Sketches of Fools and Simpletons

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The author starts by mentioning three reasons why he collected the stories of the foolish and simpletons (al-Humqa wal-Mughafileen). Firstly, when an intelligent person hears of their anecdotes, he will thank Allah and appreciate what Allah has blessed him with (intelligence). Secondly, mentioning the foolish makes a knowledgeable person avoid the means of ignorance and thirdly, this is a means of recreation by looking in the lives of those who were mabkhusin in life, for the soul might grow tired of diligence and hard work. 

Giving rest to the hearts is necessary and desired. 

A reminder for all people, regarding the heart was best articulated by Al-Hasan, who said, "These hearts live and die, so when they are alive, prompt them to do the recommended good deeds. When they are dead, prompt them to do the compulsory good deeds."

Regarding any matter in Islam, there should always be a "wasat" (middle ground). An increase in inclination towards an extreme aspect (such as fear or love) should be applied only when trying to balance the scales together. For example, when a person has an inclination towards sin, he must remember the punishment of Allah and his Majesty and Might. If a person is overly fearful of Allah and his punishment, he must remember Allah's mercy and his reward for those who obey him. This is done in order to restore an appropriate balance within a person's heart so that he doesn't become one of the deviants. 

It is said that Al-Zuhri said, 'A man used to sit with the companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and talk with them, when they increased in number and got weary of serious talk, he would say, "The ears are desorbing and the hearts are sore, so bring forth your poetry and stories."

People once described a pious man to Ubayd-Allah ibn Aisha and said, "He is serious all the time," and so he replied, "He has constricted himself. Had he released it by moving from one state of mind to another, he would relieve it and return to seriousness with enthusiasm and (greater) strength." Just as we need heart softeners, we need heart relievers as well. 

In regards to seeking permissible entertainment, scholars allow it as it refreshed their energy in preparing them for more serious matters. From the poetry of Abu Firas,

"I trifle (thing of little value or importance) therein is the

trifling (unimportant or trivial) of the virtuous

and joking sometimes, gives clarity to the intellect"

Telling stories that entices laughter from the people is permissible but as mentioned before, there must be a middle path regarding it. The Prophet himself would laugh until his premolars appeared, yet much laugher is loathed. He, the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Much laughter kills the heart."

Part One: What is foolishness?

Ibn al-Arabi said, "The Arabic word for foolishness is derived from 'marketplace-stagnation,' meaning that this person is or stagnant mind and opinion and he shouldn't be consulted in important affairs like war and battle strategies."

The Arabs would say "more foolish than pigweed." This was because a pigweed would grow in water ways and in the path of camels.

Part Two: Difference between foolishness and insanity

Insanity refers to flaws in both the ends and the means (to the goal). The foolish, on the other hand, aims well but takes a path that is not appropriate (and corrupt). 

The author mentions a parable as an example: A pet bird flew away from a ruler, so he ordered the gates of the city to be closed. 

Part Three: What different people said about foolishness

Abu Ishaq said, "If you come to learn that a rich man became poor, believe it. If you come to know that a poor person become rich, believe it. If you learn that a living person died, believe it - but if you believe that a foolish person became intelligent, do not believe it."

Ali said, "Everybody has some kind of foolishness with which they live with."

Abul-Darda said, "We are all fools in comparison to Allah."

Part Four: The attributes of the fools

▪️Fools disregard the consequences of their actions,

▪️Easily trust whom one doesn't know or even speak to or have ties with.

▪️Having pride,

▪️Talking too much in what doesn't concern him and speaking whatever is on his mind.

▪️Being angry with people for doing what he sometimes does,

▪️Being essentially void of knowledge

▪️Being pleased with false praise,

▪️Being moved by self-flattery, even if he's unworthy of it.

▪️Anger for no reason,

▪️Not giving one's due right,

▪️Blabbing secrets,

▪️Not distinguishing his friend from his foe,

▪️Imagining himself to be the most intelligent. 

Above is a collection of all the attributes mentioned (from different narrations of people).

Part Five: Warning against befriending a fool.

Ali ibn Abi Talib said, "Do not befriend the fool, for he gives you advice and exhausts himself wrongly. Perhaps he wishes to benefit you, but in reality harms you. His silence is better than his speech, his farness is better than his nearness, and his death is better than his life."

Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad said, "People are divided into four kinds:

1. A person who is knowledgeable and is aware that he is knowledgeable, this one is a scholar - so follow him.

2. A person who is knowledgeable but is unaware that he knows (meaning, he forgets) - so remind him.

3. A person who does not know and he is aware that he doesn't know, he is a student - so teach him.

4. Lastly, a person who doesn't know and he is unaware that he doesn't know, he is a fool - so reject him.

Part Six: Stories and sayings from wise people about foolishness. 

Among the people whom the Arabs considered fools is Hamzah ibn Bayd. It is narrated that Hamzah said to his servant, "On which day did we pray that Friday prayer in Rasafah?" The servant thought for a while and then said, "Tuesday."

A person once exclaimed, "How beautiful is the moon!" The banter of Al-Mahdi replied, "Yes, especially at night."

Ibn al-Jasas' servant brought him a young bird and said, "Look at this young bird, how much it resembles it mother!" Then he said, "Is its mother male or female?"

One of the attributes of a fool is being detached from reality. A man once went to his garden and ate Picris (a plant from the sunflower family) and became inflamed. So, he asked the gardener to give him some onion to quell the plant's bitterness. When the gardener replied that he had no onion with him, the man asked him, "Why don't you plant some for us?"

There are many, many more stories about foolish responses from people. Some where actual fools whilst some became fools later on. The first and most elite among them is Iblis (Shaytan). He was a worshipper and a leader for the angels but displayed foolishness and idiocy above all idiots. When he saw that Allah created Prophet Adam from clay, he used his own reasoning to challenge the most perfect and complete wisdom of Allah. He could've stopped at his feelings of envy but went far and beyond to challenge the Creator's challenge. 

This is a summary from the Book by Ibn al-Jawzi, along with some of my own commentary.