Islam and Spirituality - Javed Ahmed Ghamidi.
[Hassan Ilyas] Generally, the question is asked,
about the mutual relationship between Islam and Spirituality?
A large number of Muslims are there who have faith in religion,
apparently are followers of the Shariah,
however, they are always lamenting that spiritual gratification
or attraction is not to be found (by them) in the religion.
So is there any concept of Spirituality in Islam,
and what in essence is Spirituality,
and how can a true Muslim attain his/her path to Spirituality?
[Javed Ahmed Ghamidi] There isn't any spirituality in Islam,
neither is there any materialism in Islam.
Materialism and spiritualism both belong to this world.
i.e. like Allah (swt) has created matter,
in the same way, it has created the soul.
Just these two things are there. If we put the whole universe into two words,
then what will they be? Those will be matter and the soul.
Hence, there are some laws governing matter.
When we discover those laws, knowledge similar to the Science develops.
In the same way, the soul is also governed by some laws.
When we discover them then the spiritual sciences are developed.
Like material sciences are there in the same way spiritual sciences also exist.
Nothing among them is such which, in essence, can be declared forbidden.
Like the people learn the material sciences,
in the same way, people had in the past been learning spiritual sciences.
If we perceive them academically then the religion too will not object to it.
Religion has not come to satiate or gratify any such need.
It is to bring restlessness in the existence of the human soul.
i.e. it shakes him, hence, for this reason,
the greatest word used in the context of the Prophets is 'Inzaar' ,
to warn, to wake up, to shake people,
to make people anxious so that they rise above the life of this world,
and concentrate on the life which is about to start after life.
Hence, this is the fundamental message of the religion.
i.e. it hasn't been sent for any such gratification,
rather, it is sent to answer
the bigger questions that arise inside a human being's mind.
To tell people about the reality of life.
The knowledge which Allah (swt) has given them of the origin
and end of life, to familiarise them with it.
And tell them that the life of this world
has been created by Allah with a different scheme.
And the life after death will be formed on a different scheme.
Then it tells that this is a temporary world,
here we have to spend all our abilities to develop such a purification,
that we are chosen for the "Firdous" (Jannah) created by Allah.
And for that selection,
what are the things that are to be adopted by human beings,
which are the things that are to be avoided,
this is the subject matter of the religion.
Religion should be looked into and studied from this angle.
In its arguments, it is purely an intellectual thing.
The basis of its arguments are completely those things,
which form the basis in all scholarship.
And the satisfaction that a human being achieves through it
is the satisfaction of the intellect.
i.e. the hearts and the existence of the human being becomes satisfied,
that everything fits into its proper place,
I have got the answers to my question,
the reality of life has dawned upon me,
my future goal has become fixed for me,
now I am not in any doubt with regard to its path.
And the Blessing of Allah bestowed upon me in the form of the Quran,
this is such a reminder of Allah with which my heart is at peace.
This is the meaning of that Ayah,
"Ala Bi Zikrillahi Tatmainnau Qulub"
i.e. this is the reminder of Allah, i.e. the Quran,
the understanding, by knowing its signs
by diving deeper and knowing its secrets,
the human being achieves real and intellectual contentment.
This contentment is way different from spiritual satisfaction.
The latter one may get even with some supplications too.
That is generally achieved by people.
That is also achieved through intoxication.
Therefore, that is not even a subject matter in the Deen.
The word and the term of 'Spiritualism',
is a completely strange term for Deen.
It should be placed in its proper place
and studied as a science or a branch of knowledge.
If someone is interested in it.
Neither is it in the religion, nor religion has any connection with it.
Neither does it have any relationship with the religion.
[Hassan] Right Ghamidi Sahab, you have clarified that
the religion is purely a matter of thought
which influences our intellect and knowledge,
and uses arguments to convince us on some point.
However, if we agree on religious thoughts for our inner satisfaction
and for the fulfillment of our spiritual gratification,
or the spiritual nourishment of our souls,
are there any parallel paths to be taken?
Will the religion have any objection to it?
i.e. if we agree with all the religious premises
and then move towards those paths
which provide me with spiritual satisfaction,
then what does religion have to say on this point?
[Ghamidi] Like when we have any physical anxiety
we refer to the physicians,
similarly, if we have an inner or spiritual dissatisfaction
then we consult a psychologist.
This actually is a topic in the of science of Psychology.
In the past too, there have been great experts of it,
and even among our Mystics, there have been great experts as well.
We have them even today.
This should be seen exactly like when we have a headache,
we consult a physician,
i.e. in such a situation, are we going to consult the religion?
For the treatment of a headache, we refer to a medical expert.
When we suffer some disease, we go to a medical expert.
Exactly in the same way, as we have the experts for our physical being,
and its knowledge is refered to us as Medical Science.
Similarly, the defects or the anxieties that develop in our soul,
a very common word of our times is that a person suffers from depression,
so for such things we should consult a good expert of Psychology.
This too is a Science and we should appreciate it as well.
It is a branch of knowledge with a lot of importance,
and if we take recourse to it then it is exactly like we go to a medical expert.
To get ourselves treated for our mental peace
and satisfaction if we take some medicine
or get prescribed for it,
then the religion has no objection to it.
However, if we turn it into religion then it will become the reason for objection.