10. WHOEVER HARNESSES INTELLECT IS SAFE
I looked into the wisdom of food and drink, clothing and marriage—I came to the realization that since man is created from sources that decay; such as water, dust, fire and air, and his survival is dependent on heat (and humidity that is removed by heat), he must have something to compensate such decay.
Since flesh is only compensated by flesh, the religious law permitted slaughtering of animals to provide nutrition for the better species. And since his body needs clothing, and he has the intellect and ability to manufacture what protects him from cotton and wool, he was not given protection from other than his own skin. This is unlike animals who are unable to cover their own skin, and instead were compensated with feathers, hair and fur.
Moreover, since the death of the human and the animal is inescapable, the desire for copulation was inculcated to produce offspring. The intellect was enticed to pursue such needs, necessitating eating and drinking according to one’s needs, so that one can enjoy his health.
It is calamitous to solely seek the pleasure of food, even when it is without taste by mere gluttony. And such is also the case with clothing and copulation.
It is wise to amass and save money for any unexpected need that may arise, and it is folly to spend money without need. A need may arise that cannot be fulfilled resulting in impacting one’s health or dignity by requesting it from miscreants.
It is also very undesirable to consume oneself in copulation for the pursuit of seeking pleasure, while forgetting that it brings loss of power and, in case of unlawful copulation, punishment.
Therefore, whoever inclined to managing the intellect is safe in this life and the Hereafter. Whoever shuns its advice causes his ruin. Let everyone understand the purpose, wisdom and desire of things.
Whoever does not understand or does not operate according to that measured understanding is as a most ignorant commoner, even if he was a scholar.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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