The time comes when the belief in God is replaced by the experience of God.
Hazrat Inayat Khan
Experience of God
Topic: Belief & Faith
The time comes when the belief in God is replaced by the experience of God. When this happens, we no longer have to believe in God, because we know God directly.
Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927) was a Sufi master who was born in India and later lived in Europe and the United States. He is considered one of the most important figures in the revival of Sufism in the West. Khan's teacher's dying words were: "Fare forth into the world, my child, and harmonize the East and the West with the harmony of thy music. Spread the word of Sufism abroad, for to this end art thou gifted by Allah, the most Merciful and Compassionate."
In 1910, Khan traveled to the United States, where he founded the Sufi Order International. He also traveled extensively throughout Europe, giving lectures and teaching workshops. Khan's message of universal love and understanding resonated with people from all walks of life, and he quickly became a respected figure in the spiritual community. Although Sufism is traditionally part of the mystical heritage of Islam, Khan developed a pattern of worship and spiritual practice that draws upon the major religious traditions. His teachings emphasize the importance of love, understanding, and compassion. He believed that all people are connected, and that we can achieve a higher state of consciousness by transcending our differences.
Khan died in 1927 in New Delhi, India. His legacy lives on through the Sufi Order International, which continues to spread his message of peace and understanding. Khan's work has had a significant impact on the spiritual landscape of the West. He is credited with helping to introduce Sufism to a new audience, and his teachings continue to inspire people around the world.
The Ecstasy Beyond Knowing
Khan, Hazrat Inayat. The Ecstasy Beyond Knowing: A Manual of Meditation. Pir Publications, 1977. Print. P. 70.
Hazrat Inayat Khan
Theme: Belief and Faith
About This Hazrat Inayat Khan Quotation [Commentary]
Hazrat Inayat Khan’s statement, “The time comes when the belief in God is replaced by the experience of God,” describes a pivotal shift in spiritual understanding. Belief often begins as a foundation, shaped by teachings or the insights of others. However, Khan invites us to see belief as the starting point, not the destination. Just as learning about a place differs from visiting it, belief in God through concepts cannot compare to the transformation of directly encountering the divine. His words urge a move beyond intellectual understanding to a lived, personal reality.
Khan often speaks of God as both transcendent and deeply personal, likening the divine to a parent whose presence can be intimately known. The transition he describes—from belief to experience—fulfills and deepens the foundation belief provides. This experience is not abstract or distant but immediate and personal, akin to the bond between a parent and child. Through this imagery, Khan underscores that God is not an idea to be accepted but a reality to be experienced and embraced.
This movement from belief to experience redefines faith as trust grounded in direct knowledge. Faith is no longer a matter of adhering to ideas but of certainty born from personal connection. Hazrat Inayat Khan’s words inspire a journey toward deeper knowing, encouraging all seekers to move from belief into the heart of divine experience.
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