Volume 1 of 8

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Part One

The Book of Intelligence and Ignorance Chapter One

Chapter One

Hadith 1, Chapter 1, hadith 1

(The Bearers of this Hadith in consecutive order):

Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ya’qub has narrated from a number of our people of whom one is Muhammad ibn Yahya al-‘Attar who narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja’far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following:

(The Text of this Hadith):

“When Allah created Intelligence He induced it to speak and said, ‘Come forward.’ Intelligence then did come forward. He then said, ‘Go back.’ Intelligence then did go back. Thereupon Allah said, ‘I swear by My Honor and Glory that I have not created any creature more beloved to Me than you. I will not perfect you in anyone except those whom I love. I, however, will command only you to do (certain) things and prohibit only you from committing certain others. I will grant blessings (rewards) to you only and will hold only you responsible for the consequences (of your acts).’”

H 2, Ch. 1, h 2

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad, from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman, from Mufaddal Ali ibn Salih from Sa‘d ibn Tarif from Asbagh ibn Nubatah, from (Imam) Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following:

“Once Jibril (Gabriel) came to Adam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, and said, ‘I am ordered to offer you three choices. You may choose one and leave the other two.’ Adam then asked, ‘What are those three things?’ Gabriel replied, ‘They are Intelligence, Bashfulness and Religion.’

Adam then said, ‘I choose Intelligence.’ Jibril (Gabriel) then asked Bashfulness and Religion to return and leave Intelligence with Adam. They said to Jibril, ‘O Jibril, we are commanded to be with Intelligence wherever it may exist. Jibril then said, ‘It then is up to you.’ He then ascended to heaven.”

H 3, Ch. 1, h 3

Ahmad ibn ‘Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar, from certain persons of our people in a marfu’ manner, who have ascribed it to abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following:

“When I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘what is Intelligence,’ He replied, ‘It is a fact with whose help one worships Allah, the Merciful, and attains paradise.’ I then asked, ‘What was the thing with Mu’awiya?’ ‘It was shrewdness. It was mischief which is similar to Intelligence but is not Intelligence,’ the Imam replied.”

H 4, Ch. 1, h 4

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said the following:

“I heard (Imam) al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant, saying, ‘The friend of a person is his/her intelligence and the enemy of a person is his/her Ignorance.’”

H 5, Ch. 1, h 5

It is narrated from him from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said the following:

“Once, I said to abu al-Hassan, ‘We know certain people who have a great deal of love for Ahl al-Bayt (family of the Holy Prophet), recipient of divine supreme covenant, but they do not have much determination and understanding of the cause of Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority).’ The Imam replied, ‘They are not of the ones that Allah has admonished. What Allah has said is, ‘people of Intelligence and understanding take a lesson.’”

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 ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following:

“One who has Intelligence has religion also and one who has religion enters paradise.”

H 7, Ch. 1, h 7

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Yaqtin from Muhammad ibn Sinan ibn abu al-Jarud from abu Ja‘far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following:

“Allah, on the Day of Judgment, will hold everyone accountable, proportionate to the degree of the Intelligence that He had given them in their worldly life.”

H 8, Ch. 1, h 8

Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Ahmar from Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Daylami his father who has said the following:

“Once I mentioned a certain person’s Intelligence, worship, religion and merits before Imam abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant. The Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, asked, ‘How is his Intelligence?’ I replied, ‘I do not know.’ Then the Imam said, ‘The degree of reward is based on the degree of intelligence. A man of Banu Israel worshipped Allah on an island in the ocean. The island was lush green, with many trees and abundant water. Once an angel passed by the worshipper and asked Allah to show how much reward and blessings the worshipper would receive for his good deeds. Allah showed the rewards due to the worshipper to the angel and the angel considered them to be very little. Allah then told the angel to stay with the worshipper as a companion. The angel then appeared to the worshipper in the form of a human being. The worshipper asked, “Who are you?” “I have heard about your great deeds of worship and your spiritual position at this place and I wish to join you to worship Allah along with you,” the angel replied. He spent that day with the worshipper and the next day the angel said to the worshipper, “Your place is beautiful and it should only be used for worship.” “Yes, it is but it has one defect,” the worshipper responded. “What is that?” the angel inquired. “Our Lord does not have an animal. I wish He had a donkey so we could look after the donkey to graze all the grass around. All this grass is a waste,” the worshipper replied. “Is it true that your Lord does not have any donkeys?” asked the angel. “Had our Lord had a donkey all this grass would not have turned into waste,” the worshipper answered with sadness. Allah then revealed to the angel, “We will reward him according to the degree of his Intelligence.’”

H 9, Ch. 1, h 9

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following:

“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘If you hear good things about a man, you should examine how good his Intelligence is; he will be rewarded according to his Intelligence.’”

H 10, Ch. 1, h 10

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following:

“I mentioned a person, who would overdo acts of his Wudu and prayer, to Imam abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, and added that he is a man of good Intelligence. The Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, then said, ‘What kind of intelligence is it that allows him to obey Satan?’ I then asked the Imam, ‘How would he be considered as obeying Satan?’ The Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said, ‘Ask him wherefrom this thing (overdoing) comes to him. He will certainly say, “It comes from Satan.’”

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, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following:

“Allah has not distributed anything among people more excellent than Intelligence. An Intelligent person’s sleeping is better than an ignorant person’s worshipping for the whole night. An Intelligent person’s staying at home is better than an ignorant person’s journey in search of success and good deeds. Allah did not send any prophet or messenger before the completion of his Intelligence and before allowing it to become greater than the Intelligence of all of his followers. A prophet’s mere thinking is better than the achievement of all the people striving for virtue and good deeds. People do 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 worship what a person of intelligence achieves. It is the people of intelligence who are considered people of proper understanding in chapter 2:269 of the Holy Quran, ‘Only People of understanding realize this.’”

H 12, Ch. 1, h 12

Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Ash‘ari has narrated from certain persons of our people in a marfu’ manner from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following:

“Abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja’far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said to me the following, ‘O Hisham, Allah has given good news to the people of reason (intelligence) and understanding in His book in the following words, “Give the good news to those of My servants who hear certain words but follow only the good words. These are the ones whom Allah has given guidance and they are the people of understanding.” (39:20 Holy Quran)

“O Hisham, it is certain that Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most High, has made Intelligence a criterion for people (to refer to) in discerning right from wrong He supported the messengers with the (ability) to communicate and has guided them to His own Lordship with proofs saying, ‘Your Lord is the only Lord. No one deserves worship except Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.’ (2:163)

“Of the signs of His existence are the creation of the heavens and earth, the alternation of nights and days, the ships that sail in the sea for the benefit of the people. (Also of such signs are) the water that Allah sends from the sky to revive the dead earth where He has scattered all kinds of animals, the winds of all directions and the clouds that are rendered for service between the sky and the earth. Such are evidence (of His existence) for those who use their Intelligence.” (2:164)

“O Hisham, Allah has mentioned the above facts as proof of His existence and that those facts depend upon the will of One Who has designed them saying: ‘Allah has made the day and the night, the sun and the moon, and all the stars subservient to you by His command. In this there is evidence of the truth for people of understanding.’ (16:12)

“It is He Who created you from clay, turning it into a living germ, then into a clot of blood, and then brings you forth as a child. He then makes you grow into manhood and become old. He causes certain ones of you to live for the appointed time and others of you to die before, so that perhaps you may have understanding.” (40:67)

“In the heavens and the earth there is evidence (of the Truth) for the believers (45:3). In your creation and in that of the beasts living on earth there is evidence of the Truth for the people who have strong faith (45:4). In the alternation of the night and the day, the sustenance, which Allah has sent down from the sky to revive the barren earth and in the changing of the direction of the winds there is evidence of the truth for the people of understanding.” (45:5)

“Know that Allah brings the dead earth back to life. We have explained Our revelations to you so that you may perhaps have understanding.” (57:17)

“In the earth there are adjacent pieces of land, vineyards, farms, date palms of single and many roots which are all watered by the same water. We have made some yield a better food than others. All this is evidence (of the existence of Allah) for the people who understand.” (13:4)

“Also, of the evidence of His existence are His showing you lightning, which gives you fear and hope, and His sending water down from the sky, which revives the earth after its death. In this there is evidence (of the truth) for the people of understanding.” (30:24)

“(Muhammad), say, ‘Allow me to tell you about what your Lord has commanded: Do not consider anything equal to Allah; be kind to your parents; do not murder your children out of fear of poverty; We give sustenance to you and to them. Do not even approach indecency either in public or in private. Take not a life, which Allah has made sacred except by way of justice and law. Thus does He command you that you may learn wisdom.” (6:151)

“Allah has told you this parable about yourselves: Could your slaves share your wealth equally with you and could you fear them as you fear yourselves? Thus do We clarify the evidence (of the truth) for the people of understanding.” (30:28).

“O Hisham, Allah then has given good advice to the people of intelligence and has encouraged them to become interested in the life to come. He has said, “The worldly life is but useless amusement and childish playthings (compared to) the life hereafter which is far better and is only for the pious ones. Will you not then understand?” (6:32)

“O Hisham, Allah then has given warnings to those who do not think about the punishment that may come upon them from Allah saying, ‘Then We totally destroyed the others. (37:136) You do pass by (their ruined town) in the morning and at night (37:137) why do you then not understand?’ (37:138)

“We will bring torment from the sky on this town because of the evil deeds of its inhabitants.” (29:34) ‘We left manifest evidence (of the truth) there for the people of understanding.’ (29:35)

“O Hisham, intelligence comes with knowledge. Allah has said, ‘These are parables which We tell to human beings, but only the learned ones understand them.’ (29:43)