FOREWORD

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) If a person possesses knowledge (in the sense of information) but does not possess the insight of maarifah, he will not understand the difference between one thing and another. What he speaks will be based simply on the information that he possesses. But in actual fact, it will be based on ignorance, and nothing else. For maarifah, knowledge is necessary, but a person of maarifah is able to go beyond external knowledge to see inner realities. He is able to properly analyse information. He can read between the lines. He can see events in their proper perspective. These are some of the attributes of a person of maarifah. Only for a person of maarifah can his knowledge become beneficial. Without maarifah, knowledge will only lead to ignorance. Right thinking is an art. Those who have learned the art can construct a successful life in this world.