188 Notice of the Ikhwdn al sqfd. [Aug. 



him in order to insure his happiness in the life to come, hut the donor 

 ought never to reproach him for what he has received, nor treat him 

 with hauteur, for he knows that He who made the poor made the rich ; 

 he ought to make no distinction between a real son and a spiritual son ; 

 he educates the former, spends money on him and makes him the heir 

 of his fortune after his death. It is related of the prophet that he said 

 to 'Alyy : "I and you are the fathers of this nation."* Christ said in 

 the same sense to the apostles : "I have come from my father and your 

 father," and it is said in the Qoran, " the religion of your father Abra- 

 ham." All these are allusions to spiritual paternity. The prophet 

 says " every relationship ceases except that with the prophet." He also 

 said "O children Hachim, don't act so that on the day of judgment 

 other people bring forward their works and give your relationship to 

 me, for I cannot do any thing for you." In this passage he means the 

 relationship of the blood which ceases with our body, but the relation- 

 ship of the mind continues ; for the soul remains after the dissolution 

 of the body. And if any one thinks that the son whom he has begotten 

 will keep up his memory after his death, he ought to recollect that 

 if he leaves a spiritual son, he will keep up his memory in the assembly 

 of the learned and of the good, when he may have acquired a name for 

 his knowledge, and he will invoke the mercy of God upon him, when- 

 ever he may mention his name. We mention in this manner, our spiri- 

 tual father much more frequently than the father who has begotten us, 

 and we invoke the mercy of God upon him. If a man should think 

 that his son by blood will be of use to him in his old age, and that he 

 will support him, he ought to recollect that it frequently happens that 

 a spiritual son, when he has come to maturity in wisdom and knowledge, 

 will by his erudition improve the mind of his master and contribute 

 to his salvation without his being aware of it. It is said in the Qoran : 

 " You do not know who is more useful to you, your fathers or your 

 sons." 



* The prophet says : the faithful is the brother of the faithful by father and mother. 

 Abraham said : who follows me is of me. God answered to Nub when he said my son 

 belongs to my family ; " he is not of thy family for he has misbehaved. It is said in the 

 Qoran when the trumpet will be sounded there will be no relationship between them and 

 none will intercede for the other." It is clear that relationship by blood is of no use for 

 the world to come. 



