نازعتني إليه في الخلد نفسيMy homeland — were I kept from it by Paradise, my soul would pull me back to itالأم مدرسة إذا أعددتها أعددت شعبا طيب الأعراقThe mother is a school: prepare her, and you prepare a people of good stockإذا الشعب يوما أراد الحياة فلا بد أن يستجيب القدرWhen a people one day wills to live, fate must answerكن جميلا تر الوجود جميلاBe beautiful, and you will see existence beautifulدع الأيام تفعل ما تشاء وطب نفسا إذا حكم القضاءLet the days do as they will, and be at peace when the decree has passedنعيب زماننا والعيب فينا وما لزماننا عيب سواناWe blame our age, and the fault is ours; our age has no fault but usالوقت كالسيف إن لم تقطعه قطعكTime is like a sword: if you do not cut it, it cuts youمن صبر ظفرWho is patient, prevailsالصديق وقت الضيقThe friend is the one in hard timesخير الكلام ما قل ودلThe best speech is brief and clearلكل مجتهد نصيبEvery striver has a shareرب أخ لك لم تلده أمكMany a brother of yours was not born of your motherإنما الأعمال بالنياتActions are only by intentionsالكلمة الطيبة صدقةA kind word is charityتبسمك في وجه أخيك صدقةYour smile to your brother’s face is charityخيركم خيركم لأهلهThe best of you is the best to his familyسبحانك اللهم وبحمدكGlory be to You, O God, and praiseأعوذ بالله السميع العليم من الشيطان الرجيمI seek refuge in God, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the accursed devilبسم الله الرحمن الرحيمIn the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Mercifulما شاء اللهWhat God has willedالله لا إله إلا هو الحي القيومGod — there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainerالحمد للهPraise be to Godهذا من فضل ربيThis is from the bounty of my Lordنور على نورLight upon lightفاذكروني أذكركمSo remember Me; I will remember youوما توفيقي إلا باللهMy success is only through Godرب أوزعني أن أشكر نعمتكMy Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favourالله ولي التوفيقGod is the One who grants successأستغفر الله مما كانI ask God’s forgiveness for all that has been
Persian
بنی‌آدم اعضای یکدیگرندThe children of Adam are limbs of one anotherآسایش دو گیتی تفسیر این دو حرف استThe comfort of both worlds is the meaning of these two wordsبا دوستان مروت با دشمنان مداراGenerosity with friends, forbearance with enemiesباران که در لطافت طبعش خلاف نیستThe rain, whose gentleness none disputesتوانا بود هر که دانا بودAble is the one who is wiseبشنو از نی چون حکایت می‌کندListen to the reed, how it tells its taleهر چه هست از قامت ناساز بی‌اندام ماستWhatever is amiss is from our own ill-fitting statureاز محبت خارها گل می‌شودThrough love, thorns become flowersز گهواره تا گور دانش بجویSeek knowledge from the cradle to the graveبه نام خداوند جان و خردIn the name of the Lord of life and wisdomدرخت دوستی بنشان که کام دل به بار آردPlant the tree of friendship: it bears the heart’s desireهرگز نمیرد آن که دلش زنده شد به عشقThe one whose heart came alive with love never diesیوسف گمگشته بازآید به کنعان غم مخورLost Joseph will return to Canaan — do not grieveاز جمادی مُردم و نامی شدمI died from the mineral and became a plantتو مگو ما را بدان شه بار نیست با کریمان کارها دشوار نیستDo not say we have no access to that King; with the generous, nothing is hardده درویش در گلیمی بخسبند و دو پادشاه در اقلیمی نگنجندTen dervishes sleep under one blanket; two kings do not fit in one realm
By theme
Love · Patience · Knowledge · Home · Faith · Wisdom · Resolve · Friendship · Gratitude · Homeland
By poet
Saadi Shirazi · Ferdowsi · Rumi · Hafez · Al-Mutanabbi · Abu Tammam · Tarafa ibn al-ʿAbd · Zuhayr ibn Abi Sulma · Al-Buhturi · Abu Firas al-Hamdani · Ibn Zaydun · Ibn al-Farid · Al-Busiri · Ahmad Shawqi · Hafez Ibrahim · Abu al-Qasim al-Shabbi · Elia Abu Madi
A name rather than a line? Names in Arabic calligraphy.