Chapter VIII: Music and Ecstasy
(1) Journey for acquisition knowledge is of two kinds — compulsory and optional, when acquisition of knowledge is compulsory, journey for that is also compulsory.
When it is optional, journey for that is also optional . The Prophet said : He who comes out of his house for acquisition of knowledge remains in the path of Cod till he returns home. The Prophet said : If a man crosses a path in search of learning, God makes his path to paradise easy. Hazrat Sayeed-b-Musayyeb travelled many days in search of one Hadis, Hazrat Shubi said : If a man travels from Syria to the distant Yemen to hear a sermon, his journey will not fruitless. Hazrat Jaker-b-Abduallh travelled from Medina to Egypt for one month and heard a Hadis from Abdullah-b-Anis Ansari.
(2) Journey for correction on one's character and conduct.
To walk in the path of the next world is not possible without character and conduct. He who does not enquire into his hidden faults cannot purify his heart. The name journey means to turn away from bad character and conduct of the people for which God reveals the secrets of heaven and earth. In journey, a man's character is disclosed. When a person was brought before Hazrat Omar as a witness, he asked him : Were you with anybody in a journey for which you have known his character ? he said : I was not. Hazrat Omar said : Then I think you do not know him.
Hazrat Bashar Hafi said : O learned men, if you would have come out in journey, you would have been purified, because if water is logged in a place, it becomes polluted and if it is flowing , it is made pure. In short, if a man remains confined in house, his character and conduct are kept limited there nd his bad character is not disclosed as no opportunity arises in his case to see things opposed to this nature.
(3) Journey for seeing the wonderful creations of God.
There is food for reflection in the wonderful creations of God.
There is nothing in the world mountains, seas heaven and various kinds of creations which do not testify to the unity of God. He who appreciates it can see and hear them and he who does not pay attention to them cannot appreciate it. By hearing, we means the hearing of heart. Ear cannot hear without sound and it appreciates the present condition. It is just like the saying of a man who narrates the story of wall and nail. The wall says to the nail. Don't give me trouble. The nail says : Ask one who beats
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