Immortal Quotes from Ameen al-Rihani’s Masterpiece The Book of Khalid
This book is not an attempt to re-write, re-tell, or re-create The Book of Khalid because one cannot improve on perfection, cannot extinguish the flame of inspiration, cannot fetter imagination, or secularize the eternal.
Furthermore, this book is by no means a substitute for the original complete and unabridged edition of the story of Khalid. I approached this work with utmost apprehension and awe, but with infinite love and devotion. My goal was simply to select some immortal quotes out of the ocean of immortality, which is the Book of Khalid. I wanted simply to highlight some of the gems of wisdom scattered in the pockets of this massive story and in this marvelous tale of prophecy and spiritual exploration. After all, Khalid was the forerunner of Gibran’s Al- Mustafa and of Naimy’s Mirdad. He was the first prophet of the East in modern times to assume the heavy burden of enlightening the West and addressing the West with its own language.
The entire book is a massive mine of wisdom and inspiration, and one takes a huge risk when standing on the threshold of plenty, and the harvest of abundance, and still tries to select one golden spike from the Golden Fleece, or one single ripe fruit from the horn of plenty. However, I took a huge risk in daring to select these quotes, and at the same time, in attempting to slightly preserve the thread of the story as it unfolds.
How much in need we are today for Khalid to appear again and to lift us from the quagmire of our sins and avarice. May his words resonate within us, and may his wisdom shine over our troubled world.
Furthermore, this book is by no means a substitute for the original complete and unabridged edition of the story of Khalid. I approached this work with utmost apprehension and awe, but with infinite love and devotion. My goal was simply to select some immortal quotes out of the ocean of immortality, which is the Book of Khalid. I wanted simply to highlight some of the gems of wisdom scattered in the pockets of this massive story and in this marvelous tale of prophecy and spiritual exploration. After all, Khalid was the forerunner of Gibran’s Al- Mustafa and of Naimy’s Mirdad. He was the first prophet of the East in modern times to assume the heavy burden of enlightening the West and addressing the West with its own language.
The entire book is a massive mine of wisdom and inspiration, and one takes a huge risk when standing on the threshold of plenty, and the harvest of abundance, and still tries to select one golden spike from the Golden Fleece, or one single ripe fruit from the horn of plenty. However, I took a huge risk in daring to select these quotes, and at the same time, in attempting to slightly preserve the thread of the story as it unfolds.
How much in need we are today for Khalid to appear again and to lift us from the quagmire of our sins and avarice. May his words resonate within us, and may his wisdom shine over our troubled world.
