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AlGhazalisIhya-Book_of_knowledge, page : 32
These feelings of doubt, which render the knowledge of the articles of faith
obligatory arise in the mind either naturally or as a result of hearing things in
one‟s own community. For example, in a town where rumors have spread and
the people talk heresy, the individual should, in the early years of his maturity, be
protected against such influence by being instructed in the elements of truth. If on
the other hand, he were exposed to falsehood, it would become necessary to
remove it from his heart, a task that might prove difficult. Again, if this particular
Muslim were a merchant living in the midst of a town where the practice of usury
was prevalent, it would be obligatory to warn him against usury.
This, then, is the truth concerning the knowledge whose acquisition is deemed an
ordinance of Allah binding on everyone and no less binding on some because of
its observance by others. The gist of it all is knowledge of how to perform works
whose discharge is obligatory. Whoever, therefore, knows what works are
obligatory together with the time of their discharge, the same possesses the
knowledge who acquisition if far ayn.
Furthermore, what the Sufis hold relative to the understanding of the thoughts of
the enemy and those of the company of heaven (lummat al-mulk) is also true,
obligatory arise in the mind either naturally or as a result of hearing things in
one‟s own community. For example, in a town where rumors have spread and
the people talk heresy, the individual should, in the early years of his maturity, be
protected against such influence by being instructed in the elements of truth. If on
the other hand, he were exposed to falsehood, it would become necessary to
remove it from his heart, a task that might prove difficult. Again, if this particular
Muslim were a merchant living in the midst of a town where the practice of usury
was prevalent, it would be obligatory to warn him against usury.
This, then, is the truth concerning the knowledge whose acquisition is deemed an
ordinance of Allah binding on everyone and no less binding on some because of
its observance by others. The gist of it all is knowledge of how to perform works
whose discharge is obligatory. Whoever, therefore, knows what works are
obligatory together with the time of their discharge, the same possesses the
knowledge who acquisition if far ayn.
Furthermore, what the Sufis hold relative to the understanding of the thoughts of
the enemy and those of the company of heaven (lummat al-mulk) is also true,