The Difference Between the Philosopher and the Messengers, and Which Is Better According to the Philosophers and the Qaramita
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The Shaykh : "Do such and such," yet they may not respond. If it is said, "Do not do such and such," they say, "We will not stop." But if it is said to them, "If you do such and such, we will settle you in a Paradise containing a permanent bliss that does not even cross the mind," what will they do? They will do it, won't they? They will. If it is said to them, "If you disobey, we will settle you in a Fire containing such and such punishment," they will stop. So the messengers lied for the sake of benefit, just as you say to a child, "Do this and I will give you candy; do not do this and I will burn you with a coal." What does the child do? He does the first and does not do the second, even though he is not actually giving him candy or burning him with a coal. So, may Allah protect us, this is their view of the messengers: they lied when it served human interests. Then he returned and said:
"The philosopher and this messenger are different in their standing with them, and they are not equal"
The philosopher and the messenger are different; there is a great difference between them, and they are not equal. As for the messenger, this is the difference:
"As for the messenger, he is a philosopher of the common people, and the philosopher is a prophet of the proof"
I seek refuge in Allah! They say that these messengers are messengers of the common people. As for the philosopher, who is a philosopher in their view, he is a prophet of the proof; this is the true prophet. As for that one, he is a messenger of the common people. Do you want, O brothers, someone more disbelieving than this? No, this is more disbelieving than the disbelief of the Jews and the Christians, without doubt. If they say that the messengers—Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa—are messengers of the common people, liars who did not tell the truth, and that the philosophers among us are the prophets, those who receive from the Active Intellect and bring what is in the good, he said:
"And the truth, in their view, is in what the followers of the master of Greek logic said"
Meaning, not in what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought.
"And a nation passed on with this opinion"
This is an innovation, yes.
"The philosopher and this messenger are different in their standing with them, and they are not equal"
The philosopher and the messenger are different; there is a great difference between them, and they are not equal. As for the messenger, this is the difference:
"As for the messenger, he is a philosopher of the common people, and the philosopher is a prophet of the proof"
I seek refuge in Allah! They say that these messengers are messengers of the common people. As for the philosopher, who is a philosopher in their view, he is a prophet of the proof; this is the true prophet. As for that one, he is a messenger of the common people. Do you want, O brothers, someone more disbelieving than this? No, this is more disbelieving than the disbelief of the Jews and the Christians, without doubt. If they say that the messengers—Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa—are messengers of the common people, liars who did not tell the truth, and that the philosophers among us are the prophets, those who receive from the Active Intellect and bring what is in the good, he said:
"And the truth, in their view, is in what the followers of the master of Greek logic said"
Meaning, not in what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought.
"And a nation passed on with this opinion"
This is an innovation, yes.