Evaluating traditions through intelligence, not hearsay

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 98

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 3, Chapter 98

Evaluating traditions through intelligence, not hearsay
1 Ḥadīth
Ḥadīth 118

٩٨. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): اعْقِلُوا الْخَبَرَ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُوهُ عَقْلَ رِعَايَةٍ لَا عَقْلَ رِوَايَةٍ فَإِنَّ رُوَاةَ الْعِلْمِ كَثِيرٌ وَرُعَاتَهُ قَلِيلٌ.

98. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: When you hear a tradition test it according to the criterion of intelligence not that of mere hearing, because relaters of knowledge are numerous but those who guard it are few.