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The_Foundations_of_the_Islamic_Belief, page : 214
Prophets. But we do not know what we are before Allah." You may ask all this and say: "What then is
the meaning of all these qualifications?" The answer to your question is that these qualifications
are
correct and are put forward for four reasons, two of which arise from doubt, not of the reality of
belief
itself, but of its end and perfection; and two do not arise from doubt at all.
The first reason which does not arise from any doubt at all is the care not to be decisive for fear
of self-
praising and making one's self out to be pure. Allah says: "Do not praise yourselves." And again,
"Haven't you see those who praise themselves?" And again: "Behold how they devise a lie against
Allah." A certain wise man was once asked, "What is detestable truth?" He replied, "Man's praise of
himself." Belief is one of the highest forms of praise and to be definitely certain of it amounts
to absolute
praising. The formula of qualification (Allah willing) is nothing but an attempt to temper and tone
down
such praising, just as when the man is told that he is a physician, or a jurisprudent, or a
commentator,
he will say, "Allah willing," not because he doubts that the fact but simply to avoid being
the meaning of all these qualifications?" The answer to your question is that these qualifications
are
correct and are put forward for four reasons, two of which arise from doubt, not of the reality of
belief
itself, but of its end and perfection; and two do not arise from doubt at all.
The first reason which does not arise from any doubt at all is the care not to be decisive for fear
of self-
praising and making one's self out to be pure. Allah says: "Do not praise yourselves." And again,
"Haven't you see those who praise themselves?" And again: "Behold how they devise a lie against
Allah." A certain wise man was once asked, "What is detestable truth?" He replied, "Man's praise of
himself." Belief is one of the highest forms of praise and to be definitely certain of it amounts
to absolute
praising. The formula of qualification (Allah willing) is nothing but an attempt to temper and tone
down
such praising, just as when the man is told that he is a physician, or a jurisprudent, or a
commentator,
he will say, "Allah willing," not because he doubts that the fact but simply to avoid being