Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

كِتَابُ الْعَقْلِ وَ الْجَهْلِ

THE BOOK OF INTELLECT AND IGNORANCE

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالمين، وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وآله الطاهرين، وسلم تسليما

In the Name of Allahazwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. The Praise is for Allahazwj Lordazwj of the Worlds, and Blessing be upon our Chief Muhammadsaww and hissaww Purified Progenyasws , and greetings with abundant greetings.

Chapter 1

1 ـ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا مِنْهُمْ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْعَطَّارُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا خَلَقَ الله الْعَقْلَ اسْتَنْطَقَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ أَقْبِلْ فَأَقْبَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ أَدْبِرْ فَأَدْبَرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي مَا خَلَقْتُ خَلْقاً هُوَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْكَ وَلا أَكْمَلْتُكَ إِلا فِيمَنْ أُحِبُّ أَمَا إِنِّي إِيَّاكَ آمُرُ وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْهَى وَإِيَّاكَ أُعَاقِبُ وَإِيَّاكَ أُثِيبُ

1. Abu Ja’far Muhammad Bin Yaqoub informed us saying, ‘It was narrated to us by a number of our companions, from them was Muhammad Bin Yahya Al Attar, from Ahmad bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Al A’ala Bin Razeyn, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’farasws having said: ‘When Allahazwj Created the ‘العقل ’ (Aql - intellect)1 , Heazwj Interrogated it, then Said to it: “Come!” So it came. Then Said to it: “Turn back!” So it turned back. Then Heazwj Said: “By Myazwj Might and Myazwj Majesy! Iazwj did not Create any creature which is more Beloved to Meazwj than you, nor will Iazwj Perfect you except among the ones whom Iazwj Love. But, it is (based on) you that Iazwj shall Command, and for you Iazwj shall Forbid, and for you Iazwj shall Punish, and for you Iazwj shall Reward”’.2

2 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ طَرِيفٍ عَنِ الاصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ عَنْ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ هَبَطَ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَى آدَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ يَا آدَمُ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُخَيِّرَكَ وَاحِدَةً مِنْ ثَلاثٍ فَاخْتَرْهَا وَدَعِ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ آدَمُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ وَمَا الثَّلاثُ فَقَالَ الْعَقْلُ وَالْحَيَاءُ وَالدِّينُ فَقَالَ آدَمُ إِنِّي قَدِ اخْتَرْتُ الْعَقْلَ فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ لِلْحَيَاءِ وَالدِّينِ انْصَرِفَا وَدَعَاهُ فَقَالا يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ إِنَّا أُمِرْنَا أَنْ نَكُونَ مَعَ الْعَقْلِ حَيْثُ كَانَ قَالَ فَشَأْنَكُمَا وَعَرَجَ

2. Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Amro Bin Usman, from Mufazzal Bin Salih, from Sa’ad Bin Tareyf, from Al Asbagh Bin Nubata,

(It has been narrated) from Aliasws having said: ‘Jibraeelas descended unto Adamas and heas said: ‘O Adamas !’ Ias have been Commanded to get youas to choose one from three, therefore choose it and leave the (other) two’. So Adamas said to himas : ‘O Jibraeelas ! And what are the three?’

So heas said: ‘The ‘الْعَقْلُ وَ الْحَيَاءُ وَ الدِّينُ ’ intellect, and the modesty (bashfulness), and the Religion’. So Adamas said: ‘Ias have chosen the intellect’. So Jibraeelas said to the modesty and the Religion: ‘Leave!’ So they both said, ‘O Jibraeelas ! We have been Commanded that we should happen to be with the intellect wherever it may be’. Heas said: ‘So that is your affair’, and heas ascended’ (leaving all three with Adamas ).3

3 ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا الْعَقْلُ قَالَ مَا عُبِدَ بِهِ الرَّحْمَنُ وَاكْتُسِبَ بِهِ الْجِنَانُ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَالَّذِي كَانَ فِي مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالَ تِلْكَ النَّكْرَاءُ تِلْكَ الشَّيْطَنَةُ وَهِيَ شَبِيهَةٌ بِالْعَقْلِ وَلَيْسَتْ بِالْعَقْلِ

3. Ahmad Bin Idrees, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from one of our companions,

(It has been narrated) raising it to Abu Abdullahasws , said, ‘I said to himasws , ‘What is the ‘الْعَقْلَ ’ (Aql- intellect?’ Heasws said: ‘Through which the Beneficent is worshipped with, and the Gardens are attained with’. I said, ‘So that which was in Muawiya?’ So heasws said: ‘That is the heinous, that is the devilry, and it may disguise as the intellect, but it is not the intellect’.4

4 ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ صَدِيقُ كُلِّ امْرِئٍ عَقْلُهُ وَعَدُوُّهُ جَهْلُهُ

4. Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Fazzal, from Al Hassan Bin Al Jahm who said,

‘I heard Al-Rezaasws saying: ‘A friend of every person is his intellect, and ‘عَدُوُّهُ جَهْلُهُ ’ his enemy is his ignorance’.5

5 ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا قَوْماً لَهُمْ مَحَبَّةٌ وَلَيْسَتْ لَهُمْ تِلْكَ الْعَزِيمَةُ يَقُولُونَ بِهَذَا الْقَوْلِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ أُولَئِكَ مِمَّنْ عَاتَبَ الله إِنَّمَا قَالَ الله فَاعْتَبِرُوا يا أُولِي الابْصارِ

5. And from him, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Fazzal, from Al Hassan Bin Al Jahm who said,

‘I said to Abu Al-Hassanasws , ‘In our presence there is a group of people, for them is love, and there isn’t that magnificence for them that they should be saying with this word (Al-Wilayah)’. So heasws said: ‘They are from the ones whom Allahazwj Admonished. But rather, Allahazwj Said [59:2] therefore take a lesson, O you who have vision’.6

6 ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الرَّازِيِّ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَنْ كَانَ عَاقِلاً كَانَ لَهُ دِينٌ وَمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ دِينٌ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ

6. Ahmad Bin Idrees, from Muhammad Bin Hassan, from Abu Muhammad Al Razy, from Sayf Bin Ameyra, from Is’haq Bin Ammar who said,

‘Abu Abdullahasws said: ‘The one who was an intellectual, there would be Religion for him, and the one who has Religion for him, would enter the Paradise’.7

7 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَقْطِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّمَا يُدَاقُّ الله الْعِبَادَ فِي الْحِسَابِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا آتَاهُمْ مِنَ الْعُقُولِ فِي الدُّنْيَا

7. A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Bin Yaqteen, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Abu Al Jaroud,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’farasws having said: ‘But rather Allahazwj would Hold the servants (responsible) regarding the Reckoning on the Day of Judgment upon a measurement of what Heazwj had Given them from the intellects in the world’.8

8 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الاحْمَرِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الدَّيْلَمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فُلانٌ مِنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَدِينِهِ وَفَضْلِهِ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ عَقْلُهُ قُلْتُ لا أَدْرِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ الثَّوَابَ عَلَى قَدْرِ الْعَقْلِ إِنَّ رَجُلاً مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الله فِي جَزِيرَةٍ مِنْ جَزَائِرِ الْبَحْرِ خَضْرَاءَ نَضِرَةٍ كَثِيرَةِ الشَّجَرِ ظَاهِرَةِ الْمَاءِ وَإِنَّ مَلَكاً مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ مَرَّ بِهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ أَرِنِي ثَوَابَ عَبْدِكَ هَذَا فَأَرَاهُ الله تَعَالَى ذَلِكَ فَاسْتَقَلَّهُ الْمَلَكُ فَأَوْحَى الله تَعَالَى إِلَيْهِ أَنِ اصْحَبْهُ فَأَتَاهُ الْمَلَكُ فِي صُورَةِ إِنْسِيٍّ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ أَنَا رَجُلٌ عَابِدٌ بَلَغَنِي مَكَانُكَ وَعِبَادَتُكَ فِي هَذَا الْمَكَانِ فَأَتَيْتُكَ لاعْبُدَ الله مَعَكَ فَكَانَ مَعَهُ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ لَهُ الْمَلَكُ إِنَّ مَكَانَكَ لَنَزِهٌ وَمَا يَصْلُحُ إِلا لِلْعِبَادَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْعَابِدُ إِنَّ لِمَكَانِنَا هَذَا عَيْباً فَقَالَ لَهُ وَمَا هُوَ قَالَ لَيْسَ لِرَبِّنَا بَهِيمَةٌ فَلَوْ كَانَ لَهُ حِمَارٌ رَعَيْنَاهُ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ فَإِنَّ هَذَا الْحَشِيشَ يَضِيعُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ الْمَلَكُ وَمَا لِرَبِّكَ حِمَارٌ فَقَالَ لَوْ كَانَ لَهُ حِمَارٌ مَا كَانَ يَضِيعُ مِثْلُ هَذَا الْحَشِيشِ فَأَوْحَى الله إِلَى الْمَلَكِ إِنَّمَا أُثِيبُهُ عَلَى قَدْرِ عَقْلِهِ

8. Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Abdullah, from Ibrahim Bin Is’haq Al Ahmar, from Muhammad Bin Suleyman Al Daylami, from his father who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullahasws , of so and so, and (about) his worship, and his Religion and his merits’. So heasws said: ‘How is his intellect?’ I said, ‘I do not know’. So heasws said: ‘The Rewards are (based) upon the measurement of the intellect. A man from the Children of Israel was worshipping Allahazwj in an island from the islands of the sea, (which was) green, scenic, there being a lot of trees, at the back of the water (lakes & rivers), and that an Angel from the Angels passed by him, so he said: ‘O Lordazwj! Show me the Rewards of this servant of Yoursazwj’.

So Allahazwj the Exalted Showed him that, and the Angel considered it to be little. So Allahazwj the Exalted Revealed unto him, that he should accompany him. So the Angel went over to him in the image of a human being. So he (the man) said to him (the Angel), ‘Who are you?’ He said, ‘I am a worshipping man. (News) of your position and your worship reached me in this place, so I came over to you in order to worship Allahazwj along with you’.

It was so that he was with him for that day of his. So when it was morning, the Angel said to him: ‘Your place is scenic and it is not correct for anything except for the worship’. So the worshipper said to him, ‘There is a fault with this place of ours’. So he said to him: ‘And what is it?’ He said, ‘There is no animal of our Lordazwj. Had there been a donkey of Hisazwj, we would have grazed it in this place, for this pasture is being wasted’. So that Angel said to him: ‘And there is no donkey for your Lordazwj?’ So he said, ‘Had there been a donkey for Himazwj, Heazwj would not have Wasted the plush pasture like this’.

So Allahazwj Revealed unto the Angel: “But rather, Iazwj am Rewarding him upon the measurement of his intellect”’.9

9 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِذَا بَلَغَكُمْ عَنْ رَجُلٍ حُسْنُ حَالٍ فَانْظُرُوا فِي حُسْنِ عَقْلِهِ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَازَى بِعَقْلِهِ

9. Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘Rasool-Allahsaww said: ‘When (news) of the good state of a man reaches you, so look at the goodness of his intellect, for rather he would be Recompensed by (based upon the level of) his intellect’.10

10 ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ ذَكَرْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) رَجُلاً مُبْتَلىً بِالْوُضُوءِ وَالصَّلاةِ وَقُلْتُ هُوَ رَجُلٌ عَاقِلٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله وَأَيُّ عَقْلٍ لَهُ وَهُوَ يُطِيعُ الشَّيْطَانَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَكَيْفَ يُطِيعُ الشَّيْطَانَ فَقَالَ سَلْهُ هَذَا الَّذِي يَأْتِيهِ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ هُوَ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ لَكَ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ

10. Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub, from Abdullah Bin Sinan who said,

‘I mentioned to Abu Abdullahasws a man constantly indulging in the ablution and the Salāt, and I said, ‘He is an intelligent man’. So Abu Abdullahasws said: ‘And which intellect is there for him, and he is obeying the Satanla?’ So I said to himasws , ‘And how is he obeying the Satanla?’ So heasws said: ‘Ask him about this which he is doing, from which thing is it, so he would be saying to you, ‘From the acts of the Satanla’. 11

11 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَا قَسَمَ الله لِلْعِبَادِ شَيْئاً أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ فَنَوْمُ الْعَاقِلِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سَهَرِ الْجَاهِلِ وَإِقَامَةُ الْعَاقِلِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ شُخُوصِ الْجَاهِلِ وَلا بَعَثَ الله نَبِيّاً وَلا رَسُولاً حَتَّى يَسْتَكْمِلَ الْعَقْلَ وَيَكُونَ عَقْلُهُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ عُقُولِ أُمَّتِهِ وَمَا يُضْمِرُ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي نَفْسِهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنِ اجْتِهَادِ الْمُجْتَهِدِينَ وَمَا أَدَّى الْعَبْدُ فَرَائِضَ الله حَتَّى عَقَلَ عَنْهُ وَلا بَلَغَ جَمِيعُ الْعَابِدِينَ فِي فَضْلِ عِبَادَتِهِمْ مَا بَلَغَ الْعَاقِلُ وَالْعُقَلاءُ هُمْ أُولُو الالْبَابِ الَّذِينَ قَالَ الله تَعَالَى وَمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ إِلا أُولُو الالْبَابِ

11. A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from oe of his companions, raising it, said,

‘Rasool-Allahsaww said: ‘Allahazwj has not Distributed for the servants anything more superior than the intellect. Thus, the sleep of the intellectual is superior to the vigil of the ignorant, and the staying (at home) of the intellectual is superior than going out of the ignorant; and Allahazwj neither Sent a Prophetas nor a Rasoolas until Heazwj Perfected the intellect (for himas ), and hisas intellect happened to be superior to the entirety of the intellects of the community.

And whatever the Prophetsaww concealed within himselfsaww is superior to the striving of the strivers; and the servant would not fulfil the Obligations of Allahazwj until he knows about Himazwj, and the entirety of the worshippers would not reach in merit with their worshipping what the intellectual would reach; and the intellectuals, they are those possessing understanding whom Allahazwj Speaks of [13:19] But rather, only those possessing understanding will mind’.12

12 ـ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا رَفَعَهُ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى بَشَّرَ أَهْلَ الْعَقْلِ وَالْفَهْمِ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَقَالَ فَبَشِّرْ عِبادِ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ أُولئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَداهُمُ الله وَأُولئِكَ هُمْ أُولُوا الالْبابِ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَكْمَلَ لِلنَّاسِ الْحُجَجَ بِالْعُقُولِ وَنَصَرَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِالْبَيَانِ وَدَلَّهُمْ عَلَى رُبُوبِيَّتِهِ بِالادِلَّةِ فَقَالَ وَإِلهُكُمْ إِلهٌ واحِدٌ لا إِلهَ إِلا هُوَ الرَّحْمنُ الرَّحِيمُ. إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّماواتِ وَالارْضِ وَاخْتِلافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِما يَنْفَعُ النَّاسَ وَما أَنْزَلَ الله مِنَ السَّماءِ مِنْ ماءٍ فَأَحْيا بِهِ الارْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها وَبَثَّ فِيها مِنْ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّياحِ وَالسَّحابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّماءِ وَالارْضِ لاياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ يَا هِشَامُ قَدْ جَعَلَ الله ذَلِكَ دَلِيلاً عَلَى مَعْرِفَتِهِ بِأَنَّ لَهُمْ مُدَبِّراً فَقَالَ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّراتٌ بِأَمْرِهِ إِنَّ فِي ذلِكَ لاياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ تُرابٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلاً ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوا أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا شُيُوخاً وَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُتَوَفَّى مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلِتَبْلُغُوا أَجَلاً مُسَمًّى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ إِنَّ فِي اخْتِلافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمَا أَنْزَلَ الله مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِنْ رِزْقٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الارْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالارْضِ لآَيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ يُحْيِ الارْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الاياتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ وَجَنَّاتٌ مِنْ أَعْنابٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوانٍ يُسْقى‏ بِماءٍ واحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَها عَلى‏ بَعْضٍ فِي الاكُلِ إِنَّ فِي ذلِكَ لاياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ وَمِنْ آياتِهِ يُرِيكُمُ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفاً وَطَمَعاً وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَيُحْيِي بِهِ الارْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها إِنَّ فِي ذلِكَ لاياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ قُلْ تَعالَوْا أَتْلُ ما حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئاً وَبِالْوالِدَيْنِ إِحْساناً وَلا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلادَكُمْ مِنْ إِمْلاقٍ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ وَلا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَواحِشَ ما ظَهَرَ مِنْها وَما بَطَنَ وَلا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ الله إِلا بِالْحَقِّ ذلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ هَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ ما مَلَكَتْ أَيْمانُكُمْ مِنْ شُرَكاءَ فِي ما رَزَقْناكُمْ فَأَنْتُمْ فِيهِ سَواءٌ تَخافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ كَذلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الاياتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ يَا هِشَامُ ثُمَّ وَعَظَ أَهْلَ الْعَقْلِ وَرَغَّبَهُمْ فِي الاخِرَةِ فَقَالَ وَمَا الْحَياةُ الدُّنْيا إِلا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَلَلدَّارُ الاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَ فَلا تَعْقِلُونَ يَا هِشَامُ ثُمَّ خَوَّفَ الَّذِينَ لا يَعْقِلُونَ عِقَابَهُ فَقَالَ تَعَالَى ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا الاخَرِينَ. وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مُصْبِحِينَ. وَبِاللَّيْلِ أَ فَلا تَعْقِلُونَ. وَقَالَ إِنَّا مُنْزِلُونَ عَلى‏ أَهْلِ هذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ رِجْزاً مِنَ السَّماءِ بِما كانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ وَلَقَدْ تَرَكْنا مِنْها آيَةً بَيِّنَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْعَقْلَ مَعَ الْعِلْمِ فَقَالَ وَتِلْكَ الامْثالُ نَضْرِبُها لِلنَّاسِ وَما يَعْقِلُها إِلا الْعالِمُونَ يَا هِشَامُ ثُمَّ ذَمَّ الَّذِينَ لا يَعْقِلُونَ فَقَالَ وَإِذا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا ما أَنْزَلَ الله قالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ ما أَلْفَيْنا عَلَيْهِ آباءَنا أَ وَلَوْ كانَ آباؤُهُمْ لا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئاً وَلا يَهْتَدُونَ وَقَالَ وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي يَنْعِقُ بِما لا يَسْمَعُ إِلا دُعاءً وَنِداءً صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لا يَعْقِلُونَ

وَقَالَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ أَ فَأَنْتَ تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ وَلَوْ كانُوا لا يَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ إِنْ هُمْ إِلا كَالانْعامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلاً وَقَالَ لا يُقاتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعاً إِلا فِي قُرىً مُحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِنْ وَراءِ جُدُرٍ بَأْسُهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيدٌ تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعاً وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّى ذلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لا يَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ وَتَنْسَوْنَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتابَ أَ فَلا تَعْقِلُونَ يَا هِشَامُ ثُمَّ ذَمَّ الله الْكَثْرَةَ فَقَالَ وَإِنْ تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ فِي الارْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ الله وَقَالَ وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ وَالارْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ الله قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لله بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ وَقَالَ وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ نَزَّلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَأَحْيا بِهِ الارْضَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِها لَيَقُولُنَّ الله قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لله بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لا يَعْقِلُونَ يَا هِشَامُ ثُمَّ مَدَحَ الْقِلَّةَ فَقَالَ وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبادِيَ الشَّكُورُ وَقَالَ وَقَلِيلٌ ما هُمْ وَقَالَ وَقالَ رَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ إِيمانَهُ أَ تَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلاً أَنْ يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ الله وَقَالَ وَمَنْ آمَنَ وَما آمَنَ مَعَهُ إِلا قَلِيلٌ وَقَالَ وَلكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ وَقَالَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لا يَعْقِلُونَ وَقَالَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لا يَشْعُرُونَ يَا هِشَامُ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ أُولِي الالْبَابِ بِأَحْسَنِ الذِّكْرِ وَحَلاهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ الْحِلْيَةِ فَقَالَ يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشاءُ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْراً كَثِيراً وَما يَذَّكَّرُ إِلا أُولُوا الالْبابِ وَقَالَ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنا وَما يَذَّكَّرُ إِلا أُولُوا الالْبابِ وَقَالَ إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّماواتِ وَالارْضِ وَاخْتِلافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهارِ لاياتٍ لاولِي الالْبابِ وَقَالَ أَ فَمَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمى‏ إِنَّما يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُوا الالْبابِ وَقَالَ أَمَّنْ هُوَ قانِتٌ آناءَ اللَّيْلِ ساجِداً وَقائِماً يَحْذَرُ الاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّما يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُوا الالْبابِ وَقَالَ كِتابٌ أَنْزَلْناهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آياتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُوا الالْبابِ وَقَالَ وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنا مُوسَى الْهُدى‏ وَأَوْرَثْنا بَنِي إِسْرائِيلَ الْكِتابَ هُدىً وَذِكْرى‏ لاولِي الالْبابِ وَقَالَ وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرى‏ تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الله تَعَالَى يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ إِنَّ فِي ذلِكَ لَذِكْرى‏ لِمَنْ كانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ يَعْنِي عَقْلٌ وَقَالَ وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنا لُقْمانَ الْحِكْمَةَ قَالَ الْفَهْمَ وَالْعَقْلَ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ لُقْمَانَ قَالَ لابْنِهِ تَوَاضَعْ لِلْحَقِّ تَكُنْ أَعْقَلَ النَّاسِ وَإِنَّ الْكَيِّسَ لَدَى الْحَقِّ يَسِيرٌ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا بَحْرٌ عَمِيقٌ قَدْ غَرِقَ فِيهَا عَالَمٌ كَثِيرٌ فَلْتَكُنْ سَفِينَتُكَ فِيهَا تَقْوَى الله وَحَشْوُهَا الايمَانَ وَشِرَاعُهَا التَّوَكُّلَ وَقَيِّمُهَا الْعَقْلَ وَدَلِيلُهَا الْعِلْمَ وَسُكَّانُهَا الصَّبْرَ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ دَلِيلاً وَدَلِيلُ الْعَقْلِ التَّفَكُّرُ وَدَلِيلُ التَّفَكُّرِ الصَّمْتُ وَلِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مَطِيَّةً وَمَطِيَّةُ الْعَقْلِ التَّوَاضُعُ وَكَفَى بِكَ جَهْلاً أَنْ تَرْكَبَ مَا نُهِيْتَ عَنْهُ يَا هِشَامُ مَا بَعَثَ الله أَنْبِيَاءَهُ وَرُسُلَهُ إِلَى عِبَادِهِ إِلا لِيَعْقِلُوا عَنِ الله فَأَحْسَنُهُمُ اسْتِجَابَةً أَحْسَنُهُمْ مَعْرِفَةً وَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِأَمْرِ الله أَحْسَنُهُمْ عَقْلاً وَأَكْمَلُهُمْ عَقْلاً أَرْفَعُهُمْ دَرَجَةً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالاخِرَةِ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ لله عَلَى النَّاسِ حُجَّتَيْنِ حُجَّةً ظَاهِرَةً وَحُجَّةً بَاطِنَةً فَأَمَّا الظَّاهِرَةُ فَالرُّسُلُ وَالانْبِيَاءُ وَالائِمَّةُ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَأَمَّا الْبَاطِنَةُ فَالْعُقُولُ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ الَّذِي لا يَشْغَلُ الْحَلالُ شُكْرَهُ وَلا يَغْلِبُ الْحَرَامُ صَبْرَهُ

يَا هِشَامُ مَنْ سَلَّطَ ثَلاثاً عَلَى ثَلاثٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَعَانَ عَلَى هَدْمِ عَقْلِهِ مَنْ أَظْلَمَ نُورُ تَفَكُّرِهِ بِطُولِ أَمَلِهِ وَمَحَا طَرَائِفَ حِكْمَتِهِ بِفُضُولِ كَلامِهِ وَأَطْفَأَ نُورَ عِبْرَتِهِ بِشَهَوَاتِ نَفْسِهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَعَانَ هَوَاهُ عَلَى هَدْمِ عَقْلِهِ وَمَنْ هَدَمَ عَقْلَهُ أَفْسَدَ عَلَيْهِ دِينَهُ وَدُنْيَاهُ يَا هِشَامُ كَيْفَ يَزْكُو عِنْدَ الله عَمَلُكَ وَأَنْتَ قَدْ شَغَلْتَ قَلْبَكَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّكَ وَأَطَعْتَ هَوَاكَ عَلَى غَلَبَةِ عَقْلِكَ يَا هِشَامُ الصَّبْرُ عَلَى الْوَحْدَةِ عَلامَةُ قُوَّةِ الْعَقْلِ فَمَنْ عَقَلَ عَنِ الله اعْتَزَلَ أَهْلَ الدُّنْيَا وَالرَّاغِبِينَ فِيهَا وَرَغِبَ فِيمَا عِنْدَ الله وَكَانَ الله أُنْسَهُ فِي الْوَحْشَةِ وَصَاحِبَهُ فِي الْوَحْدَةِ وَغِنَاهُ فِي الْعَيْلَةِ وَمُعِزَّهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عَشِيرَةٍ يَا هِشَامُ نَصْبُ الْحَقِّ لِطَاعَةِ الله وَلا نَجَاةَ إِلا بِالطَّاعَةِ وَالطَّاعَةُ بِالْعِلْمِ وَالْعِلْمُ بِالتَّعَلُّمِ وَالتَّعَلُّمُ بِالْعَقْلِ يُعْتَقَدُ وَلا عِلْمَ إِلا مِنْ عَالِمٍ رَبَّانِيٍّ وَمَعْرِفَةُ الْعِلْمِ بِالْعَقْلِ يَا هِشَامُ قَلِيلُ الْعَمَلِ مِنَ الْعَالِمِ مَقْبُولٌ مُضَاعَفٌ وَكَثِيرُ الْعَمَلِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْهَوَى وَالْجَهْلِ مَرْدُودٌ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ رَضِيَ بِالدُّونِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَعَ الْحِكْمَةِ وَلَمْ يَرْضَ بِالدُّونِ مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ مَعَ الدُّنْيَا فَلِذَلِكَ رَبِحَتْ تِجَارَتُهُمْ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْعُقَلاءَ تَرَكُوا فُضُولَ الدُّنْيَا فَكَيْفَ الذُّنُوبَ وَتَرْكُ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْفَضْلِ وَتَرْكُ الذُّنُوبِ مِنَ الْفَرْضِ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ نَظَرَ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا وَإِلَى أَهْلِهَا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّهَا لا تُنَالُ إِلا بِالْمَشَقَّةِ وَنَظَرَ إِلَى الاخِرَةِ فَعَلِمَ أَنَّهَا لا تُنَالُ إِلا بِالْمَشَقَّةِ فَطَلَبَ بِالْمَشَقَّةِ أَبْقَاهُمَا يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْعُقَلاءَ زَهِدُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَرَغِبُوا فِي الاخِرَةِ لانَّهُمْ عَلِمُوا أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا طَالِبَةٌ مَطْلُوبَةٌ وَالاخِرَةَ طَالِبَةٌ وَمَطْلُوبَةٌ فَمَنْ طَلَبَ الاخِرَةَ طَلَبَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَ مِنْهَا رِزْقَهُ وَمَنْ طَلَبَ الدُّنْيَا طَلَبَتْهُ الاخِرَةُ فَيَأْتِيهِ الْمَوْتُ فَيُفْسِدُ عَلَيْهِ دُنْيَاهُ وَآخِرَتَهُ يَا هِشَامُ مَنْ أَرَادَ الْغِنَى بِلا مَالٍ وَرَاحَةَ الْقَلْبِ مِنَ الْحَسَدِ وَالسَّلامَةَ فِي الدِّينِ فَلْيَتَضَرَّعْ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي مَسْأَلَتِهِ بِأَنْ يُكَمِّلَ عَقْلَهُ فَمَنْ عَقَلَ قَنِعَ بِمَا يَكْفِيهِ وَمَنْ قَنِعَ بِمَا يَكْفِيهِ اسْتَغْنَى وَمَنْ لَمْ يَقْنَعْ بِمَا يَكْفِيهِ لَمْ يُدْرِكِ الْغِنَى أَبَداً يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الله حَكَى عَنْ قَوْمٍ صَالِحِينَ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا رَبَّنا لا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنا وَهَبْ لَنا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ حِينَ عَلِمُوا أَنَّ الْقُلُوبَ تَزِيغُ وَتَعُودُ إِلَى عَمَاهَا وَرَدَاهَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخَفِ الله مَنْ لَمْ يَعْقِلْ عَنِ الله وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْقِلْ عَنِ الله لَمْ يَعْقِدْ قَلْبَهُ عَلَى مَعْرِفَةٍ ثَابِتَةٍ يُبْصِرُهَا وَيَجِدُ حَقِيقَتَهَا فِي قَلْبِهِ وَلا يَكُونُ أَحَدٌ كَذَلِكَ إِلا مَنْ كَانَ قَوْلُهُ لِفِعْلِهِ مُصَدِّقاً وَسِرُّهُ لِعَلانِيَتِهِ مُوَافِقاً لانَّ الله تَبَارَكَ اسْمُهُ لَمْ يَدُلَّ عَلَى الْبَاطِنِ الْخَفِيِّ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ إِلا بِظَاهِرٍ مِنْهُ وَنَاطِقٍ عَنْهُ يَا هِشَامُ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ مَا عُبِدَ الله بِشَيْ‏ءٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ وَمَا تَمَّ عَقْلُ امْرِئٍ حَتَّى يَكُونَ فِيهِ خِصَالٌ شَتَّى الْكُفْرُ وَالشَّرُّ مِنْهُ مَأْمُونَانِ وَالرُّشْدُ وَالْخَيْرُ مِنْهُ مَأْمُولانِ وَفَضْلُ مَالِهِ مَبْذُولٌ وَفَضْلُ قَوْلِهِ مَكْفُوفٌ وَنَصِيبُهُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا الْقُوتُ لا يَشْبَعُ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ دَهْرَهُ الذُّلُّ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مَعَ الله مِنَ الْعِزِّ مَعَ غَيْرِهِ وَالتَّوَاضُعُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الشَّرَفِ يَسْتَكْثِرُ قَلِيلَ الْمَعْرُوفِ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ وَيَسْتَقِلُّ كَثِيرَ الْمَعْرُوفِ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ وَيَرَى النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمْ خَيْراً مِنْهُ وَأَنَّهُ شَرُّهُمْ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَهُوَ تَمَامُ الامْرِ يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ لا يَكْذِبُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ هَوَاهُ يَا هِشَامُ لا دِينَ لِمَنْ لا مُرُوَّةَ لَهُ وَلا مُرُوَّةَ لِمَنْ لا عَقْلَ لَهُ وَإِنَّ أَعْظَمَ النَّاسِ قَدْراً الَّذِي لا يَرَى الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْسِهِ خَطَراً أَمَا إِنَّ أَبْدَانَكُمْ لَيْسَ لَهَا ثَمَنٌ إِلا الْجَنَّةُ فَلا تَبِيعُوهَا بِغَيْرِهَا يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ مِنْ عَلامَةِ الْعَاقِلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ ثَلاثُ خِصَالٍ يُجِيبُ إِذَا سُئِلَ وَيَنْطِقُ إِذَا عَجَزَ الْقَوْمُ عَنِ الْكَلامِ وَيُشِيرُ بِالرَّأْيِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ فِيهِ صَلاحُ أَهْلِهِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْخِصَالِ الثَّلاثِ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَهُوَ أَحْمَقُ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا يَجْلِسُ فِي صَدْرِ الْمَجْلِسِ إِلا رَجُلٌ فِيهِ هَذِهِ الْخِصَالُ الثَّلاثُ أَوْ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْهُنَّ فَجَلَسَ فَهُوَ أَحْمَقُ وَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) إِذَا طَلَبْتُمُ الْحَوَائِجَ فَاطْلُبُوهَا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا قِيلَ

يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله وَمَنْ أَهْلُهَا قَالَ الَّذِينَ قَصَّ الله فِي كِتَابِهِ وَذَكَرَهُمْ فَقَالَ إِنَّما يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُوا الالْبابِ قَالَ هُمْ أُولُو الْعُقُولِ وَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) مُجَالَسَةُ الصَّالِحِينَ دَاعِيَةٌ إِلَى الصَّلاحِ وَآدَابُ الْعُلَمَاءِ زِيَادَةٌ فِي الْعَقْلِ وَطَاعَةُ وُلاةِ الْعَدْلِ تَمَامُ الْعِزِّ وَاسْتِثْمَارُ الْمَالِ تَمَامُ الْمُرُوءَةِ وَإِرْشَادُ الْمُسْتَشِيرِ قَضَاءٌ لِحَقِّ النِّعْمَةِ وَكَفُّ الاذَى مِنْ كَمَالِ الْعَقْلِ وَفِيهِ رَاحَةُ الْبَدَنِ عَاجِلاً وَآجِلاً يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ لا يُحَدِّثُ مَنْ يَخَافُ تَكْذِيبَهُ وَلا يَسْأَلُ مَنْ يَخَافُ مَنْعَهُ وَلا يَعِدُ مَا لا يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ وَلا يَرْجُو مَا يُعَنَّفُ بِرَجَائِهِ وَلا يُقْدِمُ عَلَى مَا يَخَافُ فَوْتَهُ بِالْعَجْزِ عَنْهُ

12. Abu Abdullah Al Ashary, from one of our companions, raising it, from Hisham Bin Al Hakam who said,

‘Abu Al-Hassan Musa Bin Ja’farasws said to me: ‘O Hisham! Allahazwj Blessed and High Gave glad tidings to the people of the intellect and the understanding in Hisazwj Book, so Heazwj Said [39:17] therefore give good news to My servants, [39:18] Those who listen intently to the Word, then follow the best of it; those are they whom Allah has Guided, and those it is who are the ones of understanding.

O Hisham! Allahazwj Blessed and High Perfected the argument to the people by the intellects and Helped the Prophetsas with the proclamations, and Pointed themas upon Hisazwj Lordship by the evidence, so Heazwj Said [2:163] And your God is one God! There is no god but He; He is the Beneficent, the Merciful [2:164] Surely in the Creation of the skies and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ships that run in the sea with that which profits the people, and the water that Allah Sends down from the sky, then gives life with it to the earth after its death and Spreads in it all (kinds of) animals, and the changing of the winds and the clouds made subservient between the sky and the earth, there are signs for a people who are using their intellects.

O Hisham! Allahazwj has Made that to be a pointer to Hisazwj recognition that it has been Regulated for them, so Heazwj Said [16:12] And He Made subservient to you the night and the day and the sun and the moon, and the stars are made subservient by His Command; surely there are signs in this for a people who using their intellects.

And Said [40:67] He it is Who Created you from dust, then from a sperm, then from a clot, then Brought you forth as a child, then that you may become old, then that you may be old; and among you there are some who are caused to die before, and that you may reach an appointed term, and that perhaps you may be using your intellects.

And Said [45:5] And (in) the variation of the night and the day, and (in) what Allah Sends down of sustenance from the cloud, then gives life thereby to the earth after its death, and (in) the changing of the winds [2:164] and the clouds made subservient between the sky and the earth, there are signs for a people who are using their intellects.

And Said [57:17] Know that Allah Revives the earth after its death; We have made the Verses clear to you so that you may use your intellects.

And Said [13:4] And in the earth there are tracts side by side and gardens of grapes and corn and palm trees having one root and having distinct roots - they are watered with one water, and We Prefer some over the other for eating; surely there are Signs in this for a people who use their intellects.

And Said [30:24] And from His Signs is that He Shows you the lightning for fear and for hope, and Sends down water from the clouds then Gives life therewith to the earth after its death; most surely there are Signs in this for a people who are using their intellects.

And Said [6:151] Say: Come I will recite what your Lord has Forbidden to you - (remember) that you do not associate anything with Him and show kindness to your parents, and do not slay your children for (fear of) poverty - We Provide for you and for them - and do not go near to immoralities, those of them which are apparent and those which are concealed, and do not kill the soul which Allah has Forbidden except for the requirements of justice; this He has Enjoined you with that you may use your intellects.

And Said [30:28] He Strikes for you an example from yourselves: Have you among those whom your right hands possess partners in what We have Given you for sustenance, so that with respect to it you are alike; you fear them as you fear each other? Thus do We Make the Signs Decisive for a people who are using their intellects.

O Hisham! Then Heazwj Advised the people of the intellects and Made them to be desirous for the Hereafter, so Heazwj Said [6:32] And this world's life is nothing but a play and an idle sport and certainly the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear; are you not using your intellects?.

O Hisham! Then Heazwj Frightened those who are not using their intellects of Hisazwj Punishment, so the Exalted said [37:136] Then We Destroyed the others [37:137] And you pass by them in the morning [37:138] And at night; Are you not using your intellects?

And Said [29:34] Surely We will cause to descend upon the people of this town a Punishment from heaven, due to their disobedience [29:35] And certainly We have left from it a clear evidence for a people who are using their intellects.

O Hisham! The intellect is with the knowledge, so Heazwj Said [29:43] And these examples, We Strike these for the people, and none understand them except for the learned.

O Hisham! Then Heazwj Condemned those who are not using their intellects, so Heazwj Said [2:170] And when it is said to them, Follow what Allah has Revealed, they say: But! We follow what we found our fathers upon. What! Even though their fathers were not using their intellects on anything nor were they guided?

And Said [2:171] And the example of those who disbelieve is as the example of the one (goat-herd) who calls out to that which hears no more than a call and a cry; deaf, dumb (and) blind, so they are not using their intellects.

And Said [10:42] And among them are those who listen to you intently, but can you make the deaf to hear when they were not using their intellects? [25:44] Or do you reckon that most of them are hearing and using their intellects? They are nothing but like cattle; but, they are straying farther off from the path.

And Said [59:14] They will not fight against you in a body save in fortified towns or from behind walls; their fighting between them is severe, you may think them as one body, and their hearts are disunited; that is because they are a people who are not using their intellects.

And Said [2:44] Are you ordering the people to be good and neglecting your own souls while you read the Book; Are you not using your intellects?

O Hisham! Then Allahazwj Condemned the majority, so Heazwj Said [6:116] And if you obey the majority of those in the earth, they will lead you astray from Allah's Way.

And Said [31:25] And if you ask them who Created the skies and the earth, they will be saying: Allah. Say: The Praise is due to Allah; But the majority of them are not knowing.

[29:63] And if you ask them Who is it that Sends down water from the clouds, then Gives Revives it after its death, they will certainly say, Allah. Say: All Praise is due to Allah. But the majority of them are not using their intellects.

O Hisham! Then Allahazwj Complimented the minority, so Heazwj Said [34:13] And very few of My servants are the grateful ones. And Said [38:24] and very few are they.

[40:28] And a believing man of Pharaoh’s people who concealed his faith said: Will you slay a man because he says: My Lord is Allah.

And Said [11:40] and those who believe, and there did not believe with him but a few.

And Said [6:37] but the majority of them are not knowing.

And Said [5:103] and the majority of them are not using their intellects.

And said: “The majority of them are not realizing”.13

O Hisham! Then Heazwj Mentioned the ones of the understanding with the best of the mentions, and Adorned them with the best of the adornments, so Heazwj Said [2:269] He Gives the Wisdom to whomsoever He so Desires to, and whoever is Give the Wisdom, he indeed is Given a lot of good, and none but people of understanding mind.

And Said [3:7] and those who are firmly rooted in the Knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.

And Said [3:190] Most surely in the Creation of the skies and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day there are Signs for men who understand.

And Said [13:19] Is he then who knows that what has been Revealed to you from your Lord is the Truth like him who is blind? But rather, only those possessing understanding will mind.

And Said [39:9] Safe is He who is obedient during the hours of the night, prostrating himself and standing, cautious of the Hereafter and hopes for the Mercy of his Lord. Say: Are those who know and those who do not know alike? But rather, it is the men of understanding who are mindful.

And Said [38:29] (It is) a Book We have Revealed to you, Blessed, that they may ponder over its Signs, and that those endowed with understanding may be mindful.

And Said [40:53] And We Gave Musa the Guidance, and We made the children of Israel inherit the Book, [40:54] A Guidance and a Reminder to the men of understanding.

And Said [51:55] And continue to remind, for surely the reminder profits the Believers.

O Hisham! Allahazwj the Exalted is Saying in Hisazwj Book [50:37] Most surely there is a Reminder in this for him who has a heart or listens – Meaning the intellect.

And Said [31:12] And We Gave the Wisdom to Luqman – The understanding and the intellect.

O Hisham! Luqmanas said to hisas son: ‘Be humble to the Truth, you will come to be the most intellectual of the people, and that the attractiveness in front of the Truth is of little (value). O myas son! The world is a deep ocean. A lot of learned people have drowned in it, therefore make your ship in it to be the fear of Allahazwj, and the Eman to be its load, and the reliance (upon Allahazwj) as its sails, and the intellect as its captain, and the knowledge as its indicator (navigator), and the patience as its passenger’.

O Hisham! For everything there is an indicator, and the indicator for the intellect is the pondering, and the indicator of the pondering is the silence. And for everything there is a ride, and a ride of the intellect is the humbleness and it would suffice with you as being an ignorant one if you were to indulge in what you have been Forbidden from.

O Hisham! Allahazwj did not Send Hisazwj Prophetsas and Hisazwj Rasoolsas to Hisazwj servant except that theyas would be using theiras intellects about Allahazwj. Therefore, the best of themas in Answering is the best of themas in understanding, and the most knowledgeable of themas with the Commands of Allahazwj is the best of themas in intellect, and the most perfect of themas in intellect is the highest of themas in status in the world and the Hereafter.

O Hisham! For Allahazwj, upon the people, are two (kinds of) Proofs – an apparent Proof and a hidden Proof. As for the apparent Proofs, so these are the Rasoolsas , and the Prophetsas , and the Imamsasws ; and as for the hidden, so these are the intellects.

O Hisham! The intellectual is the one whom the Permissible do not pre-occupy him from thanking Himazwj, nor do the Prohibitions overcome his patience.

O Hisham! The one whom three (things) overcome three (things) so it is as if he is assisted upon the ruination of his own intellect – the one who darkens the light of his pondering by the prolongation of his expectancies, and his antics delete his wisdom by the vanities of his speech, and he extinguishes the light of his learning (lessons) by the lustful desires of his self. Thus, it is as if he is assisting himself upon the ruination of his own intellect. And the one who ruins his intellect, his Religion and his world would be spoilt upon him.

O Hisham! How can your deeds be Purified in the Presence of Allahazwj and you have pre-occupied your heart from (obeying) the Commands of your Lordazwj and are obeying your own whims upon overcoming your own intellect?

O Hisham! The patience upon the loneliness is a sign of the strength of the intellect. So the one who uses his intellect about Allahazwj would isolate himself from the people of the world and the ones who are desirous (for it) therein, and he would be desirous regarding what is in the Presence of Allahazwj; and it would that Allahazwj would be his Comfort during the fear, and his Companion during the loneliness, and his Richness during the poverty, and his Consolation from without (having) a tribe.

O Hisham! Establish the Truth for the obedience of Allahazwj, and there is no salvation except by the obedience, and the obedience is with the knowledge, and the knowledge is with the learning, and the learning is with the intellectual thought; and there is no knowledge except from a Divine Scholarasws , and the recognition of the knowledge is with the intellect.

O Hisham! The few deeds from the learned are Accepted (and) multiplied, and the abundant deeds from the people of the opinions and the ignorant ones are rejected.

O Hisham! The intellectual is pleased with the less from the world along with the wisdom, but he would not be pleased with the less from the wisdom along with the (whole) world. Thus, due to that, their trade is profitable.

O Hisham! The intellectual ones are neglecting the vanities of the world, so how (would they not neglect) the sins, and the neglect of the world is from the merits and neglect of the sins is from the Obligations.

O Hisham! The intellectual would look at the world and at its inhabitants, so he would know that it cannot be attained except with the difficulties; and he would look at the Hereafter, so he would know that it cannot be attained except with the difficulties. Thus, he would seek with the difficulties the one which remain (forever) from the two.

O Hisham! The intellectuals are ascetic regarding the world and are desirous regarding the Hereafter, because they know that the world is a seeker and is sought, and the Hereafter is a seeker and is sought. Thus, the one who seeks the Hereafter, he would seek the world (to the extent) until it fulfils his sustenance from it, and the one who seeks the world, the Hereafter would seek him, and the death would come to him, so it would spoil his world upon him and (as well as) his Hereafter.

O Hisham! The one who intends the abundance without wealth, and at ease his heart from the envy, and the safety in the Religion, so let him beseech to Allahazwj Mighty and Majestic that his intellect is to be perfected. So the one who has intellect would be content with whatever would suffice him, and the one who is contented with whatever suffices him, would be needless, and the one who is not content with what suffices him, would not achieve the riches, ever’.

O Hisham! Allahazwj has Related about a righteous people that they were saying [3:8] Our Lord! Do not Let our hearts to deviate after You have Guided us aright, and Grant us Mercy from You; surely You are the Bestower, when they came to know that the hearts do deviate and returns to their blindness and their rejections.

He does not fear Allahazwj, the one who does not use his intellect about Allahazwj, and the one who does not use his intellect about Allahazwj, would not have certainty of his heart upon the affirmed recognition to see it and find its reality in his heart; and no one can happen to be like that except the one whose word were endorsed by his deeds, and his private and public (matters) were harmonious, because Allahazwj, Blessed is Hisazwj Name, does not Indicate upon the hidden (matters), concealed from the intellect, except by the apparent from it and the Spoken about it.

O Hisham! It was so that Amir Al-Momineenasws was saying: ‘Allahazwj has not been worshipped with anything superior than the intellect’. And the intellect of a person cannot be completed until there happen to be various characteristics in him – The (people would be) secured from (any form of) disbelief and the evil (being exercised) from him, and both the righteous guidance and the goodness be expected from him; he would give away from the excess of his wealth, and he would restrain from the excess of his words, and his share from the world would (just) be the subsistence.

He would never consider himself that he has learned enough his life-time. To be with Allahazwj, although in a very humble state, is far better to him (a person of intelligence) than to live much honoured with others. He would consider it as a lot, the little goodness from others, and he would consider it as little, the abundant goodness from himself; and he would see the people, all of them, better than him, and that he (would consider) within himself as the most evil of them. And it is the complete matter.

O Hisham! The intellectual would not lie, and even though there are personal desires in him.

O Hisham! There is no Religion for the one who has no magnanimity for him, and there is no magnanimity for the one who has no intellect for him; and that the greatest of the people in worth is the one who does not see the world for himself as a threat. However, there is no price for yourself (your bodies) other than the Paradise, therefore do not sell it for something else.

O Hisham! Amir Al-Momineenasws was saying: ‘From the signs of an intellectual is that there happen to be three characteristics in him – he answers (only) when questioned, speaking when the people are unable to say (anything), and he advises people with the opinion where there is a correctness for them. So the one who does not possess anything from these three characteristics, so he is an idiot.

Amir Al-Momineenasws said: ‘A man should not sit at the top (podium) of the gathering (presiding over it) except these three characteristics are in him, or (at least) one of these. So the one who does not happen to have anything from these in him, and he sits (presides), so he is an idiot.

Al-Hassanasws Bin Aliasws said: ‘Whenever you see the needs, so seek them from its rightful ones’. It was said, ‘O sonasws of Rasool-Allahsaww ! And who are its rightful onesasws ?’ Heasws said: ‘Thoseasws whom Allahazwj has Related in Hisazwj Book and Mentioned themasws Saying [13:19] But rather, only those possessing understanding will mind.

And Aliasws Bin Al-Husaynasws said: ‘(Sitting in the) gatherings of the righteous makes one to be virtious, and association with scholarsasws (is a means of) enhancing one’s intellect, and obedience to the just rulers completes the honour. And an investment of wealth for profit is a dignifying practice, and guiding the consulting one is a fulfilment of the rights of the favour; and restraint from harming (others) is from the perfection of the intellect, and therein is rest for the body, now and later on.

O Hisham! Neither does the intellectual narrate out of fear of being belied, nor does he ask (for help) out of fear of being prevented, nor does he count on what he has no ability over, nor does he hope in what he would be scolded with his hopes, nor does he proceed upon what he fears he is unable to accomplish’.14

13 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الْعَقْلُ غِطَاءٌ سَتِيرٌ وَالْفَضْلُ جَمَالٌ ظَاهِرٌ فَاسْتُرْ خَلَلَ خُلُقِكَ بِفَضْلِكَ وَقَاتِلْ هَوَاكَ بِعَقْلِكَ تَسْلَمْ لَكَ الْمَوَدَّةُ وَتَظْهَرْ لَكَ الْمَحَبَّةُ

13. Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, raising it, said,

‘Amir Al-Momineenasws said: ‘The intellect is a covering veil, and the merit is an apparent beauty, therefore veil the beauty of your mannerisms by your merit, and fight against your personal desires by your intellect, (and) the cordiality would be submissive to you and the love would manifest for you’.15

14 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَعِنْدَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ فَجَرَى ذِكْرُ الْعَقْلِ وَالْجَهْلِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اعْرِفُوا الْعَقْلَ وَجُنْدَهُ وَالْجَهْلَ وَجُنْدَهُ تَهْتَدُوا قَالَ سَمَاعَةُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لا نَعْرِفُ إِلا مَا عَرَّفْتَنَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَ الْعَقْلَ وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ خَلْقٍ مِنَ الرُّوحَانِيِّينَ عَنْ يَمِينِ الْعَرْشِ مِنْ نُورِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَدْبِرْ فَأَدْبَرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ أَقْبِلْ فَأَقْبَلَ فَقَالَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى خَلَقْتُكَ خَلْقاً عَظِيماً وَكَرَّمْتُكَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِي قَالَ ثُمَّ خَلَقَ الْجَهْلَ مِنَ الْبَحْرِ الاجَاجِ ظُلْمَانِيّاً فَقَالَ لَهُ أَدْبِرْ فَأَدْبَرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ أَقْبِلْ فَلَمْ يُقْبِلْ فَقَالَ لَهُ اسْتَكْبَرْتَ فَلَعَنَهُ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ لِلْعَقْلِ خَمْسَةً وَسَبْعِينَ جُنْداً فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْجَهْلُ مَا أَكْرَمَ الله بِهِ الْعَقْلَ وَمَا أَعْطَاهُ أَضْمَرَ لَهُ الْعَدَاوَةَ فَقَالَ الْجَهْلُ يَا رَبِّ هَذَا خَلْقٌ مِثْلِي خَلَقْتَهُ وَكَرَّمْتَهُ وَقَوَّيْتَهُ وَأَنَا ضِدُّهُ وَلا قُوَّةَ لِي بِهِ فَأَعْطِنِي مِنَ الْجُنْدِ مِثْلَ مَا أَعْطَيْتَهُ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَإِنْ عَصَيْتَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَخْرَجْتُكَ وَجُنْدَكَ مِنْ رَحْمَتِي قَالَ قَدْ رَضِيتُ فَأَعْطَاهُ خَمْسَةً وَسَبْعِينَ جُنْداً فَكَانَ مِمَّا أَعْطَى الْعَقْلَ مِنَ الْخَمْسَةِ وَالسَّبْعِينَ الْجُنْدَ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ وَزِيرُ الْعَقْلِ وَجَعَلَ ضِدَّهُ الشَّرَّ وَهُوَ وَزِيرُ الْجَهْلِ وَالايمَانُ وَضِدَّهُ الْكُفْرَ وَالتَّصْدِيقُ وَضِدَّهُ الْجُحُودَ وَالرَّجَاءُ وَضِدَّهُ الْقُنُوطَ وَالْعَدْلُ وَضِدَّهُ الْجَوْرَ وَالرِّضَا وَضِدَّهُ السُّخْطَ وَالشُّكْرُ وَضِدَّهُ الْكُفْرَانَ وَالطَّمَعُ وَضِدَّهُ الْيَأْسَ وَالتَّوَكُّلُ وَضِدَّهُ الْحِرْصَ وَالرَّأْفَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْقَسْوَةَ وَالرَّحْمَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْغَضَبَ وَالْعِلْمُ وَضِدَّهُ الْجَهْلَ وَالْفَهْمُ وَضِدَّهُ الْحُمْقَ وَالْعِفَّةُ وَضِدَّهَا التَّهَتُّكَ وَالزُّهْدُ وَضِدَّهُ الرَّغْبَةَ وَالرِّفْقُ وَضِدَّهُ الْخُرْقَ وَالرَّهْبَةُ وَضِدَّهُ الْجُرْأَةَ وَالتَّوَاضُعُ وَضِدَّهُ الْكِبْرَ وَالتُّؤَدَةُ وَضِدَّهَا التَّسَرُّعَ وَالْحِلْمُ وَضِدَّهَا السَّفَهَ وَالصَّمْتُ وَضِدَّهُ الْهَذَرَ وَالاسْتِسْلامُ وَضِدَّهُ الاسْتِكْبَارَ وَالتَّسْلِيمُ وَضِدَّهُ الشَّكَّ وَالصَّبْرُ وَضِدَّهُ الْجَزَعَ وَالصَّفْحُ وَضِدَّهُ الانْتِقَامَ وَالْغِنَى وَضِدَّهُ الْفَقْرَ وَالتَّذَكُّرُ وَضِدَّهُ السَّهْوَ وَالْحِفْظُ وَضِدَّهُ النِّسْيَانَ وَالتَّعَطُّفُ وَضِدَّهُ الْقَطِيعَةَ وَالْقُنُوعُ وَضِدَّهُ الْحِرْصَ وَالْمُؤَاسَاةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْمَنْعَ وَالْمَوَدَّةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْوَفَاءُ وَضِدَّهُ الْغَدْرَ وَالطَّاعَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْمَعْصِيَةَ وَالْخُضُوعُ وَضِدَّهُ التَّطَاوُلَ وَالسَّلامَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْبَلاءَ وَالْحُبُّ وَضِدَّهُ الْبُغْضَ وَالصِّدْقُ وَضِدَّهُ الْكَذِبَ وَالْحَقُّ وَضِدَّهُ الْبَاطِلَ وَالامَانَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْخِيَانَةَ وَالاخْلاصُ وَضِدَّهُ الشَّوْبَ وَالشَّهَامَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْبَلادَةَ وَالْفَهْمُ وَضِدَّهُ الْغَبَاوَةَ وَالْمَعْرِفَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الانْكَارَ وَالْمُدَارَاةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْمُكَاشَفَةَ وَسَلامَةُ الْغَيْبِ وَضِدَّهَا الْمُمَاكَرَةَ وَالْكِتْمَانُ وَضِدَّهُ الافْشَاءَ وَالصَّلاةُ وَضِدَّهَا الاضَاعَةَ وَالصَّوْمُ وَضِدَّهُ الافْطَارَ وَالْجِهَادُ وَضِدَّهُ النُّكُولَ وَالْحَجُّ وَضِدَّهُ نَبْذَ الْمِيثَاقِ وَصَوْنُ الْحَدِيثِ وَضِدَّهُ النَّمِيمَةَ وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَضِدَّهُ الْعُقُوقَ وَالْحَقِيقَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الرِّيَاءَ وَالْمَعْرُوفُ وَضِدَّهُ الْمُنْكَرَ وَالسَّتْرُ وَضِدَّهُ التَّبَرُّجَ وَالتَّقِيَّةُ وَضِدَّهَا الاذَاعَةَ وَالانْصَافُ وَضِدَّهُ الْحَمِيَّةَ وَالتَّهْيِئَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْبَغْيَ وَالنَّظَافَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْقَذَرَ وَالْحَيَاءُ وَضِدَّهَا الْجَلَعَ وَالْقَصْدُ وَضِدَّهُ الْعُدْوَانَ وَالرَّاحَةُ وَضِدَّهَا التَّعَبَ وَالسُّهُولَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الصُّعُوبَةَ وَالْبَرَكَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْمَحْقَ وَالْعَافِيَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْبَلاءَ وَالْقَوَامُ وَضِدَّهُ الْمُكَاثَرَةَ وَالْحِكْمَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْهَوَاءَ وَالْوَقَارُ وَضِدَّهُ الْخِفَّةَ وَالسَّعَادَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الشَّقَاوَةَ وَالتَّوْبَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الاصْرَارَ وَالاسْتِغْفَارُ وَضِدَّهُ الاغْتِرَارَ وَالْمُحَافَظَةُ وَضِدَّهَا التَّهَاوُنَ وَالدُّعَاءُ وَضِدَّهُ الاسْتِنْكَافَ وَالنَّشَاطُ وَضِدَّهُ الْكَسَلَ وَالْفَرَحُ وَضِدَّهُ الْحَزَنَ وَالالْفَةُ وَضِدَّهَا الْفُرْقَةَ وَالسَّخَاءُ وَضِدَّهُ الْبُخْلَ فَلا تَجْتَمِعُ هَذِهِ الْخِصَالُ كُلُّهَا مِنْ أَجْنَادِ الْعَقْلِ إِلا فِي نَبِيٍّ أَوْ وَصِيِّ نَبِيٍّ أَوْ مُؤْمِنٍ قَدِ امْتَحَنَ الله قَلْبَهُ لِلايمَانِ وَأَمَّا سَائِرُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مَوَالِينَا فَإِنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ لا يَخْلُو مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ بَعْضُ هَذِهِ الْجُنُودِ حَتَّى يَسْتَكْمِلَ وَيَنْقَى مِنْ جُنُودِ الْجَهْلِ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ يَكُونُ فِي الدَّرَجَةِ الْعُلْيَا مَعَ الانْبِيَاءِ وَالاوْصِيَاءِ وَإِنَّمَا يُدْرَكُ ذَلِكَ بِمَعْرِفَةِ الْعَقْلِ وَجُنُودِهِ وَبِمُجَانَبَةِ الْجَهْلِ وَجُنُودِهِ وَفَّقَنَا الله وَإِيَّاكُمْ لِطَاعَتِهِ وَمَرْضَاتِهِ

14. A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ali Bin Hadeed, from Sama’at Bin Mihran who said,

‘I was in the presence of Abu Abdullahasws , and in hisasws presence was a group of the ones in hisasws Wilayah, and the mention of the intellect and the ignorance, flowed. So Abu Abdullahasws said: ‘Recognise the intellect and its army and the ignorance and its army, and you would be rightly guided’. Sama’at (the narrator) said, ‘So I said to himasws , ‘May I be sacrificed for youasws ! We do not recognise anything except what youasws have introduced to us’.

So Abu Abdullahasws said: ‘Allahazwj Mighty and Majestic Created the intellect, and it was the first thing Created, from the spiritual (creations), from the right of the Throne, from Hisazwj Light. So Heazwj Said to it: “Turn around!” So it turned around. Then Said: “Come!” So it came”. So Allahazwj Blessed and High Said: “Iazwj have Created you as a magnificent creation and Honoured you upon the entirety of Myazwj creation’.

Heasws said: ‘Then Heazwj Created the ignorance from the dark wavy ocean. So Heazwj Said to it: “Turn around!” So it turned around. Then Said to it: “Come!” But it did not come. So Heazwj Said to it: “You are being arrogant?” So Heazwj Cursed it.

Then Heazwj Made seventy-five armies for the intellect. So when the ignorance saw what Allahazwj had Honoured the intellect with and what Heazwj had Granted it, (ignorance) harboured the enmity for it. So the ignorance said, ‘O Lordazwj! This is a creation like me. Youazwj Created it, and Honoured it, and Strengthened it, and I am its opposite, and there is not (enough) strength for me in comparison. Therefore, Grant me an army similar to what Youazwj had Granted it’. So Heazwj Said: “Yes. But, if you were to disobey Meazwj after that, Iazwj shall Throw you and your army out of Myazwj Mercy’. It said, ‘I have agreed’. Then Heazwj Granted it seventy-five armies.

Thus, from what Heazwj Granted to the intellect, from the seventy five armies was the goodness, and it is the Vizier of the intellect; and Made its opposite to be the evil, and it is the Vizier of the ignorance; and the Eman, and its opposite is the disbelief; and the confirmation, and its opposite is the denial; and the hope, and its opposite is the despair; and the justice, and its opposite is the tyranny; and the pleasure, and its opposite is the anger; and the gratefulness, and its opposite is the ingratitude; and the longing, and its opposite is the hopelessness.

And the reliance (upon Allahazwj), and its opposite is the independence; and the clemency, and its opposite is the cruelty; and the mercy, and its opposite is the wrath, and the knowledge, and its opposite is the ignorance; and the understanding, and its opposite is the stupidity, and the chastity, and its opposite is the indecency, and ascetism, and its opposite is the desire; and the gentleness, and its opposite is the harshness; and the awe, and its opposite is the audacity; and the humbleness, and its opposite is the arrogance; and the leisureliness, and its opposite is the impulsiveness.

And the forbearance, and its opposite is the recklessness; and the silence, and its opposite is the chatter; and the submission, and its opposite is the arrogance; and the acceptance, and its opposite is the doubt; and the patience, and its opposite is the panic; and the pardoning, and its opposite is the revenge; and the richness, and its opposite is the poverty; and the remembrance, and its opposite is the omission; and the memorisation, and its opposite is the forgetfulness; and the sympathising, and its opposite is the severing (relationship); and the contentment, and its opposite is the greed; and the consolation, and its opposite is the commiseration.

And the cordiality, and its opposite is the enmity; and the loyalty, and its opposite is the betrayal; and the obedience, and its opposite is the disobedience; and the yielding, and its opposite is the insolence; and the safety, and its opposite is the affliction; and the love, and its opposite is the hatred; and the truthfulness, and its opposite is the lying; and the truth, and its opposite is the falsehood; and the trustworthiness, and its opposite is the defrauding; and the purity, and its opposite is the adulteration; and the chivalry, and its opposite is the apathy.

And the understanding, and its opposite is the foolishness; and the recognition, and its opposite is the denial; and the compliance, and its opposite is the disclosure; and safeguarding the hidden matters, and its opposite is the non-restraint; and the concealment, and its opposite is the disclosure; and the Salāt, and its opposite is the wastage (not praying); and the Fasting, and its opposite is the abandoning (of Fasting); and the Jihad, and its opposite is the abstaining; and the Hajj, and its opposite is renouncing the Covenant.

And preservation of the Hadeeth, and its opposite is the gossiping; and righteousness with the parents, and its opposite is the disloyalty; and the reality, and its opposite is the showing-off; and the goodness, and its opposite is the evil; and the covering up, and its opposite is the shameless display; and the dissimulation, and its opposite is the broadcasting; and the fairness, and its opposite is prejudice; and the calmness, and its opposite is the rebellion, and the cleanliness, and its opposite is the filth.

And the bashfulness, and its opposite is the indiscreet; and the moderation, and its opposite is the indulgence; and the rest, and its opposite is the exhaustion; and the ease, and its opposite is the difficulty; and the Blessings, and its opposite is the annihilation; and the well-being, and its opposite is the calamity; and the straightness, and its opposite is the crookedness; and the wisdom, and its opposite is the whims; and the dignity, and its opposite is the meanness; and the happiness, and its opposite is the wretchedness.

And the repentance, and its opposite is the persistence; and the seeking of Forgiveness, and its opposite is the pride; and the preservation, and its opposite is the complacency; and the supplication, and its opposite is the refraining; and the activity, and its opposite is the laziness; and the joy, and its opposite is the grief, and the friendliness, and its opposite is the aversion; and the generosity, and its opposite is the stinginess.

So all these characteristics from the armies of the intellect would not gather in anyone except a Prophetsaww , or a successoras , or a Momin whose heart Allahazwj has been Tested for the Eman. And as for the rest of that, from the ones in ourasws Wilayah, so one of them would not be empty from some of these armies to be in him until he is perfect and transfers from the armies of the ignorance. Thus, during that, he would happen to be in the lofty levels along with the Prophetsas , and the successorsas , and rather he would achieve that with the recognition of the intellect and its armies, and by keeping aside from the ignorance and its armies.

May Allahazwj Harmonise us and you all for Hisazwj obedience, and Hisazwj Pleasure’.16

15 ـ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا كَلَّمَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْعِبَادَ بِكُنْهِ عَقْلِهِ قَطُّ وَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّا مَعَاشِرَ الانْبِيَاءِ أُمِرْنَا أَنْ نُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ عَلَى قَدْرِ عُقُولِهِمْ

15. A group of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Bin Fazzal, from one of our companions,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘Rasool-Allahsaww never spoke with the people with full power of hissaww intellect at all’.

And heasws said: ‘Rasool-Allahsaww said: ‘Weas, the group of Prophetsas , have been Commanded that weas speak to the people in accordance to their intellects’’.17

16 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ قُلُوبَ الْجُهَّالِ تَسْتَفِزُّهَا الاطْمَاعُ وَتَرْتَهِنُهَا الْمُنَى وَتَسْتَعْلِقُهَا الْخَدَائِعُ

16. Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny,

(It has been narrated) from Ja’farasws , from hisasws fatherasws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineenasws said: ‘The hearts of the ignorant ones trigger the greed, and the yearnings hold them hostage, and the deceptions attach to them’.18

17 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الاشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ الله الدِّهْقَانِ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَكْمَلُ النَّاسِ عَقْلاً أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقاً

17. Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Al Ashary, from Ubeydullah Al Dihqan, from Dorost, from Ibrahim Bin Abdul Hameed who said,

‘Abu Abdullahasws said: ‘The most perfect of the people in intellect, is the best of them in morals’.19

18 ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَتَذَاكَرْنَا الْعَقْلَ وَالادَبَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ الْعَقْلُ حِبَاءٌ مِنَ الله وَالادَبُ كُلْفَةٌ فَمَنْ تَكَلَّفَ الادَبَ قَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَنْ تَكَلَّفَ الْعَقْلَ لَمْ يَزْدَدْ بِذَلِكَ إِلا جَهْلاً

18. Ali, from his father, from Abu Hashim Al Ja’fary who said,

‘We were in the presence of Al-Rezaasws , so we mentioned the intellect and the good mannerisms. So heasws said: ‘O Abu Hashim! The intellect is a Gift from Allahazwj, and the good mannerisms is skill and burden (which one can strive to develop). So the one who (succeeds) in developing the good mannerisms, would have ability over it, but the one who pretends to be a person of intelligence increases for him nothing but the ignorance’.20

19 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ لِي جَاراً كَثِيرَ الصَّلاةِ كَثِيرَ الصَّدَقَةِ كَثِيرَ الْحَجِّ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ كَيْفَ عَقْلُهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَيْسَ لَهُ عَقْلٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لا يَرْتَفِعُ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ

19. Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Yahya Bin Al Mubarak, from Abdullah Bin Jabala, from Is’haq Bin Ammar,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws , said, ‘I said to himasws , ‘May I be sacrificed for youasws ! There is a neighbour of mine who is frequent of the Salāt, and of frequent charity, and frequents the Hajj. There is no problem with him’. So heasws said: ‘O Is’haq! How is his intellect?’ I said to himasws , ‘May I be sacrificed for youasws ! There is no intellect for him’. So heasws said: ‘(His deeds) would not benefit (to raise his status) him due to that’.21

20 ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ السَّيَّارِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي يَعْقُوبَ الْبَغْدَادِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ السِّكِّيتِ لابِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لِمَا ذَا بَعَثَ الله مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِالْعَصَا وَيَدِهِ الْبَيْضَاءِ وَآلَةِ السِّحْرِ وَبَعَثَ عِيسَى بِ‏آلَةِ الطِّبِّ وَبَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الانْبِيَاءِ بِالْكَلامِ وَالْخُطَبِ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله لَمَّا بَعَثَ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَانَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى أَهْلِ عَصْرِهِ السِّحْرَ فَأَتَاهُمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله بِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي وُسْعِهِمْ مِثْلُهُ وَمَا أَبْطَلَ بِهِ سِحْرَهُمْ وَأَثْبَتَ بِهِ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَإِنَّ الله بَعَثَ عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي وَقْتٍ قَدْ ظَهَرَتْ فِيهِ الزَّمَانَاتُ وَاحْتَاجَ النَّاسُ إِلَى الطِّبِّ فَأَتَاهُمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله بِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُمْ مِثْلُهُ وَبِمَا أَحْيَا لَهُمُ الْمَوْتَى وَأَبْرَأَ الاكْمَهَ وَالابْرَصَ بِإِذْنِ الله وَأَثْبَتَ بِهِ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَإِنَّ الله بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي وَقْتٍ كَانَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى أَهْلِ عَصْرِهِ الْخُطَبَ وَالْكَلامَ وَأَظُنُّهُ قَالَ الشِّعْرَ فَأَتَاهُمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله مِنْ مَوَاعِظِهِ وَحِكَمِهِ مَا أَبْطَلَ بِهِ قَوْلَهُمْ وَأَثْبَتَ بِهِ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ ابْنُ السِّكِّيتِ تَالله مَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَكَ قَطُّ فَمَا الْحُجَّةُ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ الْيَوْمَ قَالَ فَقَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الْعَقْلُ يُعْرَفُ بِهِ الصَّادِقُ عَلَى الله فَيُصَدِّقُهُ وَالْكَاذِبُ عَلَى الله فَيُكَذِّبُهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ ابْنُ السِّكِّيتِ هَذَا وَالله هُوَ الْجَوَابُ

20. Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Sayyari, from Abu Yaqoub Al Baghday who said,

‘Ibn Al-Sikeet said to Abu Al-Hassanasws , ‘Why did Allahazwj Send Musaas Bin Imranas with the (miracles of) the staff and the white hand and means of the magic, and Sent Isaas with the means of the medicine, and Sent Muhammadsaww and upon the entirety of the Prophetsas with the words and the speech’.

So Abu Al-Hassanasws said: ‘(The reason) for what Allahazwj Sent Musaas , it was so that the magic was predominant upon the people of hisas era. So heas came to them from the Presence of Allahazwj with what was not in their capabilities for the likes of it, and what heas could invalidate their magic with, and by it heas could affirm the Proof upon them.

And Allahazwj Sent Isaas during a time in which chronic illnesses had appeared, and the people were needy to the medicine. So heas came to them from the Presence of Allahazwj with what did not happen to be with them, something similar to it, and with what heas revived the dead for them and cured the ones blinded at birth, and the leprosy, by the Permission of Allahazwj, and affirmed by it the Proof upon them.

And Allahazwj Sent Muhammadsaww during a time when the prose and the speech were predominant upon the people of hissaww era’, and I think heasws said, ‘The poetry (as well)’. ‘So heasws came to them from the Presence of Allahazwj, from Hisazwj Advice and Hisazwj Wisdom what hesaww could invalidate their speeches with, and affirm the Proof by it upon them’.

He (the narrator) said, ‘So Ibn Sikeet said, ‘I have not seen the likes of youasws at all! So what is the Proof upon the creatures today?’ So heasws said: ‘(It is the) intellect. Intelligence recognises those who speak the Truth from Allah, thus one acknowledges their truth. Intelligence recognises the lies of those who lie in the name of Allah’.

He (the narrator) said, ‘So Ibn Al-Sikeet said, ‘This, by Allahazwj, it is the answer!’.22

21 ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنِ الْمُثَنَّى الْحَنَّاطِ عَنْ قُتَيْبَةَ الاعْشَى عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ عَنْ مَوْلىً لِبَنِي شَيْبَانَ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَا وَضَعَ الله يَدَهُ عَلَى رُءُوسِ الْعِبَادِ فَجَمَعَ بِهَا عُقُولَهُمْ وَكَمَلَتْ بِهِ أَحْلامُهُمْ

21. Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Al Washa, from Al Musna Al Hannat, from Quteyba Al A’asha, from Ibn Abu Yafour, from a slave of the Clan of Shayban,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’farasws having said; ‘When ourasws Qaimasws rises, and heasws places hisasws hand upon the heads of the servants, so their intellects would be gathered by it and complete their understanding (of the religion)’.23

22 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ حُجَّةُ الله عَلَى الْعِبَادِ النَّبِيُّ وَالْحُجَّةُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ وَبَيْنَ الله الْعَقْلُ

22. Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin SulEman, from Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Abdullah B in Sinan,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘The Proof of Allahazwj upon the servants is the Prophetsaww , and the Proof regarding what is between the servants and Allahazwj, is the intellect’.24

23 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ مُرْسَلاً قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) دِعَامَةُ الانْسَانِ الْعَقْلُ وَالْعَقْلُ مِنْهُ الْفِطْنَةُ وَالْفَهْمُ وَالْحِفْظُ وَالْعِلْمُ وَبِالْعَقْلِ يَكْمُلُ وَهُوَ دَلِيلُهُ وَمُبْصِرُهُ وَمِفْتَاحُ أَمْرِهِ فَإِذَا كَانَ تَأْيِيدُ عَقْلِهِ مِنَ النُّورِ كَانَ عَالِماً حَافِظاً ذَاكِراً فَطِناً فَهِماً فَعَلِمَ بِذَلِكَ كَيْفَ وَلِمَ وَحَيْثُ وَعَرَفَ مَنْ نَصَحَهُ وَمَنْ غَشَّهُ فَإِذَا عَرَفَ ذَلِكَ عَرَفَ مَجْرَاهُ وَمَوْصُولَهُ وَمَفْصُولَهُ وَأَخْلَصَ الْوَحْدَانِيَّةَ لله وَالاقْرَارَ بِالطَّاعَةِ فَإِذَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ مُسْتَدْرِكاً لِمَا فَاتَ وَوَارِداً عَلَى مَا هُوَ آتٍ يَعْرِفُ مَا هُوَ فِيهِ وَلايِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ هُوَ هَاهُنَا وَمِنْ أَيْنَ يَأْتِيهِ وَإِلَى مَا هُوَ صَائِرٌ وَذَلِكَ كُلُّهُ مِنْ تَأْيِيدِ الْعَقْلِ

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, in an unbroken chain, said,

‘Abu Abdullahasws said: ‘Intelligence is the support for the man, and from intelligence comes the insightfulness, and the understanding, and the memorisation, and the knowledge; and with the intellect, he is perfect, and it is his indicator, and his insight, and a key to his affairs.

So when it was such that his intellect was supported from the light, he would be a knowledgeable one, a memoriser (of the Holy Quran), a Zakir (Oft-mentioner of Allahazwj), discerning, understanding. Thus he would know by that, how, and why, and where, and the one who is supporting himasws and the one who is cheating himasws . So when he recognises that, he would recognise its flow, and its connections and its disconnections, and the purity of the Oneness of Allahazwj, and the acknowledgement with the obedience.

So when he does that, he would be a reviewer to what had been missed out on, and would anticipate upon what is coming (in the future). He would recognise what he is (currently) in, and for which thing (reason) he is over here, and from where he is coming from, and to what he is headed for, and all of that is from the support of the intellect’.25

24 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ بَعْضِ رِجَالِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْعَقْلُ دَلِيلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ

24. Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ismail Bin Mihran, from one of his men,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘A Momin is recognised by his intellect’.26

25 ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ السَّرِيِّ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَا عَلِيُّ لا فَقْرَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَلا مَالَ أَعْوَدُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ

25. Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Al Washa, from Hammad Bin Usman, from Al Sarry Bin Khalid,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘Rasool-Allahsaww said: ‘O Aliasws ! There is no poverty more intense than the ignorance, nor a wealth more assisting than the intellect’.27

26 ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا خَلَقَ الله الْعَقْلَ قَالَ لَهُ أَقْبِلْ فَأَقْبَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ أَدْبِرْ فَأَدْبَرَ فَقَالَ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي مَا خَلَقْتُ خَلْقاً أَحْسَنَ مِنْكَ إِيَّاكَ آمُرُ وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْهَى وَإِيَّاكَ أُثِيبُ وَإِيَّاكَ أُعَاقِبُ

26. Muhammad Bin Al Hassan, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ibn Abu Najran, from Al A’ala Bin Razeyn, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’farasws having said: ‘When Allahazwj Created the intellect, Said to it: “Come!” So it came. Then Said: “Turn back!” So it turned back. So Heazwj Said: “By Myazwj Might and Myazwj Majesty! Iazwj have not Created a creature better than you. To you Iazwj shall Command, and to you Iazwj shall Forbid, and to youazwj shall Reward, and to you Iazwj shall Punish”’.28

27 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْهَيْثَمِ بْنِ أَبِي مَسْرُوقٍ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الرَّجُلُ آتِيهِ وَأُكَلِّمُهُ بِبَعْضِ كَلامِي فَيَعْرِفُهُ كُلَّهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ آتِيهِ فَأُكَلِّمُهُ بِالْكَلامِ فَيَسْتَوْفِي كَلامِي كُلَّهُ ثُمَّ يَرُدُّهُ عَلَيَّ كَمَا كَلَّمْتُهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ آتِيهِ فَأُكَلِّمُهُ فَيَقُولُ أَعِدْ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ وَمَا تَدْرِي لِمَ هَذَا قُلْتُ لا قَالَ الَّذِي تُكَلِّمُهُ بِبَعْضِ كَلامِكَ فَيَعْرِفُهُ كُلَّهُ فَذَاكَ مَنْ عُجِنَتْ نُطْفَتُهُ بِعَقْلِهِ وَأَمَّا الَّذِي تُكَلِّمُهُ فَيَسْتَوْفِي كَلامَكَ ثُمَّ يُجِيبُكَ عَلَى كَلامِكَ فَذَاكَ الَّذِي رُكِّبَ عَقْلُهُ فِيهِ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ وَأَمَّا الَّذِي تُكَلِّمُهُ بِالْكَلامِ فَيَقُولُ أَعِدْ عَلَيَّ فَذَاكَ الَّذِي رُكِّبَ عَقْلُهُ فِيهِ بَعْدَ مَا كَبِرَ فَهُوَ يَقُولُ لَكَ أَعِدْ عَلَيَّ

27. A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Haysam Bin Abu Masrouq Al Nahdy, from Al Husayn Bin Khalid, from Is’haq Bin Ammar who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullahasws , ‘I would go to a man and speak to him with some of my speech, and he would understand all of it, and from them is one whom I would go to, and speak to him with (all) the speech, so he would fulfil to me all of my speech, then he would repeat it upon me just as I had spoken to him; and from them is the one who I would go to and speak to him, so he would be saying, ‘Repeat it to me’’.

So heasws said: ‘O Is’haq! And do you not know why this is so?’ I said, ‘No’. Heasws said: ‘The one whom you speak to with part of your speech, yet he understands all of it, so that is the one whose seed is kneaded with his intellect; and as for the one whom you speak to, and fulfil (all of) your speech, then he answers you upon your speech, so that is the one in whom his intellect has been superimposed in the belly of his mother; and as for the one whom you speak to with the speech, so he is saying, ‘Repeat upon me’, so that is the one in whom his intellect has been superimposed after having grown old, thus he is saying to you, ‘Repeat upon me’’.29

28 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ مَنْ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الرَّجُلَ كَثِيرَ الصَّلاةِ كَثِيرَ الصِّيَامِ فَلا تُبَاهُوا بِهِ حَتَّى تَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ عَقْلُهُ

28. A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from someone who raised it,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘Rasool-Allahsaww said: ‘Whenever you see the man as being of abundant in Salāt, abundant in Fasts, so do not be boasting with him until you look at how (good) his intellect is’’.30

29 ـ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا رَفَعَهُ عَنْ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ يَا مُفَضَّلُ لا يُفْلِحُ مَنْ لا يَعْقِلُ وَلا يَعْقِلُ مَنْ لا يَعْلَمُ وَسَوْفَ يَنْجُبُ مَنْ يَفْهَمُ وَيَظْفَرُ مَنْ يَحْلُمُ وَالْعِلْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَالصِّدْقُ عِزٌّ وَالْجَهْلُ ذُلٌّ وَالْفَهْمُ مَجْدٌ وَالْجُودُ نُجْحٌ وَحُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ مَجْلَبَةٌ لِلْمَوَدَّةِ وَالْعَالِمُ بِزَمَانِهِ لا تَهْجُمُ عَلَيْهِ اللَّوَابِسُ وَالْحَزْمُ مَسَاءَةُ الظَّنِّ وَبَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ نِعْمَةُ الْعَالِمِ وَالْجَاهِلُ شَقِيٌّ بَيْنَهُمَا وَالله وَلِيُّ مَنْ عَرَفَهُ وَعَدُوُّ مَنْ تَكَلَّفَهُ وَالْعَاقِلُ غَفُورٌ وَالْجَاهِلُ خَتُورٌ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تُكْرَمَ فَلِنْ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تُهَانَ فَاخْشُنْ وَمَنْ كَرُمَ أَصْلُهُ لانَ قَلْبُهُ وَمَنْ خَشُنَ عُنْصُرُهُ غَلُظَ كَبِدُهُ وَمَنْ فَرَّطَ تَوَرَّطَ وَمَنْ خَافَ الْعَاقِبَةَ تَثَبَّتَ عَنِ التَّوَغُّلِ فِيمَا لا يَعْلَمُ وَمَنْ هَجَمَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ جَدَعَ أَنْفَ نَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ لَمْ يَفْهَمْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَفْهَمْ لَمْ يَسْلَمْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْلَمْ لَمْ يُكْرَمْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُكْرَمْ يُهْضَمْ وَمَنْ يُهْضَمْ كَانَ أَلْوَمَ وَمَنْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ أَحْرَى أَنْ يَنْدَمَ

One of our companions, raising it from Mufazzal Bin Umar,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘O Mufazzal! He will not succeed, the one who has no intellect, nor would he have intellect, the one who does not know. Soon, the one who understands would be excellent, and the one who forbears would be victorious; and the knowledge is a shield, and the truthfulness is an honour, and the ignorance is a disgrace, and the understanding is a glory, and the benevolence is a success, and good morals are a cause for the cordiality.

And the knowledgeable one of his time would not be assaulted upon by the confusion. The strictness is an evil deed of the conjectures, and between the person and the wisdom a knowledgeable one is a Bounty, and the ignorant is a wretched between the two. And Allahazwj is a friend of the one who recognises Himazwj and an enemy of the one who pretends (to know Himazwj); and the intellectual is forgiving and the ignorant one is a fault-finder. If you desire to be honoured, so be lenient, and if you desire to be abased (rejected), so be harsh.

And the one whose origin is honourable, his heart would be soft, and the one whose ingredient is harshness, his liver would be thick; and the one who is excessive would get involved, and the one who fears the consequences would be steadfast from making incursions in that which he does not know. And the one rushes into a matter without knowledge would mutilate the nose (pride) of his own self; and the one who does not know would not understand, and the one who does not understand would not submit, and the one who does not submit would not be honoured, and the one who is not honoured would be devoured, and the one who is devoured would be reproached, and the one who was like that, would be more likely to regret’.31

30 ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَنِ اسْتَحْكَمَتْ لِي فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْ خِصَالِ الْخَيْرِ احْتَمَلْتُهُ عَلَيْهَا وَاغْتَفَرْتُ فَقْدَ مَا سِوَاهَا وَلا أَغْتَفِرُ فَقْدَ عَقْلٍ وَلا دِينٍ لانَّ مُفَارَقَةَ الدِّينِ مُفَارَقَةُ الامْنِ فَلا يَتَهَنَّأُ بِحَيَاةٍ مَعَ مَخَافَةٍ وَفَقْدُ الْعَقْلِ فَقْدُ الْحَيَاةِ وَلا يُقَاسُ إِلا بِالامْوَاتِ

30. Muhammad Bin Yahya, raising it, said,

‘Amir Al-Momineenasws said: ‘The one who sides with measws that in him there is a characteristic from the characteristics of the goodness, Iasws shall be tolerant upon it and forgive whatever was lost besides it, and Iasws shall neither forgive the loss of intellect nor Religion, because the separation of the Religion is separation of the security, as life is not pleasant along with fear; and the loss of the intellect is loss of the life, and there is no comparison except with the dead ones’.32

31 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُحَارِبِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مَيْمُونِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِعْجَابُ الْمَرْءِ بِنَفْسِهِ دَلِيلٌ عَلَى ضَعْفِ عَقْلِهِ

31. Ali Bin Ibrahim Bin Hashim, from Musa Bin Ibrahim Al Muharby, from Al Hassan Bin Musa, from Musa Bin Abdullah, from Maymoun Bin Ali,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineenasws said: ‘The one who is full of himself indicate upon the weakness of his own intellect’.33

32 ـ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله الْعَاصِمِيُّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ ذُكِرَ عِنْدَهُ أَصْحَابُنَا وَذُكِرَ الْعَقْلُ قَالَ فَقَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لا يُعْبَأُ بِأَهْلِ الدِّينِ مِمَّنْ لا عَقْلَ لَهُ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ مِمَّنْ يَصِفُ هَذَا الامْرَ قَوْماً لا بَأْسَ بِهِمْ عِنْدَنَا وَلَيْسَتْ لَهُمْ تِلْكَ الْعُقُولُ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ هَؤُلاءِ مِمَّنْ خَاطَبَ الله إِنَّ الله خَلَقَ الْعَقْلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَقْبِلْ فَأَقْبَلَ وَقَالَ لَهُ أَدْبِرْ فَأَدْبَرَ فَقَالَ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي مَا خَلَقْتُ شَيْئاً أَحْسَنَ مِنْكَ أَوْ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْكَ بِكَ آخُذُ وَبِكَ أُعْطِي

32. Abu Abdullah Al Aasimy, from Ali Bin Al Hassan, from Ali Bin Asbaat, from Al Hassan Bin Al Jahm,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Hassan Al-Rezaasws , said, ‘Our companions were mentioned in hisasws presence, and the intellect was (also) mentioned. So heasws said: ‘Do not package (consider as the same) the people of the Religion from the one who has not intellect for him’. I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for youasws ! From the ones who are described to be upon this matter (Al-Wilayah), there is a group for whom there a no problems with them in our presence, and there isn’t that (kind of) intellect for them’.

So heasws said: ‘They are not from the ones whom Allahazwj Addressed. Allahazwj Created the intellect, so Heazwj Said to it: “Come!” So it came. And Said to it: “Turn back!” So it turned back. So Heazwj Said: ‘By Mazwj Mighty and Myazwj majesty! Iazwj have not Created anything better than you, or more Beloved to Meazwj than you. Due to you, Iazwj shall Seize, and due to you Iazwj shall Give’.34

33 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ الايمَانِ وَالْكُفْرِ إِلا قِلَّةُ الْعَقْلِ قِيلَ وَكَيْفَ ذَاكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يَرْفَعُ رَغْبَتَهُ إِلَى مَخْلُوقٍ فَلَوْ أَخْلَصَ نِيَّتَهُ لله لاتَاهُ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ فِي أَسْرَعَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ

33. Ali Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from his father, from one of our companions,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘There isn’t anything between the Eman and the disbelief (Kufr) except for the scarcity of the intellect’. It was said, ‘And how is that so, O sonasws of Rasool-Allahsaww ! The servant raises his desire to the creatures (people). So had he been of sincere intention to Allahazwj, Heazwj would Give him that which he wants in (a time period) quicker than that’.35

34 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ الله الدِّهْقَانِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ بِالْعَقْلِ اسْتُخْرِجَ غَوْرُ الْحِكْمَةِ وَبِالْحِكْمَةِ اسْتُخْرِجَ غَوْرُ الْعَقْلِ وَبِحُسْنِ السِّيَاسَةِ يَكُونُ الادَبُ الصَّالِحُ قَالَ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ التَّفَكُّرُ حَيَاةُ قَلْبِ الْبَصِيرِ كَمَا يَمْشِي الْمَاشِي فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ بِالنُّورِ بِحُسْنِ التَّخَلُّصِ وَقِلَّةِ التَّرَبُّصِ

34. A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ubedullah Al Dihqan, from Ahmad Bin Umar Al Halby, from Yahya Bin Imran,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineenasws was saying: ‘With the intellect, the profundity of the wisdom is extracted, and with the wisdom, the profundity of the intellect is extracted; and the good policies are (as a result of) righteous discipline’.

Heasws said: ‘And heasws (Amir Al-Momineenasws ) was saying: ‘The pondering is a revival for the discerning heart, just as the walker walks in the darkness with the light with good organisation and little stalling’.36

35 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَبْدِ الله الْبَزَّازِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي حَدِيثٍ طَوِيلٍ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ الامُورِ وَمَبْدَأَهَا وَقُوَّتَهَا وَعِمَارَتَهَا الَّتِي لا يُنْتَفَعُ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ إِلا بِهِ الْعَقْلُ الَّذِي جَعَلَهُ الله زِينَةً لِخَلْقِهِ وَنُوراً لَهُمْ فَبِالْعَقْلِ عَرَفَ الْعِبَادُ خَالِقَهُمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ مَخْلُوقُونَ وَأَنَّهُ الْمُدَبِّرُ لَهُمْ وَأَنَّهُمُ الْمُدَبَّرُونَ وَأَنَّهُ الْبَاقِي وَهُمُ الْفَانُونَ وَاسْتَدَلُّوا بِعُقُولِهِمْ عَلَى مَا رَأَوْا مِنْ خَلْقِهِ مِنْ سَمَائِهِ وَأَرْضِهِ وَشَمْسِهِ وَقَمَرِهِ وَلَيْلِهِ وَنَهَارِهِ وَبِأَنَّ لَهُ وَلَهُمْ خَالِقاً وَمُدَبِّراً لَمْ يَزَلْ وَلا يَزُولُ وَعَرَفُوا بِهِ الْحَسَنَ مِنَ الْقَبِيحِ وَأَنَّ الظُّلْمَةَ فِي الْجَهْلِ وَأَنَّ النُّورَ فِي الْعِلْمِ فَهَذَا مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلَيْهِ الْعَقْلُ قِيلَ لَهُ فَهَلْ يَكْتَفِي الْعِبَادُ بِالْعَقْلِ دُونَ غَيْرِهِ قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَاقِلَ لِدَلالَةِ عَقْلِهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَهُ الله قِوَامَهُ وَزِينَتَهُ وَهِدَايَتَهُ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الله هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ رَبُّهُ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لِخَالِقِهِ مَحَبَّةً وَأَنَّ لَهُ كَرَاهِيَةً وَأَنَّ لَهُ طَاعَةً وَأَنَّ لَهُ مَعْصِيَةً فَلَمْ يَجِدْ عَقْلَهُ يَدُلُّهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّهُ لا يُوصَلُ إِلَيْهِ إِلا بِالْعِلْمِ وَطَلَبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ لا يَنْتَفِعُ بِعَقْلِهِ إِنْ لَمْ يُصِبْ ذَلِكَ بِعِلْمِهِ فَوَجَبَ عَلَى الْعَاقِلِ طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ وَالادَبِ الَّذِي لا قِوَامَ لَهُ إِلا بِهِ

35. A number of our companions, from Abdullah Al Bazzaz, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Hammad, from Al Hassan Bin Ammar,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws , in a lengthy Hadeeth: ‘The first of the matters, and its beginning, and its strengthening, and its building, which nothing is of benefit except with it, is the intellect, which Allahazwj Made it to be an adornment for Hisazwj creatures, and a light for them.

Thus, it is by the intellect that the servants recognise their Creator and that they are the created beings, and that Heazwj is the Regulator for them and that they are the regulated ones, and that Heazwj is the Eternal Being and there are the perishable beings, and they are indicated by their intellects upon what they are seeing from Hisazwj Creation, from Hisazwj sky, and Hisazwj earth, and Hisazwj sun, and Hisazwj moon, and Hisazwj night, and Hisazwj day, and that from him, and for them, there is a Creator and a Regulator, who has neither cease to be and will never cease to be. And they are recognising by it, the good from the ugly, and the darkness in the ignorance and the light in the knowledge. So this is what the intellect indicates them upon.

It was said to himasws , ‘So would the servants suffice themselves with the intellect besides other (things)?’ Heasws said: ‘The intellectual, due to the indication of his intellect which Allahazwj has Made it to be his straightener, and his adornment, and his guidance, knows that Allahazwj is Heazwj Who is the Truth and that Heazwj is his Lordazwj; and he knows that for his Creator there is Love and that for Himazwj is Dislikes, and that for Himazwj is obedience and that for him there is disobedience.

So he would not find (except) for his intellect to indicate him upon that, and know that he cannot arrive to Himazwj except by the knowledge and its seeking, and that he would not benefit by his intellect if he does not attain that with his knowledge. Thus it is Obligatory upon the intellectual that he seeks the knowledge and the discipline which there is no foundation for him except by it’.37

36 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ حُمْرَانَ وَصَفْوَانَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ الْجَمَّالِ قَالا سَمِعْنَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لا غِنَى أَخْصَبُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ وَلا فَقْرَ أَحَطُّ مِنَ الْحُمْقِ وَلا اسْتِظْهَارَ فِي أَمْرٍ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْمَشُورَةِ فِيهِ

36. Ali Bin Muhammad, from one of his companions, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Al Nazar Bin Suweyd, from Humran and Safwan Bin Mihran Al Jammal who both said,

‘We both heard Abu Abdullahasws saying: ‘There is no richness more enriching than the intellect, nor a poverty more abasing than the stupidity, nor anything more backing in a matter than the frequency of the consultation with regards to it’.

وَ هذَا آخِرُ كِتَابِ الْعَقْلِ وَالْجَهْلِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ وَحْدَهُ، وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ، وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيماً

And this is the end of the Book of Intellect and Ignorance, and the Praise is for Allahazwj Alone, and may Allahazwj Send Salawat upon Muhammadsaww and the Progenyasws of Muhammadsaww .