The Two Deviations
دو گمراہیاں
قَصَمَ ظَهْرِي رَجُلاَنِ: عَالِمٌ مُتَهَتِّكٌ، وَجَاهِلٌ مُتَنَسِّكٌ.
دو قسم کے آدمیوں نے میری کمر توڑ دی: ایک وہ عالم جو بے باک (بدکردار) ہو، اور دوسرا وہ جاہل جو (بغیر علم کے) عبادت گزار ہو۔
“Two kinds of people have broken my back: a scholar who is shameless (unscrupulous), and an ignorant person who is a devout worshiper.”
Reflections: Imam Ali ؑ uses the expression “broken my back” to describe a heavy burden on the faith. He explains that an **unscrupulous scholar** misleads people by using their knowledge for worldly gain or corruption, while an **ignorant worshiper** creates innovations ($Bid’ah$) because they have zeal without understanding. The first lacks conscience, and the second lacks insight. True Islam thrives when knowledge is paired with piety, and devotion is guided by wisdom.