Commentary on the Hadith of the Battalions of Intelligence and Ignorance

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Šarḥ-e ḥadiṯ-e jonud-e ʿaql wa jahl (Persian: شرح حدیث جنود عقل و جهل‎ ,Commentary on the Hadith of the army of Intelligence and Ignorance) is a book written by Ruhollah Khomeini,a moral and mysticism book and includes the topics of theoretical mysticism,Islamic philosophy,ethics,explanation of hadiths,anthropology, interpretation,along with moral advice.Khomeini's theological and moral views are clearer in this book and Like his other book "Sharh-e Chehl Hadith",it has a larger audience.

It is a commentary on the Hadith of the army of Intelligence and Ignorance which is a detailed narration of Jafar Sadegh,the sixth Imam of the Shiites.Sheikh Koleini has mentioned it in the first chapter of Kitab al-Kafi.The book has been translated by Seyed Ahmad Fahri and published several times also. Moreover it has been published in Arabic by Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works.

Background

The narrator of this hadith, Sama Ibn Mehran, is quoted as saying that discussion over Intelligence and ignorance happened when he was with Jafar al-Sadiq.“He told us to know Intelligence and its army and ignorance and its army so that you are guided”, Sama Ibn Mehran said.Then Imam Jafar al-Sadiq, at the request of the narrator, explained how the Intelligence and ignorance were created together with their armies (for each of which Jafar al-Sadiq counted 75 divisions).

Context

In this lengthy hadith, Imam describes  intelligence and ignorance as two beings who are in endless battles with each other with their forces. Jaʿfar al-Ṣādeq explains that the  intelligence is the first being that God created from His light.The  intelligence is the pure submission of the truth, it follows the truth and accepts nothing but the truth.when He told it to turn away, it did so; and when He told it to turn toward Him, it did so.Then God exalted  intelligence over all His creations.Then God created ignorance darkness and bitterness and addressed it with the same two commands that he gave to intelligence, but ignorance could not obey, so God cursed it.Seventy-five battalions were accorded to intelligence and ignorance.Then the Imam enumes the seventy-five battalions on two fronts, which in the form of two pairs of opposite characteristics such as justice and injustice, and compassion and anger.

commentaries

This hadith has been studied and explained by some commentators of the hadith.The most important of them are the commentary of Mulla Sadra,the commentary of Molla Saleh Mazandarani and the commentary of Imam Khomeini.

Sharh Usool Kafi

Mulla Sadra in the first volume of the book Sharh Usool Kafi has described about 140 pages of the hadith of the soldiers of intelligence and ignorance.

Sharh al-Kafi al-Usul wa al-Rawdha

Mawla Saleh Mazandarani has examined this hadith in the first volume of Sharh al-Kafi al-Usul wa al-Rawdha.

Interpretation of the Soldiers of Wisdom and Ignorance Hadith

In this book, Imam Khomeini,while quoting the text of the hadith and translating it,explains some of these attributes (soldiers) and includes discussions in the field of Islamic philosophy,mysticism and ethics.

Methodology

Khomeini’s  commentary covers a broad range of topics relating directly or indirectly to the hadith,most of them focusing on questions of spiritual or moral advancement.The author begins by mentioning a version of the hadith of the soldiers of Intelligence and ignorance and then devotes a chapter to explaining it.The book is featured by terminology where the words providing a clear picture of moral qualities are explained.

This work can be characterized as a ethical self-improvement. Less tightly organized than his commentary on the forty hadith, but like it, this work often discusses opposing pairs of conduct and character .Khomeini could not finish this description and hoped to be able to do so in the futur.

See also

• Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist
• Tahrir al-Wasilah
• The Unveiling of Secrets
• The Greatest fight: Combat with the Self
• Alef-Laam Khomeini
• Kashf al-Asrar
• Forty Hadith of Ruhullah Khomeini

References

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