Abu Hamid al-Ghazālī

“ Bodies are formed by nature, the world-spirit which through energy is the direct cause of shape, bulk quantity and quality of matter. Nature is the sum-total of all energies in the world and assumes various forms made active by the reflection of the Real. The soul is not in the body but the body is in the soul. Man's real ego is pure, without motion or consciousness of the worldly objects, never separated from its higher self and remains a faded form of the universal Soul. ”

“ The Holy Prophet, praise and peace be upon him said: "By suffering in this world man is exempt from punishment in the next."
I have renounced all pomp and worldly pleasures and have severed my relationship with kings, viziers and amirs. That is why to the best of my power I have enforced good opinions on all occasions upon those subjects which are most important to mankind. ”

“ Each day look into your conscience and mend your faults; if you fail in this duty, you will be untrue to the Knowledge and Reason that are within you. Keep a watchful eye on yourself, as if you were your own enemy; for you cannot learn to govern others unless you first learn to govern your own passions and obey the dictates of your conscience.
You should show mercy to your subjects and Allah will be merciful to you. Do not forget that the residents of Tus are widely known for the miraculous powers of their prayers - the ones whom they love are blessed, but the ones whom they curse are ruined. ”

“ Similarly, in worldly affairs your Excellency is so exalted that the greatest praise can affect you little.
Now let me turn to the affairs of religion which are certainly more important than those connected with this world. You do not think of religion or the next world, which is indeed a pity. I am afraid that you would be condemned to endless misery in the Hereafter, while my wish is that you were in a better world where peace is permanent and there is neither change, nor evil. Allah says: "The Reckoning for mankind is drawing near, yet they are heedless and turn away." ”

“ I have a written document at my disposal to convince me that your illustrious father, being given to understand that the king of Kirman bore a reputation for charitable giving and for his feeding the poor, was downhearted and deeply grieved, not because he disliked giving charity, but because he wished that no man upon earth should equal or exceed him in good works. You are able to comprehend the powers of your father's mind and you have for it all that veneration which is both natural and proper that you should feel. ”

“ He does not teach out of books, but out of his own heart's experience and makes it a little easier for ordinary people through his help to live a good life. He has accompanied me for nearly twenty years during my extensive travels through Tus, Nishapur, Baghdad, Syria and the Hejaz, where I taught more than one thousand disciples. I have learned more from his conversation than any other man ever taught me. His facile tongue has illuminated the whole world and his life conforms perfectly with the truths which he preaches. ”

“ May Allah drive out from your soul and body its infirmities and languor, and raise you to sublime heights never reached before so that He may give you what you desire, a clear spiritual perception of His Mercy and beauty, as explained in the Holy Koran: "Is he whose chest Allah has expanded to Islam, so that he walks upon a light from his Lord (as those whose heart is sealed) ?" ”

“ Those who are finally guided hold their wealth in trust and use it for the service of mankind. They have complete and undivided love towards all men. They neither severe themselves from this spirit of universal love nor fail to miss the overflow of Divine love which fills their vessels to the brim as Allah bestows the treasure of merciful wisdom in the hearts of His good worshippers. ”

“ I believe, if there were only one true friend of Allah in a country, or among a people as Ibrahim Mubarak is, that the entire country, or nation, if it followed the counsels of such a man would be preserved from the calamities that are to smite the world. Meantime his own boldness of thought and speech have brought him under suspicion on the part of some of the guardians of orthodoxy and charges of heretical teachings have been leveled against him, but, it is only because of his nobility and piety. ”

“ It is not the might of the armed forces that save a nation from destruction, it is the humble and ardent devotion of a pure heart that can completely liquidate the forces of darkness of all forms and build a new independent and prospering Islamic state. ”

“ Begin to search and dig for your own field for this pearl of spiritual glory that lies hidden in it. It cannot cost you too much, nor can you buy it to dear, and when you have found it, you will know that all which you have sold or given away for it is a mere nothing, as a bubble upon the water. ”

“ There is a divine ground in the human soul through which there can be a birth into newness of life and a direct partaking of eternity. The spiritual goal of life is the feeling of the indwelling of Allah in man, in the unseen depths of his spirit, where he sinks himself into the Divine Abyss. When Allah finds a person simply and nakedly turned toward Him, He bends down in the depths of the pure soul and draws him/her up into His own uncreated essence so that the spirit becomes one with Him who is above vision and knowledge. ”

“ As we know, the prophetic way of approaching things is quite different from that of the executive that does not mean much for mankind at large in the next world. One of the main duties of a judge is to look after the property of orphans. If he is unjust and does not fear Allah he would entrust their property to the custody of dishonest and wicked persons with fatal consequences. Allah says: "Those who eat the wealth of orphans wrongfully, only consume fire in their bellies, and they shall roast in the Blaze." ”

“ Some people give the name of title to their lusts and all senseless customs as love and regard.
Those who cling fanatically to the titles rapidly lose touch with the inner spirit and life which make religion a reality. When a man reaches the height of his splendor, it is immaterial whether you praise him or not. ”

“ The believer sees with his spiritual discernment that which the surface investigator cannot see with ocular vision and he understands through his insight that which the superficial observer fails to even catch a glimpse.
Mankind sees the true state of things at the time of death, when the veil is raised and the world looks like something turned upside down. ”

“ Why then do you choose to act in the same way as these viziers and why do you not leave those agitations, which are foreign to your constitution? Look within. Within is a fountain of good and it will ever bubble up if you dig. Remember, if Allah makes the end to shine for you in the light of His Mercy, you will abandon yourself utterly to Allah and devote your entire energy to His worship but adhere to the principles of justice and equity. ”

“ It may sound absurd to those who suppose that strength and power are to be found only in great armies and equipment, or in scientific achievements, or in the vastness of economic resources, but as Islamic history reveals their fakirs, who did almost nothing other than making their souls stainless mirrors for Allah, yearning upward in fellowship with Him, made the most effective contribution to the defense of their country against foreign aggression. ”

“ If these chiefs could be presented in material form, the first would assume the form of a pig, the second of a dog and the third that of a devil.
Mankind is divided into two classes. The first consists of those who control these three chiefs and force them to surrender to their will. Such men are kings and amirs though they appear in rags to the naked eye.
The second category consists of those persons who cannot but obey and surrender to the will of these three masters. They are obstinate fools who call the slaves of passions and lust as kings, amir, and viziers. ”

“ The prayer of a dervish nullifies the effects of swords and guns, and unveils the truth that the best fighting forces can safely be recruited from among the people who observe the prayers, fast and night vigils, and who weep during their prayers with the fervor of their emotions. The Holy Prophet, praise and peace be upon him said: "Prayers rid mankind of its suffering." ”

“ How soon will time cover all things and how many has it covered already? How many, after being celebrate by fame, have been given up to oblivion, and how many who have celebrate the fame of others, have died? ”

“ The observance of "Equity" means to dedicate oneself to religion in order to become an enlightened worshiper of Allah, guided endowed, illuminated and sent forth as a guide to others whereas justice means to be just to all the worshipers of Allah. A state that cannot make progress, would indeed be subject to disintegration - unless internally administered among all persons. Islam provides a system by which injustice might be detailed and judged, whether perpetrated by rich or poor, high or low. ”

“ Men of pure habits know their own true worth and reason is their light and their beacon of truth, so that by its light they do not only worship Allah but also see themselves in their weakness and strength. ”

“ Mankind are classified into:
Those who are ignorant and have no freedom of thought and speech, such are chained by customs and traditions and do not know how to follow the light of their own minds or the dictates of their own soul. These people will attain eternal salvation, though their rank will not be high. ”

“ Be ever watchful over the things which are necessary for the administration of the empire. Every moment think steadily as a believer to do what you have in hand with perfect, simple dignity and feeling of affection and justice. ”

“ When a man is blessed with such an inspiration and illumination, he finds that the people of the world run after material objects and are caught up in a dense and baffling jungle of wild passions, and low desires, and aspirations of the animal-self. ”

“ It is an inner living love which brings the soul back to its true source and into union with Allah, who Himself is love. Such things as the theory of emanation, ascetic life contemplation, ecstasy, devotion, vanity of all earthly pleasures are meant for men of pure habits, possessed of a religious and speculative turn of mind, but they could not make themselves understood by the illiterate masses. ”

“ Through their good deeds they rise to the highest plane, and they experience in the new world what neither eye has seen nor ear has heard, that which has not occurred to any human mind, which surpasses understanding and for which no explanation can suffice. ”

“ The Supreme Being, formless, attributeless, above goodness, above life, above thought, motionless, nether increasing nor decreasing is yet the true source of all existence. He shines everywhere and every thing is the reflection of Him. ”

“ I undertook to counsel the Amir of Khurasan several times, however he was head-strong, violent and perilously disposed to justify whatever he wished to do with the result that his life has become pages of history for others to learn from.
You should know that Islam does not allow capital to accumulate in the hands of an individual. Those who agree to part with or spend their wealth expose themselves to a torture which is of three kinds. ”

“ On the other hand, a good man believes that death hangs above his head every moment, and so he lives such a pious life that he is always ready for death and departs contentedly as he is summoned by Allah, perfectly reconciling himself to his lot. ”

“ The third group maintain that it is only through devout prayer that a nation can escape disaster. And, there is no doubt that the belief of the third group is the most sound because we know that true safety lies in a deep sense of religious devotion and that Allah does not withhold protection from men if they steadfastly trust in His Mercy and pray for His Mercy.
Others might fall into the harsh crisis but the fakirs with their prayers must not fall. If they work perfectly in accordance with the Planning Will of the All Powerful Lord, they would acquire immense power. ”

“ Those who are lost in the passions and lusts of the worldly life and rebel against the will of Allah are the disciples of and successors to the devil. Allah says in the Holy Koran: "'Over My worshipers, you (satan) shall have no authority, except the perverse that follow you.'" Koran, Chapter 15 verse 42.
Those who indulge in the variety of amusements that the world makes available and waste their life by doing sinful acts are the disciples of and successors of the devil. ”

“ If you experience any difficulty in understanding mysticism, read my book Kimiya-i-Sa'adat which will direct you to the right path and give you at least a fair chance of making use of the talents with which Allah has endowed you. Besides, you should also learn the rules of discipline and devotion from a spiritual guide whose guidance you should accept ungrudgingly and seek refuge with Allah who will certainly save you from the evil of the devil. ”

“ Consider yourself no more than any other citizen. In every thing which happens hold fast to the ruling principles of justice and equity, and always keep before your eyes three things - objective thinking, acts conducive to social welfare and truthfulness. Do not forget that one who acts unjustly acts impiously. ”