The most loathsome thing is the tyranny of rulers

أَقْبَحُ شَيْ‏ءٍ جَوْرُ الْوُلَاةِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

A tyrant ruler and an immoral scholar are the most harmful of all people

السُّلْطَانُ الْجَائِرُ وَالْعَالِمُ الْفَاجِرُ أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ نِكَايَةً

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The tyrant is hated and dispraised, even if nothing of his tyranny reaches his dispraiser, and the just one is the opposite of this.

الْجَائِرُ مَمْقُوتٌ مَذْمُومٌ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَصِلْ مِنْ جَوْرِهِ إِلَى ذَامِّهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَالْعَادِلُ ضِدُّ ذَلِكَ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The people whom one should be cautious of the most are the tyrannical king, the powerful enemy and the disloyal friend

أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ أَنْ يُحْذَرَ السُّلْطَانُ الْجَائِرُ وَالْعَدُوُّ الْقَادِرُ وَالصَّدِيقُ الْغَادِرُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The bane of justice is the powerful tyrant

آفَةُ الْعَدْلِ الظَّالِمُ الْقَادِرُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

When the epoch becomes corrupt, the wicked gain mastery [over the people]

إِذَا فَسَدَ الزَّمَانُ سَادَ اللِّئَامُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The reign of an ignorant person is like a stranger who [soon] moves to another place

دَوْلَةُ الْجَاهِلِ كَالْغَرِيبِ الْمُتَحَرِّكِ إِلَى النُّقْلَةِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The reign of a tyrant is from the contingent [and temporary] things.

دَوْلَةُ الْجَائِرِ مِنَ الْمُمْكِنَات

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The sovereignty of scoundrels is founded on oppression and corruption

دَوْلَةُ الْأَوْغَادِ مَبْنِيَّةٌ عَلَى الْجَوْرِ وَالْفَسَادِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The ascendency the vile ones is from the calamities of the times

دُوَلُ اللِّئَامِ مِنْ نَوَائِبِ الْأَيَّامِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The age of the tyrant [ruler] is the worst of ages

زَمَانُ الْجَائِرِ شَرُّ الْأَزْمِنَةِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

A predatory animal that is rapacious and tears it prey apart is better than an unjust and oppressive ruler

سَبُعٌ أَكُولٌ حَطُومٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ وَالٍ ظَلُومٍ غَشُومٍ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The worst of kings is one who opposes justice

شَرُّ الْمُلُوكِ مَنْ خَالَفَ الْعَدْلَ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The worst of all rulers is one who is ruled by his vain desire

شَرُّ الْأُمَرَاءِ مَنْ كَانَ الْهَوَى عَلَيْهِ [عَلَيْهِ الْهَوَى‏] أَمِيراً

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The worst of rulers is one whose subjects are oppressed

شَرُّ الْأُمَرَاءِ مَنْ ظَلَمَ رَعِيَّتَهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The wrath of kings is the messenger of death

غَضَبُ الْمُلُوكِ رَسُولُ الْمَوْتِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Lack of leaders is easier to bear than the leadership of the depraved

فِقْدَانُ الرُّؤَسَاءِ أَهْوَنُ مِنْ رِيَاسَةِ السِّفَلِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Woe be to the one whose conduct is evil, whose authority is oppressive, and who tyrannizes and infringes upon the rights [of those who are under him]

وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ سَاءَتْ سِيرَتُهُ وَجَارَتْ مَلَكَتُهُ وَتَجَبَّرَ وَاعْتَدَى

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Oppressive governors are the worst of the ummah and opponents of the [true] leaders

وُلَاةُ الْجَوْرِ شِرَارُ الْأُمَّةِ وَأَضْدَادُ الْأَئِمَّةِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

There is no oppression more severe than the oppression of a ruler

لَا جَوْرَ أَفْظَعُ [أَقْطَعُ‏] مِنْ جَوْرِ حَاكِمٍ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

There is no good in the rule of a tyrant.

لَا خَيْرَ فِي حُكْمِ جَائِرٍ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Acting courteously with the enemies of Allah in their domains is a safeguard from the chastisement of Allah and a caution from the raging tribulations of this world

مُجَامَلَةُ أَعْدَاءِ اللَّهِ فِي دَوْلَتِهِمْ تَقِيَّةٌ [تُقَاةٌ] مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَحَذَرٌ مِنْ مَعَارِكِ الْبَلَاءِ فِي الدُّنْيَا

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Struggling against the enemies in their dominions and fighting against them despite their power is abandoning the command of Allah and exposing oneself to the tribulations of this world

مُجَاهَدَةُ الْأَعْدَاءِ فِي دَوْلَتِهِمْ وَمُنَاضَلَتُهُمْ مَعَ قُدْرَتِهِمْ تَرْكٌ لِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَتَعَرُّضٌ لِبَلَاءِ الدُّنْيَا

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

If falsehood dominates, it has [always] been so in the past, and if truth diminishes, that too has often occurred and may [again] happenIt is seldom that a thing lags behind and remains behind

لَئِنْ أَمِرَ الْبَاطِلُ لَقَدِيماً فَعَلَ لَئِنْ قَلَّ الْحَقُّ لَرُبَّمَا وَلَعَلَّ لَقَلَّمَا أَدْبَرَ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَأَقْبَلَ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The signs of alternation of power are the creation of stratagems

أَمَارَاتُ الدُّوَلِ إِنْشَاءُ [إِنْسَاءُ] الْحِيَلِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Whoever prefers the pleasure of the All-Powerful Lord, then let him speak with words of justice in the presence of the tyrannical ruler

مَنْ آثَرَ رِضَى رَبٍّ قَادِرٍ فَلْيَتَكَلَّمْ بِكَلِمَةِ عَدْلٍ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

A time will come upon the people when none will be given a high position except the slanderer, none will be deemed witty except the corrupt and none will be regarded as weak but the justPeople will consider charity as a loss, keeping ties with near relatives as an obligation and worship as a means of gaining superiority over peopleVain desires will overcome them and guidance will disappear from among them

يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا يُقَرَّبُ فِيهِ إِلَّا الْمَاحِلُ وَلَا يُسْتَظْرَفُ فِيهِ إِلَّا الْفَاجِرُ وَلَا يُضَعَّفُ فِيهِ إِلَّا الْمُنْصِفُ يَعُدُّونَ الصَّدَقَةَ غُرْماً وَصِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ مَنّاً وَالْعِبَادَةَ اسْتِطَالَةً عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَظْهَرُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْهَوَى وَيَخْفَى بَيْنَهُمُ الْهُدَى

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Kings have no affection

الْمُلُوكُ [الْمَلُولُ‏] لَا مَوَدَّةَ لَهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

An evil commander commissions the vulgar one [to work for him]

الْأَمِيرُ السَّوْءُ يَصْطَنِعُ الْبَذِيَّ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The haughty oppressor is destroyed by his sins

الْمُتَجَبِّرُ [المتجر] الظَّالِمُ تُوبِقُهُ آثَامُهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The unjust transgressor is awaiting one of two chastisements [of this world or the Hereafter].

الظَّالِمُ طَاغٍ يَنْتَظِرُ [ينظر] إِحْدَى النَّقِمَتَيْنِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The humiliation of the man being deposed is equivalent to his evil as a sovereign

اسْتِكَانَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي الْعَزْلِ بِقَدْرِ شَرِّهِ [أَثَرِهِ‏] فِي الْوِلَايَةِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

When the vile become sovereigns, the dignified ones are ruined

إِذَا مَلَكَ الْأَرَاذِلُ هَلَكَ الْأَفَاضِلُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

When the wicked become rulers, the honourable are persecuted

إِذَا اسْتَوْلَى اللِّئَامُ اضْطُهِدَ الْكِرَامُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

When the depraved gain authority, hope turns into disappointment

إِذَا سَادَ السُّفَّلُ خَابَ الْأَمَلُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The dominion of the vile is the humiliation of the honourable

دَوْلَةُ اللِّئَامِ مَذَلَّةُ الْكِرَامِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The reign of the wicked is the [cause of] abasement of the virtuous

دُوَلُ الْفُجَّارِ مَذَلَّةُ الْأَبْرَارِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The coming to power of the wicked is the tribulation of the virtuous

دُوَلُ الْأَشْرَارِ مِحَنُ الْأَخْيَارِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Whoever rides the mount of injustice, his mount will stumble with him

رَاكِبُ الظُّلْمِ يَكْبُو بِهِ مَرْكَبُهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

An ignorant king exposes his [own] flaws

سُلْطَانُ الْجَاهِلِ يُبْدِي مَعَايِبَهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Submission to tyranny causes destruction and annihilates the kingdom

طَاعَةُ الْجَوْرِ تُوجِبُ الْهُلْكَ وَتَأْتِي عَلَى الْمُلْكِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Submission to tyranny causes destruction and annihilates the kingdom

ظُلْمُ الْمَرْءِ يُوبِقُهُ وَيَصْرَعُهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

For the unjust there is a biting of his hand.

لِلظَّالِمِ بِكَفِّهِ عَضَّةٌ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

The destruction of one who acts with oppression is hastened by Allah.

مَنْ عَمِلَ بِالْجَوْرِ عَجَّلَ اللَّهُ هُلْكَهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

One who is tyrannical in his kingdom, the people wish for his annihilation

مَنْ جَارَ مُلْكَهُ تَمَنَّى النَّاسُ هُلْكَهُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

One who unsheathes the sword of aggression is stripped of the grandeur of kingship

مَنْ سَلَّ سَيْفَ الْعُدْوَانِ سُلِبَ عِزَّ السُّلْطَانِ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

There is no prosperity [in the place] where the king passes (or is oppressive)

لَا يَكُونُ الْعِمْرَانُ حَيْثُ يَجُورُ السُّلْطَانُ

Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech