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The
evolution of humankind is not only possible but is the main purpose and outcome
of believing and practicing Islam. The approach of Islam to elevate the human
self and get it closer to God is realistic, comprehensive, rational, and direct.
Mankind
is a complex—though marvelous—creation of God. Needless to say, it is only
the Creator Who could know precisely the intricacies of the human soul, and how
to elevate it far and beyond. Divine messages are like “users’ manuals” of
this creation. Such “manuals” are essential to understand and proceed on the
path of human elevation.
Evolution,
however, is limited by the very nature of human creation—a blend of sublime
intellectual spirituality together with the material essence and earthly desires
and weaknesses. Human life and history have always been a continuous struggle
between these lifting and declining motives. Also, both the individual and
society mutually and reciprocally interact. Man cannot undergo inner
transformation independent of his social environment, which in turn is the
result of the individual’s strife towards spiritual evolution.
The
strength and effectiveness of Islam stems from its coping with these basic
facts. Only divine guidance can strike the proper balance between the body and
the soul, and between the individual and his society. Its moderate approach
saves humanity from the pitfalls of over-emphasizing the soul as in, for
example, Buddhism, Yoga, Christian monasticism, or—on the other
hand—magnifying the bodily desires as in materialistic ideologies in general,
Existentialism, Freudianism, etc. Similarly, Islam avoids over-emphasizing the
role of individual reform at the expense of social and world reform as in
Christianity, and rejects as well the opposite totalitarian models such as
Marxism.
Islam
is a comprehensive “manual” of life that combines basic aspects (faith and
worship, moral teachings and law) to offer the most intensive and effective
means to know God and love Him, purify the soul and refine its human qualities,
and establish a communal feeling of love, devotion and solidarity
The
Spirit and Worship
Reading,
reciting, and contemplating the Qur’an provides the Muslim with a clear vision
and love of God and His universe and creatures, as well as keys to supreme
morality. The text of the Qur’an is inimitable in its meanings, structures,
rhetoric, and rhyme that motivate both the intellectual and the uninitiated.
Reciting the Qur’an or praying to God using its wonderful phraseology, as well
as other supplications taught by the Prophet of Islam, is a permanent wealth of
direct communication with God.
Muslim
ritual prayers are preceded by physical purification through washing the face,
arms, and feet, and wiping the head. This purification physically refreshes the
body and mind to concentrate on the direct communication with God that follows.
Obligatory prayers are performed five times around the clock, and there are also
highly recommended prayers, especially late night prayers. During
prayers—standing facing toward a common point (the Ka`bah in Makkah), then
bowing and prostrating—all human faculties—including tongue, ears,
intellect, and limbs—are concentrated and devoted in glory of the Creator.
Muslims around the globe stand closely in prayers in straight rows facing toward
a common center, which is Makkah, geographically located at the center of the
combined continental land masses. This builds in the souls a unique sense of
equality, solidarity, and love of each other, irrespective of social status,
race, color, or tongue. Hence, Muslim prayers offer a matchless formula of
intellectual meditation, spiritual devotion, moral elevation, and physical
exercises all combined.
In
Arabic, zakah, or obligatory charity, literally means purification of the money
of the owner as well as purification of his heart of both greed and selfishness,
replacing them with content, thankfulness, love, and willingness to sacrifice
for the others. Similarly, the needy recipients’ hearts are filled with
satisfaction and warm wishes to the rich instead of class hatred and malicious
envy.
In
the lunar month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sexual
activities from dawn to sunset during the whole month. There are also
recommended fasts on certain days and occasions (or any other day) around the
year. Fasting is a major exercise of patience, devotion to God, control of
physical desires, moderation, physical and moral endurance, creating a feeling
of unselfishness, brotherhood, and communal unity.
The
fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj, or the pilgrimage, also presents a unique
opportunity for spiritual elevation. Assembling in Makkah together with millions
of Muslims, all in the simplest of garments, is a living unforgettable
glorification of God by mankind and a reminder of the ultimate grand assembly of
all generations in the Hereafter.
The
Spirit and Islamic Law
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In
Islam, belief is based on intellectual grounds that prove that the Qur’an is
the direct message of God.
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The
moral teachings of Islam touch on the most intricate aspects of human
psychology. In Islam these are not mere “do and do not do” type of
commandments, but are an extensive guidance of moral elevation rich in
linguistic splendor (as of the Qur’an), linked and interwoven with facts and
logics of faith, figurative examples and comparisons, and guarded with a
protective framework of social legislation to block all paths to moral
degradation or human pitfalls.
Similarly,
the legal doctrines of Islam are not a mere set of monolithic rules, but are one
aspect of a comprehensive system, whose elements are: faith that we all live in
the kingdom of God, Who cares for us, guides us, and watches us in order to
protect us from physical and moral evils; and a closely knit society based on
love, preference, solidarity, and care for all humanity and other creatures.
In
such a society, there should be no excuse for crimes of any sort. Penalties are
not applied to take revenge on the sinner, but are used to deter the individual
and protect the whole society.
However,
no penalty could be applied if there was any slight probability of innocence.
The rule is: “Doubtful criteria should avert penalties.” Similarly,
penalties should be suspended if there was any impelling social or human excuse;
for example, theft is forgiven in cases of extreme poverty or widespread famine.
Much mischief is forgiven by repenting and doing good deeds like giving charity,
fasting, etc. The doors of repentance are wide open, without mediators, for
there is no clergy or church-like authority in Islam. The Qur’an says what
means: ﴾And when My bondmen ask you concerning Me, then, surely I am
near; I answer the invocation of the invoker when he invokes Me; so let them
respond [to] Me, and let them believe in Me, so that possibly they would respond
right-mindedly.﴿ (Al-Baqarah 2:186)
God
forgives all sins, except denying Him or taking other partners as deity or part
of a deity with Him, and He accepts repentance of anybody. At-Tawwab (The
Superbly-Relenting) is one of the prominent attributes of God repeatedly
mentioned in the Qur’an. This is repeatedly asserted in many verses and
chapters of the Qur’an. The Qur’an says what means: ﴾Say, “O My
bondmen who have been extravagant against themselves [in sins], do not feel
despondent of the mercy of Allah! Surely Allah forgives guilty [deeds] all
together; surely He, Ever He, is The Ever-Forgiving, The Ever-Merciful.﴿
(Az-Zumar 39:53)
The
Spirit and the Mind
In
Islam, belief is based on intellectual grounds that prove that the Qur’an is
the direct message of God. In response, belief and practice do not need a
mediator (church, clergy, saints, etc). Hence, following the Muslim practice is
the only authentic path for self-elevation and direct approach to God. In
contrast to Christianity, Buddhism, and many of the mystic groups, faith and
practice in Islam are not based on rhapsodic preaching, clerics’ dogmas,
illusionary meditation sessions, rhythmical body movements, or repeated
utterances that culminate in ecstasy or imaginary visions or sounds.
Islamic
history has witnessed generations of rich examples of model individuals and
communities, who have taken spirituality to great heights through devotion,
piety, love, and full submission to God, proving over and over again that the
evolution of the human spirit is not only possible, but is the natural course
for humanity.
**
Nabil Haroun is the founder of the website www.islam-for-everyone.com.
He is specialized in comparative religion and Islam & science.
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