WILL YOU PAY ATTENTION?
It has always been considered dangerous to swim against the current especially during a flood, but I am compelled to do so when I see many people around me who are drowning or are desperately trying to stay afloat. I want to swim over and try to save them. This book is a small part of that effort of mine.
It is but natural for certain questions to arise in the human mind. Why is it so that the human being will be questioned and be subject to rewards and punishment? Why was it considered necessary for him to be given good news as well as warnings? Why was he given more importance than the other creations? There is only one answer to all these questions and that is because he has been endowed with intellect. He has been given the power to decide and having been left free in his intentions.
Intellect is that valuable commodity due to which man has been given exalted status over other creation and, without which, man would follow their physical desires and emotional needs, like an animal; in fact he is lower than animals in some of these aspects. It is due to this intellect that he has been granted a superior status over the others.
And when I refer to his intellect, I am not referring to something extraordinary, but rather, I am referring to the common sense which every human being possesses. It is possible that a person of low intellect may not comprehend the words of one with a higher intellect, or some words may also not be understood by one of higher intellect. Although it is due to these different levels of intellect that different statii exist, it is common sense which is the first proof of Allah (s.w.t.) for the human being, and this is to be found in all of them, a fact which no one can deny. For example, if one were to look at a constructed building then one will conclude that there has to be someone who has constructed it. And when one looks as its mode of construction and its design then one will also conclude that this is not the result of mere physical effort, rather there is wisdom and intelligence behind it as well. These conclusions will be reached by all except the madman.
The common sense of people has been addressed in many places in the Glorious Quran so that people may ponder and reflect upon it. Allah (s.w.t.) has addressed all the people wherever He (s.w.t.) says ‘O you people’, and not only certain people of a particular level of intelligence. It is this very common sense that I am appealing to so that my message can reach and be understood by even those with the lowest intelligence.
Now this matter is not dependent upon proof that, since by the usage of his intellect the human being has achieved high status, therefore his degradation will also be a result of him not making use of his intellect. He will be rewarded due to the usage of his intellect and be subject to punishment due to his not using of it. This is the reason why my Master, Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) has said:
AL KAFI - Ch. 1, H30
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated in a marfu‘manner from Amir al- Mu’minin Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following:
“If one guarantees for me to firmly establish in himself one good quality I will credit him for it and forgive his other shortcomings. But I will not forgive him for his losing Intelligence and religion; abandoning religion is departing peace and security. Thus, life with fear and insecurity is unpleasant. Loss of Intelligence is loss of life. A person without Intelligence can be compared with no other thing but the dead.”
So it has been proven from the above traditions that there are two groups of people who will be destroyed:-
The first type of person is one who follows the crowd blindly, and if the crowd were to walk towards a pit and fall into it, he will close his eyes, follow the crowd and fall into the same pit.
The second is one who is unaware to religion and has placed his affairs into the hands of others.
Let me narrate to you another tradition: -
AL KAFI - Ch. 1, H32
Abu ‘Abd Allah al-‘Asimiy has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm from abu al-Hassan al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following:
“Our people mentioned Intelligence and spoke about it in the presence of Imam al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant, and he said, ‘Of the religious people, those who have no Intelligence deserve no credit.’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in your service, of the people who support this cause (al-walayah) we know a group who are considered acceptable in our opinion but they do not have such Intelligence.’ The Imam then said, ‘They are not of the people whom Allah has addressed when He created Intelligence and said to it, “Come forward.” It came forward. He then said, ‘Go back.’ It went back. Then Allah said, “I swear by My Honor and Glory that I have not created anything better and more beloved to Me than you. I will grant blessings (rewards) to you only and will hold only you responsible for the consequences (of your deeds).’”
The questioner here is talking about those that can be referred to as Shia by virtue of their beliefs and their deeds. Apparently their deeds are not bad, but their beliefs are not based upon their intellect nor are their religious instructions by the use of their intellect. The Imam (a.s.) is neither classifying them as Shia or as believers.
When Imam Ja’far Al Sadiq (a.s.) was asked about the definition of intellect, he replied “Intellect is that by which the Beneficent can be recognized”. This book cannot be an explanation for this tradition, therefore I will only write that which is relevant to the topic. What I mean is that worship is only that which is done by the use of intellect, otherwise it can only be classified as physical exercise.
This has been explained in a Prophetic tradition: -
AL KAFI - H 9, Ch. 1, h9
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni rom abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme Covenant, who has said: “The Holy Prophet has said, ‘If you hear good things about a man, you should examine how good his Intelligence is; he will be rewarded according to his Intelligence.’”
AL KAFI - H 23, Ch. 1, h23
A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad in a mursal manner from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “Intelligence is the support for man. From Intelligence comes 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), an intelligent recaller and a man of understanding. Through Intelligence he learns the answer to how, why, where or when. He learns who helps and who harms him. When he learns these (facts) he learns the channels, the connections and the differentiating factors. He then establishes pure belief in the oneness of Allah and acknowledges the need to obey Him. When he does so he finds the proper remedy for what he has lost and the right approach to whatever may confront him. He knows well his present involvement, why he is here, where he has come from and to what end he is headed. He will have all these because of Intelligence.”
And in the end I am quoting such a tradition that anyone who has even an inkling of faith in the hereafter will be compelled to give his own life a second glance.
AL KAFI - Ch. 1, H33
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from certain persons of our people from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “The only thing (standing) between belief and disbelief is lack of Intelligence. People asked the Imam, ‘How is that, O great-great- great-great grandson of the Holy Prophet?’ The Imam replied: ‘Human beings centre their expectations on other creatures. If they become sincere to Allah He will grant their wish and fulfill their expectations more quickly.’”
The Imam (a.s.) has given the decision that non-usage of intelligence takes a person to the boundaries of disbelief.
If you have understood the importance of intelligence and its use in the light of the instructions of the Infallibles (a.s.) then it will not be very difficult for me to move forward in my discussion, and I shall be in a position to ask you to leave aside all your prejudices and personal bias when you browse through this book, and evaluate my arguments on the basis of intellect. Then you will understand the reality of my message, that this book has neither been written in condemnation of any person nor in refutation of any viewpoints, but only to present to you true realities based on the Holy Quran and commentaries of the Holy Infallibles (a.s.) and you have been invited to use your intellect. So now, if sunrise brings an end to the night of darkness then all shall benefit from it.
I have tried to present arguments either from the Holy Quran or the traditions of the Infallibles (a.s.). As far as the Holy Quran is concerned I have only made use of the explanations of the Holy Infallibles (a.s.) for it is the unanimous view of the Shias that only they (a.s.) have the right to explain the Holy Verses as not only are they (a.s.) fully aware of the Desires of the Almighty Allah (s.w.t.), but in fact are His Desires themselves. Commentaries based on personal opinions are forbidden in our religion.
As far as traditions are concerned, I have taken these only from those books which are regarded as the fundamental books of traditions of the Shiite religion and around which the whole of the Shiite religion revolves. For example, Nahj Ul Balagah, Nahj Ul Israar, Sahifa E Kamila, Usool E Kafi, Man La Yahzur Ul Faqih, Kitab Sulaim Bin Qais Hilali Etc. I have made all this effort so that the possibility of refutation does not remain.
Only two situations arise when confronted with a proof. Either it has to be refuted by a proof that is more decisive or stronger than the first one and not making use of conjecture, analogy and references from non infallibles, and if it cannot be refuted and it should be accepted. There is no third situation. As far as stubbornness, mischief making, and giving preference to the words of non infallibles over the words of the Holy Infallibles (a.s.) is concerned, then the people of intellect will always find this repulsive. I hope that I am only addressing the people of intellect.
READING OF BOOKS IS AN ART
Writing a book is no doubt a difficult and arduous task, but it is even more difficult to read one. A book is a tool for sending a message across but it is a monologue. It is up to the reader to understand the reality of what the author is trying to convey, and that requires concentration and the book has to be read in an organized and systematic manner. In order to fully understand the book, no comment or page of a book can be ignored, for it may contain a message. Therefore even the title of a page may contain a particular Holy Verse and a message would be embodied therein.
Thereafter the references of a book have to be looked at on which the arguments of a book are based so that the strength of the arguments can be gauged. When you look at the contents page, you would have an indication of the subject matters discussed in the book. The preface of the book needs to be read so that the purpose of the book can be understood. After this, one needs to read the book from its first page to its last which is the way it has been written.
It is only after having done all this that one achieves the purpose of reading the book and gets to be in a position to either refute or accept what has been said in the book. Reading a book from the middle or from its various parts haphazardly only leads to confusion and misunderstanding. This is the manner of reading of those whose intention is not to read the book but to pick up bits and pieces of information from it so that he can debate against people of low intellect and show off their intelligence within their circle of friends.
I have conviction that my readers are those that will read this book in a manner that will give them the true and complete knowledge of it.
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Author: Syed Baqir Nisar Zaidi
