Imagine you are flipping through an encyclopedia and come across the concept of an apple for the first time. Upon reading the description, you see its picture and come to understand that it is a round fruit from a tree, which can come in various colors such as red, green, and yellow; it has a sweet taste and is cultivated in specific regions. At this point, your mind has become fully acquainted with the concept of an apple. But is this understanding sufficient to truly know an apple? If someone asks you, “What is an apple?”, you can explain its characteristics for several minutes.
Now, imagine a friend arrives and hands you a large, shiny, red apple. Having previously read about the scent of apples in a book, you bring it close to your face and inhale deeply, filling your senses with its fragrance. You then take a bite, filling your mouth with its sweetness and freshness. With each chew, you and the apple become one in an indescribable pleasure—until nothing is left of it. You have fully consumed the apple.
Now, for the second time, you are asked: What is the apple?
Now, you have achieved a deeper and more authentic understanding of this fruit. The difference between ‘ilm (knowledge) and maʿrifah (gnosis) is exactly the difference between these two examples. In the initial example, you transitioned from a state of ignorance concerning the apple; however, your comprehension continued to be superficial and incomplete, devoid of real-world application. For example, if an individual inquired about the flavor profile of an apple, one might respond with the term “sweet.” However, apart from that, one would possess no tangible understanding of its sweetness beyond a purely imaginary concept. In this state, you attained ‘ilm (knowledge) regarding the apple. However, in the subsequent example, you consumed and became one with the apple. In other words, you achieved ma’rifah (gnosis) of the apple.
Reflect on this statement: ‘Ilm (knowledge) is associated with the mind, whereas ma’rifah (gnosis) is linked to the heart.
Now we should examine what is meant by this heart.