Submission of Intellect and its Excellence

When Allāh created the intellect He gave it the power to speak, then He said to it: draw near, so it drew near, then He said to it: turn back, so it turned back, then He said: by my Power and Majesty I have not created a creature more beloved to me than you, and I have not perfected you except in the one I love, as for me you do I command, and you do I prohibit, and you do I punish and you do I reward.

I heard al-Ridha عليه السلام saying: the friend of every man is his intellect, and his enemy is his ignorance.

I said to Abi al-Hasan عليه السلام: we have a group who have love (towards you) but they are not firm in resolve though they profess this belief (Tashayyu), so he عليه السلام said: these are not those who were admonished by Allāh, when Allāh said: <>(59:2).

I heard Aba Abdillah عليه السلام saying: my companions are the people of discernment and god-consciousness, whoever is not from the people of discernment and god-consciousness then he is not from my companions.

We were with al-Ridha عليه السلام when we began discussing about the intellect and moral virtue, so he said: O Abu Hashim, intellect is a free gift from Allāh while virtue is an effortful acquisition, whoever strives to acquire virtue is able to possess it but whoever strives to acquire intellect he achieves naught by that except further ignorance.

Our companions (the Shias) and intellect were mentioned in his presence, so he عليه السلام said: consideration is not given to a man of religion who has no intellect. I said: may I be made your ransom, from those who claim this affair (Wilaya) there are some who do mean well but do not have that level of intellect, so he said: such people are not the ones addressed by Allāh, verily Allāh created the intellect and said to it: draw near, so it drew near, and said to it: turn back, so it turned back, then He said: by my power and majesty I have not created a thing better than you or more beloved to me than you, by you do I take and by you do I give.