56 Ghazzali's Alchemy of Happiness. 



Probably the knowledge of all the prophets was obtained 

 in this way, for it was not obtained by learning. . . . 



When the heart is free from worldly lusts, from the 

 animosities of society and from the distraction occasioned 

 by the senses, the vision of God is possible. And this 

 course is adopted by the Mystics. 1 It is also the path 

 followed by the prophets. But it is permitted also to ac- 

 quire the practice of it by learning, and this is the way 

 adopted by the theologians. This is also an exalted way, 

 though in comparison with the former, its results are in- 

 significant and contracted. Many distinguished men have 

 attained these revelations by experience and the demon- 

 stration of reasoning. Still let every one who fails of 

 obtaining this knowledge either by means of purity of de- 

 sire or of demonstration of reasoning, take care and not 

 deny its existence to those who are possessed of it, so that 

 they may not be repelled from the low degree they have 

 attained, and their conduct become a snare to them in the 

 way of truth. These things which we have mentioned con- 

 stitute the wonders of the heart and show its grandeur. 



Think not that these discoveries of truth are limited to 

 the prophets alone. On the contrary every man in his 

 essential nature is endowed with attributes rendering him 

 capable of participating in the same discoveries. What 

 God says, "Am I not your Lord V 2 refers to this quality. 

 And the holy saying of the prophet of God : " Every man 

 is bom with the nature of Islamism ; but his ancestors , 

 practised Judaism, Nazarenism or Magianism," is an indi- 

 cation of the same thing. 



The heart of man while in the spiritual world knew its 

 maker and creator; it had mingled with angels and knew 

 for what service it was created ; and in the assembly where 

 they said, "Yes," it was intoxicated as with wine at the 



1 See note B. 



2 S. 7:171. 



