In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

Here are some of the teachings of Abihaqar the philosopher, al-Mawṣili.

Hear, my son, and listen to my words, and always remember my teachings as long as you are alive.

First of all, my son, if you hear a word at the door of the king, keep it hidden in your heart, and do not reveal it to your friend or your enemy. And if you do reveal it, it will turn into a burning coal of fire that will consume you, leaving its mark on your body, and you will grumble against your Lord and Creator by saying that He is the One who afflicted and tested you.

My son, whenever you hear something, do not repeat it, and whenever you see something, do not speak of it.

My son, do not open what has been sealed, and do not seal what has been opened.

My son, do not raise your gaze to a adorned woman and look at her, nor to a woman anointed with musk oil and desire her, because even if you were to spend everything you have on her, you would not gain anything, and if you did gain her, she would only make you more needy and weaker. The end result will not be in your favor, and it will offend your relationship with your Lord and Creator.

O my son, do not let your tenderness be like almonds, and do not let your obedience and hearing be like walnuts. The former can be burned or roasted in fire and extracted, while the latter can be broken with a hammer and eaten.

O my son, lower your voice and your gaze, and look only at your footsteps, for if a house could be built by shouting, the donkey would have built many houses every day.

O my son, flipping stones with a wise person is better than drinking wine with a fool.

O my son, do not argue with the wise, and do not indulge in talk with those who talk excessively.

Accompany a wise man, his wisdom will inspire you, and do not accompany a man who is addicted to drinking, for you will become like him.

O my son, do not be sweet, for people will take advantage of you. And do not be bitter, for they will reject you and you will regret it.

Make your spending measured on the scale, so that you do not end up having to rely on leftovers.

O my son, if you have shoes on your feet, do not step on thorns with them. If thorns are on your way, remove them from the path of your children and grandchildren.

My son, the son of the rich eats the snake out of hunger, so people said he only ate it for medicinal purposes, while the son of the lowly eats the snake and people said, 'He thought it was a fish because of his hunger'.

My son, be content with your own sustenance, and beware of your neighbor's sustenance, for it may be worse than yours and may ruin both his and yours.

My son, do not associate with the bold in front of the princes and those who have no shame, do not walk with them.

My son, if you see your enemy fallen, say: 'The Lord will be with him and if you say otherwise and he hears you, beware of him.'

My son, do not mock your enemy's possessions, and do not rejoice in his debt, for it may cause him to plot against you with evil intent.

O my son, do not approach a woman who is argumentative, authoritarian, rude, opinionated, and loud.

My son, beware of women and their beauty. The taste of a woman's beauty is as bitter as her name, and a woman's beauty often increases her folly on her face.

My son, if your enemy strikes you with the arrows of speech and slander, strike him back with bread and water, and pour them towards him generously. Your bread and water will be more trustworthy to your enemy and your friend.

My son, do not feel sorry for your child when you discipline him, for discipline and guidance from a young age is like building and fertilizing a garden, like tying and sealing a bag, or like putting reins on the feet of a valuable horse.

My son, if you beat your son and discipline him, he will live, but if you kill your wife, you increase your honor.

O my son, if you tell your child not to steal, you have freed him from chains and shackles.

O my son, teach your child when he is young before he falls into trouble and you become polluted by his calamities.

O my son, acquire four cows and five donkeys, but do not acquire an ambitious slave or a thieving maid, lest you fall into their sins and they consume your livelihood.

O my son, do not accept from anyone insults and curses against your enemies, lest they also convey your words to your enemies and the enmity increases.

O my son, be cautious with everyone you meet, weigh your words carefully when you speak to them, and beautify your speech with the weight of your words every day, because at the moment of folly, even a foolish person does not know what they are saying.

O my son, a liar may get away with lying once, but afterwards their lies will be exposed and they will be hated.

O my son, the words of a liar will make him weep among his companions.

O my son, stick to your parents, from whom you came into existence, and do not step on their curses, so that you may rejoice in their prayer for your son’s sons.

O my son, do not be angry with resentment, and do not be cunning in complaining and plotting, lest people condemn you for your judgments.

O my son, do not walk at night without provisions, for you do not know what you may encounter on your way.

O my son, be like the fruit-bearing tree that is not saddened by whoever eats from it, and be on the mountain like the strong forest with its trees.

O my son, how good is a brother among his siblings, and a beloved among his friends, and a lion in his jungle, and the person in the midst of his wife, siblings, and children. A person without offspring is humiliated, like a tree without fruit.

O my son, do not say 'I am wise and so-and-so is ignorant', but hold on to people's values as they will hold on to your value.

O my son, do not be a person who speaks without thinking, lest you fall because of your words.

O my son, if you are sent to a place where you must hurry, then do not delay, and if they send after you, do not turn back to grumble against them.

O my son, if the ruler says to you, 'Go away from me,' do not feel disappointed, and if he says, 'Come close to me,' do not be happy, for how many things bring comfort in staying away from them, and how many things bring harm in approaching them.

O my son, on the day of God’s joy, do not be sad. And on the day that your neighbor is sad, do not rejoice.

Beware of abandoning your neighbor in their grief and going to celebrate, for on that day you sow the seeds of enmity between you and your neighbor, which may also affect your children and descendants.

O my son, remember the day of your death. And if you see the funeral of your neighbor, know that you will soon follow.

O my son, do not ride your neighbor's horse and drive it, for its owner will catch up with you.

O my son, do not borrow and ride, lest on a day when you walk, disgrace and shame follow you.

O my son, do not eat your bread without honey, even if it's just a little, while you are hungry.

O my son, do not make an enemy of someone stronger than you, lest they throw you into calamity while you are unaware.

O my son, if the threshold of your home is raised by seven arms, bend your neck and pass through them, so that your humility may increase your kindness.

O my son, when you are angry, be patient and do not be hasty in angering others.

O my son, do not take the heavier weight and sell with the lighter weight, thinking that you will increase your wealth through deception. This idea will only bring the wrath of Allah upon you and will make you a hypocrite and an oppressor. Neither the heavens nor the earth will spare you from this humiliation.

O my son, do not swear and lie by Allah, for it shortens the long lifespan.

O my son, if you ask Allah for a matter, then you must strengthen your heart in it. Beware of saying, 'I will marry many women to increase my children and sustenance.'

O my son, children and sustenance are from Allah Almighty, for Allah enriches whom He wills, and impoverishes whom He wills, and abases whom He wills, and exalts whom He wills.

O my son, if your neighbor is sick, do not say, 'Tomorrow he will recover, so I will not visit him.' If he dies and you do not visit him, then you and he will not have been reconciled, and you will lose greatly. But if you visit him, then he will be greatly pleased with you, like a person who finds treasure.

My son, do not add fuel to the fire of conflict with excessive talk, and if you witness a dispute, make efforts towards reconciliation.

O my son, do not shed the blood of people. Even if you bear false witness, shedding innocent blood will make Allah your adversary, and He will hold you accountable for it.

O my son, guard your tongue from lying, your hands from stealing, and beware of stealing even the slightest thing and rejoicing over it, for it may lead you to lose much by little.

Whoever steals an egg will steal its mother, and whoever steals firewood will steal gold.

O my son, beware of immorality and adultery, and be cautious of getting involved with a woman from your neighbor or tribe, for the Lord is quick to avenge you. You should know that whoever commits adultery with another man's wife, the people will commit adultery with his wife.

O son, obey the wise man and listen to his words, for the words of the wise are like cold water to the thirsty.

O my son, he who does not listen to people is considered arrogant and despised by them.

O my son, do not borrow your neighbor's gold ring and wear it, nor put an iron ring on your little finger if you do not have a ring of your own.

O my son, beware of desiring to marry a widow and returning home to share a bed with her and her children.

O my son, he who speaks truthfully is better than he who presents sacrifices with falsehood.

O son, the lamb that grazes alone becomes the share of the wolves.

O my son, in your youth, be skillful, so that in your old age you may be insightful, wise, and generous.

O my son, choose your words wisely and speak with eloquence, for the dog's bark may be pelted with stones while its tail is shown mercy.

O my son, if your wife steps on your foot, kill her lest she trample on your neck afterward.

Teach the wise with a word of discipline, it will be like fire in his heart. And advise the ignorant with a word of benefit for himself, he will return it to his own disadvantage and misery.

O my son, if you rely on a wise man and send him to carry out a task, do not add more instructions that might confuse him. But if he does not listen to the instructions, advising him will not benefit him .

O my son, test those who come to your house and offer them food. If you find them chaste, then entrust your home to them, but do not rely on them without testing.

My son, if you are invited to an invitation, do not delay in leaving until it is empty, because how many invitations have ended up causing discord between the host and the guests.

My son, do not partner with someone who is older or wealthier than you, for if you do and God grants you sustenance, they may attribute it to unlawful means. And it is from the sustenance of your partner.

My son, a wealthy person who has a lot of money attracts more friends and is considered good, while a person with little wealth has fewer friends and is considered treacherous.

O my son, bribery blinds the eyes of unjust rulers, and the one you bribe will comply with your every desire.

My son, I have eaten the aloe plant and drank the bitterness above it, and I have not found anything more difficult than avarice without contentment.

My son, I carried the salt and the tin on my shoulders, but I found nothing more burdensome and weighty than a false testament that its owners will fulfill. I did not eat or drink from it, nor do I have any knowledge of it.

My son, I have moved stones and lifted iron, and I have not seen anything heavier than the son-in-law who lives in his father-in-law's house.

My son, if you are in debt, do not complain about your debt, and if you are poor, be content with it. If you complain, your enemy will be delighted, and your friend will think that your words caused your begging, so they will belittle and humiliate you.

My son, cherish the women of your youth, especially if you have children from her.

My son, beware of mistreating your siblings, for you will die and they will inherit over your children, and they will receive the full measure of what you have done to them.

My son, if you live in prosperity, teach your children how to endure adversity during times of ease, so that they may learn to be resourceful.

My son, if you have been entrusted with someone's provision, do not be extravagant with it. If the provider finds you to be cautious with it, he will trust you. But if he finds you to be lacking in honesty, he will complain against you and take his provision away from you.

O my son, beware of the wealth of the Sultan, for it is like oil; whoever touches it, does not die until he becomes bald.

My son, blindness of the heart is worse than blindness of the eyes. Blindness of the eyes, when it falls, a person can stand up again, but blindness of the heart brings disgrace upon oneself.

My son, a servant who is just to his masters is better than a disobedient son to his parents.

A good close friend is better than a distant brother, and a good reputation is better than beauty, for beauty fades while a good reputation endures.

My son, a dirham in your hand is better than a thousand in the hand of others, and the arm bone that is in your hand is better than the Piece of flesh in the hand of others. A young she-goat that you possess is better for you than a camel in the hand of others. And a bird in your hand is better than a thousand birds in the hand of others. Sustenance that is accumulated is better than dispersed wealth, and the load of wheat that is eaten by its owner is better than fields of money that their owner dies with, carrying their burden.

O my son, when you invite your friends and greet them warmly, and the invitation is within your means, then they will rejoice greatly in you. But if you make a grand invitation beyond your means and show them that you are sad, then even if you serve them honey, it will turn into colocynth and cactus in their mouths.

O my son, do not thank the year until you see its end, and do not thank your friend until you put him to the test.

O son, beauty is good, and in women it's better. Justice is good, and in rulers it's better. Intelligence is good, and in priests it's better. Good manners are good, and in children it's better. Good upbringing is good, and in daughters it's better.

O my son, do not feed yourself something that you would not eat, and do not accuse yourself of money that is not with you, and of something you did not do.

Lower your words, and your love will be easier.

O son, do not utter your words except after trying and considering its consequences before speaking. See if what you are about to say is appropriate, and if not, bury it in your heart. It is better for a person to stumble with his foot and rise, than to stumble with his tongue and fall.

O son, if you hear news that is negative about a person who holds a high position among the people, then dig four graves in the ground, bury the news in them, and trample over them. Every time you trample over them, you will kill the news, but if you leave them without trampling over them, you will bring them back to life.

O son, beware of joking, for it is the key to enmity.

O son, if you come across strife, do not involve yourself in it, as strife is deadly, and whoever is present in it will become an opponent.

O son, if you desire wisdom, then guard your tongue, especially when drinking wine. For wine does not require you to speak, rather it will speak on your behalf and against you.

O son, hypocrisy exists among all people, so the righteous are only those who overcome their own hypocrisy.

O son, stay away from the ignorant and cruel person, and if you distance yourself from them, you will protect your reputation among your friends.

O son, only purchase things with witnesses of justice, inform others when borrowing, lend your money with evidence and conditions, lest you be seen as unjust by others if you ask for it before the due date.

O son, the first friend you make, do not betray him. If you do, you'll lose both of them.

O son, when you sit down to eat, do not think ill of your companion, for that thought will linger in your heart and spoil the flavor of your meal.

O son, if your friend's advice is great, do not belittle it, and if it is small, do not magnify it.

O son, if you hear news, keep it well in mind. If asked about it, convey it as you heard it. And if you do not ask about it, you will still have learned of its matter.

O son, honor your father and respect your mother, and your children and your children's children will honor and respect you.

O son, do not steal from the garden of the leader, for during his lifetime, his friends will be more truthful to him than his enemies. However, if his enemy catches you, he may reconcile with him at your expense.

Beware of marrying the judge's daughter, lest she knows about a woman's rights over her husband, which would impose many obligations upon you.

O son, befriend your companion and after that, admonish him. If he reveals your secret, then consider him an enemy, but if he keeps it, then reciprocate with a good heart.

O son, when you travel, do not rely on your companion's provisions or on those you intend to visit. The best provision on a journey is a good companion, and if you go to visit a friend empty-handed, you will diminish your esteem in their eyes.

O son, if the water flows backward, the bird flies upside down, the crow turns white like snow, and the hawthorn berry tastes as sweet as dates, and if all of these things happens, then the ignorant fool becomes wise and respected.

O son, if your neighbor's wife is beautiful, do not look at her, and if you pass by her door, do not look here and there, lest you be blamed for it.

O son, if you become a ruler of a law, then judge according to what is revealed in your law, and honor your people so they will honor you.

O my son, beware of partnership. If you enter into one, be patient with your partner, and beware of greed, for human eyes are never satisfied except with dust.

O son, fear your Lord and honor your neighbor, and if you borrow a dirham, repay it quickly, as prolonging the loan breeds resentment.

O son, beware of lying, for if people discover your lies, even if you tell the truth every day, they will still consider you a liar.

O son, if someone asks you to go and propose to the daughter of so-and-so, do not be happy, for if the engagement goes well, the girl will say it's her good fortune, but if it goes badly, she will die while cursing you.

O my son, if you make a promise, fulfill it. But if you cannot fulfill it, do not make a promise.

O my son, days are a source and proverbs are a source. Where is the one who learns and teaches, knowing that he is learned, and who sees himself as a merchant seeking knowledge and paying the price to its owners? He sees what he has gained and acquired.

Glory and honor belong to the Bestower of intellect, from Whom we take and to Whom we give. To Him belong all glory and praise until the end of time.