The Mahdi Times The Mahdi Times Issue #21 August 2014 | Page 24

About Ignorants and The Dissertation
of Imam Ali (a.s)
by Zolfigar Ansary
Bismillah/In the name of God,
As Salaamu Alaykum/Peace be upon you,
Imam Ali (a.s) said,
“The ignorant is one who considers himself knowledgeable about what he is (in
actual fact) ignorant of and he is content with his own opinion. His attachment to
scholars only increases his estrangement (from knowledge) since he is constantly
finding fault with them. He deems invalid the views of those who oppose him and
that which he does not understand he sees as fallacious. If he comes across
something that he does not know, he denies it and falsifies it saying, ‘I have never
heard of this!’ or ‘I do not see it as possible! Or ‘How can it be!’ or ‘Where
is this from?’ This is due to his confidence in his own opinion and the paucity of
his awareness of his own ignorance.
For this reason he is attached to what he sees as beneficial from his own mistaken
opinion, and as a consequence, denies the truth, remains confused in his own
ignorance and too proud to seek knowledge.” - Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 73
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said, “The attributes of the ignorant are that: he answers
before listening, objects before understanding and passes judgment on that which he
does not know.” - A`alam al-Din, no. 303