Di sana masih terdapat pula setengah-setengah orang yang mahu berbincang mengenai zat syaitan itu sendiri. Adakah ianya jisim yang seni atau bukan ji… - Al-Ghazali

"the Pilgrim of the Way rises first of all to a degree corresponding to that of a star. The effulgence of that star's light appears to him., It is disclosed to him that the entire world beneath adores its influence and the effulgence of its light. And so, because of the very beauty and superbness of the thing, he is made aware of something which cries aloud saying, "This is my Lord?"[1] He passes on; and as he be. comes conscious of the light-degree next above. it, namely, that symbolized by the moon, lo! in the aerial canopy he beholds that star set, to wit, in comparison with its superior; and he saith, "Nought that setteth do I adore!" And so he rises till he arrives at last at the degree symbolized by the sun. This, again, he sees is greater and higher than the former, but nevertheless admits of comparison therewith, in,

[1. See for this whole passage S. 6, 75-8.]

{p. 128}

virtue of a relationship between the two. [31] But to bear relationship to what is imperfect carries with it imperfection-the "setting" of our allegory. And by reason thereof he saith: "I have turned my face unto That Who made the heavens and the earth! I am a true believer, and, not of those who associate other gods with Allah!" Now what is meant to be conveyed by this "THAT WHO" is the vaguest kind of indication, destitute of all relation or comparison. For, were anyone to ask, "What is the symbol comparable with or corresponding to this That?' no answer to the question could be conceived. Now He Who transcends all relations is ALLAH, the ONE REALITY.

ثم لاحظت أحوالي ؛ فإذا أنا منغمس في العلائق ، وقد أحدقت بي من الجوانب ؛ ولاحظت أعمالي – وأحسنها التدريس والتعليم - فإذا أنا فيها مقبل على علوم غير مهمة ولا نافعة في طريق الآخرة.
ثم تفكرت في نيتي في التدريس فإذا هي غير خالصة لوجه الله تعالى ، بل باعثها ومحركها طلب الجاه وانتشار الصيت ؛ فتيقنت أني على شفا جُرُف هار ، وأني قد أشفيت على النار ، إن لم أشتغل بتلافي الأحوال.

"Another dangerous property of worldly things is that they at first appear as mere trifles, but each of these so-called "trifles" branches out into countless ramifications until they swallow up the whole of a man's time and energy. Jesus (on whom be peace!) said, "The lover of the world is like a man drinking sea-water; the more he drinks, the more thirsty he gets, till at last he perishes with thirst unquenched.