S p e c u l a t i v e – k n o w l e d g e
Some people are trying to understand God through speculative knowledge. By the strength of their mind and intelligence, they are trying to approach God and thereby achieve perfection. They are using the speculative power of their mind to acquire knowledge of God. But the Holy Qur’an says that understanding God through such process is impossible. One must understand God by careful study of the scriptures and devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Only by the causeless mercy of Allah, will the hidden treasure of Al-Qur’an be revealed to the sincere seeker.
So in the sura “Al-An’am”, or “Cattle” of the Holy Qur’an also it is explained:
Qul-la ‘aqulu lakum ‘indi khaza-’inul-lahi wa la ‘a-lamul-gayba wa laaa ‘aquulu lakum ‘innii malak. In ‘attabi-’u ‘illaa maa yuuhaaa ‘ilayy: “Say (O Muhammad to the unbelievers): ‘I tell not to you that I possess the treasures of Allah, nor that I have knowledge of the Unseen. Nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me.’” (6.50)
Literary, it might mean that the Prophets are not like vulgar soothsayers, who pretend to reveal hidden treasures, or peer into future, or claim to be something of a different nature from men. But the meaning is wider: they deal out Allah’s great treasures of truth, but the treasures are not theirs, but Allah’s; they have greater insight into the higher things, but that insight is not due to their own wisdom, but to Allah’s inspiration; they are of the same flesh and blood with us, and the sublimity of their words and teachings arises through Allah’s grace to them and to those who hear them.
Furthermore, the Holy Qur’an says:
Qul ‘innama ‘il-muha ‘inda Rabbi / la yu-jalliha li-waq-ti-ha ‘illahu . . . Innama ‘il-muha ‘indal-lahi wa lakina ‘aksaran-nasi la ya-la-mun: “Say: ‘The knowledge thereof is with my Lord only. He alone will manifest it at its proper time. … The knowledge thereof is with Allah only, but most of mankind know not.” (7.187)
Wa law kuntu ‘a-lamul-gayba lastak-sartu minal-khayri wa ma masani-yas-su / ‘in ‘ana ‘illa nazirunw-wa bashirul-li-qawminy-yu-minun: “If I had knowledge of the Unseen, I should have abundance of wealth and adversity would not touch me. I am but a warner and a bearer of good tidings to those who believe.” (7.188)
Ha-’antum ha-’ula-’i hajajtum fima lakum-bihi ‘ilmun-falima tuhajuna fima laysa lakum-bihi ‘ilm? Wallahu ya-lamu wa ‘antum la ta-lamun: “Behold! You are those who argue about that whereof you have some knowledge. But why argue you concerning that whereof you have no knowledge? Allah knows. You know not.” (3.66)
Wa lakin-kunu Rabba-niyina bima kuntum tu-’allimunal-kitaba wa bima kuntum tadrusun: “Be you faithful servants of the Lord by virtue of your constant teaching of the scripture and of your constant study thereof.” (3.79)
From these ayats, it is obvious that the method of acquiring perfection through speculative knowledge is refuted. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S. A. W.) explained that although he is the Prophet of God, he does not have complete knowledge. Finally, becoming the faithful servant of the Lord by virtue of constant study of the scripture is recommended. The members of modern civilization manufacture so many defective religious principles through speculative concoctions. This is not religion. They do not know what is religion and what is irreligion. Real religion is not something that can be manufactured. It is knowledge direct from God, which exists eternally. The real purpose of knowledge is to know Allah. One who knows Allah is liberated. No one, therefore, can understand God by speculative knowledge. Indeed, by speculation one will be bewildered. Speculative knowledge cannot give us reality as it is, but will always be imperfect. Simply due to the fact that our senses for gathering knowledge are imperfect. So-called scientists try to prove that there is no God and that everything is happening because of the laws of nature, but this is imperfect knowledge because nothing can work unless it’s directed by Allah. There are so many nonsensical literatures, stories and books of speculative philosophy. Materialistic persons are very interested in reading such literature. But when they are presented with genuine books of knowledge like the Holy Qur’an, they are not interested. These persons are condemned by the supreme order of Allah. One has to acquire pure knowledge from the authorized scriptures. So-called speculative arguments about the Absolute Truth are therefore useless.
However, on the path of sincere speculative knowledge, one can become free from sinful life by understanding things as they are. Therefore, the acquirement of speculative knowledge is also considered a method of atonement, but a very slow method. One is gradually purified if one cultivates knowledge, even through mental speculation, and strictly follows the regulative principles enjoined in the scriptures. Therefore, the platform of speculative knowledge, is better than the platform of fruitive action. There is every chance of falling from the platform of fruitive activity to hellish conditions, but on the platform of speculative knowledge one is saved from hellish life, although one is still not completely free from material infection. The difficulty is that on the platform of speculative knowledge one thinks that he has been liberated and has become god. This is another phase of ignorance. Actually the highest knowledge consists of understanding Allah. Unintelligent men who do not understand Allah are grossly puffed up, thinking that they are liberated or have themselves become Allah. This is ignorance. Real knowledge and real liberation is to surrender unto Allah and engage in devotional service. Simply by the speculative process one cannot be freed from material bondage, for the cause of bondage still exists. One has to remove the cause, and then the effect will be removed. The Lord is eternally the symbol of full and perfect knowledge. This is His uniqueness: perpetual freedom from all material contaminations. This distinguishes the Lord from the common living entities. By unnecessary dry speculative arguments, the whole subject matter becomes distorted, and thus the Lord moves still further away from our understanding. The dry speculators, however, because of their following the principles of austerity and penance, can have knowledge of the impersonal features of the Lord to some extent, but there is no chance of their understanding Him perfectly because only the completely sinless persons can accept pure devotional service to the Lord. When advancement of knowledge is applied in the service of the Lord, the whole process becomes absolute. There is no use presenting dry speculative theories for sense gratification. Philosophy and science should be engaged to establish the glory of the Lord. Advanced people are eager to understand the Absolute Truth through the medium of science, and therefore a great scientist should endeavor to prove the existence of the Lord on a scientific basis. Similarly, philosophical speculations should be utilized to establish the Supreme Truth as sentient and all-powerful. In this way, all other branches of knowledge should always be engaged in the service of the Lord. All “knowledge” not engaged in the service of the Lord is but nescience. Real utilization of advanced knowledge is to establish the glories of the Lord, and this is real service to Allah and humanity. Scientific knowledge engaged in the service of the Lord and all similar activities are all factually glorification of the Lord.
