The Essence of Islam – Volume IV — Page 308
308 Essence of Islam-IV I consider Maulavīs who are opposed to the acquisi- tion of modern knowledge to be in error. They, in fact, do so to cover up their own errors and weakness. They have convinced themselves that research into modern sciences leads to error and alienates a person from Islam. They seem to hold that reason and sci- ence are totally inconsistent with Islam. As they have not the capacity to expose the weaknesses of philoso- phy, they seek to cover up their own shortcomings by propounding that it is not permissible to acquire mod- ern education. Their souls tremble before philosophy and prostrate themselves before new research. They have not been bestowed the true philosophy which is born of Divine revelation and of which the Holy Qur'an is full to the brim. This philosophy is be- stowed only upon those who prostrate themselves at the threshold of God Almighty with extreme humility and self-negation, whose minds and hearts exclude all putridity of pride and who, confessing their weak- nesses, implore and affirm humbly that they are the true servants of the Divine. For the service of the faith and for upholding the Word of Allah, it is essential that you study the mod- ern sciences, and study them diligently. I must, however, warn that it is within my experience that those who pursued this study one-sidedly and were so taken up by it that they had no opportunity of keeping company with anyone who loved God and remem- bered Him, and who did not themselves possess inner divine light, such people have generally stumbled and