INHERITANCE

T he study of the Quran tells us that the actual target of the Book of God (the Quran) is to change the thinking of an individual. The Quran gives many principles to inculcate right thinking in a person. Thinking is a person’s greatest action. Right thinking is, in fact, a form of worship. After his death, someone asked the widow of Abu Darda, a Companion of the Prophet, what his greatest action had been. She replied, “Thinking and drawing lessons.” Likewise, after the death of another Companion of the Prophet, Abu Dharr, someone asked his widow what his special worship had been, and she replied, “The whole day, he would keep thinking.” Thinking occurs at the level of the mind. It is the mind that is the biggest aspect of human existence. Thinking makes a person capable of effectively planning his actions, which is key to his success. Thinking is the means for one’s intellectual development. Thinking lifts a person to a higher level of humanity. The Quran says: “Be mindful of God; He teaches you.” (2: 282) In this verse, the Arabic word ilm means understanding. The meaning of this is God-consciousness in a person will engender in him a proper understanding of the religion. (Tafsir al-Qurtubi) From this, we learn that it is possible for a person to possess knowledge or information about religion and yet not possess a proper understanding of religion. This is because the source of true understanding of religion is God-consciousness, not mere knowledge. There is a supplication in a Hadith as follows: “O God, I seek refuge with You from the knowledge that is of no benefit.” (Sunan anNasa’i) If a person possesses knowledge (in the sense of information) but THE ART OF THINKING Those who learn the art of right thinking can construct a successful life in this world. It is through right thinking that one understands the difference between one thing and another; one discovers solutions to difficulties; one discerns hidden realities. Result-oriented Thinking