ISLAMIC SPIRITUALITY

greater than all this? Do you want spiritual peace in addition to material peace? Do you want a world of perfection after this imperfect world? Would you like to taste the blessings of God in the world of eternity after you have tasted them in this ephemeral world?" God created a perfect and complete world as an eternal abode for man. This life is only a test, and man is under the observation of his Lord. With every utterance and movement, man is writing his own eternal destiny. A materially-minded person sees only the creation, while a spiritually inclined person sees the splendour of the Creator through creation. God has revealed himself in two books—The Quran and the Universe. The Quran is the literal version of God’s word, while the universe or nature is a practical demonstration of it. These two are the basic sources of spiritual inspiration for a man who seeks to live a life according to the divine scheme. The Quran says: God is He who raised the Heavens without visible supports, then He ascended the Throne. He has compelled the sun and moon to be of service, each pursuing an appointed course; He controls the Affairs (of the universe). THE QURAN, 13: 2 When man sees the universe with its varied parts functioning in an absolutely coherent manner, he will spontaneously say: “There is no god but one God!” When he observes that the various parts of the universe function with absolute harmony, he realizes that, in like manner, he should also live in complete harmony with society, without hatred or malice towards anyone. When he sees the events of the universe always proceeding towards a meaningful result, he realizes that man’s life too, must have a meaningful end. From the Quran we learn that, in the very creation of the universe, the signs of God lie hidden all around us. A person, who is in a state of keen awareness when he reflects upon the things of the world, comes to see the Creator in the creation. The meaning of the creation of the universe is laid bare before him. Ultimately, the universe becomes a