---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was clear to me by now that studying…"
description: "\"“It was clear to me by now that studying Islam was one thing – and absolutely worthwhile, because it helped me grasp the meaning of the religion and ho..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/kristiane-backer-20317_inspirational_it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying_660145.jpg"
---

#  It was clear to me by now that studying Islam was one…

![“It was clear to me by now that studying Islam was one thing – and absolutely worthwhile, because it helped me grasp the meaning of the religion and how it all fitted together. However, I felt as though I was standing in front of a shop window full of lovely things, and all I could do was admire…” quote by Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/kristiane-backer-20317_inspirational_it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying_660145.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/kristiane-backer-20317_inspirational_it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying_660145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/kristiane-backer-20317_inspirational_it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying_660145.jpg)

> ““It was clear to me by now that studying Islam was one thing – and absolutely worthwhile, because it helped me grasp the meaning of the religion and how it all fitted together. However, I felt as though I was standing in front of a shop window full of lovely things, and all I could do was admire them from afar. I was still separated from them by the window, or, as Muslims might say, a veil. In order to lift this veil, there was only one way forward: to get down onto the prayer mat and start living according to Islamic principles.””

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

## About This Quote

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

The author describes learning Islam as observing a beautiful display behind a veil, and realizing true understanding requires practicing the faith, not just admiring it.

**In simple terms:** Studying a religion is not enough; living its principles removes distance.

Key Takeaway

Practice what you study to bridge the gap.

Themes

religion personal growth learning by doing

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

spiritual educational

When to use this quote

- daily prayer
- community service
- study groups
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

spiritual immersion experiential learning

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take to embody your beliefs?
- How does “veil” symbolize separation?

A Different Perspective

Practical application may be challenging without guidance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Start Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-living/) [Way forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-forward/)

## Related quotes

> [The interesting part of my spiritual life is studying as much as you can. Islam and Buddhism and Hinduism and Shamanism and Judaism, Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldie-hawn/the-interesting-part-of-my-spiritual-life-is-studying-as-much-as-you/)

[Goldie Hawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldie-hawn/)

> [“The Sufi Muslims say, "Praise Allah, but also tie your camel to the post." In other words, it's good to take a transcendent view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/the-sufi-muslims-say-praise-allah-but-also-tie-your-camel-to-the-post/)

[Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/)

> [Change, development and progress, according to the Islamic viewpoint, refer to the return to the genuine Islam enunciated and practised by the Holy Prophet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syed-muhammad-naquib-al-attas/change-development-and-progress-according-to-the-islamic-viewpoint/)

[Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syed-muhammad-naquib-al-attas/)

> [“Ignorance, not sin, causes suffering. LIFT THE VEIL." ~ Lilli in the Great Theater”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-clark/ignorance-not-sin-causes-suffering-lift-the-veil-lilli-in-the-great/)

Karen Clark

> [“Shall any gazer see with mortal eyes, Or any searcher know by mortal mind, Veil after veil will lift--but there must be Veil upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/shall-any-gazer-see-with-mortal-eyes-or-any-searcher-know-by-mortal-2/)

[Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/)

> [“Mom says each of us has a veil between ourselves and the rest of the world, like a bride wears on her wedding day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/mom-says-each-of-us-has-a-veil-between-ourselves-and-the-rest-of-the/)

[Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/)

> [Shall any gazer see with mortal eyes, Or any searcher know by mortal mind; Veil upon veil will lift but there must be Veil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/shall-any-gazer-see-with-mortal-eyes-or-any-searcher-know-by-mortal/)

[Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/)

> [“If we could lift the veil and if we watched with vigilant attention, God would endlessly reveal himself to us and we should see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-m-gallagher/if-we-could-lift-the-veil-and-if-we-watched-with-vigilant-attention/)

[Timothy M. Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-m-gallagher/)

> [Lift the veil that obscures the heart, and there you will find what you are looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/lift-the-veil-that-obscures-the-heart-and-there-you-will-find-what/)

[Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/)

> [I firmly believe the way forward for our nation is to have a robust democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/i-firmly-believe-the-way-forward-for-our-nation-is-to-have-a-robust/)

[Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/)

> [“Alberta was back again. Back to it all, to all that was warped and desultory, to the lies and evasions and small, hidden irons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-sandel/alberta-was-back-again-back-to-it-all-to-all-that-was-warped-and/)

[Cora Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-sandel/)

> [Sin bins are the way forward if we want to turn the tide on discipline in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/sin-bins-are-the-way-forward-if-we-want-to-turn-the-tide-on/)

[Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/)

> [Time stops for no one. The Sun 'sets' in one place and 'rises' in another. Th clock moves only one way: forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-stops-for-no-one-the-sun-sets-in-one-place-and-rises-in-another/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm a fan of supersymmetry, largely because it seems to be the only route by which gravity can be brought into the scheme. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-higgs/i-m-a-fan-of-supersymmetry-largely-because-it-seems-to-be-the-only/)

[Peter Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-higgs/)

> [When you hang the 'bipartisan' tag on something, the perception is that differences have been worked out, and there's a broad agreement that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/when-you-hang-the-bipartisan-tag-on-something-the-perception-is-that/)

[Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/)

## More by Kristiane Backer

> [“the essence of the Hajj is Arafat. On the ninth day of the Hajj month all pilgrims gather on the great Plain of Arafat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/the-essence-of-the-hajj-is-arafat-on-the-ninth-day-of-the-hajj-month/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“Boys will always be boys,’ he said. ‘The relationship obviously wasn’t meant to be.’ He told me I should trust that the break-up was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/boys-will-always-be-boys-he-said-the-relationship-obviously-wasn-t/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“You’ve been tested.’ He advised me to try and ‘forgive and pardon, and this way seek to become beloved by God’ without my forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/you-ve-been-tested-he-advised-me-to-try-and-forgive-and-pardon-and/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [Living a lie - pretending everything is fine when we are actually discontented - is hard work and, in the long run, even bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/living-a-lie-pretending-everything-is-fine-when-we-are-actually/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [A sick person is Allah's guest for as long as he is ill. Every day he is sick, God gives him countless rewards, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/a-sick-person-is-allah-s-guest-for-as-long-as-he-is-ill-every-day-he/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“God was inviting me to go on Hajj, but before that I needed to settle my debts. Muslims may only embark on their pilgrimage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/god-was-inviting-me-to-go-on-hajj-but-before-that-i-needed-to-settle/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“Religion is also a process of healing, I discovered – a healing of the soul. Even our language points to this relation. The words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/religion-is-also-a-process-of-healing-i-discovered-a-healing-of-the/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“everything that is in the world, there is a correspondence on every level of existence. The macrocosm is a reflection of the microcosm, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/everything-that-is-in-the-world-there-is-a-correspondence-on-every/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“The words of the Quran all seemed strangely familiar yet so unlike anything I had ever read before,’ he told us. He embraced Islam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/the-words-of-the-quran-all-seemed-strangely-familiar-yet-so-unlike/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“Purify your intentions, your inner being, your heart and be sincere in your actions,’ he wrote. ‘God looks into your heart, not at your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/purify-your-intentions-your-inner-being-your-heart-and-be-sincere-in/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“You have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad (jihad alakbar).” His followers asked him what that greater jihad was. “The struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/you-have-returned-from-the-lesser-jihad-to-the-greater-jihad-jihad/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“Of course I’d like to marry a practising Muslim, someone I can share my life and also my religion with, but I just haven’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/of-course-i-d-like-to-marry-a-practising-muslim-someone-i-can-share/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“Nothing happens without God’s will, and life doesn’t always go according to plan. Man proposes, God disposes. And it is God’s will that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/nothing-happens-without-god-s-will-and-life-doesn-t-always-go/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“Anyone seeking to draw closer to God needs to curb the horizontal and ascend to God vertically,’ he said. ‘And this means giving oneself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/anyone-seeking-to-draw-closer-to-god-needs-to-curb-the-horizontal-and/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [“According to Islam, whenever we are struck by illness or misfortune or someone hurts us, there is a higher purpose behind it, which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/according-to-islam-whenever-we-are-struck-by-illness-or-misfortune-or/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

[Explore all 31 Kristiane Backer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

## More Inspirational quotes

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/)

[Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/)

[Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/)

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

[Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It was clear to me by now that studying Islam was one thing – and absolutely worthwhile, because it helped me grasp the meaning of the religion and how it all fitted together. However, I felt as though I was standing in front of a shop window full of lovely things, and all I could do was admire them from afar. I was still separated from them by the window, or, as Muslims might say, a veil. In order to lift this veil, there was only one way forward: to get down onto the prayer mat and start living according to Islamic principles.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kristiane Backer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying-islam-was-one-thing-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspirational"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying-islam-was-one-thing-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/kristiane-backer-20317_inspirational_it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying_660145.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/kristiane-backer-20317_inspirational_it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying_660145.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/kristiane-backer-20317_inspirational_it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying_660145.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It was clear to me by now that studying Islam was one thing – and absolutely worthwhile, because it helped…” — Kristiane Backer",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Kristiane Backer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It was clear to me by...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying-islam-was-one-thing-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying-islam-was-one-thing-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
