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SpiritualRoadmapbyGhazali, page : 74
or someone else and so you admit the principle of „authoritative instruction‟”. I
reply: “What does such a man do in the question of the qiblah where there is
doubt and the independently judging authorities differ?” My opponent will say:
“The man must use his own judgment to decide which is the soundest authority
and the most learned in the proofs of the qiblah, and then he follows his own
decision”. Exactly the same happens in deciding between religious systems and
so the principle of “authoritative instruction” is inadequate.
Prophets and religious leaders of necessity made mankind have recourse to
independent judgment, even though they knew they might fall into error. Indeed
the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him said, “I judge by externals, but Allah
administers the inmost hearts”; that is to say, “I judge by the more probable
opinion, based on the account of the witnesses, but the witnesses may be
mistaken”. The prophets had no way to prevent error in the case of such matters
of independent judgment. So how can we hope to attain that?
1[3] Al-Ghazali refers to a well-known story about Mu`adh b. Jabal. Muhammad, on appointing
him as judge in the Yemen, questioned him about the principles on which he would
base his
reply: “What does such a man do in the question of the qiblah where there is
doubt and the independently judging authorities differ?” My opponent will say:
“The man must use his own judgment to decide which is the soundest authority
and the most learned in the proofs of the qiblah, and then he follows his own
decision”. Exactly the same happens in deciding between religious systems and
so the principle of “authoritative instruction” is inadequate.
Prophets and religious leaders of necessity made mankind have recourse to
independent judgment, even though they knew they might fall into error. Indeed
the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him said, “I judge by externals, but Allah
administers the inmost hearts”; that is to say, “I judge by the more probable
opinion, based on the account of the witnesses, but the witnesses may be
mistaken”. The prophets had no way to prevent error in the case of such matters
of independent judgment. So how can we hope to attain that?
1[3] Al-Ghazali refers to a well-known story about Mu`adh b. Jabal. Muhammad, on appointing
him as judge in the Yemen, questioned him about the principles on which he would
base his