Page:A Moslem seeker after God - showing Islam at its best in the life and teaching of al-Ghazali, mystic and theologian of the eleventh century (IA moslemseekeraft00zwem).pdf/222



mention death at dinner for fear of bringing bad luck upon those who are present."

All this is interesting and important, for the Moslem child, as table etiquette. Obedience, hu mility in outward behaviour, reverence in the mosque, respect " to those above us in age or sta tion," and many other social virtues are likewise commended. But the omissions of the Book sur prise us. There is nothing on truth, heart-purity, moral courage or the. nobility of chivalry the things that make a man.

One section of the Ihya (Vol. Ill, p. 96 ff.) deals with the question as to when lies are justifi able, and clearly shows that according to Al-Gha zali, in the realm of truth at least, the end justifies the means. " Know," he says, " that a lie is not haram (wrong) in itself, but only because of the evil conclusions to which it leads the hearer, mak ing him believe something that is not really the case. Ignorance sometimes is an advantage, and if a lie causes this kind of ignorance it may be al lowed. It is sometimes a duty to lie. Maimun Ibn Muhran said, A lie is sometimes better than truth: for instance, if you see a man seeking for another in order to kill him, what do you reply to the question as to where he is? Of course you will reply thus, for such a lie is lawful. We say that the end justifies the means/

"If lying and truth both lead to a good result, you must tell the truth, for a lie is forbidden in this