The Book of Intelligence and Ignorance

لَمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْعَقْلَ‌[2] اسْتَنْطَقَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ أَقْبِلْ فَأَقْبَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ أَدْبِرْ فَأَدْبَرَ[3] ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي مَا خَلَقْتُ خَلْقاً هُوَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْكَ وَ لَا أَكْمَلْتُكَ إِلَّا فِيمَنْ أُحِبُّ أَمَا إِنِّي إِيَّاكَ آمُرُ وَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْهَى وَ إِيَّاكَ أُعَاقِبُ وَ إِيَّاكَ أُثِيبُ.

“When Allah (swt) created the intellect (al-'Aql) He made it speak and said to it, ‘Come forward', so it came forward. He then said, 'Go back' and it went back. Then Allah said, 'I swear by My Honor and Glory that I have not created any creation more beloved to Me than you. I will not perfect you in anyone except those

هَبَطَ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَى آدَمَ ع فَقَالَ يَا آدَمُ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُخَيِّرَكَ وَاحِدَةً مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ فَاخْتَرْهَا وَ دَعِ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ آدَمُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ مَا الثَّلَاثُ فَقَالَ الْعَقْلُ وَ الْحَيَاءُ وَ الدِّينُ فَقَالَ آدَمُ إِنِّي قَدِ اخْتَرْتُ الْعَقْلَ فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ لِلْحَيَاءِ وَ الدِّينِ انْصَرِفَا وَ دَعَاهُ- فَقَالا يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ إِنَّا أُمِرْنَا أَنْ نَكُونَ مَعَ الْعَقْلِ ح

“Once Jibril came to Adam (as) and said, ‘I am ordered to offer you three choices. You may choose one and leave the other two. Adam then asked, “What are those three things?” Jibril replied, ‘They are intelligence, modesty and religion.’ Adam then said, “I choose Intelligence.” Jibril then asked modesty and religion to

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا الْعَقْلُ قَالَ مَا عُبِدَ بِهِ الرَّحْمَنُ وَ اكْتُسِبَ بِهِ الْجِنَانُ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَالَّذِي‌[2] كَانَ فِي مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالَ تِلْكَ النَّكْرَاءُ[3] تِلْكَ الشَّيْطَنَةُ وَ هِيَ شَبِيهَةٌ بِالْعَقْلِ وَ لَيْسَتْ بِالْعَقْلِ.

Abu 'Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) was asked, 'What is intellect (al-'Aql)?'. He said, ‘It is what someone worships ar-Rahman with and attains paradise.’ I then asked, 'What was the thing within Mu'awiya?'. He replied, ‘That was heinousness, that was devilry and it is similar to the intellect but it is not intellect.’

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ صَدِيقُ كُلِّ امْرِئٍ عَقْلُهُ وَ عَدُوُّهُ جَهْلُهُ.

“The friend of every person is his intellect and his enemy is ignorance.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا قَوْماً لَهُمْ مَحَبَّةٌ وَ لَيْسَتْ لَهُمْ تِلْكَ الْعَزِيمَةُ[4] يَقُولُونَ بِهَذَا الْقَوْلِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ أُولَئِكَ مِمَّنْ عَاتَبَ اللَّهُ إِنَّمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ‌ فَاعْتَبِرُوا يا أُولِي الْأَبْصارِ.

It is narrated from him from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal that al-Hassan ibn al-Juham said: “I told Abul Hasan (al-Ridha) (as), 'We know of a people who have love [for the Ahlul-bayt] but they do not have much determination [in understanding their imamate], they make such claims.' He then replied, 'They are not o

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ كَانَ عَاقِلًا كَانَ لَهُ دِينٌ وَ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ دِينٌ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ.

“Whoever has intelligence has religion and whoever has religion enters paradise."

إِنَّمَا يُدَاقُّ اللَّهُ الْعِبَادَ[5] فِي الْحِسَابِ- يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا آتَاهُمْ مِنَ الْعُقُولِ فِي الدُّنْيَا.

“On the Day of Judgment, Allah will hold everyone accountable according to the degree of intelligence He had given them in their worldly life.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فُلَانٌ مِنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَ دِينِهِ وَ فَضْلِهِ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ عَقْلُهُ قُلْتُ لَا أَدْرِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ الثَّوَابَ عَلَى قَدْرِ الْعَقْلِ إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ فِي جَزِيرَةٍ مِنْ جَزَائِرِ الْبَحْرِ خَضْرَاءَ نَضِرَةٍ كَثِيرَةِ الشَّجَرِ ظَاهِرَةِ الْمَاءِ وَ إِنَّ مَلَكاً مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مَرَّ بِهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ أَرِنِي ثَوَابَ عَبْدِكَ

"So-and-so is from his worship, religion, and virtue." He said, "What about his intellect?" I replied, "I do not know." He said, "Indeed, the reward is based on the measure of intellect. A man from the Children of Israel used to worship Allah on an island of the sea, green and lush, with plenty of trees and visible wat

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا بَلَغَكُمْ عَنْ رَجُلٍ حُسْنُ حَالٍ فَانْظُرُوا فِي حُسْنِ عَقْلِهِ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَازَى بِعَقْلِهِ‌[1].

Rasulullah (sw) said, “If you would hear good things about a man, you should examine how good his intelligence is, because he will be recompensed according to his intelligence.”

ذَكَرْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلًا مُبْتَلًى بِالْوُضُوءِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ[2] وَ قُلْتُ هُوَ رَجُلٌ عَاقِلٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ أَيُّ عَقْلٍ لَهُ وَ هُوَ يُطِيعُ الشَّيْطَانَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَ كَيْفَ يُطِيعُ الشَّيْطَانَ- فَقَالَ سَلْهُ هَذَا الَّذِي يَأْتِيهِ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هُوَ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ لَكَ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ‌[3].

“I mentioned to Abu ‘Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) a man who was afflicted with doubts in his ablution and prayer (constantly repeating them) and added that he is an intelligent man.” Abu 'Abdillah then said, ‘What kind of intelligence does he have, when he obeys Satan?’. I asked him, 'How is he obeying Satan?'. He replied,

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا قَسَمَ اللَّهُ لِلْعِبَادِ شَيْئاً أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ فَنَوْمُ الْعَاقِلِ‌ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سَهَرِ الْجَاهِلِ وَ إِقَامَةُ الْعَاقِلِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ شُخُوصِ الْجَاهِلِ‌[1] وَ لَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً وَ لَا رَسُولًا حَتَّى يَسْتَكْمِلَ الْعَقْلَ وَ يَكُونَ عَقْلُهُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ عُقُولِ أُمَّتِهِ وَ مَا يُضْمِرُ النَّبِيُّ ص فِي نَفْسِهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنِ اجْتِهَادِ الْمُجْتَهِدِي

A number of our people has narrated Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from certain persons of his people in a marfu‘ manner that Rasulullah (sw) said: “Allah has not distributed anything among the servants more excellent than intelligence. The sleeping of a person of intelligence is better than the vigil of an ignorant per

قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى بَشَّرَ أَهْلَ الْعَقْلِ وَ الْفَهْمِ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَقَالَ‌ فَبَشِّرْ عِبادِ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ‌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ‌ أُولئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَداهُمُ اللَّهُ‌ وَ أُولئِكَ هُمْ أُولُوا الْأَلْبابِ‌[3] يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَكْمَلَ لِلنَّاسِ الْحُجَجَ بِالْعُقُولِ وَ نَصَرَ النّ

“Abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja’far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said to me the following, ‘O Hisham, Allah has given good news to the people of reason (intelligence) and understanding in His book in the following words, “Give the good news to those of My servants who hear certain words but follow only the good wo

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ الْعَقْلُ غِطَاءٌ سَتِيرٌ[6] وَ الْفَضْلُ جَمَالٌ ظَاهِرٌ[7] فَاسْتُرْ خَلَلَ خُلُقِكَ بِفَضْلِكَ‌[8] وَ قَاتِلْ هَوَاكَ بِعَقْلِكَ تَسْلَمْ لَكَ الْمَوَدَّةُ وَ تَظْهَرْ لَكَ الْمَحَبَّةُ.

“Intelligence is a complete cover (protection) for one and extra knowledge and skills are evident beauty. Compensate your physical shortcomings with your extra knowledge and skills. Fight your desires with help from your intelligence and in so doing friendship is surrendered to and love becomes manifest for you.”

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عِنْدَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ فَجَرَى ذِكْرُ الْعَقْلِ وَ الْجَهْلِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع اعْرِفُوا الْعَقْلَ وَ جُنْدَهُ وَ الْجَهْلَ وَ جُنْدَهُ تَهْتَدُوا قَالَ سَمَاعَةُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَا نَعْرِفُ إِلَّا مَا عَرَّفْتَنَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الْعَقْلَ وَ هُوَ أَوَّلُ خَلْقٍ مِنَ الرُّوحَانِيِّينَ‌[1] عَ

“Once with a gathering of his followers I was in the presence of Imam abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant. A discussion on Intelligence and Ignorance began to emerge among them. Thereupon, Imam abu ‘Abd Allah said, ‘First, you must recognize Intelligence and its army as well as Ignorance and its army,

مَا كَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْعِبَادَ بِكُنْهِ عَقْلِهِ قَطُّ وَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّا مَعَاشِرَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ أُمِرْنَا أَنْ نُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ عَلَى قَدْرِ عُقُولِهِمْ.

"Rasulullah (sawwas) never spoke to people according to his own level of intellect." He (the Imam) also said that Rasulullah (sawwas) said, "We, the community of Prophets, were commanded to speak to people according to their level of intellect."

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّ قُلُوبَ الْجُهَّالِ تَسْتَفِزُّهَا الْأَطْمَاعُ‌[2] وَ تَرْتَهِنُهَا الْمُنَى وَ تَسْتَعْلِقُهَا الْخَدَائِعُ.

“Greed motivates the hearts of the ignorant people, longings and yearning keep them as hostages and deceit clings to them.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَكْمَلُ النَّاسِ عَقْلًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقاً.

"The most perfect of people in intellect are the best of them in character."

كُنَّا عِنْدَ الرِّضَا ع‌ فَتَذَاكَرْنَا الْعَقْلَ وَ الْأَدَبَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ الْعَقْلُ حِبَاءٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ الْأَدَبُ كُلْفَةٌ فَمَنْ تَكَلَّفَ الْأَدَبَ قَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَنْ تَكَلَّفَ الْعَقْلَ لَمْ يَزْدَدْ بِذَلِكَ إِلَّا جَهْلًا.

“We were in the presence of Imam al-Rida (a.s) that a discussion about intelligence took place and the Imam said, “O abu Hashim, intelligence is a present from Allah but discipline is a skill and burden. One who would pretend as a well disciplined one he would certainly establish full control in it. But to pretend as a

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ لِي جَاراً كَثِيرَ الصَّلَاةِ كَثِيرَ الصَّدَقَةِ كَثِيرَ الْحَجِّ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[1] قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ كَيْفَ عَقْلُهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَيْسَ لَهُ عَقْلٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا يَرْتَفِعُ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ.

‘May I be your ransom, I have a neighbor who does a lot of salaat, gives a lot in charity and very often does hajj and there is no flaw with him.’ He asked, 'O Ibn Ishaq how is his intelligence?'. I then said, 'May I be your ransom, he does not have any intelligence'. So he said, 'Nothing from what he does will be rais

قَالَ ابْنُ السِّكِّيتِ‌[2] لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع لِمَا ذَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ ع بِالْعَصَا وَ يَدِهِ الْبَيْضَاءِ وَ آلَةِ السِّحْرِ وَ بَعَثَ عِيسَى بِآلَةِ الطِّبِّ وَ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بِالْكَلَامِ وَ الْخُطَبِ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَّا بَعَثَ مُوسَى ع كَانَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى أَهْلِ عَصْرِهِ السِّحْرَ فَأَتَاهُمْ

“Ibn Sukayt asked Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s), ‘Why did Allah sent Moses with the miracle appearing through his staff and through his hand and means of magic, Jesus with means of medical tasks and Prophet Muhammad (may Allah send blessings upon him, his family and all the prophets) with means of speech and sermons?’” “Whe

إِذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَا وَضَعَ اللَّهُ يَدَهُ عَلَى رُءُوسِ الْعِبَادِ[2] فَجَمَعَ بِهَا عُقُولَهُمْ وَ كَمَلَتْ بِهِ أَحْلَامُهُمْ.

"When our Qa’im (Imam al-Mahdi) rises, Allah will place His hand over the heads of His servants and He will place their intelligence together and complete their understanding.”

حُجَّةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ النَّبِيُّ وَ الْحُجَّةُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ الْعَقْلُ.

“The hujjah (proof) of Allah over the worshippers is the Prophet (sw) and the hujjah (proof) between Allah and the people is the intellect (al-'Aql).”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ دِعَامَةُ الْإِنْسَانِ الْعَقْلُ وَ الْعَقْلُ مِنْهُ الْفِطْنَةُ وَ الْفَهْمُ وَ الْحِفْظُ وَ الْعِلْمُ وَ بِالْعَقْلِ يَكْمُلُ وَ هُوَ دَلِيلُهُ وَ مُبْصِرُهُ وَ مِفْتَاحُ أَمْرِهِ فَإِذَا كَانَ تَأْيِيدُ عَقْلِهِ مِنَ النُّورِ كَانَ عَالِماً حَافِظاً ذَاكِراً فَطِناً فَهِماً فَعَلِمَ بِذَلِكَ كَيْفَ وَ لِمَ وَ حَيْثُ وَ عَرَفَ مَنْ نَصَحَهُ وَ مَنْ غَشَّهُ فَإِذَا عَرَفَ ذَلِكَ عَرَفَ

“Intelligence is the support for man. From Intelligence come insightfulness, understanding, memory and knowledge; and with Intelligence he gains perfection. Intelligence is his guide, his instructor and the key to his affairs. When his Intelligence is supported with light, he becomes a scholar, a keeper (of knowledge),

الْعَقْلُ دَلِيلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ.

“Intelligence (al-'Aql) is the guide of a believer.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَا عَلِيُّ لَا فَقْرَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَ لَا مَالَ أَعْوَدُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ‌[1].

Rasulullah (sw) said, "Oh Ali, no poverty is more sever than ignorance and no wealth is more profitable than intelligence.”

لَمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْعَقْلَ قَالَ لَهُ أَقْبِلْ فَأَقْبَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ أَدْبِرْ فَأَدْبَرَ فَقَالَ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي مَا خَلَقْتُ خَلْقاً أَحْسَنَ مِنْكَ إِيَّاكَ آمُرُ وَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْهَى وَ إِيَّاكَ أُثِيبُ وَ إِيَّاكَ أُعَاقِبُ.

“When Allah (swt) created the intellect (al-'Aql) He made it speak and said to it, ‘Come forward', so it came forward. He then said, 'Go back' and it went back. Then Allah said, 'I swear by My Honor and Glory that I have not created any creation more beloved to Me than you. I will not perfect you in anyone except those

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ آتِيهِ وَ أُكَلِّمُهُ بِبَعْضِ كَلَامِي فَيَعْرِفُهُ كُلَّهُ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ آتِيهِ فَأُكَلِّمُهُ بِالْكَلَامِ فَيَسْتَوْفِي كَلَامِي كُلَّهُ ثُمَّ يَرُدُّهُ عَلَيَّ كَمَا كَلَّمْتُهُ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ آتِيهِ فَأُكَلِّمُهُ فَيَقُولُ أَعِدْ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ وَ مَا تَدْرِي لِمَ هَذَا قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ الَّذِي تُكَلِّمُهُ بِبَعْضِ كَلَامِكَ فَيَعْرِفُهُ كُلَّهُ فَذَا

“I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s), “A man comes to me and as soon as I speak to him only a part of what I want to say he understands it all. There are also people who come to me and I speak to them all that I want to speak and only then they understand all of my statements. And explain to me what I meant. There are still

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الرَّجُلَ كَثِيرَ الصَّلَاةِ كَثِيرَ الصِّيَامِ فَلَا تُبَاهُوا بِهِ حَتَّى تَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ عَقْلُهُ.

“Rasulullah (sw) said, ‘When you find a man who prays and fasts a great deal do not become proud of him until you see how his intelligence he is.”

يَا مُفَضَّلُ لَا يُفْلِحُ مَنْ لَا يَعْقِلُ وَ لَا يَعْقِلُ مَنْ لَا يَعْلَمُ وَ سَوْفَ يَنْجُبُ مَنْ يَفْهَمُ‌[2] وَ يَظْفَرُ مَنْ يَحْلُمُ وَ الْعِلْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَ الصِّدْقُ عِزٌّ وَ الْجَهْلُ ذُلٌّ وَ الْفَهْمُ مَجْدٌ وَ الْجُودُ نُجْحٌ‌[1] وَ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ مَجْلَبَةٌ لِلْمَوَدَّةِ وَ الْعَالِمُ بِزَمَانِهِ لَا تَهْجُمُ عَلَيْهِ اللَّوَابِسُ وَ الْحَزْمُ مَسَاءَةُ الظَّنِ‌[2] وَ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَ الْحِكْمَةِ

“O Mufaddal one can never gain success until he understands and one can never understand until he acquires knowledge. One who understands can very soon excel. One who exercises patience can very soon triumph. Knowledge serves one as a shield, truth is honor, ignorance is humility, sharp-wittedness is glory, generosity

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنِ اسْتَحْكَمَتْ‌[8] لِي فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْ خِصَالِ الْخَيْرِ احْتَمَلْتُهُ عَلَيْهَا وَ اغْتَفَرْتُ فَقْدَ مَا سِوَاهَا وَ لَا أَغْتَفِرُ فَقْدَ عَقْلٍ وَ لَا دِينٍ لِأَنَّ مُفَارَقَةَ الدِّينِ مُفَارَقَةُ الْأَمْنِ فَلَا يَتَهَنَّأُ بِحَيَاةٍ مَعَ مَخَافَةٍ وَ فَقْدُ الْعَقْلِ فَقْدُ الْحَيَاةِ وَ لَا يُقَاسُ إِلَّا بِالْأَمْوَاتِ.

“If one would establish firmly in himself one good quality for me I will credit him for it and forgive his other shortcomings but I will not forgive him for his losing intelligence and religion because departing religion is departing peace and security. Thus, life with fear and insecurity is unpleasant. Loss of intelli

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِعْجَابُ الْمَرْءِ بِنَفْسِهِ دَلِيلٌ عَلَى ضَعْفِ عَقْلِهِ.

‘Self glorification is an indication of the weakness of one’s intelligence.’

ذُكِرَ عِنْدَهُ أَصْحَابُنَا وَ ذُكِرَ الْعَقْلُ قَالَ فَقَالَ ع لَا يُعْبَأُ[9] بِأَهْلِ الدِّينِ مِمَّنْ لَا عَقْلَ لَهُ- قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ مِمَّنْ يَصِفُ‌ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ قَوْماً لَا بَأْسَ بِهِمْ عِنْدَنَا وَ لَيْسَتْ لَهُمْ تِلْكَ الْعُقُولُ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ هَؤُلَاءِ مِمَّنْ خَاطَبَ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ الْعَقْلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَقْبِلْ فَأَقْبَلَ وَ قَالَ لَهُ أَدْبِرْ فَأَدْبَرَ فَقَالَ وَ عِز

that when our people mentioned the intellect (al-'Aql) he (al-Ridha) (as) said: "Those without intellect (al-'Aql) are not regarded among the people of religion." I said, "May I be your ransom, some describe this matter (i.e. Imamah) to a group who are acceptable to us, yet lack such intelligence." He replied, "These a

لَيْسَ بَيْنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْكُفْرِ إِلَّا قِلَّةُ الْعَقْلِ‌[1] قِيلَ وَ كَيْفَ ذَاكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يَرْفَعُ رَغْبَتَهُ‌[2] إِلَى مَخْلُوقٍ فَلَوْ أَخْلَصَ نِيَّتَهُ لِلَّهِ لَأَتَاهُ‌[3] الَّذِي يُرِيدُ فِي أَسْرَعَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ.

“There is nothing (or no difference) between belief and disbelief, but lack of intelligence." So he asked him, “How is that so oh son of Rasulullah (sw)?”. He replied, "Indeed, when a servant raises his desire to a creation, if he had sincerely intended it for Allah, the one he seeks would respond even faster than that

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ بِالْعَقْلِ اسْتُخْرِجَ غَوْرُ الْحِكْمَةِ[4] وَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ اسْتُخْرِجَ غَوْرُ الْعَقْلِ وَ بِحُسْنِ السِّيَاسَةِ يَكُونُ الْأَدَبُ الصَّالِحُ قَالَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ التَّفَكُّرُ حَيَاةُ قَلْبِ الْبَصِيرِ كَمَا يَمْشِي الْمَاشِي فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ بِالنُّورِ بِحُسْنِ التَّخَلُّصِ وَ قِلَّةِ التَّرَبُّصِ.

“Through intellect, the essence of wisdom is extracted, and through wisdom, the essence of intellect is extracted. With good governance [of one's actions], righteous manners will be formed." He also used to say, "Contemplation is the life of the discerning heart, just as one walks in darkness with light, through the go

فِي حَدِيثٍ طَوِيلٍ‌ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ الْأُمُورِ وَ مَبْدَأَهَا وَ قُوَّتَهَا وَ عِمَارَتَهَا الَّتِي لَا يُنْتَفَعُ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا بِهِ الْعَقْلُ الَّذِي جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ زِينَةً لِخَلْقِهِ وَ نُوراً لَهُمْ فَبِالْعَقْلِ عَرَفَ الْعِبَادُ خَالِقَهُمْ وَ أَنَّهُمْ مَخْلُوقُونَ وَ أَنَّهُ الْمُدَبِّرُ لَهُمْ وَ أَنَّهُمُ الْمُدَبَّرُونَ وَ أَنَّهُ الْبَاقِي وَ هُمُ الْفَانُونَ وَ اسْتَدَلُّوا بِعُقُولِهِمْ عَلَى مَا رَ

The first, the beginning, the force and the structure of something is that without which something would be of no benefit. The thing that Allah has made beauty and light for His creatures, the people, is intelligence. With intelligence people come to know their creator and that they are created and that He is the one w

لَا غِنَى أَخْصَبُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ وَ لَا فَقْرَ أَحَطُّ مِنَ الْحُمْقِ وَ لَا اسْتِظْهَارَ فِي أَمْرٍ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْمَشُورَةِ فِيهِ.

“No wealth is more profitable than intelligence, and no poverty is more limiting than foolishness and never is showing-off in a matter more beneficial than consulting it [with others]."