A Moslem seeker after God : $b showing Islam at its best in the life and teaching of al-Ghazali, mystic and theologian of the eleventh century
Al-Ghazali · en
Many of the miracles, however, are puerile, as in this story: “A certain
man accompanied Jesus the Son of Mary (upon him be peace) and said:
‘I would like to be with you as your companion.’ So they departed and
arrived at the bank of a river and sat down and took their meal. Now they
had three loaves, so they ate two and one remained. Then Jesus arose and
went to the river to drink and returning did not find the remaining loaf.
He said to the man: ‘Who took the loaf?’ He replied: ‘I know not.’ So he
departed with his companion and saw a gazelle with her two young, and
Jesus called one of them and it came to him and he killed it and prepared
it and they ate together. Then he said to the young gazelle: ‘Get up by
God’s will,’ and it arose and departed. And he turned to the man and
said: ‘I ask you in the name of Him who worked this miracle before your
eyes, who took the loaf?’ He answered: ‘I know not.’ So they departed to
a cave and Jesus (upon whom be peace) began to collect the pebbles on the
sand and said: ‘Become bread by God’s permission!’ and they became bread;
then he divided them into three parts and said: ‘A third is for me, a
third is for you and a third is for the man who took the loaf,’ and the
man said: ‘I am he who took the loaf.’ Jesus replied: ‘Take all of it and
depart from me.’” (Vol. III, p. 188.) This story is related by Al-Ghazali
in his chapter on greed and covetousness to show that he who loves this
world cannot be a companion of the saints!
That Jesus was gentle in word and conduct seems to be the lesson taught
in the following two stories: “It is related of Jesus that once a pig
passed by him and he said to it: ‘Go in peace.’ They said to him: ‘O
Spirit of God, why do you say this to a pig?’ He replied: ‘I dislike to
accustom my tongue to use any evil words.’” (Vol. III, p. 87.) “It is
related that Jesus with his disciples once passed the carcase of a dog.
Said the disciples: ‘How noisome is the smell of this dog.’ Said Jesus
(on him be peace): ‘How beautiful is the shine of his white teeth,’ as
if he wanted to rebuke them for abusing the dog and to warn them not to
mention anything of what God has created save at its best.” (Vol. III, p.
150.) This incident is given by Jallal ud Din in poetic form: