Discovering God
Ch 1 — Realization of God / Maarifah—the Goal of Mankind
Discovering God — Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Badges mark quoted or attributed material (Qur'an, hadith, another author, an opposing view). Unbadged passages are Maulana Wahiduddin Khan's own words.
Contents (229 chapters)
Foreword Ch 1 — Realization of God / What is Maarifah? Ch 1 — Realization of God / Maarifah—the Goal of Mankind Ch 1 — Realization of God / Faith: Maarifah of God Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Discovery of the Divine Words Ch 1 — Realization of God / High Levels of Maarifah Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Philosophical Concept of God Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Heart and Mind Ch 1 — Realization of God / Purification of the Heart Ch 1 — Realization of God / Jihad Fillah Ch 1 — Realization of God / Taking Lessons Ch 1 — Realization of God / Intellectual Seclusion Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Intellectual Horizon Ch 1 — Realization of God / Levels of Realization Ch 1 — Realization of God / Reflection and Contemplation Ch 1 — Realization of God / Remembering God Often Ch 1 — Realization of God / Intellectual Development Ch 1 — Realization of God / Reason and Human Nature Help in the Quest for Truth Ch 1 — Realization of God / Emotional Attachment with God Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Inner and Outer Aspects of Faith Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Meaningful Exception Ch 1 — Realization of God / Universe without God Unexplainable Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Price of Finding God Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Discovery of the Glory of God Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Journey of the Realization of God Ch 1 — Realization of God / Deep Realization of God Ch 1 — Realization of God / Faith: A Discovery of One's Relation with God Ch 1 — Realization of God / Realization of God: Discovery of One's Helplessness Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Purpose of Human Life Ch 1 — Realization of God / God-realization: A Personal Discovery Ch 1 — Realization of God / God-realization: A Creative Subject Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Universe: A Source of God-realization Ch 1 — Realization of God / Scientific Discoveries Provide Spiritual Food Ch 1 — Realization of God / God-realization: A Divine Gift Ch 1 — Realization of God / Learning Lessons from Mundane Occurrences Ch 1 — Realization of God / Reason-based Discovery of God Ch 1 — Realization of God / Not Uncertainty Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Awakened Person Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Existence of God Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Virtue of Modesty Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Godly Personality Ch 1 — Realization of God / No Negative Thinking Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Discovery of the Existence of the Creator Ch 1 — Realization of God / Discovery of the Unseen God Ch 1 — Realization of God / Silence and God-realization Ch 1 — Realization of God / Discovery of God's Majesty Ch 1 — Realization of God / Discovering God on Every Occasion Ch 1 — Realization of God / Uniqueness of a Human Being Ch 1 — Realization of God / God and Paradise Ch 1 — Realization of God / Self-Negation: A Means of Discovering God Ch 1 — Realization of God / Making the Discovery of God One's Personal Interest Ch 1 — Realization of God / Uncertainty about Oneself Ch 1 — Realization of God / An Obstacle in the Path of God-realization Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Natural World Leads to God Ch 1 — Realization of God / Maarifah: A Life with God Ch 1 — Realization of God / Positivity: The Fertile Ground of Maarifah Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Light of God-realization Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Living Discovery of God Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Difference between Ecstasy and God-realization Ch 1 — Realization of God / Realization and Prayer Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Discovery of One's Ignorance Ch 1 — Realization of God / Make God Your Supreme Concern Ch 1 — Realization of God / The Form and Spirit of Religion Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Purification of the Self (Tazkiya) Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Continual Growth of One's Personality Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Incentive to Purify Oneself Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Paradise for the Purified Soul Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Hadith–A Source of Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya–A Continuous Process Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Process of De-Conditioning Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya–Spiritual Nourishment Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Ijtihad is not Permissible in Worship Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya at Every Moment Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Introspection after Making a Mistake Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Heart-based Tazkiya, Mind-based Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Need of a Guide Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Importance of Interaction for Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Without Mediation Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Prior to Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya and Introspection Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya and Modesty Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Prophetic Prayers Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya and Prayer Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Form of Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Conscience–A Guide to Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Method of Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Need for Intellectual Awareness Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Activating One's Thinking Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya–A Source of Intellectual Development Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya and Knowledge Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Save Yourself from Distraction Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya and the Demands of the Times Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Condition of Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Acceptance of Reality Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya and Sacrifice Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya–A Psychological Act Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Importance of Positive Psychology Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Introspection–The Basis of Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / How to Engage in Introspection Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Seeing a Test Paper in Advance Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya and Renunciation of the World Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya–An Act of Preparation Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya–A Means of Reaching God Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Purpose of Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Criterion of Tazkiya Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Tazkiya and Remembrance of Death Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Towards Spiritual Civilization Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Spiritual Progress Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / What is Introspection? Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Building of a Positive Personality Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Spirituality: Converting Material into Spiritual Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / A Deadly Habit Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / The Method of De-conditioning Ch 2 — Purification of the Self / Spirituality Without Intellectual Revolution Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Two Arrangements Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Miracle of Creation Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Control Over the Universe Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Beginning of Realization Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Mind and Religion Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Why should there be Trials? Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Essence of Faith Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Man–An Exceptional Creature Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Three Levels of Development Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Veil of Satan Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Humility–A Great Form of Worship Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / What is Taqwa? Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Greenery Returned Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Price of Expected Acknowledgement Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Existence of God Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / No Acknowledgement of God Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Animals in the Garb of Man Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Discovery! Discovery! Discovery! Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Patience, Introspection and the Willingness to Learn Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / God and Man Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Increased Faith Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Spiritual Loss Caused by Greed Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Rational Knowledge and Inner Realization Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / What is Islam? Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / One Serious Fallacy Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Towards the Truth Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / Modest Man Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Final Explanation Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Spirit of Allahu Akbar Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Tendency to Complain Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Greatest News of Today Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Voice of the Universe Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life / The Example of a Tree Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / What is Remembrance? Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Remembrance of God Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Point of Reference for Prayer Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Helplessness and Power Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Divine Prayer Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Gratefulness in the State of Ungratefulness Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Remembrance is a Thinking Process Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Sincere Repentance Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Importance of Gratitude Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Extended Meaning of the Quran Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Book of Recitation or The Book of Obedience Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Importance of the Study of the Quran Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Morning Recitation of the Quran Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Pondering over the Quran Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Stirring Up of a Revolution in the Human Personality Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Pondering on the Quran Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Verse of God's Throne Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / First Favour, Second Favour Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Convert Loss into Gain Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Discovery of Total Absence of One's Power Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Constant Complaining Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Increase in Blessings Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Remembrance and Prayer Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Prayer is Worship Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Need for the Renewal of Faith Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Reality of the World Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Small Thankfulness, Big Thankfulness Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / A Life of Security Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Closeness to God in Every Situation Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Conscious Worship Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Invoking God's Mercy Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Safeguarding of the Feeling of Gratitude Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Greatest Prayer Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Discover the Reasons for Thankfulness Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Thanksgiving is an Act of Sacrifice Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Great Prayer Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Prayer: Verbal Form of Spiritual Experience Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Experience and Prayer Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Living Prayer Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / A Point of Reference Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Discovery of One's Helplessness Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / How to Overcome Tension Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Learning Lessons from Loss Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Universal Thanksgiving Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Discovery of Divine Blessings Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / How to Find Spiritual Food Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / True Action and True Prayer Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Thanksgiving as Opposed to Arrogance Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / The Reason behind Negative Mentality Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Love for Humanity Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Gratitude towards Others Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Acknowledgement of God's Glory Ch 4 — Remembrance of God / Remembering God in Solitude Ch 5 — Attributes of God / The Attributes and the Great Name of God Ch 5 — Attributes of God / The Ninety Nine Names of God Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Formless God? Ch 5 — Attributes of God / God and Scientific Study Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Connecting with God Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Calling out to God with His Names Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Not Mysterious Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Asma-e-Husna (God's Best Names) Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Calling upon God with His Greatest Name Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Prayer in One's Mother Tongue Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Prayer that Brings you Close to God Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Prayer from the Heart Ch 5 — Attributes of God / The Prayer which God Accepts Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Prayer that Can Change Destiny Ch 5 — Attributes of God / An Example of the Prophet's Prayer Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Prayer with Tears Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Between God and Man Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Prayer and Super Prayer Ch 5 — Attributes of God / An Example of Super Prayer Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Exemplary Supplication Ch 5 — Attributes of God / True Prayer: A Living Experience Ch 5 — Attributes of God / An Incident Relating to a Virtuous Lady Ch 5 — Attributes of God / A Historical Example Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Prayer at Difficult Moments Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Invoking God's Infinite Mercy Ch 5 — Attributes of God / You Have Been Granted Your Request, Moses Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Be a Playback Speaker For Me Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Islamic Literature in the Modern Idiom Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Asking from God in Utter Helplessness
Maarifah—the Goal of Mankind p. 10
Scholars have defined maarifah as being man’s first obligation. It would be more precise to say that maarifah is the purpose of life. The life before death is the beginning of maarifah, and the life after death is the culmination of maarifah. In the present world, a person receives God’s maarifah in the sense of a preliminary discovery. In the world Hereafter, he will receive God’s maarifah in the complete sense. The truth is that maarifah is an intellectual process, which begins in this present world and will continue eternally in the world Hereafter. p. 10
Chapter 51 of the Quran tells us that man and the jinns were created for the worship of God alone (51:56). p. 10 Qur'an
The purpose of this creation was that man and the jinns should be granted the sublime ability to achieve the realization of God in the highest degree. Therefore, on the one hand, the jinns and men were given the elevated intellectual capability required for this great purpose, while, on the other hand, they were given all the external resources necessary for them to carry out this task. p. 10
Maarifah literally means realization of something in the perfect sense. Maarifah, in other words, may be called intellectual discovery. This discovery does not relate to any short-lived familiarity with the truth but is rather another name for a long journey. p. 11
The God that man is supposed to realize has such attributes as are alluded to in the Quran: “If all the trees on earth were pens, and the sea [were] ink, with seven [more] seas added to it, the words of God would not be exhausted: for, truly, God is Almighty and Wise.” (The Quran, 31:27) The discovery of God who is so perfect, cannot be done in a short period of time. It is without doubt a journey which begins at a fixed point in time, but which is ultimately unending. p. 11 original + quote
The maarifah of God does not mean that with the help of meditation we shall have glimpses of God’s being in the world of imagination. Moreover, maarifah is not ecstasy. Maarifah is an enhanced state of consciousness which can be achieved solely by contemplation of the divine creation. According to the Quran, maarifah can be defined as a servant of God discovering God, the Lord of the worlds in all His Majesty and Glory to the extent that He becomes a centre of his love (The Quran, 2:165). And all his feelings of fear are associated with Him (The Quran, 9:18). p. 11 original + quote
Love and fear are interconnected. When a servant of God engages in contemplation and discovers the Creator of the Universe in all His glory, in his heart he comes to acknowledge God to a limitless extent. Moreover, when he discovers the reality that the giver is God and that no one else can give anything to him, his heart becomes filled with the fear that if he is deprived of God’s blessings, nowhere, on the earth or in heaven, will he find any other refuge. p. 11
God has created man in the best of moulds (The Quran, 95:4). He has been granted all the intellectual capabilities by which he may achieve maarifah of the Lord of the worlds. Beside this, in the external world that is nature, all those elements are hidden which may assist him in this journey. Now it is man’s task to discover these elements of maarifah in nature and experience such an elevated level of maarifah as will enable him to develop a divine personality. p. 12 original + quote
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