Al-Husayn ibn Ishaq al-Asbahani narrated to us in al-Karaj, who said: Muhammad ibn Ali al-Tahi narrated to us, who said: Amr ibn Uthman al-Khazzaz al-Harani narrated to us, who said: Mufaddal ibn Salih narrated from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
"When Allah sent Adam down from Paradise, Jibreel (Gabriel) came to him and said: 'I have been commanded to offer you a choice between three things, so choose one and leave the other two.' Adam asked, 'What are the three?' Jibreel replied, 'Modesty, religion, and intellect.' Adam said, 'I choose intellect.' Jibreel then said to modesty and religion, 'Leave him and depart.' But they replied, 'We have been commanded to stay with intellect wherever it is.' Then Jibreel ascended and said, 'It is up to you now.'"
Abu Hatim said:
"Whoever has a sound intellect but an unattractive appearance, his virtues will compensate for the flaws of his appearance. However, whoever has a handsome face but lacks intellect, the deficiencies of his character will overshadow the beauty of his appearance. Therefore, an intelligent person should not grieve if he is impoverished, for there is hope for the intelligent to attain wealth. But one cannot trust that a wealthy fool will retain his riches. The wealth of an intelligent person lies in his intellect and the good deeds he has sent forth.
The flaws of intellect are arrogance, destructive trials, and excessive ease. When calamities repeatedly afflict a person, they may destroy his intellect, and when ease becomes excessive, it may lead to recklessness. A wise enemy is better for a person than a foolish and ignorant friend."
Ali ibn Muhammad al-Bassami recited to me:
"Your wise enemy preserves you more than an ignorant, foolish, and affectionate friend.
A person of intellect acts with grace in all matters
And strives for what is most beneficial and kind."
Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Qutaybah narrated to us in Asqalan, who said: Ibn Abi al-Sarri narrated to us, who said: Dawood ibn al-Jarrah and Damrah ibn Rabi’ah narrated from Khulayd ibn Da’lij, who said: I heard Mu’awiyah ibn Qurrah say:
"People perform Hajj and Umrah, they strive in Jihad, they pray, and they fast, but they will only be rewarded on the Day of Judgment in proportion to their intellect."
I heard Muhammad ibn Mahmoud ibn ‘Adi al-Nasai say: I heard Ali ibn Khushram say: I heard Hafs ibn Humayd al-Akkaf say:
"An intelligent person is not cheated, and a pious person is not deceived."
Abu Hatim said:
"This is a comprehensive statement, encompassing various meanings. Just as striving without divine assistance is of no benefit, beauty without charm is of no use, and joy without security is incomplete, so too intellect is of no benefit without piety, and memorization is of no use without practice. Just as joy follows security and kinship follows affection, so too all virtues follow intellect.
The intellect of each people is in accordance with the era they live in. An intelligent person chooses the best quality of life, even if it is brief, for it is better than a long life filled with hardship. Intellect that is well-cultivated but not utilized is like fertile land left desolate.
An intelligent person does not initiate speech unless asked, does not argue excessively unless met with receptiveness, and does not hasten to respond without deliberation.
An intelligent person does not belittle anyone, for whoever belittles the ruler corrupts his worldly affairs, whoever belittles the pious destroys his religion, whoever belittles his brothers loses his sense of virtue, and whoever belittles the common folk forfeits his dignity.
An intelligent person is not blind to his own faults, for if one is unaware of his own flaws, he will also be unaware of the virtues of others. Indeed, one of the worst punishments for a person is being oblivious to his own flaws, for one who does not recognize his flaws will not abandon them, nor will he recognize the merits of others to emulate them. How beneficial are experiences for beginners!"
Al-Muntasir ibn Bilal ibn al-Muntasir al-Ansari recited to me:
"Do you not see that intellect is an adornment for its possessor,
And that the perfection of intellect lies in extensive experience?
The wise have been admonished by the passage of time,
And they gain more wisdom with the passing days."
Culled and verified by Aboo Aamir
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