وَقَالَ (عليه السلام):
Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said:
اعْقِلُوا الْخَبَرَ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُوهُ
When you hear a tradition test it
عَقْلَ رِعَايَةٍ
according to the criterion of intelligence
لَا عَقْلَ رِوَايَةٍ
not that of mere hearing,
فَإِنَّ رُوَاةَ الْعِلْمِ كَثِيرٌ
because relaters of knowledge are numerous
وَ رُعَاتَهُ قَلِيلٌ .
but those who guard it are few.