The Nature of Knowledge
علم کی حقیقت
الْعِلْمُ عِلْمَانِ: مَطْبُوعٌ وَمَسْمُوعٌ، وَلَا يَنْفَعُ الْمَسْمُوعُ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنِ الْمَطْبُوعُ.
علم دو قسم کا ہوتا ہے: ایک وہ جو فطرت میں رچا بسا ہوتا ہے اور ایک وہ جو صرف سنا سنایا ہوتا ہے۔ اگر فطری علم (موجود) نہ ہو تو سنا سنایا علم بھی فائدہ نہیں دیتا۔
“Knowledge is of two kinds: that which is inherent (natural) and that which is heard (acquired). The heard knowledge is of no use if there is no inherent knowledge.”
Reflections: Imam Ali ؑ identifies the difference between **Wisdom** and **Information**. “Heard knowledge” ($Masmu$) refers to academic learning and data we receive from the outside world. However, “Inherent knowledge” ($Matbu$) is the soul’s natural capacity to reason, distinguish right from wrong, and apply logic. If a person lacks this internal foundation of common sense and spiritual intuition, all the books in the world will not make them truly wise.