ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Hadith of Halila Supplement 3 Then, let us think, said I, ''as to how this knowledge was acquired. And let us use if it be correct to say that all people cannot acquire it, though all are born in connection with the movements of the planets and stars. I am ready to grant that only few people learn and master the science.

But the question is how did they learn or master it-specially the knowledge which declares one star to be ill-omened and the other to be auspicious? How have they fixed the time, hour and degrees, the slow or rapid movements of the planets and the stars, their exact position over or below the Earth; and their predictions which you mention? How have they gathered them?

I believe that any of the creatures inhabiting this globe are so advanced as to penetrate the secrets of the visible and invisible Universe. You may not believe, said he. "But that they have done so, I am positive about it. "When you assert, said I, that all the Earth's inhabitants are born in conjunction with the movements of the stars and planets, the wise man (Hakim) who first discovered the science of astronomy must have been born like-wise.

"Of course, he exclaimed, "he must be included in the category of the human race. Then does not your reason guide you to the fact that these planets and stars existed before the birth of that wise man, who, as you say discovered the science of astronomy, and was born in conjunction with the movements of the stars and planets? "Indeed, said he, "the planets and stars must have existed prior to his birth.

Tell me said I, how could the wise inventor of the science learn the method of calculating the stars with- out a master to teach him? If you say that he had a master, then that master must have existed before the existence of the stars. And indeed must be He, Who established the rules and regulations for those movements, on which you say the events of a life are based, and from which the future of a new born child is foretold.

Taking this for granted, the wise man inventor of the science- must have been the follower and pupil of that master, who had existed before the stars, and had created them-the wise man-in conjunction with the movements of certain of them. Then He who established the science, was He who lived before the stars, the Creator of them and the people born according to their movements.