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Ghazali_Letters_To_Statemen, page : 36
mind from all other thoughts. A man's true greatness lies in the consciousness of an
honest purpose in life founded on a just estimate of himself and every thing else, on
frequent self-examination and steady obedience to the will of Allah. The viziers who
have already passed away did not have a readiness to listen to those who had anything
to propose for the common people and did not care to give every man. They relied on
life, health and riches, and sought to build their houses upon the waves hoping to find
and foundation for them there. Now all traces of these viziers have been obliterated:
"The likeness of those who have taken protectors, other than Allah, is as the likeness of
the spider that takes to itself a house; surely the spider's house is the weakest house if
they but knew." Koran, Chapter 28 verse 41.
The day is not far off when you will be ashes or a skeleton and either a name, or not
even a name. And there is nothing more precious in the world than seclusion. I have
carefully avoided the pleasant visits to my friends and correspondence with them.
You do not know with what pleasure I have heard the news of your assumption of the
office of the Prime Minister of the Seljuk Empire. That is why I have written these few
lines by way of congratulating you and warning you against the life of this world which is
fraught with hypocrisy, deceitfulness and debased morality.
honest purpose in life founded on a just estimate of himself and every thing else, on
frequent self-examination and steady obedience to the will of Allah. The viziers who
have already passed away did not have a readiness to listen to those who had anything
to propose for the common people and did not care to give every man. They relied on
life, health and riches, and sought to build their houses upon the waves hoping to find
and foundation for them there. Now all traces of these viziers have been obliterated:
"The likeness of those who have taken protectors, other than Allah, is as the likeness of
the spider that takes to itself a house; surely the spider's house is the weakest house if
they but knew." Koran, Chapter 28 verse 41.
The day is not far off when you will be ashes or a skeleton and either a name, or not
even a name. And there is nothing more precious in the world than seclusion. I have
carefully avoided the pleasant visits to my friends and correspondence with them.
You do not know with what pleasure I have heard the news of your assumption of the
office of the Prime Minister of the Seljuk Empire. That is why I have written these few
lines by way of congratulating you and warning you against the life of this world which is
fraught with hypocrisy, deceitfulness and debased morality.