Badges mark quoted or attributed material (Qur'an, hadith, another author, an opposing view). Unbadged passages are Maulana Wahiduddin Khan's own words.
We take physical food through our digestive system and we take spiritual food through thinking and observation. Both are not two different items, in fact both are one and the same. In the very items that we take as food there is spiritual content also. We can extract this spiritual item through thinking and contemplation. p. 274
For example, if you take some food like bread and rice or vegetable and fruit, you should think of how it was possible that soil was able to produce such beneficial items. Then you discover that it was due to God’s blessing. This kind of thinking inculcates love towards God Almighty. Acknowledging God Almighty, you say: ‘O Lord you are so merciful and compassionate towards mankind.’ p. 274
Then, again you think that although these things were in the earth, but were there in terms of potential. Who made this potential into actuality? Then you realize that there are farmers, agriculturists, horticulturalists and others who performed great labour on soil and so it was possible for soil to yield such products useful for people. This discovery inculcates in your heart great love towards mankind. You say: ‘O people I am thankful to you. Due to your valuable contribution, it was possible that I could have such nice and delicious items for my lunch and dinner.’ p. 275
This is an example of spiritual extraction from physical items. This extraction, on the one hand, makes you able to acknowledge God’s blessing, and on the other hand, it enables you to acknowledge man’s contribution towards you and towards civilization. p. 275
These spiritual experiences are highly valuable to the spiritual development of the personality of a true believer. p. 275
“Divine provision” in the above verse is not used in the sense that the reward will be given to the believer only in the later period of life. Certainly, believers will receive reward in the world hereafter. But in the present world also they will receive provision. This provision will be spiritual provision—the provision that a believer extracts from worldly experiences. p. 275
These spiritual experiences are highly valuable to the spiritual development of the personality of a true believer. In one sense a believer is a spiritual personality, and this spiritual personality is developed in a person through those spiritual lessons which he drives through contemplation in the world around him. p. 275
Spiritual food is a kind of inspirational food, the source of this inspiration is two fold: contemplation in the glory of God and deriving lessons from experiences had in daily life. The Quranic spirituality is not mysterious spirituality; it is based on the mind and can be received through applying wisdom in the daily experiences. p. 275
Avoiding the Useless p. 276
The Quran advocates a purposeful life. It exhorts people not to indulge in useless talk or useless activity. On this subject there is a particularly apt verse in the chapter Al-Mu’minun (The Believers) of the Quran. Its translation is as follows: p. 276original + quote
Successful indeed are the believers; those who are humble in their prayer; and those who turn away from everything vain. (23:1-3) p. 276Qur'an
Human pursuits fall into two categories: worthy and unworthy. A worthy pursuit is one which leads to positive results and an unworthy pursuit is one which leads to no result at all. A true believer is one who has before him a specific target, which makes him selective. He therefore makes a point of always selecting that kind of activity which is worthy and avoids that which is unworthy. It is this kind of person who will be rewarded with success by God Almighty. p. 276
Before taking any action, the believer must assess its possible result. He must anticipate its consequences. His response to any situation must be rational and well-considered and not simply an emotional outburst. This principle includes all kinds of human expressions and activities like thinking, discussion, dealing, association, shopping, outings, reading, etc. A believer must adopt this kind of behaviour in every aspect of his life, both in word and in deed. p. 276
It is a fact that we are on this planet earth for a limited time. Our lifespan being so very short, we cannot afford the luxury of wasting time and energy; we have to be very prudent. We have to select only such targets about which we can say with certainty that in the end they will yield the required result. No excuse in this regard is acceptable. p. 276
When you use your mind, use it on healthy subjects; when you speak, say whatever is good for you and good for others; when you are going to take a step, examine all the relative aspects. If there is any possibility that your step will prove to be counter-productive, then refrain from taking it. p. 277
A wise man always differentiates between a positive response and a negative reaction, between a realistic approach and an emotional approach. He invariably adopts a result-oriented policy. Jumping into things without assessing the result is a habit that only fools can afford, for fools rush in where angels fear to tread. But a wise man cannot afford this kind of involvement. p. 277
When you use your mind, use it on healthy subjects; when you speak, say whatever is good for you and good for others; when you are going to take a step, examine all the relative aspects. p. 277
‘Useless’ means ‘without any result’ and whatever has no result is pointless and liable to be thrown into the litterbin. If even animals follow the result-oriented path, then why cannot men and women? p. 277
If an honest person indulges in useless activities, his conscience will go against him. Before facing others, he has to face up to his own conscience and there are very few who can do that. Conscience, working as an internal check, is a moral keeper for every man and woman. Conscience never fails and if you pay heed to it, you will surely save yourself from going astray. Follow your conscience and you will surely develop into a divine personality. p. 277
Every Person is Born on the Path of God p. 278
Man is a creature and God is the Creator. Every creature must seek the blessings of his Creator. Every man and woman must proceed towards this goal destined by God. This is laid down in the Quran in the chapter Al-Dhariyat (Scattering Winds). The translation of this verse is as follows: p. 278original + quote
(The Prophet said) Therefore hasten to God; truly, I am sent by Him to give you clear warning. (51:50) p. 278hadith
Every man and woman is born on the path of God. Some proceed along this pre-determined path, while others deviate from it. Steadfastness in remaining on the true path is subject to a divine test, and everyone will certainly be put to this test. Everyone must exercise great prudence in this, for it is only those who follow this path who will go to Paradise. Those who fail to do so will be led towards eternal failure. p. 278
It is an established fact that every person is born with a certain inner urge—nature’s gift to him—to reach a particular a goal. This urge is so common that there is no exception whatsoever—rich and poor, or educated and uneducated, all are born with this natural urge. So, it is an issue for all individuals. p. 278
What is this goal? First of all, it is to find out one’s own Creator, to understand the creation plan of God and to grasp all those factors that are relevant to life in this world. p. 278
All the prophets came with this single agenda. They all wanted to guide mankind towards this goal. To this end, they received revelations which took the form of guidance from God Almighty. p. 278
The Quran is pre-dated by several revealed books. But now it has been established that the Quran is the only authentic work of religious reference, it being the only divine book to have been preserved in its original form. p. 279
The only path that has no end is the road to God. It continues even after the death of human beings, both men and women. It is an unbroken trajectory into eternity, from the limited world to a world without limitations. This represents a transition from the imperfect world to the perfect world, from materialism to spirituality and, as such, is a voyage from time and space to beyond time and space. All other roads end with the death of the human being. p. 279
It is a fact that every man lives in a state of frustration. But why is there this frustration? The reason is that man by birth wants a complete world to live in, but in the present world he is compelled to live in a world that is not complete. Journeying on the road to God is the solution. This road takes you from the incomplete to the complete: it is the hallowed nature of God’s path that gives the traveler of this path unlimited bliss. p. 279
The only path that has no end is the road to God. It continues even after the death of human beings, both men and women. It is an unbroken trajectory into eternity, from the limited world to a world without limitations. p. 279
The road to God means a sublime passage from unfulfilled desires to total fulfilment. The road to God, in other words, means the road to Paradise—the final goal of those who want to return to their Maker. p. 279