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SpiritualRoadmapbyGhazali, page : 109
accept the statements (taqlid) of the prophets who apprehended those properties
by the light of prophecy, not by intellectual explanation.
Again, medicines are composed of ingredients differing in kind and quantity,
one, for instance, is twice another in weight and amount; and this quantitative
difference involves secret lore of the same type as knowledge of the properties.
Similarly, formal worship, which is the medicine for the disease of the hearts is
compounded of acts differing in kind and amount; the prostration (sujud) is the
double of the bowing (ruku’) in amount, and the morning worship half of the
afternoon worship; and such arrangements are not without a mystery of the same
type as the properties which are grasped by the light of prophecy. Indeed a man
is very foolish and very ignorant if he tries to show by intellectual means that
these arrangements are wise, or if he fancies that they are specified accidentally
and not from a Divine mystery in them which fixes them by way of the property.
Yet again, medicines have bases, which are the principal active ingredients,
and `additions‟ (auxiliaries or correctives), which are complementary, each of
them having its specific influence on the action of the bases. Similarly, the
Voluntary practices and the `customs‟ are complements which perfect the basic
by the light of prophecy, not by intellectual explanation.
Again, medicines are composed of ingredients differing in kind and quantity,
one, for instance, is twice another in weight and amount; and this quantitative
difference involves secret lore of the same type as knowledge of the properties.
Similarly, formal worship, which is the medicine for the disease of the hearts is
compounded of acts differing in kind and amount; the prostration (sujud) is the
double of the bowing (ruku’) in amount, and the morning worship half of the
afternoon worship; and such arrangements are not without a mystery of the same
type as the properties which are grasped by the light of prophecy. Indeed a man
is very foolish and very ignorant if he tries to show by intellectual means that
these arrangements are wise, or if he fancies that they are specified accidentally
and not from a Divine mystery in them which fixes them by way of the property.
Yet again, medicines have bases, which are the principal active ingredients,
and `additions‟ (auxiliaries or correctives), which are complementary, each of
them having its specific influence on the action of the bases. Similarly, the
Voluntary practices and the `customs‟ are complements which perfect the basic