The importance of Intelligence in Shia narrations – 11

Last updated Oct 29, 2022

“In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful”

The importance of Intelligence in Shia narrations – 11

H 11, Ch. 1, h 11

A number of our people have narrated Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from certain persons of his people in a marfu manner from the Holy Prophet (S), who has said the following.

“Allah has not distributed anything among people more excellent than intelligence. Sleeping of a person of intelligence is better than worshipping of an ignorant person for the whole night. Staying of a person of intelligence at home is better than the journeying of an ignorant person in search of success and good deeds. Allah did not send any prophet or messenger before the completion of his intelligence and to let it become better than the intelligence of all of his followers. Whatever a prophet preserves in his soul is better than the achievement of all the striving people for virtue and good deeds. People would not fulfill their obligations to Allah without having an understanding of Him. All the worshippers will not be able to achieve with the virtue of their worships what a person of intelligence achieves. The people of intelligence are considered people of proper understanding in chapter 2:269 of the holy Quran, “Only People of understanding realize this.”[1]

Explanation

Prophet said, “A wise person sleeping is better than an ignorant one.” Why? Because the wise man has sacred journeys while he is sleeping. In his sleep, he has divine intuitions and visions, But ignorant people are busy with themselves even when they are awake. Prophet also said, “Staying of a person of intelligence at home is better than the journeying of an ignorant person in search of success and good deeds” why is that? In one interpretation, we have three levels of heaven and hell for human beings; 1- Level of action: This level has a heaven and a hell, and it is related to our actions. 2- Level of Malakih (acquired attributes and traits): It is related to morality, and good ethics, such as generosity, courage, justice, and purity. This level is higher than actions; there is heaven and hell that are higher than heaven and hell of actions. 3- Level of beliefs: It is the same as the intellect that we are discussing here. This level is higher than the level of actions and attributes. Therefore, the one who is a person of intelligence, his sleep is better than the wakefulness of the one who is ignorant because his horizon is different.

Another point is that Prophets are better than others because their intellect is more perfect. The intellect of a Prophet is higher than the intellect of others. Whatever a prophet preserves in his soul is better than the achievement of all the striving people for virtue and good deeds. For example, we have in the narration that the blow that Ali struck on the day of the “Khaybar” was better than the worship of Jinns and humans. If it was better because of the blow, others also strike. Ali’s strike is better because of what is inside him. What is this inside the prophet? Let’s explain something significant. There is a veil between this world and the Hereafter. Ordinary people are in this world and pass through this veil after death; they will be transferred to the Hereafter. The rules of the Hereafter are different than here. But some people are promoted from worldly life; they become close to the veil between this world and the hereafter. Therefore, they receive a series of divine intuitions, visions, inspirations, or revelations while they are awake or in dreams. The level of divine intuitions depends on their closeness to the veil. But the Guardians of God are very different; the veil has been removed between this world and the hereafter. Angels are already present. The spirits are already present for them. The cover of time and space has been removed for them. For example, the soul of Prophet Ibrahim (A) is present for them. They do not need to see Prophet Noah (A) in a dream. The past and the future are present before them. The guardians of God are present everywhere in this world. This is why we call the Imam of our time (Imam Mahdi (AJ)), and we believe he hears. The veil of the world and the hereafter has been removed for him. Think deeply about this subject. People pray for closeness, but he is the same as closeness. Prayer is a means of reaching closeness; Imam is closeness himself. That is why what is inside the Messenger of God is better than the worship of worshipers. So, these people cannot be compared to the prophet at all.

Delighted are those who are close to the Imam of their time, happy are those whom the Imam of their time is pleased with and cheerful are those whose names the Imam of the time smiles upon hearing. God may bless us with a smile of Imam’s satisfaction in this world and the hereafter.

Muhammad Mahdi Me’marian

All praise is to God to the extent that He deserves it.

Tag: Allah, God, Lord, Prophet Muhammad (S), Amir Al-Mu’minin Ali (A), Imam Sadiq (A), Imam Mahdi (AJ), Intellect, Knowledge.

[1] -عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَهُ، قَالَ:

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «مَا قَسَمَ اللَّهُ لِلْعِبَادِ شَيْئاً أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ؛ فَنَوْمُ الْعَاقِلِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سَهَرِ الْجَاهِلِ‏، وَ إِقَامَةُ الْعَاقِلِ أَفْضَلُ‏مِنْ شُخُوصِ الْجَاهِلِ، وَ لَا بَعَثَ اللَّه نَبِيّاً وَ لَا رَسُولًا حَتّى‏ يَسْتَكْمِلَ الْعَقْلَ، وَ يَكُونَ عَقْلُهُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ عُقُولِ جَمِيعِ أُمَّتِهِ، وَ مَا يُضْمِرُ النَّبِيُّ فِي نَفْسِهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنِ اجْتِهَادِ الْمُجْتَهِدِينَ، وَ مَا أَدَّى الْعَبْدُ فَرَائِضَ اللَّهِ حَتّى‏ عَقَلَ عَنْهُ‏، وَ لا بَلَغَ جَمِيعُ الْعَابِدِينَ فِي فَضْلِ عِبَادَتِهِمْ مَا بَلَغَ الْعَاقِلُ، وَ الْعُقَلاءُ هُمْ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالى‏: «وَمَا يذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ»(البقرة/269)، (آل عمران/7).