Al-Risala (English), Sep-Oct 2000

attributed to Aristotle. Besides these, he rendered into Latin Avicenna’s massive volume on law and many other books by AlKindi, Al-Farabi, Ishaaq and Sabit, etc. Many other purveyors of knowledge were later to follow in Gerard’s footsteps. In the words of Dr Maz Mirhaf, ‘He was the founder of Arabism in the Western world.’ In 1187, in Toledo, Gerard fell ill, and felt himself that his end was near. He wondered to himself what would happen when he was gone. “These books in Arabic are so precious,” he thought, “and who is going to translate them into Western languages?” His reflections moved him profoundly and he was fired with new zeal and energy. In spite of his rapidly failing health, he then succeeded in translating the remainder of his valuable collection of books. Legend has it that in the space of one month before his death, he had completed the translations of no less than 80 books. When one feels sufficiently inspired to perform a task, one undertakes it at all costs, even on one’s death bed, and even when one’s external circumstances are totally adverse. It is one’s will and one’s motivation to work which are of prime importance. Health and strength are secondary. □ Reading the Signs W ith the increase of traffic in modern times, the danger of accidents has also increased. To obviate this danger, various forms of road signs have been erected for the guidance of motorists. One such sign reads: “Lane driving is safe driving.”