The Danger of Relying upon One’s Intelligence

Imām Ibn Taimiyyah, may Allāh have mercy on him, said:

A man might be from the most intelligent of people and [from] the sharpest of them in being able to think through [things], and [yet Allāh] makes him blind to the most obvious of things; and he might be from the most unintelligent of people and [from] the weakest of them in being able to think through [things], and [yet Allāh] guides him to the truth in matters about which [people] have differed. So there is no changing any situation and no ability to do so except as He wills and ordains.

So whoever relies on his ability to think things through, make analogous deductions, his understanding, or his knowledge, will be left to go astray. It’s because of this the Prophet ﷺ would so often say: “O You who turns hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.”

Darʾu Taʿāruḍ Al-ʿAql wa-l-Naql, vol. 9, p. 34.