Staying in one place brings no ease to a thoughtful…
Quote
Staying in one place brings no ease to a thoughtful, cultivated person: leave home and travel.
Arabic original
ما في المقام لذي عقل وذي أدب من راحة، فدع الأوطان واغترب.
What it means
Travel stands for learning, meeting others and escaping stagnation. The poem encourages discovery and effort. Its enthusiasm is a literary invitation, rather than a promise that every departure will be easy.
The story behind this quote
These verses are traditionally attributed to al-Shafi‘i. The collection bearing his name gathers poems transmitted later; that attribution is not certain proof of authorship.
The rest of the poem develops movement through flowing water, a lion leaving its territory and an arrow leaving the bow. These comparisons show what departure makes possible. They illuminate the opening invitation to step beyond familiar habits and surroundings.
The source
قصيدة «ما في المقام لذي عقل وذي أدب» (ديوان الشافعي), مطلع القصيدة
The text appears in the indicated source. A traditional attribution remains distinct from proof of authorship: see the context.
More quotes by Al-Shafi‘i
Let the days do as they will, and keep your soul at ease when fate decides.
Offer me your advice when I am alone, and spare me advice before a crowd.