The Army of Intelligence vs. The Army of Ignorance

The following is an excerpt from the most authentic Shia ahadith compilation, Usul (or Kitab) Al-Kafi. Click here for full translated (English) text of parts 1-4.


Kitab Al-Kafi
Part 1- The Book of Inteligence and Ignorance
H 14, Ch. 1, h 14

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Hadid from Suma’a ibn Mihran who has said the following.

"With a gathering of his followers I was in the presence of Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s). A discussion on intelligence and ignorance began to emerge among them. Thereupon Imam abu ‘Abdallah said, "You, first, must recognize intelligence and its army and ignorance and its army only then you would find proper guidance." I then asked, may Allah make my soul of service to you, we only learn what you teach us." The Imam (a.s) said, "Allah, the Glorious, the Majestic created intelligence and it was the first creature of spiritual world on the right side of the Throne from His light. He then told him to move backwards and intelligence moved backwards. He then told him to come forwards. Intelligence came forwards. Allah, the Sacrosanct, the Most High said, "I have created you a great creature and honored you above all others of my creatures. The Imam (a.s) continued, "Allah then created ignorance from a salty dark ocean and told it, "move backwards and did move backwards. He then called it to come forwards but it did not come forwards. He then said to it, ‘Did you shun coming forwards?" He then pronounced it condemned. He then assigned seventy-five armies for intelligence. When ignorance saw all the honors Allah has granted to intelligence it bore hidden animosity towards intelligence and said, "Lord this creature is just like me. You created and honored it and gave it power. But I have no power against it. Give me also likewise armies. The Lord then said, "I will give you also an army but if you would disobey Me I will then expel you and your army from My mercy. Ignorance then said, ‘I agree.’ Allah gave it seventy-five armies and it was out of the army of intelligence.

The Army of Intelligence	The Army of Ignorance
1 Goodness is the minister of Intelligence	Evil is the minister of Ignorance
2 Faith	Disbelief
3 Professing	Refusal
4 Hope	Despair
5 Justice	Injustice
6 Consent	Disapproval
7 Thankfulness	Ungratefulness
8 Expectation	Hopelessness
9 Reliance	Greed
10 Soft-heartedness	Hard-heartedness
11 Mercy	Anger
12 Knowledge	Ignorance
13 Understanding	Foolishness
14 Chastity	Reckless
15 Restraint	Yearning
16 Relenting	Relentless
17 Cautious	Boldness
18 Humbleness	Arrogance
19 Relax	Haste
20 Forbearance	Silliness
21 Quietness	Bluffing
22 Peacefulness	Contempt
23 Acceptance	Doubt
24 Patience	Impatience
25 Forgiving	Revenge
26 Self-reliance	Poverty
27 Remembrance	Forgetfulness
28 Sympathy	Detachment
29 Self-content	Covetousness
30 Munificent	Avaricious
31 Affection	Animosity
32 Loyalty	Infidelity
33 Obedience	Disobedience
34 Subservience	Supremacy
35 Security	Affliction
36 Love	Hatred
37 Truthfulness	Duplicity
38 Truth	Falsehood
39 Trustworthiness	Treachery
40 Sincerity	Distortion
41 Sharp witted	Feeble-mindedness
42 Comprehension	Simple-mindedness
43 Cognizance	Refusal
44 Safekeeping	feel evil satisfaction
45 Security unseen	Intemperance
46 Protective	Unmasking
47 Prayer	Loosing
48 Fasting	Consuming food
49 Hard work	Passivity
50 Hajj	Disregard of covenant
51 Soundness of words	Scandalous
52 Kindness to parents	Rudeness to parents
53 Factual	Braggart
54 Legitimate	Wickedness
55 Guarded	Bedecked
56 Concealment	Hatching
57 Fairness	Taking-sides
58 Peaceable	Rebelliousness
59 Cleanliness	Filthiness
60 Bashfulness	Ill-mannered
61 Impartiality	Aggressive
62 Comfort	Exhaustion
63 Ease	Hardships
64 Blessedness	Lack of blessings
65 Tranquility	Suffering
66 Stability	Aggrandizing
67 Wisdom	Desires
68 Dignity	Meanness
69 Fortunateness	Unfortunateliness
70 Repentance	Persistence
71 Seeking forgiveness	Keeping pride
72 Conservitiveness	Heedlessness
73 Invoking	Withholding
74 Vitality	Lethargic
75 Happiness	Sorrow
Friendliness	Aversion
Generosity	Stinginess

No one other than a prophet or his successor or a true believer the strength of whose faith Allah has already tested can have the whole army of intelligence with all such characteristics. However, some of our followers and friends may acquire some of such characteristics so that they may reach perfection and repulse the army of ignorance and purify themselves from evil. In such case they also will step at the high degree and level of the prophets and the successors of the prophets. This progress can only be made after knowing, with certainty, intelligence and its army and ignorance and its army. May Allah provide us and you the opportunity to obey Him and work to please Him.