It must...

It must, therefore, be said that such simple utterances of the Qur’an are a path toward the understanding of ultimate religious ends and the comprehension of the Islamic sciences. We call such verbal expressions as “Belief in God and His Prophet” and “Perform the prayers,” the external or formal aspect of religion. In addition to guidance in the external aspect of religion, we see that the Holy Qur’an in many verses guides man toward intellectual understanding.

It invites man to meditate, contemplate and deliberate upon the signs of God in the macrocosm and the microcosm. It explains many verities through unfettered intellectual reasoning. It must be said in truth that no sacred book praises and recommends science and intellectual knowledge for man as much as does the Qur’an.

In many of its words and utterances the Qur’an attests to the validity of intellectual proof and rational demonstration, that is, it does not claim that man should first accept the validity of the Islamic sciences and then through intellectual proofs justify these sciences. Rather, with complete confidence in the truth of its own position, it proclaims that man should use his intellect to discover the truth of the Islamic sciences, and only then accept this truth.

He should seek the affirmation of the words contained in the Islamic message in the world of creation which is itself a truthful witness. And finally, man should find the affirmation of his faith in the results of rational demonstration; he should not have to gain faith first and in obedience to it, seek proofs. Thus philosophical thought is also a way whose validity and efficacy are confirmed by the Holy Qur’an.

Also, in addition to guidance in the external and intellectual aspects of religion, we see that the Holy Quran in subtle terms explains that all true religious science originates and comes from Divine Unity (tawhid) and the knowledge of god and His Attributes. The perfection of the knowledge of God belongs to those whom He has drawn from all places and elevated solely to Himself.

It is these men who have forgotten themselves and all things and as a result of sincerity in obedience to God have been able to concentrate all their powers and energies upon the transcendent world. Their eyes have become illuminated through the vision of the light of the Pure Creator.