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SOME beliefs are life-negating while others are life-embracing. Islam is unique in its message that a believer should show moderation in all walks of life. It does not allow a believer to ignore the requirements of worldly life, nor does it allow the disregard of spiritual life. Rather, it encourages a balance between the two.
With the onset of modernisation in the West during the 16th century, hectic efforts were made to divorce religion from the daily life of the common people. Religion was reserved for special occasions like birth, marriage, death etc.
On the contrary, Islam considers religion an essential element in the life of a person, family, the community and nation. It aims at creating a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of life. Balance does not mean segregating the material aspect from the spiritual existence. Nor does it mean dividing existence into equal portions, devoting 12 hours to religious and 12 hours to worldly activities.
Here balance means fulfilment of obligations of different connections one has with society. In other words, an individual’s birth creates connections and relationships with different organs of society such as the family, relatives, the neighbourhood, community, country and humanity at large. These connections carry mutual rights and responsibilities, and one has to fulfil the same and maintain a balance.
In all activities, one should be moderate.
Above all, one has to strengthen his spiritual connection with the Creator. This promotes peace and humanism in society, paving the way for development. It enjoins the believers to fulfil the Haquq Allah and Haquqal Ebad (rights of the Creator and rights of the servants [of God]).
The physical life of an individual is limited in time and space while the life of the soul is unlimited. The good deeds performed in the world build the society on earth and spiritual life in the hereafter. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has said the world is a sowing field for the hereafter.
Building the material and spiritual life is like constructing a two-floor house. If a person builds a two-floor house, he selects proper space and designs and lays the foundation according to the number of floors he intends to build. The Quran also poses a similar question: “Is it then he, who laid the foundation of his building on piety to Allah and His good pleasure, better, or he who laid the foundation of his building on an undetermined brink of a precipice ready to crumble down…?” (9:109).
The life of the Prophet is a glorious example of maintaining balance between the material and spiritual aspects of life. He participated in all life-related activities such as earning livelihood, maintaining family; nourishing social relationships; and fulfilling his state responsibilities.
At the same time, he remained conscious of the spiritual side of his life. He kept night vigils, maintained regular prayers and fasts to keep strengthening his spiritual link with the Almighty. He felt Allah’s presence around him. This has been amply described in the Quran. Islam teaches believers to seek goodness in both worlds. The Quranic prayer (2:201) asks believers to pray … “...Our Lord! Give us in this world that is good and in the Hereafter that is good and save us from the torment of the fire.” This teaches us to seek goodness in both worlds.
The ultimate purpose of life is to have success, but this lies in moderation. Moderation implies avoiding two extreme positions and preferring a middle path. For example, while cooking food over a stove, the flame should not be heavily stoked so that it burns the food, nor should it be so lightly lit that the food is not cooked. Rather, it should be medium.
In the same way, Islam does not allow a believer to be a miser, nor does it allow extravagance in spending. It does not approve of being infatuated with material life, nor does it allow us to forsake the basic requirements of spiritual life. It advocates a balance between both. It does not like celibacy and overindulgence in carnal pleasures but encourages a happy and harmonious married life. Islam does not favour aggression against anyone, nor does it allow cowardly submission.
Thus in all life-related activities, one should be moderate, whether it is eating, sleeping, studying, exercising, and even working. Over intensification of any activity can lead to hot-headedness and is detrimental for individual health and that of society.
The Holy Quran says: “But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the hereafter and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world. …” (28:77).
Our times are testing. We live in the distracting environment of busy cities, more and more obsessed with materialism. Spiritual pursuits become rare. This unbridled pursuit of material well-being, if unchecked, would fill our future with melancholy. Therefore, we should opt for a balanced approach.
The writer is an educationist with an interest in Islamic learning.
Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2014
