The importance of Intelligence in Shia narrations – 6
“In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful”
The importance of Intelligence in Shia narrations – 6
H 6, Ch. 1, h 6
Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Hassa’n from Abu Muhammad al-Razi from Sayf ibn ‘Umayra from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from Abu ‘Abdallah (A) who has said the following.
“One who has Intelligence he has a religion also and one who has religion he enters Paradise“[1].
Explanation
What is religion? Religion is a set of action plans that came from God for human perfection, and religion is an innate thing. God says, “We guided him to the way, be he appreciative or unappreciative”[2] (Al-Insan:3). Religion is an innate thing, meaning, all humans share this natural thing. All people know that justice is good. We said many times when a few thieves go and steal something, then they sit down and say: Well, now let’s divide them fairly. So, they know that justice is a good thing and injustice and treachery are bad. There is a book which tells the story of two men, who went to visit places around the world. They went around the world as far as they could go, to different countries and cities, and took many photos. Even TV showed one of them in a show recently. They even went to cannibal tribe islands. They tell a story about their visit to the cannibal tribe forest where they kill their enemies and eat their meat, they keep their heads as a blessing. They said we saw that two people were kicked out from the tribe, a man and a woman. We asked, what is the reason for that? They replied, “This woman used to come sneakily when her husband and children were sleeping and have sex with this young man”. Therefore, we have kicked them out of the tribe to go to the forest to become animal feed or die!! If you notice, even though they were wild people, they knew innately that adultery is a bad thing. Because it is a natural thing. Even animals understand this. Religion is also a natural thing. People know that lying is bad. Amir Al-Mu’minin Ali (A) said, “No ugliness compares to the ugliness of a lie but it overcomes man”.
Religion is a natural thing; Some part of religion is very clear. It is very clear that lying is bad, and people can easily understand this. People understand many religious laws by their nature. Some religious laws require some consideration. For example, Islam says, “Do not drink wine”. (A) said, “There is no evil worse than lying”[3]. For example, people should do some research, to find out what harm wine has, and what is its benefit, until it reaches why Islam says not to drink wine because its harm is more. But some religious laws can no longer be understood except through divine revelation. For example, Why should morning prayer be two rak’ats? This is not something a person can experience and understand. These are related to secrets that are beyond human control. But the principles of religion and the general action plan of religion are human nature. Those which are beyond the reach of man, man understands its essence, he knows that he must worship his creator. But he doesn’t know how this worship is done, why this way, he doesn’t know its details, but he understands its generalities.
Satan is created from fire but humans are created from mud. “He (Satan) said, I am better than he (Adam (A)); You created me from fire, and You created him from mud”[4] (Al-A’raf:12). Anxiety, restlessness, and speed are the properties of fire but instead, “soil” is calm and peaceful. Have you heard people say, Haste is the devil’s work? Because it is made of fire, fire is restless. Non-divine people have that fiery aspect more than the soil aspect. Everything that catches fire is made of clay. So, it has a relationship with the soil. Even bitumen, oil, and gas come out of the soil. So, all things that catch fire have a relationship with the soil. However, Satan’s relationship with the soil is far away. There is also a share of fire in humans. The verse of the Holy Quran says, “He created man from hard clay, like bricks”[5] (Ar-Rahman:14). “Kal-fakhar”[6] in the above verse means the clay that the potter bakes, the potter bakes the mud with fire, which becomes a jar or a cup, so there is a share of fire in human beings. “Wicked” are people who quickly become angry. They quickly grab a knife or insult quickly. It is like a restless fire. But divine people are patient and tolerant, their earthly temperament prevails in them. Until they see something, they do not act quickly, they wait, and think wisely. Do reason and religion allow me to do this? The soil temperament prevails in them rather than the fiery temperament, unlike the wicked who do not stick to anything. We can’t control fire, Wherever it can, it burns. Fire applies its wrath wherever it can.
In Arabic “Aql” (Intellect) is from Aqal. Aqal is a round thing made with palm leaves, which is inserted into the knee of a camel to prevent it from getting up. The camel’s leg is tied. Aql is rooted in Aqal which controls our actions. A person who has “Aql” (intellect) does not go everywhere and does not do everything. He says: Let me see what God’s religion has said here. What does my intellect say here? As we said, intellect and religion are compatible. The one who is not afraid of God has no religion, has no action plan, and can do anything possible. But people do not fear the true divine man (not the one who pretends to be a divine person). Because he knows that this person doesn’t lie, slander, commit suicide, or doesn’t betray anyone’s honor. So, the wise one has religion. He looks at his religious program to see what I am allowed to do. Everything we do here has a divine aspect also. You do a beautiful job, the spiritual side of you has a face: it is a garden, it is a palace, it is milk or a delicious drink. One might sin: the Hereafter side is a snake, a scorpion, hellish prison. Even if we smile, or if we sneak a peek. These are materials for the Hereafter figures. As we entered this world, we see that marriage is like adultery. The action is the same, but the way is different! “Usury” is like business, its profit is the same but its way is different! Things that are so similar. Islam says: You do not know what is bad, what is good, what is on the other side of this action, and what you are doing to yourself. But I show you a path, follow this path, and do not deviate. Safely passing through this path is called Islam.
People who have intellect know that the whole universe is based on justice. So, their work should be based on justice. They are careful not to say anything unwisely! If anyone wants to control all their desires! He should control his speech. Mystics have said that the one who can control his tongue; can control all his desires. And whoever is religious will enter heaven. Dears, religiosity is not about beards, robes, or rosaries (pretend or show off). “Religious” is to not put our foot on the other side of the safe line at all times. Many people pray and follow religious laws but they accept illegal money and they don’t care. We should be real Muslims that see God present.
Muhammad Mahdi Me’marian
All praise is to God to the extent that He deserves it.
[1]– مَنْ كَانَ عَاقِلًا، كَانَ لَهُ دِينٌ، وَ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ دِينٌ، دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
[2]– إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا
[3] -وَ لَا سَوْأَةَ أَسْوَأُ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ
[4] -قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ
[5] -خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ
[6]– كَالْفَخَّارِ