Thawaab In Thinking

Thawaab In Thinking!?

 

I wonder if there is thawaab in thinking. If there is thawaab in reciting the verses which ask for thinking and reflection (tadabbur) then it is illogical that there is no thawaab in the act of thinking – which is the real purpose of those recited verses. Moreover, if THINKING is the most difficult job on earth then the rewards, too, should be accordingly. The Narrations indicate this. We, however, do not believe that it is the most difficult job on earth and the fact that we are still obligated to carry it out – as commanded in hundreds of verses in Qur’an.

 

Those who teach Qur’an or have studied it for long years, too, do not attach much significance with this ‘ibaadah. I got an opportunity to meet a prominent scholar (‘aalim) and his student recently. Discussed some matters of importance with them. Did not, however, find either of them quite keen for any serious discussion. They were not quite appreciative of ideas which are a by-product of serious thinking. (How else can we get ideas, I am not sure.)

 

Because of not considering thinking an act of ‘ibaadah we hardly talk about ‘ibaadat al-‘aql. And we never mention that its rewards are also increased manifold in a given month and at certain places. This is why when I called my cousin who was performing ‘Umrah and asked him if he was happy to see a huge number of Muslims there or was sad about this big number he said that he was utilizing every moment for ‘ibaadah and will talk about it only after returning home. He considered it irrelevant to give any thought to what I said. But he is not the only one. I also wondered if the thawaab of reflection (tadabbur), too, like any other acts of ‘ibaadah increases many more times in al-Masjid al-Haraam. If the thawaab of the recitation of those verses does then it should.

 

If the above assertion is true then it is surprising that we never find it elaborated and related from the pulpit – the medium of mass communication among Muslims. When, however, we start thinking then we will ask some basic questions. Then we will find a direction. Then our energies will be channelized. Then we will have a unified purpose. However, because of not performing this ‘act of worship’ for a long period of time we have started enjoying the “comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought”. Because it is “an unfamiliar territory”, we get lost in it. Additionally, we normally don’t do anything unless we are assured of thawaab. This, too, we are likely to get. Is there anything that hinders us from it now?

 

We need to perform this most difficult job more and more. In other words, we need to earn more and more thawaab of this type, too. Without earning this thawaab we will not be able to hold the Qur’an in the Right Hand and the most modern scientific and technological advancements in the Left. Also, we will not be able to regain any glorious status whatsoever.