SPIRIT OF ISLAM MAY 2O18

21 Spirit of Islam Issue 65 May 2018 Another message from the teachings of the Quran, which is of a major concern, is to inculcate in every human being the art of contemplation so that one can learn a lesson from every event—mentioned in the Quran and also events from human history and our daily lives. In relation to a historical event, the Quran says: There are certainly signs in that for those who can learn a lesson. (15: 75) Natural phenomena as well as historical events have great lessons for those who contemplate deeply about them. The Quran, in referring to them, promotes the development of the thinking habit, so that readers may gain from them intellectually. The individual must keep his mind alive whenever he reads a book, when he observes a scene or when he is confronted by a historical or natural event. He must properly activate his mental faculties in order to derive the right lessons from them. He must endeavour to turn his experiences into meaningful lessons. Man has the capacity for conceptual thought. He can penetrate into the deeper aspect of things, and then learn from them hidden lessons. It is in man’s own interest to keep his mind alive, so that he may not lose any opportunity to learn the right lessons from the events of life. The teachings of the Quran further highlight another way of learning, which is by discussion and dialogue. The arena of knowledge and wisdom is so vast that it cannot be encompassed by any single mind. The only thing that can help us increase our knowledge is the development of an insatiable intellectual thirst for learning from different quarters on a continuous basis. Knowledge is like a great ocean; faced with its immensity, no one can be self-sufficient. The process of seeking knowledge has to be a mutual venture, in the course of which everyone gains something from everyone else. There are several ways of acquiring knowledge, one of them being through discussion or dialogue. This should take the form of an intellectual exchange and not in terms of debating. Discussion to be fruitful, requires objectivity, and should be carried out with the learning spirit. Books are a great source of knowledge. Simply reading will not be of much benefit. One should read them with the understanding that one is establishing contact and consulting with the other thinkers and Natural phenomena as well as historical events have great lessons for those who contemplate deeply about them.