The Six Questions of Imam al-Ghazali

Once upon a time, Imam al-Ghazali posed six questions to his students as follows:

1. What is very close to us in this world?
2. What is the furtherest from us in this world?
3. What is the biggest in this world?
4. What is the heaviest in this world?
5. What is the lightest in this world?
6. What is the sharpest in this world?

The answers:

1. The students gave all kind of answers such as our parents, spouse, close friends, our children etc.
   Al-Ghazali replied, “ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘death’ because Allah SWT has promised us that those who live will definitely die.” (refer Surah Ali Imran 185)
   
   
2. The students gave all kind of answers such as the country of China, the moon, the sun etc.
   Al-Ghazali replied, “Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘our past’ because in whatever the circumstances , whoever we are and whatever vehicle we use we cannot go back into the past. So we have to always take care of today and the coming days with righteous deeds that is taught by Islam.”
   
   
3. The students gave all kind of answers such as the mountain, the earth, the sun etc..
   Al-Ghazali replied, “Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘temptation (Nafs)’. So we must always be cautious with our temptation so as not to allow it to drive us to hell (Jahannam).” (Refer Surah Al A’raf 179)
   
   
4. The students gave all kind of answers such as iron, steel, the elephant etc...
   Al-Ghazali replied:-“ Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘being trustworthy (Amanah)’ Al Ghazali explain “ The plants, trees, animals and the mountain could not accept the task of being the caliph of this world but human, with arrogance and conceit accepted the task and so many human beings are being thrown into hell (Jahannam) by Allah SWT because they have breached the trust others placed on them." (Refer Surah Al Ahzab 72)
   
   
5. The students gave all kinds of answers such as cotton, dust, the wind etc...
   Al-Ghazali replied, “Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘neglecting the salat (daily prayer)’. Al Ghazali explained this is especially true as people are known to simply neglect the salat because they are having a business meeting, having to work etc.
   
   
6. The students gave all kind of answers such as the sword, knife and etc...
   Al-Ghazali replied, “Yes, those answers are quite correct but the perfect answer is ‘human tongue’. Al Ghazali explained that with their tongues humans arrogantly will offend and hurt the feelings of others.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The life of the heart is knowledge; so preserve it, The death of the heart is ignorance; so avoid it. Your best provision is true devotion; so provide it. This advice of mine is enough for you; so heed it.
   ~ Imam al-Ghazâlî