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Spiritual_Roadmap_by_Ghazali, page : 126
One would say: `If it were obligatory to observe this matter, then those learned in
religious questions
would be foremost in doing so; but, among persons of distinction, A does not perform the Worship, B
drinks
wine, C devours the property of trusts and orphans, D accepts the benevolence of the sovereign and
does
not refrain from forbidden things, E accepts bribes for giving judgment or bearing witness; and so
on‟.
A second man claims to have knowledge of mysticism and considers that he has made such progress that
he is above the need for formal worship.
A third man is taken up with another of the doubts of the `Latitudinarians‟ (Ahl al-Ibahah;)⁹.
These are
those who stray from the path of mysticism.
A fourth man, having met the party of ta’lim would say: `Truth is difficult, the way to it blocked,
and the
disputes over it numerous. No one system of doctrine is preferable to any other. Rational proofs
religious questions
would be foremost in doing so; but, among persons of distinction, A does not perform the Worship, B
drinks
wine, C devours the property of trusts and orphans, D accepts the benevolence of the sovereign and
does
not refrain from forbidden things, E accepts bribes for giving judgment or bearing witness; and so
on‟.
A second man claims to have knowledge of mysticism and considers that he has made such progress that
he is above the need for formal worship.
A third man is taken up with another of the doubts of the `Latitudinarians‟ (Ahl al-Ibahah;)⁹.
These are
those who stray from the path of mysticism.
A fourth man, having met the party of ta’lim would say: `Truth is difficult, the way to it blocked,
and the
disputes over it numerous. No one system of doctrine is preferable to any other. Rational proofs