The Path to Truth: A Lesson from Al-Ghazali

One of the long and insightful stories from Abu Hamid Muhammad Ghazali in his book Ihya' Ulum al-Din is a tale that addresses the spiritual journey of a person and its stages. In this story, Ghazali offers a deep and detailed reflection on the importance of understanding the various stages of spiritual progression and the purification of the soul.

Al-Ghazali narrates a story in his book Ihya' Ulum al-Din, where a young man comes to a great mystic and seeks guidance. The young man says:

"O teacher, I have been searching for the truth for many years. My heart and soul are filled with confusion and anxiety, and I do not know how to find peace. Is there a way to free myself from this turmoil?"

The teacher replies:

"O young man, the first step on the spiritual path is to understand the truth and surrender to the will of God. You must walk this path with patience and perseverance, and free yourself from all worldly attachments. For the soul of a human is always seeking the pleasures of the world, and if one cannot free oneself from these attachments, one will never reach the truth."

The young man asks:

"But teacher, how can I free myself from these worldly attachments? Every time I try to detach from the world, I find myself longing for it again."

The teacher responds:

"Indeed, this is a test that every person must succeed in. The soul is like a child that desires everything it sees. But you must know that these attachments and desires are like chains that bind you, keeping you away from the truth. Remember that everything you gain in this world is a deception and a trial. The worldly life is like a mirror that cannot show the truth."

The teacher then recounts the story of one of the greatest mystics of history who freed himself from worldly attachments and walked the path of knowledge and truth. He says:

"One day, one of the great mystics, Ibn Ata'illah, journeyed to a remote mountain. There, he was alone, with no one by his side. Days and nights passed, but no noticeable change occurred in him. The only change was that he no longer paid attention to the things he once valued in the city. His concern for clothes, food, and worldly pleasures had completely disappeared."

The young man asks:

"How is it possible for someone to reach such a state? Can one truly attain such freedom?"

The teacher replies:

"Yes, but you must first let go of all your attachments. You must trust in God completely and detach from everything that others value. To reach the truth, you must rid yourself of ego and pride. Remember that the greatest enemy of a person is themselves. Ego and pride are like barriers that block the light of truth."

The teacher then continues the story:

"One day, another great mystic was wandering in the desert in search of the truth. After some time, he became hungry and thirsty. Eventually, he reached a large tree in the wilderness. The tree provided a deep shade, and he took shelter under it. He sat there for several days and said to himself:

'What would I have done if this tree had not been here?'

After several days, he asked the tree:

'O tree, how is it that you provide shade so effortlessly?'

The tree replied:

'I am merely surrendered to the will of God. I never intended to provide shade, but it was God's will that I do so. I never desired to cast a shadow over anyone, but when God willed it, I simply surrendered.'"

The teacher concludes:

"To reach the truth and knowledge, one must be like that tree. One must surrender to God's will and never act out of personal desire. For it is only when a person abandons their ego that they draw near to the truth."

Al-Ghazali concludes:

"Whenever a person walks the path of spiritual seeking, they must surrender to God's will and free themselves from all worldly attachments. Only in this way can they reach the truth and true knowledge."

This story teaches us that on the spiritual path, we must free ourselves from worldly attachments and surrender to God's will. It is only when we release our ego and desires that we can come close to the truth and true knowledge.