Sufism Is the Art of Transforming Knowledge into Practice: Prof. Dr. Hassan Qadri

The Company of the Lovers of Allah Gives Direction to a Person’s Scattered Thoughts: Chairman Supreme Council
Addresses an intellectual session organized by Shaykh-ul-Islam Institute of Spiritual Studies at Minhaj University Lahore

Chairman Supreme Council Minhaj-ul-Quran International, Prof. Dr. Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, said that Sufism is not merely about acquiring knowledge; rather, it is about translating knowledge into action, purifying the heart and directing one’s life towards the right path. The company of a spiritually perfected believer brings focus to a person’s scattered thoughts and gives proper direction to his journey through life.

He expressed these views while delivering a special address at the certificate distribution ceremony of the Daurah ‘Awarif al-Ma’arif’, organized by the Shaykh-ul-Islam Institute of Spiritual Studies at Minhaj University Lahore.

Speaking on Sufism and spirituality, Prof. Dr. Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that suluk is not simply the knowledge of the spiritual path; rather, it means putting that knowledge into practice and journeying in the right direction. Intellectual focus and concentration are essential for achieving the purpose of life. Just as scattered fibres of thread cannot pass through the eye of a needle unless they are brought together in one direction, a person whose attention is divided among different directions cannot progress towards his true destination with focus and consistency.

He said that for a seeker travelling the path of spiritual development, knowledge of the path, a clear understanding of the destination and proper guidance are of fundamental importance. Mere speed cannot take a person to his destination; the direction must also be correct. A spiritual seeker progresses through stages of self-development and purification through companionship, service, and intellectual and spiritual concentration.

Drawing an analogy between purification of the heart and the preparation of a garden, the Chairman Supreme Council said that just as hard and barren soil must be softened and made fertile before it can be transformed into a garden filled with flowers and fruit, a person must remove evil, negative tendencies and spiritual hardness from the heart and cultivate it with divine knowledge, love and fear of Allah.

He said that Sufism enables a person to understand his true nature and the purpose of life. One must first focus on reforming the inner self and purifying the heart. When the heart becomes enriched with divine knowledge and love, their positive effects become visible in a person’s character, dealings and conduct, and their fragrance ultimately spreads throughout society.