Book 1, Chapter #0


The Book of Intelligence and Ignorance

Ḥadīth #14

:15

14ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (a.s) وَعِنْدَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ فَجَرَى ذِكْرُ الْعَقْلِ وَالْجَهْلِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (a.s) اعْرِفُوا الْعَقْلَ وَجُنْدَهُ وَالْجَهْلَ وَجُنْدَهُ تَهْتَدُوا قَالَ سَمَاعَةُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لا نَعْرِفُ إِلا مَا عَرَّفْتَنَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (a.s) 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 group of our companions narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn Hadeed, from Sama’ah ibn Mehran, who said: "I was with Abu Abdullah (a.s) and a group of his followers were also present. The discussion turned to the topics of intellect and ignorance. Abu Abdullah (a.s) said: 'Recognize intellect and its soldiers, and ignorance and its soldiers, and you will be guided.' Sama’ah said: 'I said, "May I be your ransom, we know only what you have taught us."' Abu Abdullah (a.s) replied: 'Indeed, Allah the Mighty and Majestic created intellect, and it was the first creation among the spiritual beings, on the right side of the Throne, from His light. Then He said to it, "Move back," and it moved back. Then He said to it, "Come forward," and it came forward. Then Allah, blessed and exalted, said: "I created you as a great creation and honored you over all My creations." Then He created ignorance from the dark, salty sea. He said to it, "Move back," and it moved back. Then He said to it, "Come forward," but it did not come forward. He said to it, "Did you act arrogantly?" So He cursed it. Then He made for intellect seventy-five soldiers. When ignorance saw the honor Allah had bestowed upon intellect and what He had given it, it harbored enmity towards it. Ignorance said: "O Lord, this is a creation like me. You created it, honored it, and strengthened it, and I am its opposite. I have no power over it, so give me soldiers like those You have given it." Allah said: "Yes, but if you disobey after that, I will expel you and your soldiers from My mercy." Ignorance said: "I am satisfied." So He gave it seventy-five soldiers.

Among what He gave to intellect from the seventy-five soldiers were: goodness, which is the minister of intellect, and He made its opposite evil, which is the minister of ignorance; faith, and its opposite disbelief; affirmation, and its opposite denial; hope, and its opposite despair; justice, and its opposite injustice; contentment, and its opposite discontent; gratitude, and its opposite ingratitude; greed, and its opposite hopelessness; reliance (on Allah), and its opposite covetousness; compassion, and its opposite hardness; mercy, and its opposite anger; knowledge, and its opposite ignorance; understanding, and its opposite folly; chastity, and its opposite promiscuity; asceticism, and its opposite desire; gentleness, and its opposite coarseness; fear, and its opposite audacity; humility, and its opposite arrogance; deliberation, and its opposite hastiness; forbearance, and its opposite foolishness; silence, and its opposite verbosity; surrender, and its opposite arrogance; acceptance, and its opposite doubt; patience, and its opposite impatience; forgiveness, and its opposite vengeance; wealth, and its opposite poverty; remembrance, and its opposite forgetfulness; preservation, and its opposite neglect; kindness, and its opposite cutting off; contentment, and its opposite greed; sharing, and its opposite withholding; friendship, and its opposite enmity; loyalty, and its opposite betrayal; obedience, and its opposite disobedience; submission, and its opposite insolence; safety, and its opposite affliction; love, and its opposite hatred; truthfulness, and its opposite lying; truth, and its opposite falsehood; trustworthiness, and its opposite treachery; sincerity, and its opposite hypocrisy; discernment, and its opposite dullness; understanding, and its opposite stupidity; recognition, and its opposite denial; diplomacy, and its opposite disclosure; safeguarding the unseen, and its opposite cunning; concealment, and its opposite revelation; prayer, and its opposite neglect; fasting, and its opposite breaking the fast; striving (in Allah's way), and its opposite retreat; pilgrimage, and its opposite breaking the covenant; protection of speech, and its opposite slander; righteousness to parents, and its opposite disobedience; reality, and its opposite ostentation; virtue, and its opposite vice; concealment, and its opposite display; precaution, and its opposite publicity; fairness, and its opposite bias; preparation, and its opposite transgression; cleanliness, and its opposite filthiness; modesty, and its opposite shamelessness; moderation, and its opposite aggression; rest, and its opposite fatigue; ease, and its opposite difficulty; blessing, and its opposite curse; well-being, and its opposite affliction; uprightness, and its opposite excess; wisdom, and its opposite desire; dignity, and its opposite frivolity; happiness, and its opposite misery; repentance, and its opposite insistence (on sin); seeking forgiveness, and its opposite deception; preservation, and its opposite neglect; supplication, and its opposite disdain; activity, and its opposite laziness; joy, and its opposite sadness; unity, and its opposite separation; generosity, and its opposite stinginess.

These qualities from the soldiers of the intellect are not all found together in anyone except in a prophet, or the successor of a prophet, or a believer whose heart Allah has tested for faith. As for the rest of our followers, none of them is free from having some of these soldiers until they are complete and cleansed from the soldiers of ignorance. At that time, they will be in the highest degree with the prophets and successors. This can only be achieved by recognizing intellect and its soldiers and avoiding ignorance and its soldiers. May Allah grant us and you success in obeying Him and seeking His pleasure.'"