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Violence consists of use of furious and destructive force either in word or action, and is one of the consequences of anger. Its opposite is the virtue of gentleness, which is a product of patience. Addressing the Prophet (S), the Holy Quran says in ...

Violence consists of use of furious and destructiv...

Anger is one of the conditions of the soul, and possesses three states. a. The state of excess, which is defined as what would put one outside the bounds of religion and its laws. b. The state of deficiency, which is defined as the state in which one...

Anger is one of the conditions of the soul, and po...

This is a condition which arises when an individual harbours distrust and cynicism in regard to God, His creatures, and their works, interpreting everything in a negative manner. It is also a consequence of cowardice and product of an inferiority com...

This is a condition which arises when an individua...

It is a state which impels someone to abrupt decision and action without due thought. This condition is also a consequence of weakness of character and an inferiority complex. Its opposite is the virtue of thoughtfulness in action and speech. The out...

It is a state which impels someone to abrupt decis...

This vice consists of a lack of enough attention and failure to take care of matters which need attention and care, such as faith, honour, children, and property. This vice is caused by weakness of character and an inferiority complex. Its opposite i...

This vice consists of a lack of enough attention a...

It means a feeling of inferiority which results in not making an effort to reach the heights of perfection open to the human being, and being content with lower and rudimentary attainments. This is one of the consequences of self-depreciation. Its op...

It means a feeling of inferiority which results in...

This vice, caused by cowardice, is a condition that results when an individual lacking courage to interfere positively in important matters fails to carry out his social responsibilities such as persuading others to perform righteous action and forbi...

This vice, caused by cowardice, is a condition tha...

Fear is an uneasy expectation that something unpleasant might happen. For example, one may be afraid of boarding a ship or sleeping all alone in a house. It is clear that there is a difference between cowardice and fear. Fear is of two kinds. Firstly...

Fear is an uneasy expectation that something unple...

Slyness is another vice belonging to the Power of Intellect, and appears through the agency of satanic and evil wishes of the Power of Passion and Anger. Slyness and trickery is defined as conscious plotting against others and drawing of elaborate an...

Slyness is another vice belonging to the Power of ...

Whatever enters the human consciousness is either through the agency of the angels of mercy or the devil. If it is godly, it is called inspiration (ilham), and if it is caused by the devil, it is called temptation (waswasa). The human soul is a battl...

Whatever enters the human consciousness is either ...

Shirk is another serious disease of the soul, and is a branch of ignorance. It lies in believing that other forces besides God have a role in directing the affairs of the world. If one worships these forces, it is called shirk ibadi (polytheism in wo...

Shirk is another serious disease of the soul, and ...

1. Ilm al-Yaqin : Which is certain and permanent conviction. It is like the conviction of a man who when he sees smoke believes with certainty that there must be a fire too. 2. Ayn al-yaqin: Which is beholding something with-either the outer or the i...

1. Ilm al-Yaqin : Which is certain and permanent c...

There are certain signs associated with the state of certainty against which anyone can measure himself to determine his own degree of conviction. These signs are: 1. Reliance on God in all one's affairs, and having mind only for His good pleasure. T...

There are certain signs associated with the state ...

Another disease which may afflict the Power of the Intellect is the vice of doubt and perplexity, which makes man incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. This disease is usually caused by appearance of numerous contradictory pieces of evidence,...

Another disease which may afflict the Power of the...

Compound ignorance is, as explained before, the kind of ignorance in which one does not know and is, moreover, unaware of the fact that he doesn't. This is a fatal disease the cure of which is extremely difficult. This is because the compound ignoran...

Compound ignorance is, as explained before, the ki...

Knowledge and Wisdom: This condition is situated between the two extremes of slyness' and simple ignorance'. Undoubtedly, knowledge and wisdom are two of the sublimest qualities that man can possess, just as they are the most important and noblest of...

Knowledge and Wisdom: This condition is situated b...

Simple Ignorance: This disease is caused by a deficiency of the Power of Intellect in the individual, and is said to exist when the individual lacks knowledge and learning, but is aware of his ignorance. This is in contrast to compound ignorance'-a s...

Simple Ignorance: This disease is caused by a defi...

Slyness: It is one of the vices of the Power of Intellect in its condition of excess or extremity. When afflicted with this disease, the human intellect is so immersed in meticulous examination and analysis that it loses temperance. In other words, t...

Slyness: It is one of the vices of the Power of In...

At the end of this section, the conclusion that we draw is that justice means the complete mastery of the intellect overall other faculties and powers of the human soul, so that all are employed towards the ultimate goal of human perfection and the e...

At the end of this section, the conclusion that we...

Justice is of three kinds: 1. The justice between the human being and God; that is, the penalties and rewards which God bestows on man in relation to his acts and deeds. In other words, for whatever acts he commits, whether good or evil, an appropria...

Justice is of three kinds: 1. The justice between ...

Now that we have recounted all the virtues and vices, it is necessary to gain an understanding of the true significance of the quality of justice, since all ethical virtues originate from this quality just as all vices emanate from injustice, which i...

Now that we have recounted all the virtues and vic...