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Discovering God

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan explores how spiritual realization is the foundation of religious life — how a genuine discovery of God turns religion from empty ritual into a living experience that reshapes one’s whole character and worldview.

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Contents

Foreword

Ch 1 — Realization of God62

What is Maarifah?Maarifah—the Goal of Mankind Faith: Maarifah of God The Discovery of the Divine Words High Levels of Maarifah The Philosophical Concept of God The Heart and Mind Purification of the Heart Jihad Fillah Taking Lessons Intellectual Seclusion The Intellectual Horizon Levels of Realization Reflection and Contemplation Remembering God Often Intellectual Development Reason and Human Nature Help in the Quest for Truth Emotional Attachment with God The Inner and Outer Aspects of Faith The Meaningful Exception Universe without God Unexplainable The Price of Finding God The Discovery of the Glory of God The Journey of the Realization of God Deep Realization of God Faith: A Discovery of One's Relation with God Realization of God: Discovery of One's Helplessness The Purpose of Human Life God-realization: A Personal Discovery God-realization: A Creative Subject The Universe: A Source of God-realization Scientific Discoveries Provide Spiritual Food God-realization: A Divine Gift Learning Lessons from Mundane Occurrences Reason-based Discovery of God Not Uncertainty The Awakened Person The Existence of God The Virtue of Modesty The Godly Personality No Negative Thinking The Discovery of the Existence of the Creator Discovery of the Unseen God Silence and God-realization Discovery of God's Majesty Discovering God on Every Occasion Uniqueness of a Human Being God and Paradise Self-Negation: A Means of Discovering God Making the Discovery of God One's Personal Interest Uncertainty about Oneself An Obstacle in the Path of God-realization The Natural World Leads to God Maarifah: A Life with God Positivity: The Fertile Ground of Maarifah The Light of God-realization The Living Discovery of God The Difference between Ecstasy and God-realization Realization and Prayer The Discovery of One's Ignorance Make God Your Supreme Concern The Form and Spirit of Religion

Ch 2 — Purification of the Self51

Purification of the Self (Tazkiya)The Continual Growth of One's Personality The Incentive to Purify Oneself Paradise for the Purified Soul Hadith–A Source of Tazkiya Tazkiya–A Continuous Process The Process of De-Conditioning Tazkiya–Spiritual Nourishment Ijtihad is not Permissible in Worship Tazkiya at Every Moment Introspection after Making a Mistake Heart-based Tazkiya, Mind-based Tazkiya The Need of a Guide The Importance of Interaction for Tazkiya Without Mediation Prior to Tazkiya Tazkiya and Introspection Tazkiya and Modesty Prophetic Prayers Tazkiya and Prayer The Form of Tazkiya Conscience–A Guide to Tazkiya The Method of Tazkiya The Need for Intellectual Awareness Activating One's Thinking Tazkiya–A Source of Intellectual Development Tazkiya and Knowledge Save Yourself from Distraction Tazkiya and the Demands of the Times The Condition of Tazkiya The Acceptance of Reality Tazkiya and Sacrifice Tazkiya–A Psychological Act The Importance of Positive Psychology Introspection–The Basis of Tazkiya How to Engage in Introspection Seeing a Test Paper in Advance Tazkiya and Renunciation of the World Tazkiya–An Act of Preparation Tazkiya–A Means of Reaching God The Purpose of Tazkiya The Criterion of Tazkiya Tazkiya and Remembrance of Death Towards Spiritual Civilization Spiritual Progress What is Introspection?The Building of a Positive Personality Spirituality: Converting Material into Spiritual A Deadly Habit The Method of De-conditioning Spirituality Without Intellectual Revolution

Ch 3 — God-Oriented Life33

Ch 4 — Remembrance of God53

What is Remembrance?Remembrance of God Point of Reference for Prayer Helplessness and Power Divine Prayer Gratefulness in the State of Ungratefulness Remembrance is a Thinking Process Sincere Repentance The Importance of Gratitude The Extended Meaning of the Quran The Book of Recitation or The Book of Obedience The Importance of the Study of the Quran The Morning Recitation of the Quran Pondering over the Quran Stirring Up of a Revolution in the Human Personality Pondering on the Quran The Verse of God's Throne First Favour, Second Favour Convert Loss into Gain Discovery of Total Absence of One's Power Constant Complaining The Increase in Blessings Remembrance and Prayer Prayer is Worship The Need for the Renewal of Faith The Reality of the World Small Thankfulness, Big Thankfulness A Life of Security Closeness to God in Every Situation Conscious Worship Invoking God's Mercy The Safeguarding of the Feeling of Gratitude The Greatest Prayer Discover the Reasons for Thankfulness Thanksgiving is an Act of Sacrifice The Great Prayer Prayer: Verbal Form of Spiritual Experience Experience and Prayer Living Prayer A Point of Reference The Discovery of One's Helplessness How to Overcome Tension Learning Lessons from Loss Universal Thanksgiving The Discovery of Divine Blessings How to Find Spiritual Food True Action and True Prayer Thanksgiving as Opposed to Arrogance The Reason behind Negative Mentality Love for Humanity Gratitude towards Others Acknowledgement of God's Glory Remembering God in Solitude

Ch 5 — Attributes of God29