Bounties of the Gracious God — Page 97
Translation of the Letter 97 Wisdom therefore demands that one should stay away from a dangerous course of action and avoid falling knowingly into the fire. What harm will the method that I have adopted cause to you, and what damage you might incur by treading the path that I have preferred? I have not stopped you from presenting your doubts to me and throwing the spears of your criticism at me. Instead, I have adopted a method that is best for both of us, if only you had been from among the wise. There is no barrier if you are in doubt. You can write [your doubts] to me a hundred times. The only reason I have laid down the condition of brevity is so that we do not get involved in some kind of fight that I am trying to avoid due to the very fear of the All-Knowing and Reckoning God. Another important condition is that you would present to me one objection or doubt at a time, and then, after I have ful- filled my obligation of answering you and removing your doubt, only then should you present the next objection. And, indeed this method is more appropriate. If you have travelled from your city for the sake of the truth, and there is no mischief in your heart, you will not find the writings that I have sent you to be burden- some, and you will accept them like a just man devoid of malice and animosity. But if you think that this method will not allow you to succeed in your aims, I will then know that you only desire to create mischief, and some signs thereof have already appeared. The decent people have come to know that when I conveyed my intention to you, your eyes became veiled with thick shades of darkness, and grief overwhelmed you like the ocean overwhelmed the Pharaoh, and things turned upside down for you in a manner that you lost your senses and Allah defeated and frustrated you in this debate. However, since you had abandoned all decency, you