Nuggets of Wisdom

Nuggets of Wisdom

1989 2 February 3 Nuggets of Wisdom (296) The Quran is an ocean of profundity. Only one who plunges into its great depths can fathom the treasures it contains. “Wahab Ibn Abdullah AI-Sawa’i, who belonged to the generation after the companions of the Prophet, once asked ‘Ali Ibn Abu Talib whether he possessed any divine inspiration which was not contained in the Quran. Ali swore an oath by the One who split the seed and brought life into existence, that they had nothing besides the Quran: the only additional source of inspiration was the true understanding of the Quran which God bestows upon a person,” (Tafseer Ibn Kathir, Vol. II p. 77).

Ali’s response shows that a superficial reading of the scriptures is not sufficient to extract those golden nuggets of wisdom which lie, far below the surface. It is only God’s aid to deep thought and steady contemplation which will reveal the true significance of Quranic teachings.

Neither does it suffice just to learn classical Arabic and to read the words written on the pages of the Quran, or even to listen to readings and recitations. The words of the Quran must be read in the divine light of wisdom, and this can come to the reader only if he humbly implores God’s assistance. It is those readers of the Quran who do their utmost to penetrate the subtlest of its meanings and who, at the same time, prostrate themselves before God, who will be successful in comprehending the sacred text on every possible level.

A mere scamer of words will never have any sense of divine fulfillment when he reads the Quran, whereas the devout soul who tarries over every detail, and every nuance in pious humility, will be rewarded with the clearest and deepest understanding of God’s will and man’s salvation.