Intellect and Faith

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ذِكْرُ فَضِيلَةِ العَقْلِ مِنْ جِهَةِ الإِسْتِنْبَاطِ

The mention of the virtue of reason from the perspective of inference.

إِنَّمَا تَتَبَيَّنُ فَضِيلَةُ الشَّيْءِ بِثَمَرَتِهِ وَفَائِدَتِهِ

Indeed, the virtue of a thing is demonstrated by its outcome and benefit.

وَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ ثَمَرَةَ العَقْلِ وَفَائِدَتَهُ

And I have come to know the outcome and benefit of reason.

فَإِنَّهُ هُوَ الَّذِي دَلَّ عَلَى الإِلَهِ

For it is reason that guided to God.

وَأَمَرَ بِطَاعَتِهِ وَامْتِثَالِ أَمْرِهِ

And it commanded obedience to Him and adherence to His command.

وَثَبَّتَ مُعْجِزَاتِ الرُّسُلِ

And it confirmed the miracles of the messengers.

وَأَمَرَ بِطَاعَتِهِمْ

And it commanded obedience to them.

وَتَلَمَّحَ الْعَوَاقِبَ

And it foresaw the outcomes.

فَاعْتَبَرَهَا فَرَاقَبَهَا

So it considered them and watched over them.

وَعَمِلَ بِمُقْتَضَى مَصَالِحِهَا

And it acted according to its benefits.

وَقَاوَمَ الْهَوَى

And it resisted desires.

فَرَدَّ غُرَبَهُ

So it repelled its oddities.

وَأَدْرَكَ الأُمُورَ الْغَامِضَةَ

And it grasped the hidden matters.

وَدَبَّرَ عَلَى اسْتِخْدَامِ الْمَخْلُوقَاتِ

And it planned how to employ the creatures.

فَاسْتَخْدَمَهَا

So it utilized them.

وَحَثَّ عَلَى الْفَضَائِلِ

And it encouraged virtues.

وَنَهَى عَنِ الرَّذَائِلِ

And it forbade vices.

وَشَدَّ أَسْرَ الْحَزْمِ

And it strengthened the bond of determination.

وَقَوَّى أَزْرَ الْعَزْمِ

And it strengthened the backing of resolve.

وَاسْتَجْلَبَ مَا يَزِينُ

And it attracted what adorns.

وَنَفَى مَا يَشِينُ

And it removed what tarnishes.

فَإِذَا تُرِكَ وَسُلْطَانُهُ أَسَرَ فُضُولَ الْهَوَى

So when it is left to its authority, it captures the excess of desire.

فَحَصَرَهَا فِي حَبْسِ الْمَنْعِ

So it confined them in the prison of prevention.

وَكَفَى بِهَذِهِ الأَوْصَافِ فَضِيلَةً

And these descriptions are enough to show its virtue.

وَلَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُدَالَّ الْهَوَى عَلَيْهِ

And desire should not prevail over it.

فَإِنَّهُ عَدُوُّهُ

For it is indeed its enemy.

فَيَحُطَّهُ عَنْ رُتْبَتِهِ

So it lowers him from his rank.

وَيَسْتَنْزِلَهُ عَنْ دَرَجَتِهِ

And it brings him down from his position.

وَلَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُجْعَلَ وَهُوَ الْحَاكِمُ عَلَيْهِ مَحْكُومًا

And it is not permissible for him to be made subordinate when he is the ruler over it.

وَلَا أَنْ يَصِيرَ وَهُوَ الزَّمَّامُ مَزْمُومًا

Nor that he becomes led while he is the one who leads.

وَلَا أَنْ يَعُودَ وَهُوَ الْمَتْبُوعُ تَابِعًا

And not that he returns as a follower while he is the leader.

فَمَنْ صَبَرَ عَلَى مَضِيضِ مُشَاوَرَتِهِ

So whoever endures the bitterness of consulting it,

اجْتَنَى حَلاوَةَ الْمُنَى فِي عَوَاقِبِهِ

He will reap the sweetness of desires in its outcomes.