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SpiritualRoadmapbyGhazali, page : 77
pleased with him, the first of the Imams, remove it? Does the Imam claim that he
is able to bring them all forcibly to pay attention? Then why has he not so far
done so? To what day has he postponed it? Is not the only result of his claim
that there are more disputes among mankind and more who dispute? The
disagreements certainly gave grounds for fearing that evils would increase until
blood was shed, towns reduced to ruins, children orphaned, communications cut,
and goods plundered. What has actually happened is that throughout the world
such blessings have attended your removal of disagreement so that there is now
disagreement the like of which has never before been seen”.
The adversary may say: “You claim that you remove the disagreement among
mankind. But the man who is in doubt about the merits of the rival systems is not
going to listen to you instead of your opponents. The majority of your opponents
disagree with you; and there is no vital difference between them and you.” This
is their second question.
I reply: “First of all, this argument turns back against yourself. If you summon
the man in doubt to accept your own views, he will say, `On what grounds are
you to be preferred over your opponents, seeing that the majority of scholars
is able to bring them all forcibly to pay attention? Then why has he not so far
done so? To what day has he postponed it? Is not the only result of his claim
that there are more disputes among mankind and more who dispute? The
disagreements certainly gave grounds for fearing that evils would increase until
blood was shed, towns reduced to ruins, children orphaned, communications cut,
and goods plundered. What has actually happened is that throughout the world
such blessings have attended your removal of disagreement so that there is now
disagreement the like of which has never before been seen”.
The adversary may say: “You claim that you remove the disagreement among
mankind. But the man who is in doubt about the merits of the rival systems is not
going to listen to you instead of your opponents. The majority of your opponents
disagree with you; and there is no vital difference between them and you.” This
is their second question.
I reply: “First of all, this argument turns back against yourself. If you summon
the man in doubt to accept your own views, he will say, `On what grounds are
you to be preferred over your opponents, seeing that the majority of scholars