The signs of Allah (swt) are manifested in His creation. If we are just to open our eyes we would see the wonders in each of Allah (swt’s) creations. Yet how many of us grasp this opportunity when it has been handed to us so easily? With this in mind, why do so many of us drift through life, following many of the commands of the Almighty (swt) which were relayed onto us through our purified AhlulBayt (as), without comprehension of the reason why. Is Islam a culture; passed down through generations without anyone ever applying the processes of reason or logical comprehension? 

“Those are a people who have passed away; theirs is that which they earned and yours that which ye earn. And ye will not be asked of what they used to do.” 2:134 

Everyone is responsible for their own actions. We must move away from this mentality that Islam is a tradition and so we must follow our forefathers without using our own mind. 

“Certainly, the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb - those who do not make use of their Aql.” 8:22 

It is incumbent upon every Muslim to utilise the mind that we have all been bestowed with to contemplate. It is our duty to understand our aqeedah and the usool al deen. Taqleed is not required for matters such as these, these issues are ones that one needs to be able to reach the depths of truths by using his/her innate perceptions; by believing with one’s heart and mind simultaneously. Blind following is little better than not following at all. 

“(O MAN), follow not that you have no knowledge about. The hearing, the sight and the heart all will be asked.” 17:36 

Our beloved Prophet (saw) said: “The virtue of knowledge is more beloved with Allah than the virtue of worship”. Furthermore, Imam al Sadiq (as) narrates: “The one who learns knowledge and acts accordingly, and teaches it for Allah, will be called magnificently in heavens.” In a famous hadeeth of the Prophet (saw), knowledge is described as being the first light that was created in humans (before any other light)!

From the moment we are born, our eyes are opened to the world around us, knowledge encompasses us to such an extent it is over whelming. Hence, we see that the Prophet says that we should “seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave”. 

Imam Ali (as) narrates that one hour of contemplation is worth 70 years of worship. Why so much emphasis if exercising the power of thought is futile? Contemplation is the key. Our minds are hidden treasures and the wise are those who seek them. Our feelings are controlled by thoughts, they are a plethora of material - simply changing how one thinks will change how one feels! We see perfect examples of this throughout history. Of the more awe-inspiring is the story of Hur (ra). Thought is what changed the inclination of Hur (ra) as he stood irresolute between the camp of the enemies of Islam and Imam Hussein’s (as) camp! This sheer beauty of the mind and soul is coupled in a way that manifests Allah (swt’s) Mercy. 

Our brain is the only tool with which to access the external world. It is the centre of consciousness, unconsciousness, perception and knowledge. This mind must be used to manifest the truth in life. This Divine truth must be reached through our God-given minds. Imam Al-Ridha (as) reportedly said: “The greatest of miracles of Allah is the human mind. It allows ideas to be thought through and reasoned out. Islam appeals to human reason. Man must accept Allah through reason and not through miracles.” 

The Commander of the faithful (as) advises his people to reflect on their actions at the end of the day; to list the faults committed that day and to contemplate ways to overcome them. How else does one move forward if they ignore their mistakes? Surely they are a method for us to learn and advance in our inner strength. 

Allamah Sayyid Mohammad Husayn Tabataba’i, in his book “Mohammad in the Mirror of Islam” presents the case that Islam unites the materialistic and spiritualistic aspects of life: 

“As has been pointed out, Islam in its teachings has chosen a path which is mid-way between the purely spiritual and purely material, a path which harmonises and integrates these two antagonistic aspects of existence; and in truth, man can not reach the perfection of self-realisation in any other way.” 

Once we realise the essence of our existence, our purpose on earth, then we have opened many doors to us. How is anyone able to succeed in a task if they do not know its purpose? Let us examine this in a little more detail. There are two aspects to take into consideration. Firstly, what is Allah (swt’s) purpose of Creation? Is it so that we may worship Him? Is it so that we can be tested? Far from it. Is Allah (swt) in need of our worship? Does Allah (swt) with His infinite knowledge not know the outcome of this test? Allah (swt’s) purpose is so that He may share His bounties. His Love and Mercy emanate so strongly. What is the purpose of our existence in this temporary and fleeting abode? We have been placed on this earth so that we may learn and so that we may use this knowledge as a means for the purification of our mind and souls. 

“It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop then from a leech-like clot; then does He get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old though of you there are some who die before; and lets you reach a Term appointed: in order that you may learn wisdom.” 40:67 

This life is so we may worship the Almighty (swt). This worship is not for Allah (swt’s) benefit as He is not in need of our worship. It is a means for the perfection of the soul which is our main purpose. The aim of every act of worship is the purification of the soul. 

There is a famous tradition by Amir Al Mumineen (as) which is appropriate for mention here. He stipulates that there are three types of believers. Firstly, there is the slave whom worships Allah (swt) out of fear of the hell fire. The second is the business man whom worships for the reward of heaven. The third type is he who worships Allah (swt) solely because Allah (swt) is worthy of worship. Once there is a realisation of this being our aim then we can begin to move on to fulfilling that goal. It is neither an easy task nor one which will come easily. For the hardest of tasks are often the most superior and worthy. It is a step-wise process. It requires the purification of the soul and heart of diseases such as pride and arrogance. It requires one to be truthful to oneself and to others. However, these steps can not be fathomed without one firstly making sure that they obey Allah (swt) in all their actions. It is nothing more difficult than abstaining from that which is forbidden and carrying out that which is prescribed as duties (wajibaat). In essence, it is obeying Allah (swt). This serves as a platform for soul searching and purification. 

Islam is a religion accessible to all. It does not discriminate between race, age or gender. This unique quality is not evident in Hinduism which distinguishes between Brahmins and non-Brahmins, nor in Christianity which distinguishes between male and female, nor in Judaism which distinguishes between the Children of Israel and Gentiles. Even in secular social systems, there is discrimination between the citizens of a country and foreigners. The Quran however, in the most eloquent form states: 

“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct” 49:13 

The Quran is a guide for the hearts of mankind. In it lie the answers for many questions. 

“We have made al-Quran simple for understanding.” 54:17 

“Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic, that ye may use your aql.” 12:2 

In it lies the direction of our lives. The Quran however is not intended to provide the answers to all the universe’s questions. Very often we find people searching in the Quran for answers to questions where answers are to be found else where. In other circumstances, we find people searching for answers to questions in other places when the Quran has the answer. I would like to end on a short excerpt from a book written by Francis Beacon (1592) which illustrates this very point: 

In the year of our Lord 1432, there arose a grievous quarrel among the brethren over the number of teeth in the mouth of a horse. For 13 days the disputation raged without ceasing. All the ancient books and chronicles were fetched out, and wonderful and ponderous erudition, such as was never before heard of in this region, was made manifest. At the beginning of the 14th day, a youthful friar of goodly bearing asked his learned superiors for permission to add a word, and straightway, to the wonderment of the disputants, whose deep wisdom he sore vexed, he beseeched them to unbend in a manner coarse and unheard-of, and to look in the open mouth of a horse and find answer to their questionings. At this, their dignity being grievously hurt, they waxed exceedingly wroth; and, joining in a mighty uproar, they flew upon him and smote him hip and thigh, and cast him out forthwith. For, said they, surely Satan hath tempted this bold neophyte to declare unholy and unheard-of ways of finding truth contrary to all the teachings of the fathers.