Knowledge, Ghazali says — the goal of the Sufi — is that which supports life to such an extent that if its transmission were to be interrupted for three days the kernel of the individual dies, just as someone would die if he were deprived of food, or a patient dies when deprived of certain medicines. Sufi knowledge, therefore, is something which continually pours into man. It is the perception and employment of this knowledge which is the aim of mystics. (Quoting Fatah el-Mosuli.)
Wisdom is sometimes used as ‘understanding the special knowledge’. Sometimes this causes people to depart from ordinary habits. Naturally such conduct is opposed by the ordinary.
Ordinary people are those who are blind to the urgent need for knowledge. This blindness Ghazali likens to a disease. It causes arrogance. When there is arrogance, knowledge cannot operate.
The problem of men in seeking true knowledge is great because they do not know where to look for it or how to do so. This is because they have been deceived into mistaking rules and discipline, or scholasticism, or argument, for instance, as the search for knowledge.
What is this special knowledge which maintains man? It is so much more advanced a thing than, say, belief (what people call faith) that 'those who really know are seven hundred degrees in rank above those who only believe’.
Three traditional remarks about knowledge serve Ghazali as illustrations:
'Wisdom is so important that it might be said that mankind is composed solely of the Wise.’ (Ibn el-Mubarak.)
'Whoever has knowledge and who works and teaches, he shall be mighty in the Kingdom of Heaven.’ (Attributed to Jesus.)
'Solomon was offered wisdom, riches or power. He chose wisdom: and gained riches and power in addition.’ (Ibn Abbas.)
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