One of them said: The likeness of the scholar who does not act upon his science is like the donkey of the mill; it revolves from the beginning of its day to its end, thinking it has crossed a great distance, but when its eyes are uncovered, it looks and finds itself in the very place it was.
God the Almighty said in the right of he who gathered science but did not act upon it nor deal with God through it: {The likeness of those who were charged with the Torah then did not carry it is like the likeness of a donkey carrying books. Wretched is the likeness of the people who denied the signs of God. And God does not guide the wrongdoing people}1. Regarding them, the Sublime says: {And We will proceed to what they have done of deeds and make them as scattered dust}2. It is the way of the brother—may God grant him and us success in word and deed through His obedience and satisfaction—to recognize God with His true recognition. For the Majestic said: {O you who have believed, fear God with His true fear and do not die except while you are Muslims}3. When He knew of their shortcoming regarding His recognition and that they were not worshipping Him with His true worship, He said out of mercy for them: {So fear God as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of God]; it is better for your souls. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful}4. The indication in this command is toward the Recognition of Him and toward the Action through His obedience, for faith is not complete except through action.
(615) Our Master al-Sadiq — exalted be his glory — was asked regarding the meaning of the words of God the Mighty and Sublime: {And whoever disbelieves in the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers}5. He said: "It is the abandonment of action according to its conditions."