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Scientists, mathematicians and academic achievers in general are among those labeled as intelligent. They have the mental capacity to understand, retain, and update their knowledge continuously and at speedy rates. Many professions demand the ability to quickly develop sound thoughts and judgments in order to come up with productive strategies. Others require the readiness of both comprehension and reasoning to interact with the public. Those who can meet these standards are described as intelligent, “smart” or “winners”—they earn high positions in all divisions, and most of the time they achieve a high-end life style. There is no question about their high IQ level. We are impressed by their mental capacities in solving problems and coping with the daily advancements in science and technology.
It is conclusive that among the features of intelligence is the continued desire to attain new knowledge. The abilities to reason with rationality, judge with sharp vision, and choose with wisdom are also manifestations of intelligence. Being intellectual might also be featured with intelligence and it is expressed as the interest or the taste for more difficult or abstract concepts and the capacity to grasp these concepts.
In the light of Quran, we get more guidance in regard to intelligence and those who are blessed with it. Quran adds a sophisticated framework and necessary confines for intelligence to be considered a real one. It teaches us about the super-human intelligence behind our perfect creation and everything around us, seen and unseen. Quran also emphasizes the importance of using our brains to observe, process knowledge, reflect, take heed, reason based on facts, and decide with wisdom and intelligence. We are commanded to make use of this divine gift within us to study Quran and rationally analyze its data (47:24, 4:82).
Intelligence and all related features are praised and counted among God’s blessings in Quran, but they are validated within specific boundaries.
Within Quran, we encounter a logical explanation of the origin and purpose of life, and how we are exposed to two opposite sets of views to choose from. Along with that, there is a detailed presentation of the consequences of each choice using constant examples, accurate reminders from the past, and profound signs and scientific proofs. Once our God-given mental power is appropriately geared to examine and analyze this knowledge, all the puzzle pieces come perfectly together. We recognize God’s authority behind the whole creation; we find God and we comprehend the reason behind our existence from beginning to end. We reach an intelligent realization that we are here only to worship God alone, and save, grow, and free our souls. It becomes evident that the thoughts and actions that lead to the righteous behavioral pattern or life style prescribed in Quran would eventually spare our souls and dictate our eternal peace and dignity. This is when we find the real intelligent thoughts and actions. We become certain about returning to God and we start to take His systems, promises, and oaths seriously. We value His words the way we should. This is a positive use of intelligence according to the Master and the source of all intelligence.
Wasting our mental capacity in making decisions that would jeopardize our salvation and replace eternal peace and dignity with eternal loss and misery is not an intelligent or logical choice. If we fail to comprehend that, our intelligence becomes pointless. It becomes a useless resource that does not benefit the soul.
[23:78] He is the One who granted you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains. Rarely are you appreciative.
[55:3] Creator of the human beings.
[55:4] He taught them how to distinguish.
[17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.
[76:2-3] We created the human from a liquid mixture, from two parents, in order to test him. Thus, we made him a hearer and a seer. We showed him the two paths, then he is either appreciative, or unappreciative.
Out of His infinite mercy and compassion, God made us with the instinct to develop the real intelligence. Every human is born with this instinct (7:172, 30:30).
We are intelligent when we recognize the truth,
[13:19] Is one who recognizes that your Lord’s revelations to you are the truth equal to one who is blind? Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.
[34:6] It is evident to those who are blessed with knowledge that this revelation from your Lord to you is the truth, and that it guides to the path of the Almighty, the Most Praiseworthy.
when we reflect on Quran & take heed,
[38:29] This is a scripture that we sent down to you, that is sacred—perhaps they reflect on its verses. Those who possess intelligence will take heed.
[2:269] He bestows wisdom upon whomever He chooses, and whoever attains wisdom, has attained a great bounty. Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.
when we choose the guidance,
[39:18] They are the ones who examine all words, then follow the best. These are the ones whom God has guided; these are the ones who possess intelligence.
[4:162] As for those among them who are well founded in knowledge, and the believers, they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you. They are observers of the Contact Prayers (Salat), and givers of the obligatory charity (Zakat); they are believers in God and the Last Day. We grant these a great recompense.
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