Al-Ghazali — Lettera ai qadi del Maghreb al-Aqsa

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, salvation is confined to the believers, and His Wrath strikes down those who are cruel, and I testify that our master Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him and his descendants, is the head and chief of His Messengers. It is mainly due to the effort of Imam Marwan, a distinguished judge, that a mere acquaintance between myself and the honorable Sardar Mu'tamadul Mulk Amin-ud-Daula has ripened into a deep friendship which is dearer to me than if he were one of my nearest relatives, for he is the greatest mystic in the mystical movement of today and one of the greatest mystics in the history of Islam. I do not remember whether or when I have sent him a written reminder of my affection, but in moments of leisure, it has struck me that there has been a disproportionate silence between us. It is essential, therefore, that we should write to each other frequently. To promote the friendship which already exists between us, I would like to employ a rich counsel which I offer you as a gift from the learned. I want to let you know that if you want to know the right and avoid ignorance you should cultivate a disposition which gladly accept association with the wise. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, was asked: "Who is the best of men." He replied: "The one who is the most pious among them." He was further asked: "Who is the wisest?" He replied: "The one who remembers death and is always prepared for it." It is also reported in a hadith: "He alone is wise who is a master of his self, and the ignorant is he who is a slave to his desire." Surely, he is the most wretched fellow who is not revivified and illumined and it is impossible for him to attain intelligence. The intelligence is a light in the heart, distinguishing between truth and vanity.…