Rumi's Masnavi - Excellently well said the complaisant Prophet, “A mote of intelligence is better for thee than fasting and performing the ritual prayer,”

Excellently well said the complaisant Prophet, “A mote of intelligence is better for thee than fasting and performing the ritual prayer,”

Because thy intelligence is the substance, (whereas) these two (things) are accidents: these two are made obligatory in (the case of persons who possess) the full complement of it, 455

In order that the mirror (intelligence) may have (a bright) lustre; for purity comes to the breast (heart) from piety.

But if the mirror is fundamentally depraved, (only) after a long time does the polisher get it back (to purity);

While (in the case of) the fine mirror, which is (like) a goodly planting-ground, a little polishing is enough for it.

The diversity of intelligences in their nature as originally created; (a doctrine) opposed to (that of) the Mu‘tazilites, who assert that particular (individual) intelligences are originally equal, and that this superiority and diversity is the result of learning and training and experience.

Know well that intelligences differ thus in degree from the earth to the sky.

There is an intelligence like the orb of the sun; there is an intelligence inferior to (the planet) Venus and the meteor. 460

There is an intelligence like a tipsy (flickering) lamp; there is an intelligence like a star of fire,

Because, when the cloud is removed from it, it produces intellects that behold the Light of God.

The particular intelligence has given the (universal) intelligence a bad name: worldly desire has deprived the (worldly) man of his desire (in the world hereafter).