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The_Savior_from_Spiritual_Error_and_50_Principles, page : 92
-acquaint myself with their belief by reading their books, such as The Food of
the Hearts by Abu Talib al-Makki (Allah have mercy upon him), the works of
al-Harith al-Muhasibi, the various anecdotes about al-Junayd, ash-Shibli and
Abu Yazid al-Bistami (may Allah sanctify their spirits), and other discourses of
their leading men. I thus comprehended their fundamental teachings on the
intellectual side, and progressed, as far as is possible through study and oral
instruction, in the knowledge of mysticism. It became clear to me, however,
that what is most distinctive of mysticism is something which cannot be
apprehended by study, but only by immediate experience (Thawq-literally
`tasting‟), by ecstasy and by a moral change. What a difference there is
between knowing the definition of health and satiety, together with their
causes and presuppositions, and being healthy and satisfied! What a
difference between being acquainted with the definition of drunkenness-
namely, that it designates a state arising from the domination of the seat of
the intellect by vapors arising from the stomach -and being drunk! Indeed, the
drunken man while in that condition does not know the definition of
drunkenness nor the scientific account of it; he has not the very least scientific
the Hearts by Abu Talib al-Makki (Allah have mercy upon him), the works of
al-Harith al-Muhasibi, the various anecdotes about al-Junayd, ash-Shibli and
Abu Yazid al-Bistami (may Allah sanctify their spirits), and other discourses of
their leading men. I thus comprehended their fundamental teachings on the
intellectual side, and progressed, as far as is possible through study and oral
instruction, in the knowledge of mysticism. It became clear to me, however,
that what is most distinctive of mysticism is something which cannot be
apprehended by study, but only by immediate experience (Thawq-literally
`tasting‟), by ecstasy and by a moral change. What a difference there is
between knowing the definition of health and satiety, together with their
causes and presuppositions, and being healthy and satisfied! What a
difference between being acquainted with the definition of drunkenness-
namely, that it designates a state arising from the domination of the seat of
the intellect by vapors arising from the stomach -and being drunk! Indeed, the
drunken man while in that condition does not know the definition of
drunkenness nor the scientific account of it; he has not the very least scientific