FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE

There is a tree beside my house. I call it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing being that was initially a seed possessing the potential of becoming a full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the universe around it and then grows into a tree. The same is true with spirituality, the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an integral part of, the very nature of, every human being. To realize this spirituality, Man must derive spiritual food from the universe around him. A tree converts carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a spiritual personality. —Maulana Wahiduddin Khan


THE DISCOVERY OF DIVINE BLESSINGS

MAN has been granted numerous blessings by God. The greatest form of worship for man is the acknowledgement of these blessings, which he expresses as thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is, without doubt, the greatest act of devotion, whereas not thanking God is the worst form of impiety.

None of these divine blessings come to man with any prior announcement. For instance, the global supply of oxygen is continuing at every moment. But man has never been verbally informed about this. There are many such divine blessings that are received by man at all times. But this whole process is going on without any fanfare whatsoever.

Given this situation, how should man perform the act of worship which expresses his genuine thanksgiving, or acknowledgement? There is only one way of doing so. That is, man should constantly strive to discover God’s blessings through contemplation, for the discovery of divine blessings must perforce precede thanksgiving. One who has made no attempt at such a discovery will certainly never experience the profound satisfaction of thanksgiving.

That is why such great importance is attached to contemplation in the Hadith. According to one Hadith, “There is no worship like contemplation.”

Contemplation means deep thinking, a process which takes place in the mind—the source of all our actions. The more a human being ponders, the more profound will be the meaning discovered by him. And it is a self-evident truth that the more regularly and sincerely one gives thanks, the greater will be the satisfaction derived from this act.

God’s limitless blessings are discovered through cogitation and with this discovery flows the stream of thanksgiving within man. It would be correct to say that the more extensive the discovery, the more intensified will be his thanksgiving. It is contemplation that leads man to discovery and constant discovery leads man to more and more elevated levels of thanksgiving.