The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

T H E D E V I L ' S
D E C E P T I O N S
Then arose Abii I:Iamid [al-Ghazall:] who wrote his book "al-1.f!Ja"'
following the same doctrine, and filled it with false }:iadiths unknowingly.
He discussed unveiling ('i/m a/-mukashaja) and transgressed the
rules of jurisprudence (jiqh). He asserts that what is meant by the
stars, sun, and moon, which were seen by Ibrahim ('alt!Jhis-salam)
were lights which veiled Allah (the Mighty and the Majestic), and
not the objects known. This opinion is of the same nature as that of
the Batiniyyah.
He also said in his book ''Al-Muf.sip bi'/-Apwdl" he asserts that the
$ufts in their waking hours witness the angels and the souls of the
Prophets, hear their voices, and acquire information from them; then
their state (pa ascends from witnessing (mushahada) forms to levels
that are indescribable.
The reason why these people authored these books was their lack
of knowledge in the Sunnah and the narrations. They were intrigued
with the $iifts asceticism and never met people who were better mannered
than them. Their way seemed to be dean and spiritual. On
the other hand, there was an amount of ruggedness in the Salafs
ways. Further these people enjoy popular favour to a high degree
because their system is outwardly one of cleanness and devotion,
and involves quiet contemplation and music, which people naturally
favour. Besides, the early JU.fts used to distance themselves from kings
and governors, unlike latter $iifts. They claimed that the source of
their writings was hidden knowledge (al-'i/m al-bd,tin) .
A}:imad Ibn l:lanbal was asked about Wasdwds wa'/-Khafardt (Siifis
inspirations), he replied: 'Neither the $ahabah nor the tdbi'in discussed
such matters.'
At the beginning of this book we have recorded a similar tradition
traced to Dhii'l-Niin, and one traced to Al:imad Ibn l:lanbal to the
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