to you are My orders and prohibitions addressed and for you...

to you are My orders and prohibitions addressed and for you are My rewards and retributions reserved.،¦ " A group of our associates (،X) Ahmad ibn Muhammad (،X) (،X) al-Haytham ibn Abi Masr.q an-Nahdi (،X) al-Hƒmusayn ibn Khalid (،X) Is'hƒuaq ibn ،¥Ammar who reports: "I inquired of Imam Abu ،¥Abdillah, ،¥How is it that certain people understand much although I speak to them only a little?

How and why is it that certain people understand, memorise and repeat to me the whole (subject) after I speak a lot. How and why is it that certain other people request me to repeat although I have spoken a lot.،¦ The Imam replied, ،¥The man who understands the whole (subject) after hearing a little is one whose intellect and reason is kneaded along with his gene.

The man who understands, memorises and repeats to you the whole (subject) after your speaking fully over it, is one whose intellect and reason develops in the embryo of his mother. And the man who requests you to repeat the subject for him after hearing you in full, is one whose Reason develops after he is grown up." A group of our associates (،X) Ahmad ibn Muhammad (،X) some (narrators) (rafa،¥ahu) Abu ،¥Abdillah (p.b.u.h.) as saying: "The Messenger of Allah (Muhammad, the prophet - p.b.u.h.a.

h.p.) stated: ،¥Don't pride on a person performing too many prayers and observing too many fasts until and unless you determine what degree of Reason he possesses.،¦" Some of our associates (rafa،¥ahu) (related the following tradition without mentioning the sources quoted from) (،X) Mufadƒudƒual ibn ،¥Umar (،X) Abu ،¥Abdillah (p.b.u.h.) as saying: "O،¦ Mufadƒudƒual! one who has no Reason, secures no success. He who has no knowledge has no Reason.

And he who has understanding is closer to excellence. He who has a quality of forbearance is bound to secure success. Knowledge is a shield (against all evil); truthfulness is an honour; ignorance is a disgrace; understanding is glory; generosity is salvation; good bearing is a magnet of love. One who is a sage of his time cannot be assailed by doubts and confusions. Wisdom and caution demand misapprehensions about others.

(Presuming all persons to be angels runs counter to wisdom and maturity of judgment.) Men of learning ،X the scholars are the divine bounties and are the bridge between people and wisdom. And men of ignorance ،X the rustics are the bridge between the people and miseries.