Tradition

"أَلا لا خَيْرَ فى عِلم لَيْسَ فيهِ تَفَهُّمٌ، ألا لا خَيْرَ فى قرائة لَيْسَ فيها تَدَبُّرٌ، ألا لاَ خَيْرَ فى عِبادَة لَيْسَ فيها تَفَكُّرٌ"

Imam ‘Ali (‘a) is narrated to have said:
“Know that there is no benefit in knowledge without thought.
Know that there is no benefit in the recitation of the Quran without contemplation.
Know that worship without reflection is without effect.”1

Brief Commentary

Filling the mind with various sorts of scientific formulas, logical precepts, philosophical principles, and other types of knowledge is of extremely little value unless it is accompanied by proper thinking. If one simply memorizes facts without considering their greater meaning, then this will be of no benefit for them.

Similarly, the effects of reading the Holy Quran become almost insignificant if not accompanied by contemplation and attention into the depths of meaning found within its verses. Finally, worship without reflection is like a set of physical movements with no real purpose and it lacks the loftier effects that such worship can have on the human soul.

• 1. Al-Kafi, Volume 1, Page 36 and Tuhaful Uqul, Maani Al-Akhbar, page 226; Bihar Al-Anwar Volume 2, page 48-49, Aalamu Addeen, page 100, Mishkat Al-Anwar 137-138, Muniat Almureed 162.