Hadith #7093

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

قَدْ يَضِلُّ العَقْلُ الفَذُّ۔

This can be translated into English as,

At times [relying on] the intellect alone may lead [one] astray.

Let us delve into the meaning of the important words in this Hadith. The word (aql) "عَقْلُ" refers to the intellect or rationality, which is a faculty bestowed upon humans by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). The word (fadh) "فَذُّ" is an adjective that describes the intellect as being sharp, keen, or intelligent.

To understand the beautiful message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. In Surah Al-Hajj, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says, (Quran 30:9)

Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed the earth and built it up more than they have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allah would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.

This verse highlights the importance of not solely relying on intellect and worldly knowledge. The nations before us were highly advanced in terms of power, construction, and intellect, yet they went astray due to their arrogance and rejection of the messengers sent by Allah. Their intellect alone did not guide them towards the truth, as they were blinded by their own desires and arrogance.

Another verse that sheds light on the message of this Hadith is found in Surah Yunus, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says, (Quran 10:15)

And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, 'Bring us a Qur'an other than this or change it.' Say, [O Muhammad], 'It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.'

This verse highlights the importance of adhering to the guidance revealed by Allah and His messengers, rather than relying solely on one's intellect. The disbelievers of that time rejected the Quran and demanded a different scripture, thinking that their intellect alone was sufficient to guide them. However, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized that he could only follow what was revealed to him, and he feared the consequences of disobeying Allah.

From these Quranic verses, we can understand the impactful message of Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith. While intellect is a valuable tool, it is not infallible and can lead one astray if it is not guided by divine revelation and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ).

The intellect alone may be influenced by personal biases, limited knowledge, and the deceptive nature of worldly desires. Therefore, it is crucial for Muslims to seek knowledge from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ) to ensure that their intellect is guided by divine wisdom and truth.

By recognizing the limitations of our intellect and seeking guidance from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ), we can safeguard ourselves from being led astray. We must strive to align our intellect with the divine wisdom and teachings, as they provide us with a comprehensive understanding of the world and our purpose in it.

In conclusion, Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims to not solely rely on their intellect, but to seek guidance from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ). By doing so, we can attain true knowledge and understanding, and protect ourselves from the pitfalls of arrogance, ignorance, and misguidance. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to seek knowledge and guidance from the right sources, and may He protect us from being led astray.