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SpiritualRoadmapbyGhazali, page : 62
connected with his unbelief, even though these are also true in his eyes.
Weaker intellects take men as criterion for truth and not the truth as criterion of
men. The intelligent man follows Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, when he
said, “Do not know the truth by the men, but know the truth, and then you will
know who are truthful”. The intelligent man knows the truth, then examines the
assertion. If it is true, he accepts it, whether the speaker is a truthful person or
not. Indeed, he is often anxious to get the truth from those in error, because he
knows that gold is found mixed in gravel and ore. The banker suffers no harm if
he takes the counterfeiter‟s wallet; relying on his skill, he picks the true gold from
the counterfeit. Only the common man and not the banker abstains from dealing
with the counterfeiter. It is not the strong swimmer who keeps to the shore, but
the clumsy guy; not the snakecharmer who is barred from touching the snake,
but the ignorant boy.
The majority of men are dominated by a high opinion of their own skill and
accomplishments, especially the perfection of their intellects in distinguishing
true from false and guidance from misguidance. It is therefore necessary to shut
the gate to keep the general public from reading books of the misguided as far
Weaker intellects take men as criterion for truth and not the truth as criterion of
men. The intelligent man follows Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, when he
said, “Do not know the truth by the men, but know the truth, and then you will
know who are truthful”. The intelligent man knows the truth, then examines the
assertion. If it is true, he accepts it, whether the speaker is a truthful person or
not. Indeed, he is often anxious to get the truth from those in error, because he
knows that gold is found mixed in gravel and ore. The banker suffers no harm if
he takes the counterfeiter‟s wallet; relying on his skill, he picks the true gold from
the counterfeit. Only the common man and not the banker abstains from dealing
with the counterfeiter. It is not the strong swimmer who keeps to the shore, but
the clumsy guy; not the snakecharmer who is barred from touching the snake,
but the ignorant boy.
The majority of men are dominated by a high opinion of their own skill and
accomplishments, especially the perfection of their intellects in distinguishing
true from false and guidance from misguidance. It is therefore necessary to shut
the gate to keep the general public from reading books of the misguided as far