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In Islamic belief, knowledge is two-fold. There is that…

“In Islamic belief, knowledge is two-fold. There is that revealed through the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.) and that which man discovers by virtue of his own intellect. Nor do these two involve any contradiction, provided man remembers that his own mind is itself the creation of God. Without this humility…” quote by Aga Khan IV
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“In Islamic belief, knowledge is two-fold. There is that revealed through the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.) and that which man discovers by virtue of his own intellect. Nor do these two involve any contradiction, provided man remembers that his own mind is itself the creation of God. Without this humility, no balance is possible. With it, there are no barriers. Indeed, one strength of Islam has always lain in its belief that creation is not static but continuous, that through scientific and other endeavours, God has opened and continues to open new windows for us to see the marvels of His creation”

Aga Khan IV

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human knowledge consists of revealed divine guidance and independent intellectual discovery, which harmonize when we recognize our intellect as God‑created, fostering humility and openness to continual learning.

In simple terms: Divine guidance and human reason complement each other when we stay humble.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humility and pursue both spiritual and scientific learning.

Themes

humility knowledge spirituality science

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

  • Religious study
  • Scientific research
  • Personal development
  • Interfaith dialogue

Key Concepts

Theology Epistemology Creativity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we balance reverence for revelation with independent inquiry?
  • What practices nurture humility in learning?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on one source may cause dogmatism or neglect of critical thinking.

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