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Quote by Idries Shah

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The Sufis

This book delves into the rich history, practices, and teachings of Sufism, offering insights into its philosophical and spiritual dimensions. It examines the lives of Sufi mystics and poets, and explores the various Sufi orders and their contributions to Islamic thought and culture. more

Author

Idries Shah
Idries Shah

Idries Shah was a renowned author known for his dissemination of Eastern philosophy and wisdom. His works blend Sufism, Eastern mysticism, and Western philosophy, aiming to promote human wisdom and inner growth. Shah's books include 'The Sufi Path of Love' and 'The Power of Silence'. more

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“One can gain the lofty rank of Imam Abu Ḥanīfa has in hadith by his elevated chain. He narrates many hadith with chains that are termed Thunaiyāt (Two-narrator narrations) and Thulathiyāt (Three-narrator narrations). This means that between the Imam and the Messenger of Allah a there only exists three narrators and often only two. In a recent study published under the title: Al- Imam al-A‘azam Abu Ḥanīfa Wa al-Thunaiyāt Fi Masānidihi, by Shaikh Abd al-Aziz al-Sa‘di, it is stated just the two-narrator narrations (Thunaiyāt) of the Imam are approximately 219 narrations. This makes his narrations, according to the standards of the classical hadith specialists (Muhadithin), stronger and more esteemed and valuable4 than the narrations found in the Sahihs of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, as there, one will nd, that the number of narrators between the muhaddith and the Messenger a are in most cases not less than four (in fact, the thulathiyāt of Imam Bukhari only number 21 narrations). This proves beyond doubt that Imam Abu Ḥanīfa was not only a reputable Muhaddith, moreover he was from the major authorities and Huffaz of Hadith.”

“अगर मुनकरिने ज़कात के ख़िलाफ़ क़िताल फ़र्ज़ है, जो हज़रत अबू बकर सिद्दीक़(رضي الله عنه) ने किया, तो क्या मुनकरिने अहले बैत, जो अहले बैत की फ़ज़ीलतों को नकार कर अहले बैत के ख़िलाफ़ तलवार ले कर खड़े हो गए, तो क्या उनके ख़िलाफ़ क़िताल फ़र्ज़ नहीं है ? क्या वो वाजिबुल क़त्ल नहीं है ?”

“As the statistician George E. P. Box wrote, "All models are wrong, but some models are useful." What he meant by that is that all models are simplifications of the universe, as they must necessarily be. As another mathematician said, "The best model of a cat is a cat." ... The key is in remembering that a model is a tool to help us understand the complexities of the universe, and never a substitute for the universe itself.”