What can be said in the first part is that ordinary persons...

What can be said in the first part is that ordinary persons are usually influenced by the traditions and ways of others, for although society has no separate entity from the individuals, it is mightier than a single person for it is made up of many individuals. In contrast, geniuses who are endowed with exceptional talents and can distinguish right from wrong, have the courage to break from false traditions and customs.

Some of them have the power to understand the truth in society and put aside the untruth and repair the shortcomings for themselves and not for others. However, some others have the power to correct others. Among them are exceptional people who embark on correcting the whole society and attempt to enliven the truth and bury the untruth and withhold no sacrifice in this regard. Regarding them, one can say that originality belongs to them, for their power exceeds that of society.

In other words, in the present system, originality is stronger than that. If the power of the society is greater than the individual, the originality belongs to him; and if the individual is more powerful than the society, it is he who leaves influence on the society. All these explanations were, in fact, about the geniuses save the prophets and the divine authorities.

The manifestation of prophecy and the rise of esoteric guidance is far greater than the genius of man and basically, one cannot compare them with each other.

“This is Allah’s grace; He shall give it to whom He pleases.” (1) The Almighty chooses these people with certain criteria and assigns them to transmit the holy message: “Allah best knows where to place His message.” (2) Such people are a society in themselves and have the power to change society: “Surely Abraham was a nation.” (3) The study of manners of these great people implies how they could make monotheism echo in the pagan atmosphere of the society and even sometimes, they struggled long for their goal: “And certainly We sent Noah to people, so he remained among them a thousand years save fifty.” (4) Now that these principles are elucidated, it might be said that originality belongs to the individual; for any wise individual leaves, an effect on others and this influence extends to the far stretches of society.