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Ghazali_Letters_To_Statemen, page : 71
regard to various things such as food, drink, dress, marriage, residence, conveyance,
rulership he is certainly not a pious man, because in every one of these things there is a
relish and pleasure for the self of man and liking for the urges of the flesh.
Animals
share some of these desire and it is humiliating for man to be content with what animals
possess, because although man has a body and senses like an animal, yet having
reason and intelligence, he is superior to animals in all respects. His disinterested love
brings him near to Allah. It is not industry that brings him to the goal. It is finally
the
Mercy of Allah, after he has taken the steps of purgation and preparation which make
his life meaningful in the spiritual sense. Then he stands at the beginning where he can
27
catch glimpses of the spiritual world. There, the Divine Kindnesses flow in his veins till
he is covered with celestial light until he can sing and rejoice and delight in Allah, as the
angels do, as it is revealed : "To Allah belong the Eternal life and the first life" Koran,
Chapter 53 verse 25, and "And that the final return is to your Lord." Koran, Chapter 53
rulership he is certainly not a pious man, because in every one of these things there is a
relish and pleasure for the self of man and liking for the urges of the flesh.
Animals
share some of these desire and it is humiliating for man to be content with what animals
possess, because although man has a body and senses like an animal, yet having
reason and intelligence, he is superior to animals in all respects. His disinterested love
brings him near to Allah. It is not industry that brings him to the goal. It is finally
the
Mercy of Allah, after he has taken the steps of purgation and preparation which make
his life meaningful in the spiritual sense. Then he stands at the beginning where he can
27
catch glimpses of the spiritual world. There, the Divine Kindnesses flow in his veins till
he is covered with celestial light until he can sing and rejoice and delight in Allah, as the
angels do, as it is revealed : "To Allah belong the Eternal life and the first life" Koran,
Chapter 53 verse 25, and "And that the final return is to your Lord." Koran, Chapter 53