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The_Savior_from_Spiritual_Error, page : 122
and others of their sciences which possess necessary truth.
9[11] cp. Encyclopedia of Islam, s.v. `Ibahiya’
I observed, then, to what an extent and for what reasons faith was weak
among the various classes of men; and I observed how I myself was
occupied with resolving this doubt, indeed I had devoted so much time and
energy to the study of their sciences and methods, I mean those of the
mystics, the philosophers, the `authoritarian instructionists‟ (ta`limiya), and
the outstanding scholars (mutawassimun), that to show up their errors was
easier for me than drinking water. As I observed all this, the impression was
formed in me: `That is a fixed and determinate character of this time; what
benefit to you, then, are solitude and retirement, since the sickness has
become general, the doctors have fallen ill, and mankind has reached the
verge of destruction?‟ I said to myself, however: `When will you busy
yourself in resolving these difficulties and attacking these obscurities,
seeing it is an age of slackness, in an era of futility? Even if you were to
summon men from their worthless ways to the truth, the people of this age
9[11] cp. Encyclopedia of Islam, s.v. `Ibahiya’
I observed, then, to what an extent and for what reasons faith was weak
among the various classes of men; and I observed how I myself was
occupied with resolving this doubt, indeed I had devoted so much time and
energy to the study of their sciences and methods, I mean those of the
mystics, the philosophers, the `authoritarian instructionists‟ (ta`limiya), and
the outstanding scholars (mutawassimun), that to show up their errors was
easier for me than drinking water. As I observed all this, the impression was
formed in me: `That is a fixed and determinate character of this time; what
benefit to you, then, are solitude and retirement, since the sickness has
become general, the doctors have fallen ill, and mankind has reached the
verge of destruction?‟ I said to myself, however: `When will you busy
yourself in resolving these difficulties and attacking these obscurities,
seeing it is an age of slackness, in an era of futility? Even if you were to
summon men from their worthless ways to the truth, the people of this age