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The_Foundations_of_the_Islamic_Belief, page : 73
The third category is where the thing is such as will be understood and cause no harm when mentioned
clearly, although it is usually expressed through metaphor or allegory so that its impression on
the heart
of the listener may be deeper. Its value is that it leaves a greater impression on the heart.
Thus if a
person had said that he had seen a man place pearls around the necks of swine and his words were
taken metaphorically to express the imparting of knowledge, and the spread of learning among those
who are unworthy, the (ordinary) listener would readily understand its literal meaning while the
thorough and careful listener, when he examines and finds that the man had no pearls and was not
surrounded by swine, would see through and comprehend the inner and invisible meaning. Consequently
men differ in this respect. An example of this found in the following poem: Two men, one a weaver
the
other a tailor on either side of Constellation of Virgo; One is weaving shrouds for the deceased,
and his
companion tailors for the forthcoming one.
The poet expressed the celestial phenomena of the rising of the stars and their setting
metaphorically
clearly, although it is usually expressed through metaphor or allegory so that its impression on
the heart
of the listener may be deeper. Its value is that it leaves a greater impression on the heart.
Thus if a
person had said that he had seen a man place pearls around the necks of swine and his words were
taken metaphorically to express the imparting of knowledge, and the spread of learning among those
who are unworthy, the (ordinary) listener would readily understand its literal meaning while the
thorough and careful listener, when he examines and finds that the man had no pearls and was not
surrounded by swine, would see through and comprehend the inner and invisible meaning. Consequently
men differ in this respect. An example of this found in the following poem: Two men, one a weaver
the
other a tailor on either side of Constellation of Virgo; One is weaving shrouds for the deceased,
and his
companion tailors for the forthcoming one.
The poet expressed the celestial phenomena of the rising of the stars and their setting
metaphorically