Al-Razi’s confession: They themselves bore witness to the truth of this judgment, whether by quoting these lines or composing them anew in their own works. One of their foremost leaders declared:

“The furthest reach of the intellects is but a fetter,
and most of mankind’s striving ends in misguidance.
Our souls remain estranged within our bodies,
and the utmost this worldly life can offer is hurt and affliction.
In all the years we spent in inquiry we gained no benefit
except amassing a jumble of ‘he said’ and ‘they said.’”