THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

FREEDOM OF THOUGHT For example, the issue of predestination and free will falls entirely under the category of allegorical. In this matter, being content with a general understanding is both a rational and a religious requirement. This is also the scientific point of view. Another area is the natural world—the signs scattered throughout the earth and sky. Reflection in this area is fully encouraged. This kind of reflection increases certainty. It nourishes spiritual development. It shapes a person’s character into one of higher awareness. It turns an individual into the kind of human being who, in everyday language, is called a seeker of truth, and in religious language, is called one who knows God. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION The prominent Indian Muslim scholar Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi (1851–1920) was an enthusiastic supporter of the Khilafat Movement. In contrast, his student, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (1863–1943)—a noted scholar in his own right—openly opposed and criticized the movement. However, the teacher never took this “insolence” from his student in a negative way. Their sincere relationship remained intact until the very end. In one conversation, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi mentioned his teacher and guide, saying: “His heart was not burdened in the slightest by my disagreement. Once, during the