Is the statement attributed to our master Ali, "The angel is composed of intellect without desire, and the animal is composed of desire without intellect, and man is composed of both; so if his intellect overcomes his desire, he rises above the angels, and if his desire overcomes his intellect, he descends below the animals," correctly attributed to him? And is the meaning of this statement sound?

The statement mentioned has not been attributed to Ali, may God be pleased with him, in the available sources. Rather, some scholars have ascribed it to Ka'b, and Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah attributed it to Abu Bakr Abd al-Aziz. As for its meaning, it is correct, as many scholars have mentioned it and affirmed it. Its purport is that a human being possesses intellect and desire. Whoever's intellect overcomes their desire rises, and whoever's desire overcomes their intellect falls.