Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Speaking Tree Website | Monday April 15, 2013

Spirituality in Islam is the direct result of contemplation, the kind of intellectual development that takes place when a believer ponders over the Creator and His creation: he gains something in the process that may be termed spirituality. The source, therefore, of Islamic spirituality is observation and reflection, rather than any sort of mysterious exercises.

We learn from the Quran that in the very creation of the universe, the signs of God lie hidden all around us. One who has developed keen awareness when he reflects upon the things of the world is able to see the Creator in His creatures. The meaning of the creation of the Universe is laid bare before him. Ultimately, the universe becomes a permanent source of spiritual inspiration. He is continuously nourished by it during his worldly experience.

A believer is not supposed to shun his normal life in order to lead a life of observation and contemplation. Islam does not advocate withdrawing from the world. He has to live in this world and participate in its activities. What is desired from him is that while fulfilling all his duties, his heart should not be attached to worldly affairs. In this way he continues to gain spiritually.

Once a noted scientist said that only a prepared mind can make a scientific discovery. The same can be said of meditation. Here also a prepared soul alone can benefit from it. First of all tazkia, purification of the soul, has to be done through meditation. Tazkia aims at clearing one's heart of all kinds of negative sentiments, otherwise meditation will not work. There is a very interesting story which illustrates this point.

A milkman came to Gautam Buddha and asked him to give him gyan, i.e. the realisation of truth. Gautam Buddha asked:

"Would you like the milk to be put in an unclean container?"

The milkman said:

"No. First of all we must clean the container and only then can we put the milk in it."

Gautam Buddha then said:

"The same is true of realisation. Realisation can be put only in a clean container. First of all, you have to cleanse your heart and mind of all kinds of moral pollution. Only after this cleaning process will you be able to receive the truth."

The preparation during the pre-contemplation period is very important. Anyone who desires to benefit from contemplation will have to complete this pre-contemplation course based on simple living and high thinking.

Jesus Christ once said:

"Man cannot live by bread alone."

It means that physical food cannot provide complete fulfillment to man. It requires something more. This something more is spirituality. If food is needed for the nourishment of the body, spirituality is needed for the nourishment of the soul. Both are required for the complete development of the human personality.

The human body is nourished by material food as is known to all of us. But the question arises as to how our soul receives its nourishment. The position of the soul can be likened to ore, and the position of spirituality can be likened to steel. Then how is this ore to be developed into spirituality? High thinking alone provides the answer to this question. This means thinking by rising above the mundane.

Contemplation in Islam aims at bringing man closer to God. When man worships God, when he remembers Him, when his heart is turned towards Him with full concentration, when he makes a request or a plea, he establishes a rapport with his Maker. In the words of the Hadith, at that particular moment he comes to whisper with his Lord. He has the tangible feeling that he is pouring his heart out to God and that God in turn is answering his call.

When this communion is established between God and man, man can feel himself becoming imbued with a special kind of peace. His eyes are moist with tears. He starts receiving inspiration from God.

According to a Hadith the Prophet Muhammad said the highest form of worship is to pray as if you were seeing God. We learn from this Hadith the true sign of a superior form of worship. The true sign is for man to sense the presence of God during worship, and feel that he has come close to God. That is when he can experience the refreshing, cooling effect of God's love and blessings for man. It is this feeling of closeness to God which is the highest form of spiritual experience. In chapter 96, the Quran says:

"Do Sajdah (self-prostration) and come nearer to God." (96:19).

This sajdah is the highest form of meditation. Sajdah is a form of unification of soul and body. According to this Quranic verse, sajdah is the meeting point between God and man.

Sajdah is the sign of submission or surrender, for it is only in a state of submission or surrender that we can meet God Almighty. Sajdah is the final position of submission for acquiring a place very close to God.