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AlGhazalisIhya-Book_of_knowledge, page : 45
from the jurist those who wield the sword and those in whose hand the reins of
temporal power lie. This the Messenger did when he said to the man who had
killed another because the latter had recited the confession of faith giving for a
reason his fear of the sword, “Have you examined his heart?” The jurist also
determines with the aid of the sword the soundness of (one‟s) Islam, although he
knows that the sword can neither reveal to him the intentions (of the individual)
nor remove from his heart the veil of ignorance and bewilderment. He is,
however, a counselor to him who wields the sword. Since the sword can reach
the (individual‟s) neck and the hand his possessions, repeating the confession of
faith with the tongue protects his life and possessions as long as he has either in
this world. For this reason the Prophet said; “I was ordered to fight people until
they say, “There is no god except Allah.‟ When they say this they render their
lives and possessions immune against my hand.” He thus confined the efficacy
(of verbal confession) to life and possessions; but in the Hereafter mere words do
not avail – only the illumination of the hearts (by the Divine light), their secret
thoughts, and their sincerity do avail. These, however, do not fall within the field
temporal power lie. This the Messenger did when he said to the man who had
killed another because the latter had recited the confession of faith giving for a
reason his fear of the sword, “Have you examined his heart?” The jurist also
determines with the aid of the sword the soundness of (one‟s) Islam, although he
knows that the sword can neither reveal to him the intentions (of the individual)
nor remove from his heart the veil of ignorance and bewilderment. He is,
however, a counselor to him who wields the sword. Since the sword can reach
the (individual‟s) neck and the hand his possessions, repeating the confession of
faith with the tongue protects his life and possessions as long as he has either in
this world. For this reason the Prophet said; “I was ordered to fight people until
they say, “There is no god except Allah.‟ When they say this they render their
lives and possessions immune against my hand.” He thus confined the efficacy
(of verbal confession) to life and possessions; but in the Hereafter mere words do
not avail – only the illumination of the hearts (by the Divine light), their secret
thoughts, and their sincerity do avail. These, however, do not fall within the field