FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE

FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE There is a tree beside my house. I call it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing being that was initially a seed possessing the potential of becoming a full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the universe around it and then grows into a tree. The same is true with spirituality, the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an integral part of, the very nature of, every human being. To realize this spirituality, Man must derive spiritual food from the universe around him. A tree converts carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a spiritual personality. —Maulana Wahiduddin Khan GOD’S GUIDANCE A DUA or supplication appears in a Hadith of the Prophet as follows: “O God, give me guidance and show me the right way.” (Sahih Muslim) In this dua, the phrase ‘give me guidance’ means a request to be guided along the straight path. The next phrase in this dua is ‘and show me the right way’. This means that even after being guided to the straight path people have need of continuous guidance from God. If we reflect, we will realize that the request ‘show me the right way’ means a request to be saved from distractions. This same point has been mentioned in the Quran (6: 153): “[He has enjoined], ‘this is My straight path; so follow it, and do not follow other ways: that will lead you away from His path.’ The verse provides the example of a person who sets off on his journey on the highway, but then on the way the road may meander off onto narrow, misleading paths, and in this way, straying far from the highway. One way people can go astray is if they do not adopt the straight path. A second way they can go astray is if they start off their journey on the straight path but later get distracted by things that they see on the