مكتبة كتيبة محمّد بن نصير Muhammad bin Nusayr's Library Bibliothèque de Muhammad bin Nusayr کتابخانه کتیبه محمد بن نصیر

مَكْتَبَةُ كَتِيبَةِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ نُصَيْرٍ

The Raddadiyah Epistle - Yusuf ibn al-Ajuz al-Raddad al-Ḥalabi

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As for the master who guided you, he fatigued [his mind] 1 and soul for your guidance, and braved danger to convey [you to the knowledge] 2 required for your salvation, guidance, and direction.

The benefit of what he presented to you and conveyed through knowledge regarding the recognition of [God] 3 is [specifically for your own soul and tied to your personal benefit] 4 , belonging exclusively to you and to no one else.

[81] And he, majestic is his glory, stated: "Fathers are of three kinds: a father who begot you, a father who nurtured you, and a father who taught you."

[82] And the Master Jesus, majestic is his glory, stated: "None shall ascend to the kingdom of heaven except those born twice."

Thus, he categorized fathers in one instance into three, and in another instance into two; yet the most superior in both contexts is the father of knowledge and guidance.

Footnotes

1This word is absent in some manuscripts.
2In another manuscript with an inverted word order: [convey] through knowledge to...
3In another manuscript, the phrase is expanded: God to you
4In another manuscript: so it becomes specific to your soul and tied to your benefit
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