Top 9 Quotes by Al-Maʿarri

A little doubt is better than total credulity.

A little doubt is better than total credulity.

Al-Maʿarri

Doubt, Littles, Credulity

"Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out". Book by Ibn Warraq, May 1, 2003.

The world holds two classes of men; intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence.

Al-Maʿarri

Religious, Atheist, Intelligent

"A Short History of Freethought, Ancient and Modern, Volume I". Book by John Mackinnon Robertson, 1906.

O fools, awake! The rites ye sacred hold Are but a cheat contrived by men of old Who lusted after wealth and gained their lust And died in baseness-and their law is dust.

Al-Maʿarri

Men, Dust, Law

They all err - Muslims, Christians, Jews and Magians. There are two kinds of humans - the intelligent, who have no religion, and the religious, who have no intellect.

Al-Maʿarri

Christian, Religious, Atheist

Hanifs (Muslims) are stumbling, Christians all astray Jews wildered, Magians far on error’s way. We mortals are composed of two great schools Enlightened knaves or else religious fools.

Al-Maʿarri

Christian, Religious, School

Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than men [to thy charity]. For their race brings not harm upon thee in any wise, when thou fearest it from thine own race.

Al-Maʿarri

Wise, Morning, Equality

They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs me that these are a fiction from first to last. O Reason, thou (alone) speakest the truth. Then perish the fools who forged the (religious) traditions or interpreted them!

Al-Maʿarri

Religious, Book, Fiction

"Studies in Islamic Poetry (The Meditations of Al-Ma'arri)". Book by Reynold Alleyne Nicholson, 1921.

Reason forbade me many things which, Instinctively, my nature was attracted to; And a perpetual loss I feel if, knowing, I believe a falsehood or deny the truth.

Al-Maʿarri

Believe, Loss, Knowing