Today I’m privileged enough to share a brief but in-depth summary of the book “The way to find god by Molana Wahiddudin Khan.” Maulana has devoted his whole life In the struggle of defending and calling people upon the truth.
It is general to life that every human at some point in life, stumbles upon a thought that “Does God Exist?” If yes, then what is the way to find God?, to Answer such a question philosophers have given theories; spiritualists present exercises; and religions state principles.
In this book, Maulana Wahiddudin explained with the help of his philosophical arguments the real way to find God Almighty! We’re sure to be benefitted from his intellectual approach, Insha’Allah.
Without any further ado, let’s dive into the book to collect some real treasure of guidance.
The Way to Find God by Molana Wahiddudin Khan: Book Summary
In the Book Series Discover Islam’s part 1 ‘The Way to Find God’, Maulana Wahiddudin Khan explains that there are Six (6) steps that explore the way to God.
- Acknowledging what man quest?
- Finding the Actual Truth
- Acknowledging whether the truth held us accountable for anything or not? — The Danger Warning
- What are the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace and blessings of God.
- Towards Death
- The Final Note
1. Man’s quest:
(a). What man quest?
Man quest for everlasting content, but when we look at the design of this world it doesn’t seem to be a perfect place. The flowers grow only to wither. The sun radiates for a short period until it’s covered by the dark. Man cannot live for eternity. Thus all the delights of this world are not everlasting.
(b). Is there any God for this Imperfect world?
All the intellectuals agree upon the fact that this world has a starting point. It came into being some twenty million years ago, and if we assert that the world was created on a certain date, then this means that there must have been a Creator before that date.
If we go on to assert that this Creator was Himself created on some previous date, however, then our claim can have no meaning. The Creator cannot himself have been created; He always was. Therefore, Yes there is a God for this imperfect world; He’s one and infinite in his nature. He is immortal.
(c). Why God Created this Imperfect world?
One must think that if God is immortal and the world, as his creation, is a manifestation of his attributes then it is incomplete in its nature; an immortal God’s attributes are also absolute, then why is it so that the world is so imperfect and flawed?
According to Maulana Wahiddudin Khan arguments; the question itself has its answer. There must be a sequel for this world that is the perfect manifestation of God’s attributes. Therefore, there must be a Paradise; this imperfect nature of the world cannot satisfy the inherently infinite God.
However, According to the prophet the world was created for test and tribulation, not for reward and retribution.
Summary:
The first step to find The Way to God is to uncover that Man quest for everlasting content; He wants his joys, moments and life to last forever but the nature of this world is not perpetual. The world was created at some point and there’s a God who created it. He created this imperfect world for a test to humanity and there’s a sequel for rewards. Paradise is the evidence of God’s absolute power to make beauty perpetual and joy boundless in a world of everlasting peace and contentment.
2. What is Truth?
There’s only one straight line from one point to the other; therefore there can be just one truth. God’s commandments do not change be it for a man or other creation. The terrestrial and celestial orders have not altered despite the passing of billion of years.
Anyone sincere in his research can easily know that the truth lays with Muhammad, The Prophet of God, on whom be peace and God’s blessings. Let’s look at it rationally.
(a). Do Philosophers know the truth?
Philosophers have been investigating for some five hundred years for truth; without realizing that they are unable to mark an absolute statement for it before having the knowledge of the entire cosmos.
Cosmic Knowledge is beyond human’s limited intellect. Therefore, Philosophers can never convince the idea of absolute truth or reality. We cannot be enlightened ith truth through them.
(b). Does Science know the Truth?
Science never claims to know the truth. It only explains those matters which can be experimentally proven; which change from time to time with every new discovery. Science has a limited scope, for it can only explain the physical nature of the world. Therefore, Science cannot tell us about the truth.
(c). Do Spiritualists know the truth?
The spiritualists and their followers claim to have a full understanding of the truth. There are two things to pound over here. Firstly their spiritual disciplines are also of physical nature; they aren’t purely spiritual.
Secondly, their knowledge still cannot surpass God’s established limits for the human intellect. Therefore, spiritualists do not know the whole truth, hence they cannot help us reach it.
(d). Do Prophets know the truth?
The Prophets are the human beings who assert that God has chosen them and revealed true knowledge on them, for the purpose of conveying it to others. God knows the reality; as it’s the attribute of his divinity.
Therefore, such claims can be considered. If we believe in God, then we can trust the existence of the prophets and for the fact that they present absolute knowledge to guide humanity. Prophets do know the truth and they can guide us about reality.
(e). Which Prophet can tell us about the truth?
If Prophets know the truth then the question arises that which prophet to follow, as history tells us that there are many of them chosen by God. There are only one criteria for it; that is to check the prophet’s historical credibility.
Only one prophet possesses credentials that make his prophethood a historical certainty rather than just a belief. Muhammad, the prophet of God, on whom be peace and God’s blessing can tell us about the truth. His life has been completely chronicled and the word of God, given to him is also preserved in its original form. Any sincere seeker can trust the Prophet of Islam.
(f). Why there is a need to know the truth?
Truth concern with the following matters; it answers the following questions;
- To know that whom one should accept as a Creator and Master?
- Whom one should worship?
- Whom one should love and whom one should fear?
- According to what criteria one should assess success and failure?
- What is the purpose of one’s existence?
- What is the focal point of one’s emotions? According to what code of conduct one should deal with people?
Summary:
The second step to find the way to God is to acknowledge that God is one and everlasting; therefore, the truth is one and can ever remain so. The Truth lay with Muhammad, the Prophet of God, on whom be peace and blessings. Rationally, no philosopher, scientific evidence, spiritualist, or prophet is trustworthy for reaching the truth except Prophet Muhammad. His life has been completely chronically recorded, and the Word of God given to him has also preserved in its original form.
3. The Danger Warning:
Many people do not care about searching for reality and spend their life chasing prestige and comfort. Few think about it on a philosophical level. However, there’re many perceptions about reality such as; the cosmic spirit keep the whole universe revolving for its fulfilment; the son of God died for man’s sins; or the life is only a cycle of living and dying, but all of this does not concern a man.
While on the other hand, the call of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, asserts a danger warning which concerns every individual breathing in the universe. He teaches that, an everlasting world is waiting for us after this present world in which every individual will be judged and punished or rewarded according to his deeds. Therefore, man must acknowledge he is accountable for his actions and deeds.
Summary:
The third step to find the way to God is to discover the fact that Although all the theories of reality show no concern to man, the Prophet of Islam states that the reality does concern the humans, as all their actions will be judged and accordingly punishment or rewards will be given to them.
4. The Teachings of the Prophet:
(a). What is the right way to spend a lifetime?
After discovering God, there are two ways to spend a lifetime: either by God’s will or by self-will. It’s important to know that God’s will attaches us to Prophet Muhammad and Self-will attaches us to our own discoveries and belief about God. A Person can either follow Prophet Muhammad, and through his guidance, can set beliefs and manage his life, or that person can follow himself and rely on his own thoughts to spend a life. The right way to spend a life is by following Prophet Muhammad’s teachings as God sent him as his final Prophet, and his teachings are for all the worlds to follow.
Note: I’d like to quote an ayah from the Quran to support Maulana’s argument.
“Say: Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, … If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance”
— Al Quran 24:54
(b). What are the teachings of Prophet Muhammad?
Following are the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which have been presented in the book.
- God is one. He has no partner. He created all the things and Everything is under his control. We should submit to him, worship, pray and to him should we attach our hopes. He hears and answers every call of humans.
- There’s no intermediary between God and humans. A person can directly connect with God by remembering him; there’s no need for a go-between.
- Worship is just not about rituals, rather it an idea of self-surrender. God remains in all aspects of your life.
- A person’s behaviour and treatment with his/her fellow being are equally important. God treat a person, as to how he/she treats human. Therefore, one must avoid cruelty, dishonesty, jealousy, pride, selfishness, callousness, antagonism etc.
- Following Five Basic Principles Principles of Islam — Testimony that God is one and Prophet Muhammad is his messenger, Prayers five times a day, fasting of Ramadan, paying zakat; which is a tax for poor, and pilgrimage to the house of God.
- Other credo based prophetic guidance include believing in God, his angels, scriptures, the prophets, the resurrection of man, heaven and hell.
Note: The Prophets historical records (The books of hadith) are preserved and from those books, his teachings, practices, dealings of internal and external matters can ponder over furthermore.
Summary:
After discovering God there’s a need to know what kind of life God likes for us; for that, we all should look upon the teachings of prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace and God’s blessings; This is the forth step to find the way to God. The Prophet of Islam’s teachings include many internal and external factors the basic are the five principles of Islam and other credo based prophetic guidance.
5. Towards death:
All the people are eventually moving towards death. If one wants to find the way to God then the fifth step to follow is to acknowledge that, the death of believers and non-believers is not the same. Believers spend their life conscious of the hereafter, they think about the wake of death while nonbelievers pay all their attention to the terrestrial life.
Death will clarify how the baseless foundations of the believers are solid and those who earned high ranks in the world possess not the real ranks. Death is a reality that no human can escape from; therefore, we all must be aware of our departure from the world, hence spend our life in a way pleasing to God.
6. The Final note.
If there’s a tower-clock present in a town, people are likely to set their time according to it without reflecting upon the fact that who manufactured it. The same goes for the religion of God; people focus upon their worldly life and do not think about the next life. Discovery of God is not enough, leading a life He likes is important. One who truly discover God, see its impact on his internal and external states. A believer does not focus on his material aims rather he strives for the hereafter as anyone who keeps his worldly interest before God cannot ever discover him; the sixth step according to the series end here.