The Sixteenth Letter

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Men said to them: “A great army is gathering against you,” and frightened them. But it [only] increased  their belief; they said: “For us God suffices, and He is the best Disposer of Affairs.”(3:173)

This  letter  manifested  the meaning  of the  verse,  “But  speak to  him mildly,”(20:44) and was not written vehemently. It is the answer to a question asked me explicitly and implicitly by many people.

[To reply is not agreeable to me and I do not want to, for I have bound everything to reliance on God. But since I have not been left in peace to myself in my own world and since they have turned my attention towards the world, I am compelled to propound five points in the language of the Old Said in order to explain the reality of the situation both to my friends, and to the worldly,[1] and to those in authority, so as to save not myself, but my friends and my Words, from the suspicions and ill-treatment of the worldly.]

FIRST POINT

I am asked: “Why have you withdrawn from politics and now have nothing to do with them?”

T h e  A n s w e r : The Old Said of nine or ten years ago was involved in politics to  a degree;  indeed,  thinking  he  would  serve  religion  and  learning  by means  of politics,  he was wearied  for nothing.  He saw that it is a dangerous  way which is dubious and full of difficulties, and for me superfluous as well as forming an obstacle to the most necessary duties. It is mostly lies and may be exploited  by foreigners without one being aware of it. Furthermore, a person who enters politics either wins or is in opposition. As for winning, since I am neither an official nor a deputy, to work in politics is unnecessary and nonsense for me.

------------------------------

[1] For ‘the worldly’ see, p. 63