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 begins with a clear movement: “The time comes,” then “belief in God is replaced by the experience of God,” and then, “we know God directly.” The order matters. He does not set belief aside as worthless; he shows it giving way to something more immediate. Belief has its place, but it is not the end. What begins as belief is meant to lead toward “the experience of God.”
The center of the passage is the difference between belief and direct knowledge. Hazrat Inayat Khan says, “When this happens, we no longer have to believe in God, because we know God directly.” His words make the shift plain. What was once accepted inwardly becomes known. The passage stays simple and exact: belief is replaced by experience, and experience becomes direct knowledge. The change is not in God, but in the one who comes to know.
In light of Belief, Hazrat Inayat Khan’s words point beyond inherited ideas or secondhand conviction. He keeps the focus on what is real and lived: “the experience of God” and “we know God directly.” That sequence gives the quotation its strength. Belief may begin the journey, but direct knowledge fulfills it. Hazrat Inayat Khan invites the seeker not only to believe, but to come to that moment when belief is no longer needed because God is known directly.
Additional Hazrat Inayat Khan Quotations
Related Quotes
Copyright © 2017 – 2026 LuminaryQuotes.com About Us