Ghazzali'a Alchemy of Happiness. 



43 



Ibn Khallikan's remark in his Biographical Dictionary that 

 " Ghazzali's ruling passion was making public exhorta- 

 tions." 



While perusing these pages, and noticing how much of 

 the language of Ghazzali corresponds in its representations 

 of God, of a holy life and of eternity, with the solemn in- 

 structions to which we have listened from our infancy, we 

 may think of the magicians who imitated the miracles of 

 Moses with their enchantments. Yet assuredly a vivid 

 and respectful interest must be awakened in our minds for 

 the races and nations, whose ideas of their relations as im- 

 mortal beings are so serious and earnest. 



The translation I have endeavored to make a close trans- 

 cript of the meaning of the Turkish ; having especially 

 sought to find appropriate equivalents for native idioms. 

 I have designated the chapter and verse of nearly every 

 passage quoted from the Koran. The omissions in the 

 text, which are made apparent by signs, are limited to 

 digressions of the author, to repetitions and to some of the 

 illustrations ; so that there is no interruption of the con- 

 tinuity of thought in the themes discussed. The Turkish 

 edition itself was but a portion of the original work. Two 

 or three notes are added, either explanatory of the text or 

 illustrative of the author, from Oriental sources. 



