THE INTELLECT IS LIFE 1

By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful

Transliteration

[Ola-ika AAala hudan min rabbihim waola-ika humu almuflihoona]

Translation

[They are on (true) guidance, from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper]

Allah is merciful. He never leaves the mankind without any guidance. He knows the guidance is
important for the Adam life due to which it can survive in this mortal world and in everlasting
hereafter life. Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala has given us the guidance in the form of intellect. It is
a special capability and capacity of our brain to think. We can build up our mental capacity too.
This capacity of our brain is our guidance. Otherwise there would have been no concept of
Adam. The mankind has always ever been kept under the impact of intellect (the guidance)
which is the blessing of Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala. That in the first place a servant is the one
who is supposed to make an effort to find guidance from Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala. And that’s

why Allah said in other verse [029.069

Waallatheena jahadoo feena lanahdiyannahum subulana] (And (as for) those who strive hard for
Us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways;). Those who put an effort in order to find

Our guidance He says we will give the guidance towards the right path. And He
 THE INTELLECT IS LIFE 2
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

says in other verse [013. 011. inna

Allaha la yughayyiru ma biqawmin hatta yughayyiroo ma bi-anfusihim] (Verily, Allah will not
change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness
themselves by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). Allah will not
change any mention unless they do change themselves. So a servant is required to start an effort.
And then Allah will respond to the effort for the guidance what we want to have from Him. We
should look at Surah about the people of cave. He says

[018. 013. inna Allaha la yughayyiru ma

biqawmin hatta yughayyiroo ma bi-anfusihim]. (We narrate unto thee their story with truth. Lo!
they were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.) This is
very clear verse where from we can understand that Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala bestows
guidance upon them who believe in Him that His control is all over everything in this universe in
lows and highs. So anytime a servant who does efforts to seek the guidance Allah listens to his
call and sends guidance to them. Because Allah created Adam with the power of intellect and
the spirit to seek guidance from Him. Allah automatically puts the guidance in human being.
Allah says that the first thing He created is al-aql – intellect. And He asked aql to come
to Him. And the intellect went to Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala. And then afterwards Allah said to
aql to go back. Allah says I swear by My majesty that

I never created something without any purpose.

Therefore I am not going to make you complete unless I love person.

Through intellect we can get and find the guidance not only from Allah but also from others. So
it is a great blessing of Allah on us to send us with aql. If you look into the Quran you will come
to know that Allah has given very special importance to the intellect.
Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala says that that people who don’t have any intellect they are at

the level of animals. He says [025.044. in hum illa kaal-

anAAami] (They are only like cattle).

hose are animals [025.044. bal hum adallu ]( nay, they are even
farther astray from the Path). And they are worst than animals. Because we gave them intellect
to understand and define our majesty so that they could come to know the right and evident
difference between right and wrong things. So if they don’t use the power of intellect then they
are worst than animals. And had We granted intellect to the animals they would have used it.
That’s why Allah always wants us to use the intellect all the time in our daily life affairs and in
understanding the holy Quran. Allah gave us the holy Quran a brightest possible guidance. He
gave us guidance to save the humanity from going on wrong destructive path. So we are
supposed to bring in use the aql. Allah says

[002.005. Ola-ika AAala hudan min rabbihim]

who follow the guidance they get from their Lord. he is the one who gives guidance. In

Arabic we call it we ascribed something to you but it is not complete from you.
 THE INTELLECT IS LIFE 3
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah
Allah says about Pharaoh in the holy Quran

[002.049. yuthabbihoona abnaakum

wayastahyoona nisaakum ]
What he does to kill the children. Pharaoh gave command others to kill. But Allah says he did

all things. Allay says [002.005. hudan min rabbihim ]

He is the one who gives guidance. He sent the prophets and messengers to give us guidance.
And those prophets were guided by Allah. Because without aql without intellect life can not get
the guidance. The prophet and Imam have also been given intellect. They have to guide the
humanity.
Very important thing to know that the five basic pillars of Islam can not be done properly
if we don’t use the intellect. The five pillars are: Iman to believe in Allah; and a man has to
establish prayer; and believe in the Day of Judgment. And the Day of Judgment is the destination

for everybody. Allah says He is the Lord of this world.

He calls Himself Rabb. The word Rabb has very wide meanings in itself. And we seek every
possible guidance from our Rabb- the Lord. Every person of this planet understands that there is
one Allah there is one Rabb. Ask them who made this earth, this heaven, this sky etc. They will
reply that Allah or Rabb made and created them. They also know that the guidance to these
heavenly bodies and entities come from their Rabb. That’s why Allah

said [if you ask a non Muslim that

who created the heaven and earth. They would say they would tell us that Allah

created them. Allah says merciful to entire world. Allah’s mercy is not limited
to the Muslims only but to the entire mankind whatever they have their religion. Irrespective to
their beliefs and religions Allah is also theirs. Even everything and anything, living things and
non-living things He is the Lord of all. Every single creature on this planet seeks guidance from
the prophet. So the prophet is also the prophet for all.
Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala when He talks about the believers He says

[023.001. Qad aflaha almu/minoona]. The believers have

gained the everlasting happiness. Who is happy on this planet? There are different views of
different people. Some say wealth is the source of happiness. Some say the beauty is the source
of happiness. Some say that children are the source of happiness. Some say that a lot of wives is
the source their happiness. Some say the clothes are the source of happiness. Allah gives you a
way and a plan to get the everlasting happiness in this life and in hereafter life.
Allah says the Taqwa is the source of everlasting happiness here and in after death life.
You would also be happy on the Day of Judgment. This is the best happiness to have the Taqwa.

Allah says [002.005. waola-ika humu almuflihoona]

. So if you don’t have these things what Allah has mentioned you will not get your share in the
happiness. If you have the whole world and universe in your control but if you lack the Taqwa,
you have nothing in your hand.
 THE INTELLECT IS LIFE 4
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah
Believe in System of salat and zakat. Believe in the Day of Judgment. Believe in Iman
BilGhaib. Believe in Malaika and believe in what Allah sent on His prophet.

Further will be discussed in next lecture Inshallah!