-
SpiritualRoadmapbyGhazali, page : 66
Because of this tendency, it is necessary to abstain from reading their books
on account of the deception and danger in them. Just as the poor swimmer must
be kept from slippery banks, so must mankind be kept from reading these books;
just as the boy must be kept from touching the snake, so must the ears be kept
from receiving such utterances. Indeed, the snake-charmer must refrain from
touching the snake in front of his small boy, because he knows that the boy
imagines he is like his father and will imitate him, he must even caution the boy
by himself showing caution in front of him, so the scholar must act in similar
fashion. And just as the good snake-charmer on receiving a snake distinguishes
23
between the antidote and the poison, extracts the antidote while destroying the
poison, and would not withhold the antidote from any in need; and just as the
acute and experienced banker, after putting his hand into the bag of the
counterfeiter and extracting from it the pure gold and throwing away the
counterfeit coins would not withhold the good and acceptable money from one in
need; even so does the scholar act.
on account of the deception and danger in them. Just as the poor swimmer must
be kept from slippery banks, so must mankind be kept from reading these books;
just as the boy must be kept from touching the snake, so must the ears be kept
from receiving such utterances. Indeed, the snake-charmer must refrain from
touching the snake in front of his small boy, because he knows that the boy
imagines he is like his father and will imitate him, he must even caution the boy
by himself showing caution in front of him, so the scholar must act in similar
fashion. And just as the good snake-charmer on receiving a snake distinguishes
23
between the antidote and the poison, extracts the antidote while destroying the
poison, and would not withhold the antidote from any in need; and just as the
acute and experienced banker, after putting his hand into the bag of the
counterfeiter and extracting from it the pure gold and throwing away the
counterfeit coins would not withhold the good and acceptable money from one in
need; even so does the scholar act.