[The Beginning and the End of the Book]

WORD 1

What a wonderful world the Creator has given us...

For better or for worse, I have lived my life, traveling a long road filled with struggles and disputes, quarrels and arguments, hardship and anxiety, and I have reached these advanced years only to find myself at the end of my tether, weary of everything. I have come to understand the vanity and futility of my labors and the misery of my existence. What should I concern myself with now, and how shall I live out the rest of my days? I am perplexed, unable to find any answer to this question.

Should I rule over people? No. People are ungovernable. Let someone else take on this burden—someone willing to be afflicted with an incurable illness, or else some fiery young man with a burning heart. But may Allah relieve me of this burden, which is beyond my strength!

Should I multiply my flocks? No, I cannot do that. Let the younger men raise more animals if they need them. But I will not darken the evening of my days by tending animals only for rogues, thieves, and parasites to enjoy their fruits.

Should I devote myself to learning? But how can I pursue scholarship when I have no one with whom to exchange an intelligent word? And to whom shall I pass on the knowledge I have accumulated? Whom shall I ask about what I do not know? What good is it to sit in a deserted steppe with a measuring rod in your hand, trying to sell cloth?

Excessive knowledge becomes bile and bitterness that hastens old age if there is no one beside you with whom to share your joys and sorrows.

Should I choose the path of the Sufis and devote myself to the service of religion? No, I fear I cannot do that. Such a calling requires peace and complete tranquility of mind. But I have known neither peace in my soul nor peace in my life—and what kind of piety can there be among these people, in this land?

Perhaps I should educate children? No, that too is beyond my strength. I could teach children, certainly, but I do not know what I should teach them or how.

For what profession, for what purpose, and for what community should I educate them? How can I teach and guide them on their paths if I cannot see where my students might put their learning to use? Here, too, I cannot make good use of myself.

So I have finally decided: from now on, pen and paper will be my only consolation, so that I may set down my thoughts. If someone finds something useful here, let him copy it or commit it to memory. And if no one has any need for my words, they will remain with me all the same. And now I have no other concern.

[...]

## WORD 49 — Final Chapter

The proof of the existence of a God, unique and all-powerful, is that for thousands of years people of different languages have spoken of God; and, however many religions there may be, they all regard love and justice as the attributes of God.

We are not the Creators of the universe, but mortals who know this world through the things that have been created. We are servants of love and justice. And we differ from one another in how well we understand the creations of the Most High.

When we believe and worship, we must not say that we have the right to force others to believe and worship.

The source of humanity is love and justice. They are present everywhere and determine all things. They are the crown of Divine Creation. Even the way a stallion mounts a mare is an expression of love.

He who is moved by the feelings of love and justice is wise and knowledgeable. If we cannot invent science and learning, we can at least observe and perceive the created world and understand its harmony through our reason.