Introducing Islam
The Lesson of a Tree
Introducing Islam — 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 (196 chapters)
Man’s Quest What is Truth? A Danger Warning The Teachings
of the Prophet Towards Death A Final Word The Oneness of God All Praise is
Due to God The Angels God’s Prophets Termination of Prophethood The Resurrection When Death Comes The Next World As You Sow,
So Shall You Reap The Inhabitants of Paradise The Straight Path Islam—
An Integral Part of Life Worship of God Forms of Worship A Day in the
Life of a Muslim Giving as God Wills Islamic Character Humility—
The Foundation of Unity Who Should Preach? Acknowledgment
of the Truth Three Types
of Human Beings The Reward of God The Islamic Life Life in Accordance
with Reality From God’s
Point of View Care in All Matters Relinquishing
Power for God The Trial of Man Testing
Man’s Fitness Some Earn the World,
Others Eternity Stimulus and Response It’s Selection Time People of God Abstaining
from Baseness A Believer Lives for God Setting Oneself Right Thinking on
a Higher Plane Realizing One’s
Own Mistakes A Believer’s Wealth Making a Living Education The Mosque Islam and Infidelity The Relationship Between
Man and God Do As You
Would be Done By God is One God—The Sublime,
the Tremendous God’s Signs In Heaven
and on Earth The Cosmic Call Lord of the
Great Throne Love for God God’s Prophets Heaven and Hell Prayer Fasting Almsgiving Pilgrimage Sacrifice Serving God The Shari’ah The Servants
of the Merciful Trust in God Words of Wisdom God-Fearing People The Good Life Haram and Halal
(Lawful and Unlawful) Heavenly Souls The Serene Soul Divine Souls The Correct Way Profitable Trading Real Piety God’s Hospitality The Believer’s
Livelihood The People of Paradise Everything for God The Believer is
God’s Tree Good Advice Doomed
to Destruction The Deniers
of God’s Signs Fair Testimony Living in Harmony Islamic Society Calling to God Magnifying the Lord Eternity is Better Their Efforts
will be Rewarded The Day of Reward
and Retribution The Religion
That is Pleasing to God Prayers To the Lord Protect Us! Help Us! Purify Our Hearts Grant Us a
Righteous End Have Mercy on Us! Save us from Evil Strengthen Us! Do Not Leave Me Alone! Save Us From Doom Belief in God Discovery of God God’s Neighbour Spiritual Nourishment Closeness to God Paradise—
The Greatest of Gifts Heavenly Vision God’s Worshippers A Complete World Light After Darkness When all Things
Come to Light A Dream World Loss Turned to Gain Avoiding Disaster The Universal Way The Islamic Life The Believer:
God’s Industry Action or Acknowledgement The Long Road of Patience God’s Tree The Inheritance of Paradise Selection for Paradise Two Kinds of Souls Thankfulness Godly People The Seeker Finds Citizen of Paradise Submission to God The Lesson of a Tree Belonging to
the next World Heavenly Conduct Who will be
Granted Paradise? Who will be Saved? Without Paying the Price Heavenly Actions The Heavenly Traveller The Inheritance of Paradise Heavenly Character People of Paradise Eternal Bliss A Flower of Paradise Those Who Bow
Before God Virtuous Life God’s Envoy The Reality of Life Inner Revolution The Trial of Man What Man should Realize Doomsday Credit Alone Seeing into the Future Before Time Runs Out When Will They
Ever Learn? The Tragedy of Man No Refuge Wishful Thinking Angelic or Satanic When God Appears The Lesson of Death Delusive Grandeur The Inevitable
Fate of Man Life’s Journey God’s Mercy Extraordinary
Disillusionmen The Great Divide When Words Fail The Final Hour The Coming Day Remembering Death Man’s Negligence Man Stands Alone The Deluge
of Eternity Man’s Ignorance The Trumpet of the Last Day The Day of Reckoning Only One Chance Real Success and Failure The Greatest Earthquake On the Verge of Death All Too Soon Divine Scales of Justice After Death Brought Before God The Greatest Calamity Warning People
of the Hereafter Responsibility of Preaching The Awe-Inspiring Day of
Retribution The Soul of Islam Hushed Silence
Among the Crowd
The Lesson of a Tree
T
ake a look at a tree. Its trunk is firm and solid, but its leaves, fruits and flowers are weak and impermanent. Yet the beauty of its leaves, the colourfulness of its flowers, and the delicacy of its fruits show that these less substantial parts of the tree have deserved greater attention from nature than the stronger parts. It seems as if the trunk and the branches were created to bring into existence the fragile masterpieces of creation called leaves, flowers and fruits.
This is a sign of God, showing man what his Lord requires of him, and what he should do to make the tree of his life blossom. A tree shows man that he should seek the meaning of things beneath the surface; he should not be over-impressed by outward strength. People who adopt this attitude to life will be admitted into paradise.
Those who will not be admitted include the man who worships stone and ignores truth, who is polite and humane towards the mighty, and looks down with disdain on those towards whom God would really like him to be polite and humane. He is charitable for the sake of fame and withholds charity when there is no fame to be gained, though that is the only charity acceptable to God.
← Submission to God
Belonging to
the next World →