FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE

There is a tree beside my house. I call it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing being that was initially a seed possessing the potential of becoming a full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the universe around it and then grows into a tree. The same is true with spirituality, the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an integral part of, the very nature of every human being. To realize this spirituality, man must derive spiritual food from the universe around him. A tree converts carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a spiritual personality. —Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

TURNING TO GOD AT TIMES OF CRISES

This teaching has been stated by Ali ibn Abi Talib in these words: “Goodness lies in whatever happened.” That is, one should consider every situation that befalls one as coming from God and thus one must develop acceptance for it. The same lesson has been expressed in a Persian saying: “If the enemy is strong, the saviour is stronger.”

The truth is that everything that happens in this world has been directly brought about by God Himself. The circumstances in which one finds oneself have been put in place by God. The role of the individual lies in either giving a positive response or a negative response to the situation he is confronted with. If a person responds positively he does so to his own credit while if he reacts negatively he discredits himself. The right course of action for a person in such a situation is to refrain from behaving impatiently and continually pray to God for a better outcome.