Abu Ja’far (imam Baqer a.s.) was asked:
‘What is the matter that the people are intellectuals, but they are not knowing?
The imam a.s. replied: Allah -Blessed and High is he-, when He Created
Adam, Made his term to be in front of his eyes, and his hopes to be behind his back. So when he commits an error, his hopes are placed in front of his eyes, and his term to be behind his back. Thus, from then on, they are keeping intellect, but are not knowing’.
Arabic version:
( باب العلة التي من أجلها صار الناس يعقلون ولا يعلمون ) حدثنا أبي رضى عنه قال : حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار ، عن يعقوب بن يزيد ، عن أحمد بن أبي محمد بن أبي نصر ، عن ثعلبة بن ميمون عن معمر بن يحيى ، قال : قلت لأبي جعفر عليه السلام : ما بال الناس يعقلون ولا يعلمون قال : إن الله تبارك وتعالى حين خلق آدم جعل أجله بين عينيه وأمله خلف ظهره ، فلما أصاب الخطيئة حصل أمله بين عينيه وأجله خلف ظهره فمن ثم يعقلون ولا يعلمون .
Source: REASONS FOR THE LAWS- As-Sadooq
‘What is the matter that the people are intellectuals, but they are not knowing?
The imam a.s. replied: Allah -Blessed and High is he-, when He Created
Adam, Made his term to be in front of his eyes, and his hopes to be behind his back. So when he commits an error, his hopes are placed in front of his eyes, and his term to be behind his back. Thus, from then on, they are keeping intellect, but are not knowing’.
Arabic version:
( باب العلة التي من أجلها صار الناس يعقلون ولا يعلمون ) حدثنا أبي رضى عنه قال : حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار ، عن يعقوب بن يزيد ، عن أحمد بن أبي محمد بن أبي نصر ، عن ثعلبة بن ميمون عن معمر بن يحيى ، قال : قلت لأبي جعفر عليه السلام : ما بال الناس يعقلون ولا يعلمون قال : إن الله تبارك وتعالى حين خلق آدم جعل أجله بين عينيه وأمله خلف ظهره ، فلما أصاب الخطيئة حصل أمله بين عينيه وأجله خلف ظهره فمن ثم يعقلون ولا يعلمون .
Source: REASONS FOR THE LAWS- As-Sadooq