Maulana Wahiduddln Khan | The Sunday Guardian | May 31, 2015

The fourth caliph of Islam, Ali ibn Abi Talib, once observed: "Araftu Rabbi bi faskhil azaaim" (Quwwat u1Quloob). That is, "I realised God by having failed in my planning." This phenomenon is a very common experience.

There is no doubt about it that one often fails to accomplish the plan one had set out for oneself. This serves as a reminder to the person that there is a factor greater than his own self and this factor is, no doubt, none other than God Almighty Himself.

However, this may be called a negative reminder. There is also a positive reminder of the fact of the greatness of God. In truth, the number of positive reminders is far greater than the negative ones.

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We see positive reminders of God Almighty when the new sun rises after every dark night, whenever rainy season comes afresh to revive the parched land, when the crops grow again, when the tree continues to supply oxygen, when our physical organs perform their functions every next day just as they did the previous day, and so on.

All such incidents serve as positive reminders of the fact that there is a powerful God who continually showers His blessings upon us. The Quran refers to these positive reminders about God in the following words. "There are signs in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day for people of understanding" (3:190).

These events in nature are a positive testimony of God. Such positive testimony abounds in nature and it is difficult to count them. If a person engages in contemplation he will always remain in thrill about the beneficent and bounteous Creator and His marvelous creations. Reflections of this kind will fill a person with positivity. This is the greatest formula for leading a tension-free life.