06/09/2026
As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh,
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ,
TRUE VISION
THE INSIGHT OF THE HEART
بَصِيرَةُ الْقَلْبِ - الرُّؤْيَةُ الْحَقَّةُ
IMAM ʿALI (A.S.):
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ,
«“Vision is not dependent on the eyes, for the eyes may often belie their owners, yet the mind never deceives a man seeking its counsel.”»
قَالَ الإِمَامُ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ):
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ,
«لَيْسَتِ الرَّوِيَّةُ كَالْمُعَايَنَةِ مَعَ الإِبْصَارِ؛ فَقَدْ تَكْذِبُ الْعُيُونُ أَهْلَهَا، وَلَا يَغُشُّ الْعَقْلُ مَنِ اسْتَنْصَحَهُ.»
Reference:
Sharḥ Nahj al-Balāghah li-Ibn Abī al-Ḥadīd, Vol. 19, p. 173.
The wording and reference are also reproduced in Mīzān al-Ḥikmah under the subject of Insight (al-Baṣīrah).
This profound saying teaches us that true vision is far greater than physical eyesight.
Our eyes see what is outwardly apparent: a person's appearance, wealth, status, possessions, circumstances and actions. Yet what the eyes see is not always the complete reality. The eyes can be mistaken, appearances can deceive, and what seems beautiful outwardly may conceal something very different within.
Imam ʿAlī (A.S.) therefore directs us toward something deeper: ʿaql — the intellect, understanding and sound reasoning.
The believer should not merely look; he should reflect.
He should not merely hear; he should understand.
He should not merely observe an event; he should ask:
What is the truth behind it?
What lesson is Allah showing me?
What should I learn from this?
The phrase “the mind never deceives a man seeking its counsel” carries a beautiful lesson. When a person sincerely consults his intellect, reflects carefully, seeks truth and does not allow his desires to control his judgment, his understanding becomes a means of protection.
This is the difference between sight and insight.
A person may possess perfect eyesight yet remain spiritually blind. Convers
