been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding»¹. I said to one of the merchants: "Do you know of a land for me where wisdom is found, and a religious and wise people who know wisdom, refrain from injustice, know Allah — Exalted Glory —, and fear Him?" He said: "I have not known a people as you described except for a people in the lands of India."

What I heard of his words carried me until I bought trade goods and traveled toward your lands. The Indian said to him: "O man, you did not hit upon the [correct] opinion. You should have, had you read in the Quran Surah Al-Jumu'ah and contemplated the word of Allah — Exalted Glory —: «It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom - although they were before in manifest error»². This Messenger appeared from your side and was sent to you; the Book, the wisdom, and the science of the Book are in your midst. So, contemplate his saying:

The Messenger of Allah — Exalted Glory — says: "Indeed, I am leaving among you the two weighty things (ath-thaqalayn); as long as you hold fast to them, you shall never go astray: the Book of Allah and my progeny, the people of my house ('itratī Ahl Baytī). Indeed, the two shall never separate until they return to me at the Pond."

The Quran is in your hands, you study and recite it; the Messengers are with you, teaching you and purifying you; and the Imams are in your midst. Yet you left the guidance [brought] by your fathers and followed your desires. Then you, O man, traveled to the lands of India seeking from them the gnosis of Allah — Exalted Glory —!" The Hijazi said to the Indian: "Indeed, the Muslims differed after the death of the