as Allah Almighty has said: ﴿أُولَئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ﴾[1]; “They are like cattle, but even more astray. They are indeed the heedless.”

Considering this fact, the only thing that can be a criterion for human knowledge is “the intellect”; because the intellect is the only instrument for human knowledge, and there is no other perceptive faculty in his self. In other words, there is no substitute for the intellect at its level that can suffice for it, and this is a matter that is both perceptible and intuitively understood. Furthermore, human knowledge is practically achieved through the intellect, and neither his satisfaction nor his dislike has any effect on this reality; because this reality is the inherent characteristic of the human being and the creation of the Wise Lord, and therefore, it cannot be changed by the human being. Based on this, the intellect is the first and primary foundation of knowing, and any knowledge that does not directly or indirectly reach the intellect is meaningless. Other foundations, if they exist, return to the intellect; because they are not known except through the intellect and have no efficacy except for intellectuals. Similarly, Sharia, although very beneficial, is known through the intellect and addresses only intellectuals. For example, it has stated: ﴿فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾[2]; “Fear Allah, O you possessors of intellects, so that you may be saved,” and: ﴿إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ﴾[3]; “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the Earth and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for the possessors of intellects,” and: ﴿إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ﴾[4]; “Only the possessors of intellects take heed.”

The Unity of the Intellect

The intellect is a unique gem shared among the children of Adam. It represents the foundation of their individual free will and social responsibility, as well as a link for their communication with each other, and since it has one origin, it has unified perceptions, and there is no difference among its individuals.