Although it is recognized that the contemporary men of learning are highly qualified in philosophy, arts and crafts, yet were anyone to observe with a discriminating eye he would readily comprehend that most of this knowledge hath been acquired from the sages of the past, for it is they who have laid the foundation of philosophy, reared its structure and reinforced its pillars.  Thus doth thy Lord, the Ancient of Days, inform thee.  The sages aforetime acquired their knowledge from the Prophets, inasmuch as the latter were the Exponents of divine philosophy and the Revealers of heavenly mysteries.  Men quaffed the crystal, living waters of Their utterance, while others satisfied themselves with the dregs.  Everyone receiveth a portion according to his measure.  Verily He is the Equitable, the Wise.

Empedocles, who distinguished himself in philosophy, was a contemporary of David, while Pythagoras lived in the days of Solomon, son of David, and acquired Wisdom from the treasury of prophethood.  It is he who claimed to have heard the whispering sound of the heavens and to have attained the station of the angels.  In truth thy Lord will clearly set forth all things, if He pleaseth.  Verily, He is the Wise, the All-Pervading.

The essence and the fundamentals of philosophy have emanated from the Prophets.  That the people differ concerning the inner meanings and mysteries thereof is to be attributed to the divergence of their views and minds.  We would fain recount to thee the following:  One of the Prophets once was communicating to his people that with which the Omnipotent Lord had inspired Him.  Truly, thy Lord is the Inspirer, the Gracious, the Exalted.  When the fountain of wisdom and eloquence gushed forth from the wellspring of His utterance and the wine of divine knowledge inebriated those who had sought His threshold, He exclaimed:  ’Lo!  All are filled with the Spirit.’  From among the people there was he who held fast unto this statement and, actuated by his own fancies, conceived the idea that the spirit literally penetrateth or entereth into the body, and through lengthy expositions he advanced proofs to vindicate this concept; and groups of people followed in his footsteps.  To mention their names at this point, or to give thee a detailed account thereof, would lead to prolixity, and would depart from the main theme.  Verily, thy Lord is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing.  There was also he who partook of the choice wine whose seal had been removed by the Key of the Tongue of Him Who is the Revealer of the Verses of thy Lord, the Gracious, the Most Generous.

Verily, the philosophers have not denied the Ancient of Days.  Most of them passed away deploring their failure to fathom His mystery, even as some of them have testified.  Verily, thy Lord is the Adviser, the All-Informed.