Imam Reza’s Description of A Wise Person
This is according to Hojat-ol-Islam Ali Hemat Benari, head of Al-Mustafa International University’s Islamic Sciences-Humanities Higher Education Center, who in a session on ethics highlighted the characteristics of a wise person.
Following are excerpts from his remarks at the session:
God says in Verse 100 of Surah Yunus: “No one can have faith without the permission of God. God will cast down filth on those who have no understanding.”
Wisdom and intellect are very important issues in the culture of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) and if someone seeks to grow spiritually, he needs first to grow intellectually enough.
There has not been so much emphasis on the intellect in any other religion and any other Islamic school of thought as has been in Shia Islam.
The Holy Quran also highlights the issue of the intellect in many verses, using various words such as Ta’aqul, Tafakkur, Tadabbur, Nazar and Tafaqquh.
Imam Reza (AS) in a Hadith has cited the characteristics of a wise person, and all of these characteristics are spiritual and moral. That is why, according to another Hadith, contemplation for an hour is better than doing (Mustahab or non-obligatory) acts of worship for sixty years.
Imam Reza (AS) said the intellect of a Muslim will not be complete unless there are ten characteristics in him:
- People are hopeful to his kindness and benevolence;
- People feel secure from his enmity and wickedness;
- Even slight kindnesses of people to be considered as important ones by him;
- He may underscore his own kindness and good works;
- Never feels or expresses tired or unhappy upon needs and requests of the people;
- Never, in his whole life, he leaves education and knowledge;
- If he prefers poverty in the way of God, than wealth for himself;
- If he prefers modesty in the ways of God, than pride and arrogance before the God’s enemy.
- If he prefers anonymity than renown and population.
- If he met anyone, he may consider him better and more pious than himself. Since people are two groups: They are either better or more pious than he is, or wicked and worse than him.
If he sees some one worse than himself, he should say to himself that maybe his goodness is secret (in his mind and his heart), and this is a good point for him; which his own goodness is apparent, and this can be a negative point for him. On the other hand, if he met someone better and more pious than himself, he should respect him. If so, his own dignity will increase, and his good name will propagate, and he will get superiority and leadership during his time.
