THE WORD OF GOD

The remedy for ignorance is asking questions. (Prophet Muhammad) The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society and the above saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of curiosity and open-mindedness will foster development in any society by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their knowledge. This is because awareness of one’s ignorance is half of knowledge, as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river that is replenished with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey. ASK MAULANA Your Questions Answered When it is said that one should remember God at all times, how exactly does one do it? Suppose one is busy doing something: say, eating one’s meal or going for a walk, or driving a vehicle. If one’s mind is on God at every moment during this process, will it not distract one from the task one is doing? So, in this context, how can one be engaged in dhikr (remembrance) of God all the time? Remembering God at all times does not mean remembering Him every moment—it means most of the moments. There will be some moments in which you are engaged in other things, but this may also lead, in an indirect manner, to the remembrance of God. Please explain, with the help of one or two examples—say, of going for a stroll or washing one’s clothes—how one can both focus on the work one is doing and at the same time engage in God’s dhikr or remember God at every moment while being engaged in the particular activity one is engaged in. It is very simple to remember God, and also quite natural. For instance, when you are walking, you are doing so entirely because of the blessings of God. God is providing you sunlight; He is supplying you with oxygen and air. Also, it is He who has caused the gravitational attraction of the earth to enable you to walk, and so on. Without these divine blessings, you cannot walk on earth. If you realize these divine bounties and connect them with God, then you are remembering God. Similarly, when you are washing your clothes, it is due to divine blessings that you able to do so. The water that you use is supplied by God, the cotton that makes up your clothes, the soap through which you clean, etc., all