Ponder and Wonder

RIGHT USE OF KNOWLEDGE -

First all knowledge comes from God and he alone do I give praise. To know God is to know his oneness. To say that God is one has four meanings: Two of them are false and two are correct. As for the two meaning that are false, one is that a person should say “ God is one “ and be thinking of number and counting. This is false because that which has no second cannot enter into the category of number. Do you not see that those who say that God is a third of a trinity fall into his infidelity ? nother meaning is to say, “ so-and-so is one of his people, “ namely, a species of this genus or a member of this species. This meaning is also false when applied to God, because it implies likening something to God, whereas God is above all likeness. As to the two meaning that are correct when applied to God, one is that it should be said that “ God is One “ in the sense that there is no likeness to him among things. Another is to say that “ God is One “ in the sense that there is no multiplicity or division conceivable in Him, neither outwardly, nor in the mind, nor in the imagination. God alone possesses such a unity. The Knowledge is very superficial which remains only on the tongue; the intrinsic merit and value of knowledge is that you act up to it. Surrender to and acceptance of God are the best companions; wisdom is noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are best marks of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.The most complete gift of God is a life based on knowledge. The innumerable fools have made the learned very scarce. The learned man understands the ignorant for he was once ignorant himself. Knowledge gives life to the soul. To respect the learned is to respect God. Knowledge creates fear of God’ Practice makes knowledge perfect. To teach is to learn. Honesty is Divine language. To fulfill promises is the highest form of integrity.Truth means conformity of speech with the Divine mode of working. Friendship is impossible with a liar. Misrepresentation spoils narration. Lying spoils news. Enemity is the occupation of fools. One’s obedience to God is proportionate to one’s wisdom. The wise aim at perfection. The foolish aim at wealth. To separate oneself from things of time and to connect oneself with things of eternity is highest wisdom. He is really wise whose actions reflect his words. Humility is the product of knowledge. Self- conceit poisons the mind. Self-conceit impedes progress. Pride mars greatness. Humility is one of the nets spread by real greatness. Boasting issues from small minds. O’ son of Adam, when you see that your Lord, the Glorified, bestows His favors on you while you disobey Him, you should fear Him ( take warning that His Wrath may not turn those very blessing into misfortunes). Conviction has also four aspects to guard oneself against infatuations of sin; to search for explanation of truth through knowledge; to gain lessons from instructive things and to follow the precedent of the past people , because whoever wants a guard himself against vices and sins will have to search for the true causes of infatuation and the true ways of combating them out and to find those true ways one has to search them with the help of knowledge, whoever gets fully acquainted with various branches of knowledge will take lessons from life is actually engaged in the study of the causes of rise and fall of previous civilizations. Sayings of: Ali

Value of Learning –
‘ Verily I say unto you, that God had not compassion on the fall of Satan, but yet had compassion on the fall of Adam. And let this suffice you to know the unhappy condition of him who knoweth good and doeth evil.’ Then said Andrew: ‘ O master, , it is a good thing to leave learning aside, so as not to fall into such condition.’ Jesus answered: ‘ If the world is good without the sun, man without eyes, and the soul without understanding, then is it good not to know. Verily I say unto you, that bread is not so good for the temporal life as is learning for the eternal life. Know ye not that it is a precept of God to learn ? For thus saith God: “ Ask of thine elders, and they shall teach thee. And of the law saith God: “ see that my precept be before thine eyes, and when thou sittest down, and when thou walkest, and at all times meditate thereon. “ Whether, then it is good not to learn, ye may now know. Oh, unhappy he who despiseth wisdom, for he is sure to lose eternal life.’ James answered : ‘O master, we know that Job learned not from a master, nor Abraham; nevertheless they became holy ones and prophets.’