To Be Intelligent, Work Hard to be Virtuous

In this post I would like to remind us all of an important issue regarding intelligence (عقل) and virtue (ادب). Both of these terms are loaded with meanings and history. Many books and articles have been written to clarify what these two terms are supposed to denote and connote. When we examine the nature of intelligence, we learn that it is much more than “reason” and it is directly linked to our contemplative and intuitive capacities. It should not be confused with “mind” or “brain.” Similarly, the term “virtue” has been the subject of many studies. “Virtue” does not necessarily imply “moral excellence.” 

Nevertheless, this post is not about describing the true nature and meaning of these terms. This post is meant to serve two purposes. First, it is intended to encourage you, the reader, to study these terms further and realize their depth. Second, it is aimed to present to you the proper way to gain intelligence.

The following tradition is graded good like authentic.

Arabic Text:

عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ قَالَ:

كُنَّا عِنْدَ الرِّضَا ع‏ فَتَذَاكَرْنَا الْعَقْلَ وَ الْأَدَبَ فَقَال‏:

يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ الْعَقْلُ حِبَاءٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ الْأَدَبُ كُلْفَةٌ فَمَنْ تَكَلَّفَ الْأَدَبَ قَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَنْ تَكَلَّفَ الْعَقْلَ لَمْ يَزْدَدْ بِذَلِكَ إِلَّا جَهْلًا.

Farsi Translation:

ابو هاشم گويد: خدمت حضرت رضا عليه السّلام بودم و از عقل و ادب گفتگو ميكرديم حضرت فرمود:

اى ابو هاشم عقل موهبت خدا است و ادب با رنج سختى بدست آيد پس كسى كه در كسب ادب زحمت كشد آن را بدست آرد و كسى كه در كسب عقل رنج برد بر نادانى خويش افزايد.

English Translation:

Ali has narrated from his father from abu Hashim al-Ja‘fari who has said the following:

We were in the presence of Imam al-Rida (pbuh) that a discussion about intelligence and virtue took place and the Imam said:

"O abu Hashim, intelligence is a gift from Allah and virtue has a cost [and must be worked for]. So, whoever works hard to [achieve] virtue, it is decreed upon him, and whoever works hard to [achieve] intelligence will not gain anything except ignorance.”

Source:

Al-Kafi, Volume 1, Page 23, Tradition #18

Here are a few important points to take from this tradition:

Many of us, due to misunderstanding the nature of intelligence, confuse it with reasoning ability, thinking or being knowledgeable or smart. However, these qualities and abilities are different from intelligence in the following way: we can work and practice to strengthen and improve them. For example, reading books, watching documentaries, listening to informative lectures and participating in constructive discussions, help us bolster our reasoning and thinking abilities and increase our knowledge. Nonetheless, none of the aforementioned activities can help us to directly attain intelligence. We may read numerous books yet remain unintelligent.  

Unlike intelligence, we have the opportunity to increase our virtue. What is virtue? Typically, “virtue” is defined as “goodness” or “righteousness” or “moral excellence.” However, a better way to understand “virtue” is by seeing it as a “capacity”: an ability to receive or contain, being susceptible to a given treatment or action, or having the power to receive impressions.

In the context of the above tradition, we can better understand the relationship between virtue and intelligence. In order to receive the gift of intelligence, we must first have the capacity for it. The larger the cup, the more water it can contain. Similarly, the larger our “virtue container”, the more intelligence we are able to receive as a gift from God. God is The Most Merciful, The Most Generous. If we have the capacity for it, we will receive the gift. Likewise, if we work hard to increase our virtue, our virtue will be increased; it will be decreed upon us.

This tradition ends with a warning for the one who does not take heed. The one who pursues intelligence over virtue, will gain only ignorance.  In other words, ironically, striving to be intelligent, makes one ignorant. How must we understand this?

One way to understand it is the following:

If we do not strive for virtue, if we are apathetic and negligent towards virtue, instead of increasing our capacity, we decrease it. We become less virtuous As a result, in the absence of intelligence, ignorance prevails.

Another way to understand the paradox is the following:

If we understand virtue as a capacity to obtain intelligence, vileness can be understood as a capacity to obtain ignorance. There is an inverse relationship between the two containers. As the former decreases in size, the latter increases in size. As we lose the opportunity to gain intelligence, we increase our capacity for ignorance.

There are perhaps other ways to understand the paradox. If you can think of more and better ways to understand it, then please leave a comment and do let me know. I look forward to reading your comments and feedback.

In a nutshell: strive hard to do good deeds, and you’ll be rewarded with intelligence.