-
SpiritualRoadmapbyGhazali, page : 33
From my early youth, since I attained the age of puberty before I was twenty,
until the present time when I am over fifty, I have ever recklessly launched out
into the midst of these ocean depths, I have ever bravely embarked on this open
sea, throwing aside all craven caution; I have poked into every dark recess, I
have made an assault on every problem, I have plunged into every abyss, I have
scrutinized the creed of every sect, I have tried to discover the secret doctrines
of every group. All this have I done that I might distinguish between true and
false, between sound tradition and heretical innovation. Whenever I meet one of
the Batiniyah [Shiite], I like to study his creed; whenever I meet one of the
Zahiriyah [Wahabis], I want to know the essentials of his belief. If it is a
philosopher, I try to become acquainted with the essence of his philosophy; if a
scholastic theologian I busy myself in examining his theological reasoning; if a
Sufi, I yearn to fathom the secret of his mysticism; if a worshipper (muta’abbid), I
investigate the results of his worshipping; if one of those who believe in the
eternity of the universe [Zanadiqah] or who deny the attributes of the Creator
[Mu‟attilah], I look beneath the surface to discover the reasons for their bold
adoption of such a creed.
until the present time when I am over fifty, I have ever recklessly launched out
into the midst of these ocean depths, I have ever bravely embarked on this open
sea, throwing aside all craven caution; I have poked into every dark recess, I
have made an assault on every problem, I have plunged into every abyss, I have
scrutinized the creed of every sect, I have tried to discover the secret doctrines
of every group. All this have I done that I might distinguish between true and
false, between sound tradition and heretical innovation. Whenever I meet one of
the Batiniyah [Shiite], I like to study his creed; whenever I meet one of the
Zahiriyah [Wahabis], I want to know the essentials of his belief. If it is a
philosopher, I try to become acquainted with the essence of his philosophy; if a
scholastic theologian I busy myself in examining his theological reasoning; if a
Sufi, I yearn to fathom the secret of his mysticism; if a worshipper (muta’abbid), I
investigate the results of his worshipping; if one of those who believe in the
eternity of the universe [Zanadiqah] or who deny the attributes of the Creator
[Mu‟attilah], I look beneath the surface to discover the reasons for their bold
adoption of such a creed.