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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ultimate Questions in Philosophy of Religion Chapter 5: Plagues of Knowledge “Truth is a polished house, Capricious is a raised dust, When the dust is raised, Even those endowed with eyesight cannot see.” [Sa'di] In our search for truth, it is vital for us to utilise our tools of knowledge appropriately. If one is searching for an optical phenomenon, you are bound to use the power of eyesight to achieve your goal.

Similarly, to solve a mathematical problem you would use mental and rational tools. Accordingly, in order to discover the spiritual secrets of the world, self-purification is a very primary tool to use. In other worlds, as there are different realms of knowledge from sensory perception to rational and spiritual knowledge, the tools of each realm should be utilized appropriately.

There are however, different kinds of realms, which are able to affect the accuracy and precision of each tool of knowledge that a searcher of knowledge, any knowledge, has to avoid. Such realms are known as “plagues”. An example of a plague is in a situation where a person is colour blind. He is incapable of recognizing different colours and distinguishing them from one another.

Colour blindness is therefore, a plague, which affects his access to the knowledge of various colours which can be taken for granted. Plagues of the Mind 1) Personal Interest The first plague affecting the discovery of truth is known as ‘personal interest'. We sometimes say ‘truth hurts', but why? If man by nature, is in search of the truth, then why can it hurt? The irony is that sometimes truth tastes as sweet as honey and at other times is as bitter as colocynth.

This is exactly what happens when we compromise ourselves in our search for truth. The plague of personal interest creeps in and the result, is treated with satisfaction if it meets personal interest, and as such is accepted as the truth, or is treated as dire falsehood, when not in the person's best personal interest. In this case the person would rather die than face such a truth. A genuine searcher for truth must admit the truth whether it is in his favour or not.

Personal interests can be material benefits, position, tribal or national interests. Sadly, in many instances, even our judgment is affected by personal interest.