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March 27, 2013

However hard the workers work and the strivers strive for the sake of this momentous goal, they must know that all their effort is the least of the least beside what they need, what they seek and what they undertake. They must know that four things are indispensable to the servant: (1) knowledge, (2) work, (3) sincerity, (4) fear. First of all, he must know the path; otherwise he is blind. Second, he must put his knowledge into practice; otherwise he is blocked. Third, he must be sincere in his work; otherwise he is misled. Forth, he must not cease to be afraid and on guard against disasters, until he finds safety; otherwise he is deluded.
Dhun-Nun spoke the truth when he said: "All creatures are dead, except the scholars. All the scholars are asleep, except those who put their knowledge into practice. All those who put their knowledge into practice are deluded, except those who are sincere. All those who are sincere are in tremendous danger".

Ghazali - The Path of the Worshipful Servants

Posted by amin at 9:48 PM

March 7, 2013

When Muhammad said, "All men are asleep and when they die they will awake", he meant that everything a man sees in this life is of the same kind as that which one sleeping sees; in other words an apparition that requires interpretation.

Ibn Arabi

Posted by amin at 4:12 PM

Whoever understands this wisdom and establishes it in himself and realizes it releases himself from dependence on others and knows that good and evil come to him only from himself. By good I mean what is in consonance with his aim, in harmony with his nature and disposition, and by evil what is contrary to his aim and in conflict with his nature and disposition. He who has such a knowledge excuses all creature regarding what they manifest, even though they themselves make no excuse, knowing as he does that all he undergoes is from himself, as we have mentioned previously to the effect that knowledge depends on what is known. Thus, he says to himself when something contrary to his aim befalls him, "Your two hands cast the dye and your own mouth breathed the breath".

Ibn Arabi

Posted by amin at 12:02 PM