Knowledge Without Realisation

KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT REALISATION Knowledge is necessary for attaining maarifah. Knowledge plays a pivotal role in attaining GodRealisation. Such an individual possesses the ability to transcend superficial knowledge and gain insight into the inner spiritual realities. T he Quran says: “Be mindful of God; He teaches you” (2:282). In this verse, ilm means understanding. The meaning of this is that God-consciousness (taqwa) in a person will engender in him a proper understanding of the religion (At-Tafseer al-Qurtubi, Vol. 3, p. 406). From this, we learn that it is possible for a person to possess knowledge or information about religion and yet not possess a proper understanding of religion. This is because the source of true understanding of religion is God-consciousness, not mere knowledge. There is a supplication in a hadith report as follows: “O God, I seek refuge with You from the knowledge that is of no benefit.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 5470) To understand this point, consider an example. In present times, some emotionally driven Muslims have unleashed violence at different places wrongly in the