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A practical religion

Islam awakens the faculty of reason and exhorts men to use intellect

George Bernard Shaw is reported to have said: “I have always held the religion of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion, which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phases of existence, which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him — the wonderful man — and, in ‘my opinion’ far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity.

“I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much-needed peace and happiness: I have prophesised about the faith of Muhammad (peace be upon him) that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”

The question is what are those characteristics of Islam, which have won millions of followers to the Faith in the past and which make it so appealing to the modern age? Here are some of the major characteristics of Islam:

Simplicity, Rationality and Practicality: Islam is a religion without any mythology. Its teachings are simple and intelligible. It is free from superstitions and irrational beliefs. The Oneness of Allah, the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the concept of Life after Death are the basic articles of its faith. They are based on reason and sound logic. All the teachings of Islam follow from those basic beliefs and are simple and straightforward. There is no hierarchy of priests, no far-fetched abstractions, no complicated rites and rituals. Everybody may approach the Book of Allah directly and translate its dictates into practice according to the proper understanding of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

Islam awakens in man the faculty of reason and exhorts him to use his intellect. It enjoins him to see things in the light of reality. The Holy Quran advised him to pray: “…My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” [Quran: 20:114] It asserts that those who have no knowledge are not equal to those who have [Quran: 39:9]; that those who do not observe and understand are worse than cattle [Quran: 7:179]; that the meanings of revelation become manifest to those “…who have knowledge…” [Quran: 6:97] and those “…who have understanding…” [Quran: 6:98]; and that: “…Whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good…” [Quran: 2:269]

The Prophet of Islam has said: “He who leaves his home in search of knowledge walks in the path of Allah.” [Tirmithi & Daarimi]

“To seek knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim.” [Ibn Majah & Bayhaqi]

“Acquire knowledge, because he who acquires it in the way of the Lord, performs an act of piety; he who disseminates it, bestows alms and he who imparts it to others, performs an act of devotion to God.”

This is how Islam brings man out of the world of superstition and darkness and initiates him into that of Knowledge and Light.

Again, Islam is a practical religion and does not allow indulgence in empty and futile theorising. It says that faith is not a mere profession of beliefs; it is the very mainspring of life.

Unity of Matter and Spirit: A unique feature of Islam is that it does not divide life into watertight compartments of matter and spirit. It stands, not for life-denial, but for life-fulfillment. Islam does not believe in asceticism. It does not ask man to avoid all things material. It holds that spiritual elevation is not to be achieved by living piously in the rough and tumble of life, and not by renouncing the world. The Holy Quran advises us to pray: “…’Our Lord! Give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the fire.’” [Quran: 2:201]

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “A Muslim, who lives in the midst of society and bears with patience the afflictions that come to him, is better than the one who shuns society and cannot bear any wrong done to him”’

On another occasion he said: “The three things are also enjoined upon the faithful: to help others, even when one is economically hard-pressed; to pray ardently for the peace of all mankind; and to administer justice to one’s own self.”

Thus, Islam does not admit any separation between “material” and “moral”, “mundane” and “spiritual” life, and enjoins man to devote all his energies to the reconstruction of life on healthy moral foundations. It teaches him that moral and material powers must be welded together and spiritual salvation can be achieved by using material resources for the good of man in the service of just ends. It does not advocate living a life of asceticism by running away from the challenges of life.

— Special to Khaleej Times