Balance Quote by Aga Khan IV
“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”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address on Knowledge and Humility, Aga Khan IV, 2005
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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