KNOW, O beloved,
that man was not created in jest or at random,
but marvelously made and for some great end.
Although he is not from everlasting,
yet he lives for ever;
and though his body is mean and earthly,
yet his spirit is lofty and divine.
When in the crucible of abstinence
he is purged from carnal passions
he attains to the highest,
and in place of being a slave
to lust and anger
becomes endued with angelic qualities.
Attaining that state,
he finds his heaven
in the contemplation
of Eternal Beauty,
and no longer in fleshly delights.
The spiritual alchemy
which operates this change in him,
like that which transmutes base metals into gold,
is not easily discovered,
nor to be found in the house of every old woman.
Imam Al-Ghazalli
1 Comment
October 29, 2007 at 9:09 am
imam ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him) always has wisdoms upon wisdoms of knowledge to share. you could re-read this many times and see something new every time.
jazak’Allah khair for sharing this.