Abu Hamid al-Ghazālī

“ Those who set the best purpose in life may be divided into three groups:
Those who are indifferent to the realities of life are the most common. Those who are wise and live in conformity to nature. Those who are enlightened on the mysteries of Divine affairs, and whose hearts live the secrets of Allah. The first group look at the world which is a fast-fading shadow, and believe that the pleasures in the world are everlasting. Being over-powered by pleasures and receiving impressions of forms by means of appearances, they become worshippers of wealth and power. ”

“ Remember, the human mind, in longing to reach into the original source, works on the one fundamental and common principle of love. All mystics sing the same song of love for the beloved. There may be differences in detail or expression, but in the main principle, all are united as drops of one ocean or fingers of one hand. ”

“ The truly enlightened are those belonging to the third group and are they who care nothing for this world or the next, and purge their heats of everything except Allah. They know that the final purpose of man's life is to love and to know, and to be united with the Creator, the Almighty Allah. ”

“ They realize that to be pulled by the strings of desire belongs both to wild beasts and to men, and that they should not yield to the persuasions of the body. They believe that for those desirous of the life in the Hereafter, it is incumbent on them to be indifferent towards the world, and that whosoever desires Allah, it is incumbent on them that they should be indifferent towards the life of the Hereafter. Thus, they should discard their worldly life for the sake of their life in the Hereafter, and discard their life Hereafter for the sake of their Lord. ”

“ If true holiness is true mindedness, that is the best purpose of life, fitting the individual best in all his relationships as a social being. The wise person who would make for himself the best and most out of life will take good care of this purpose and gratify every sense as well in as many ways as he can because the highest happiness exists as the only consolation in the deep and habitual feeling of devotion. ”

“ All are seekers of Allah, and the ways leading to Him from Tus and Baghdad are many, but He is One. If you fail to perform a single religious duty, or sleep soundly at night, or are found guilty of committing a major sin, or if a single man throughout your vast empire is reported to have gone to sleep without food any night, remember the Wrath of Allah will descend upon you and you will have to lament your indifference in such matters for the rest of your days. ”

“ Since I am too poor to give you a suitable gift in reward for your most favored generosity, I invite you to spiritual lights so that you may be able to receive Divine gifts and rid yourself of your physical existence. ”

“ Some worship themselves, others their wealth, some their wives, others their children, others their officers or professions. All these are worshippers of their self and follow its behest. Whereas the real worshipper is one who does not obey the carnal self (nafs) and is always taking it to task. These people subject themselves to the verdict of a balance and discover whether their scale will rise or fall. ”