٤٣٧. وَسُئِلَ (علیه السلام) أَیُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ: الْعَدْلُ أَوِ الْجُودُ؟ فَقَالَ (علیه السلام):

437. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, was asked: Which of the two is better; justice or generosity? Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, replied:

الْعَدْلُ يَضَعُ الْأُمُورَ مَوَاضِعَهَا، والْجُودُ يُخْرِجُهَا عَنْ جِهَتِهَا، وَالْعَدْلُ سَائِسٌ عَامٌّ، وَالْجُودُ عَارضٌ خَاصٌّ، فَالْعَدْلُ أَشْرَفُهُمَا وَأَفْضَلُهُمَا.

Justice puts things in their places while generosity takes them out from their directions; justice is the general caretaker while generosity is a particular benefit. Consequently, justice is superior and more distinguished of the two.

437. (On lui demande; lequel est meilleur: la justice ou la générosité? Il répond):

La justice met chaque chose à sa place, la générosité la déplace; la justice est un administrateur général tandis que la générosité est un accident spécial. Donc, la justice est la plus noble et la meilleure qualité.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #437