Tadabbur, Tafakkur, Tawassum: Contemplative Spirituality
In his article ‘Islamic Spirituality or Contemplative Spirituality’, Khan explains the concepts of Tadabbur, Tafakkur and Tawassum. Here is what he writes:
The true Islamic concept of spiritualism is based on the concept of dualism or the duality of reality — that the Creator and the creature are completely separate from one another. God, according to this concept, has a real and eternal existence based on tawheed or monotheism.
According to monotheism, God is One and has no partner. He created all things and has complete control over the universe. As the Creator of all things, He is distinct from all He has created. His creatures, in their seemingly independent existence, totally depend upon the will of God. The sole possessor of all power, God has created man to live for a specific period of time, during which he is sent into this world to be tested.
It is this concept of the Creator as totally distinct from the creature, which sets the Semitic religions –…
Tazkiyah: Purification of the Soul
Khan writes that since spiritual development is to do with the mind, spiritual progress is just another name for intellectual progress or intellectual development. According to Khan, intellectual development is the main target of man.
Khan says that the process of spiritual or intellectual development in fact begins with the deconditioning of this conditioned mind or the purification of the mind – Tazkia as mentioned in the Quran. The more one de-conditions the mind, the more one will gain in spiritual or intellectual development. Spiritual or Intellectual progress is just not possible without taking such a step, argues Khan. He further explains:
The truth is that everyone is born spiritual. Everyone is Mr. Nature or Mr. Spiritual by birth. But, after birth, he lives in a society, which continues to condition him. Spirituality makes it possible to erase this conditioning and allows the individual to revert to the natural state in which he was born. Spiritual science…
Tazkiyah: Re-engineering of Minds towards Peace and Spirituality
Khan writes that spirituality, in its awakening of the mind, provides the best formula for tazkia – purification or deconditioning that leads to our personality development.
It is a great strength at all times. Spirituality, in effect, is a promoter of all good and a killer of all evils. Everyone may be born spiritual, that is, one may be spiritual by nature, but, after birth, one lives in a society, which, with its multiple influences, conditions or shape man’s personality or nurture one based on negative feelings – just like the layers of the onion that cover its bulb. Khan says that these negative feelings can be of anger, revenge, jealousy, hatred and rivalr and due to these negative influences, humans develop a negative personality.
Khan says, we, therefore, have to consciously activate our mind and de-condition or purify it so as to develop our personality on positive lines as only a positive personality will find entry into paradise.
Khan further…
The Vatican Principle
Khan advocates peaceful struggle over war and political activism. In his article ‘The Vatican as a Principle’, Khan quotes how in 1920 the Pope agreed to confine his jurisdiction to the Vatican City despite ruling as the uncrowned king of Christian Europe for centuries.
Khan writes,“For centuries, each succeeding Pope was the uncrowned king of Christian Europe. Today, a palace for the Pope still exists in the city of Rome. But, in later times, great differences arose between the Church and secular people. The Pope ultimately saw that he could not return to the previous position, so he agreed to confine his jurisdiction to the Vatican City, which is recognized by the government of Italy. Eventually, even from this territorially small domain, the Pope continued to hold great religious sway not only over Italy, but also over many other parts of the world.
“This history of the Vatican gives us an important principle—if you cannot keep your control over the whole, then…
Working in Low Profile
Khan in his article, “Low Profile, High Profile” writes that the greatest assets to humanity are those who are born with superior qualities such as exceptional brilliance and great firmness and resolve. But it has been the sad experience of history that people with such qualities all too often become the victims of misadventure because they are not ready to undertake anything less than a high-profile enterprise.
According to Khan, a low-profile way leads one to success because working in a low-profile way is in accordance with the law of nature. And, in this world success is only for those who follow the law of nature.
Quoting an example of a tree, Khan writes that a tree grows from a seed and the gradual way of its growth is analogous to working in low-profile. If the tree went against this law of nature, it would never fully mature as a tree.
Khan concludes by saying that the truth is that man has to perform his activities within a society or a social system.…
