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Ghazali_Letters_To_Statemen, page : 78
To be just to one's own soul means to be purified of all inner impurities including low
desires, anger, lust, hatred, greed, pride, revenge and so on. Take pity on your soul and
be kind to it and bring into use all the instruments for the service of your Lord and
surrender whatever is to Him. You should show an almost insane hostility to yourself,
and ride on your animal self and after disciplining it, traverse on its back the paths of
safety. The moment you do this you will feel the first Divine illumination and you will
acquire the immediate knowledge of Allah which is the highest thing man can attain.
The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: "Had the devils not misled man, the
latter would have held sway over the kingdom of heaven." One who clearing away
through the senses, rises past his own mind to the wisdom of Allah, deserves to be
honored in heaven with the title of Mujirud Daulah.
Since you are the wisest of all the viziers that have now passed away, I feel sure, you
would remember that the attention given to every thing has its proper value and
proportion. Do not forget this then that the day is not far off when this little compound of
yourself will be dissolved or removed, and placed elsewhere. You should fear death and
learn to live according to nature.
desires, anger, lust, hatred, greed, pride, revenge and so on. Take pity on your soul and
be kind to it and bring into use all the instruments for the service of your Lord and
surrender whatever is to Him. You should show an almost insane hostility to yourself,
and ride on your animal self and after disciplining it, traverse on its back the paths of
safety. The moment you do this you will feel the first Divine illumination and you will
acquire the immediate knowledge of Allah which is the highest thing man can attain.
The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: "Had the devils not misled man, the
latter would have held sway over the kingdom of heaven." One who clearing away
through the senses, rises past his own mind to the wisdom of Allah, deserves to be
honored in heaven with the title of Mujirud Daulah.
Since you are the wisest of all the viziers that have now passed away, I feel sure, you
would remember that the attention given to every thing has its proper value and
proportion. Do not forget this then that the day is not far off when this little compound of
yourself will be dissolved or removed, and placed elsewhere. You should fear death and
learn to live according to nature.