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/295



ought to have expanded into a fertilising river, has become a vast swamp, exhaling vapours charged with disease and death."

Regarding the teaching of Jesus we find the fol lowing passages in the Ihya. I have indicated the parallel passages in the New Testament where pos sible. Some of them are taken from the Gospel according to Matthew, especially from the Sermon on the Mount. These are given first and then the apocryphal sayings, for it is difficult to follow any logical order.

" Said Jesus: If a man come to you when he is fasting let him anoint his head and wipe his lips that men may not say he is fasting; and if he gives alms with his right hand let not his left hand know; and if he prays let him put a curtain over his door, for verily God divines his trouble even as He does our daily food. " (Vol. Ill, p. 203. )

" Said Jesus (upon him be peace), Whosoever shall do and teach shall be called great in the King dom of Heaven. " (Vol. I, p. 6; cf. Matt. 5. 19.)

" Said Jesus, * Do not hang pearls on the necks of swine; for wisdom is better than pearls. " (Vol. I, p. 43; cf . Matt. 7:6.) " Said Jesus, How long will ye describe the right road to those who are going astray and ye yourselves remain with those who are perplexed. " (Vol. I, p. 44; cf. Matt. 23: 13.)

6:16-18.
 * The story is repeated in Vol. Ill, p. 206; cf. Matt.