Imam Al-Ghazali:
On The
Praiseworthy Science of Knowing God
The part whose knowledge, even to the
limit of thoroughness, is praiseworthy is the science of knowing God -
Allah, His attributes and works as well as His law which governs His
creatures and His wisdom in ordaining the superiority of the hereafter
to this life.
The knowledge of this is incumbent upon man both for itself and also for attaining thereby the bliss of the Hereafter.
To exert oneself even to the utmost capacity of one's effort, falls
short of what is required because it is like the sea. Its depth cannot
be sounded and men can approach its shores and edges only to the extent
to which it has been
made possible for them, while no one has navigated its ends except the
Prophets, the Saints, and those who are grounded in the science of God
- each according to his rank and ability and according to what God has
preordained for them therein.
This is the hidden science which is never revealed in books but
whose knowledge maybe at first promoted by learning and by
contemplating the states, of this learned man in the science of the
Hereafter whose characteristics we shall discuss later.
Its knowledge may be furthered through selfmortification (
mujāhadah), discipline and through purifying the heart and freeing it from the affairs of this world
as well as through emulating the Prophets and the Saints so that it may
be revealed to every seeker in proportion to God's mercy (
rizq) on him rather than in proportion to his efforts and labours (
fahd).
Yet diligence in it is indispensable for selfmortification which is the sole key to guidance.
2.
He whose object is to gain nearness of God should seek such learning as
helps towards ... the knowledge of the Hereafter and the learnings that
are auxiliary to it.
Allah (swt) said:
{ Allah will exalt those of you who believe*,
{ and those who are given knowledge, in high degrees. }
Sura The Pleading One (58) verse 11
[*believe: in the sense of commiting oneself to God and His religion (dīn).]
3.
Studying the science of the heart
The science of the heart is that by which these impurities are removed
from the heart, as these impurities [on the mirror of the heart] are
impediments or obstacles to the knowledge of God's attributes. The mode
of cleaning them is abstaining from low desires and passions and
following the way of the prophets. Thus to whatever extent the heart is
cleaned and made free to face the truth, to that same extent it will
reflect its (His) reality. This cannot be attained without disciple and
efforts. This secret science cannot be written in books, but it can be
gained by experience as a gift of God. (fn3)
Blessings and greetings of Allah on the Holy Prophet,
his Noble Family, and all his Companions.
Al-Ghazali; The Book of Knowledge, p. 93
which is part of book 1 of the Ihya `Ulūm-ud- Dīn
(fn3) IUD, Book of Worship, chapter on knowledge, p.37.
