Deprivation from Religion

The Flowers Of Guidance Volume One Nine Instructive Steps to Gaining Knowledge Step 6: Religion and Knowledge

One who does not have the wisdom does not have the proper faith and religion, because he carries out the orders of religion blindly and imitates others like a machine, without being informed of their use and benefits. He gets acquainted and habituated to whatever others say, without proof through his contemplation. There is an enormous difference between one who has become informed of his God through knowledge and contemplation and is overwhelmed by pleasure and one who imitates the principles of religion blindly.  (As stated in Islam, the principles of religion are not to be imitated. Wisdom needs to be obtained). There is a vivid distinction between one who has identified the rules of religion and comprehended their benefits and intensions and executes them with absolute desire and enthusiasm, and the one who acts (whether these actions are done entirely or insufficiently) and believes based on blind imitation and fear, and his actions are with boredom and despair.

In the Gospel of Matthew, section 5, it is said: “They do not light the lamp until they put it under the gauge so that they can place it inside the lantern to enlighten all in the house. Let the light of others shine on you as well.” In “Proverbs of Solomon,” section 2, it is said: “… because God grants wisdom, and knowledge is issued from his mouth … Since wisdom penetrates your heart. Furthermore, knowledge becomes cherished. It will guard you purely…” Such a person will always be prone to doubt these principles, every moment,  because he did not comprehend the verity of such education. Once he hears criticism of these principles from someone, he will get precarious and suspicious and will be disturbed. Once he finds himself in disagreement with people with higher levels of apparent knowledge, he will get puzzled and with their suggestions, may even go against his principles of religion, because he is unaware of the reality.