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sages of the Qur'an do favour that doctrine; but they do not like to acknowledge its truth, on the ground that the subject is uncongenial to the spirit of the followers of Islam (The Philosophy of Islam' p. 90). One can only express surprise at a philosopher rejecting a doctrine without investigation on a ground like this. As a matter of fact, several Muslim philosophers have actually acknowledged the truth of the doctrine of transmigration, as Mr. Khaja Khan himself points out ('The Philosophy of Islam,' p. 37). Notable amongst these are Ahmad Ibn Habith, his disciple Ahmad ibni Yubus, Abu-Moslem of Khorassan and Ahmad ibni Zakarah. Jalaluddin Rumi, the poet-philosopher, too, openly taught re-incarnation. Some of his verses bearing on the point are:
"We have grown like grass often;
Seven hundred and seventy bodies have we taken.
From the inorganic we developed into the vegetable kingdom,
THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
Dying from the vegetable we rose to animal; And leaving the animal, we became man. Then what fear that death will lower us;
The next transition will make us an angel;
Then shall we rise from angels and merge in Infinity.
Have we not been told
That all of us will return unto Him. ?"*
*The original verses run as follows:
هفت صد هفتاد قالب دیده ام همچو سبزه دارها روئیده ام * * وز نما مردم بحیوان سر زدم از جمادي مردم و نامي شدم پس چه ترسم که زمردن کم شدم مردم از حيواني و آدم شدم آرم از ملائک بال و پر بر دل دیگر بمیرم از بشر * بار دیگر از ملک پران شوم * آنچه اندر وهم ناید آن شوم راجعون اليه پس عدم کردم عدم چون ارغنون * گویدم کانا
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