Quranic verses and prophetic traditions suggest that the Holy Quran has an exoteric and esoteric meaning, both inferred from the Divine Word and one is inferior to the other, which is in turn superior to the former, although both do not have the same status. If we intend the exoteric meaning, this is not to say that we do not believe in the esoteric meaning. By the same token, if we intend the esoteric, this does not imply that we do not believe in the exoteric. To overcome the exoteric meaning of the Quran and reach the esoteric one, contemplation is needed. Contemplation means passing through the primary levels and exoteric meanings of Quranic verses and contemplative penetration into the deep layers for the discovery of hidden truths that would not be revealed without consideration and contemplation. In fact, contemplation is an intellectual and spiritual current that comes to existence through a type of relationship between mind and heart. The Quranic verses and prophetic suggest that having physical and spiritual purity and perfect intellect (men of understanding) is the prerequisite of contemplation of the Holy Quran. The current essay aimed at evaluating the lexical and terminological meanings of contemplation, the difference between contemplation and exegesis, the difference of contemplation with thinking, and the importance of the contemplation.
