Discovering God
Ch 5 — Attributes of God / Be a Playback Speaker For Me
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
Be a Playback Speaker For Me p. 343
When I was travelling in some western country, I was invited to address a gathering, but I had not been told about what kind of audience it would be. I was just told that the audience would be composed of educated people. Due to some misunderstanding, I thought that the audience would be composed of people from India and Pakistan and, therefore, I could speak in Urdu. p. 343
When I reached there in the evening, I saw that many people were sitting in a big hall. On inquiring about them, I was told that they were all English speaking people, and that I would have to address them in English because they did not understand Urdu. For me this news was like a bolt from the blue. Earlier, I had read only prepared papers in English. I had never spoken extempore in English in any gathering. p. 343
Very perturbed, I went to a side room and locked the door. Then I performed my ablutions and said two unit of prayer salatul hajah. This is a prayer which is said to ask God for something. When I raised my hand to my eyes they were so full of tears that it was as if a tap had been turned on. p. 343
Weeping, I said to God that I was totally helpless and I had to represent an Omnipotent God: “O God, if You command, even the stones will speak out and convey Your message. If You command, even the trees will break their silence and will address mankind. If You command, the earth and the heavens will say what man should have spoken. But, O God, because of the law of test You will never do this. Therefore, now You have no other choice but to help a helpless man like me. Your help should be so great as You have never given anyone before. p. 344 original + quote
O God, in the name of all Your good names, I pray to You to become a playback speaker for me. You speak and I will repeat. Speak in a silent language, and I will repeat Your words. O God, if I do not speak on this occasion, it will be like fleeing from the battlefield, and if You do not help me today, this announcement (of calling people to God) will not be made in a way that is most desirable for You. O God, it is a moment when neither do I have a choice nor do You. O God, this is the moment when the total helplessness of man and the Omnipotence of God, the Creator, have arrived at one level. In such a situation, neither can I renege nor do You have the choice to ignore me.” p. 344
After saying these prayers, I came out and sat on the speaker’s chair in the hall. The whole hall was full of people and I was the only speaker. I started speaking in a frenzied manner, and, for about an hour, I continued to speak in English. The whole speech was extempore and fluent. At the end of the speech, I asked the audience if anyone wanted to ask a question. But no question came from the audience. Later someone told me that the audience had been so mesmerized by my language that they just did not dare to ask a question. p. 344
After this experience, my life quite unexpectedly entered upon a new phase, that is, I started speaking in English extempore. Speaking in English, giving interviews in English, making speeches in English, all these things had earlier not been a part of my life. Now they became part and parcel of my life and, by the grace of God, this situation still continues. p. 345
It was in 1947, when India gained its freedom that I started learning English. But I got no encouragement from anyone. My cousins laughed at me. At that time I was about 30 years of age, so everyone laughed at how I could think of learning a new language at that age. As a matter of common experience, they were right. But by divine succour everything is possible, for I believe, the prayer I made above was without doubt, a prayer with isme-aazam and it is due to the miracle of this prayer that something unexpected became a reality. p. 345
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