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/250

 truth.

The only true mosque is that in the hearts of saints. The mosque that is built in the heart of the saints Is the place of worship of all, for* God dwells there."

What he says on the imitation of God is based al most literally on Al-Ghazali’s book describing God’s attributes.

" God calls Himself Seeing/ to the end that His eye may every moment scare you from sinning. God calls Himself Hearing/ to the end that You may close your lips against foul discourse. God calls Himself Knowing/ to the end that You may be afraid to plot evil. These names are not mere accidental names of God, As a negro may be called Kafur (white); They are names derived from God’s essential

attributes, Not mere vain titles of the First Cause."

Abu Sa id bin Abu-1-Khair, also of Khorasan (A. H. 396-440), was one of Al-Ghazali’s teachers in the school of mysticism. When he was asked what a Sufi was he said: " Whatever is in thy head, forget it; whatever is in thy hand, give it away; and whatever happens to thee, disregard it."

In regard to the rise of Sufic teaching, its origin and character, Dr. C. Snouck Hurgronje re marks: " The lamp which Allah had caused Mo hammed to hold up to guide mankind with its light, was raised higher and higher after t