SPIRITUALITY VERSUS POLITICS

others. One may engage in spiritual activities, provided they are strictly non-political. The real part of a believer’s life is spirituality, while politics is quite subsidiary. This means that spirituality is required in every situation, at every stage in life, but politics is required only when the situation calls for it. If there is a society that is ready for its affairs to be administered according to Islamic teachings, then believers can go into politics. In other words, spirituality is a matter for the individual’s choice, while politics comes into the picture only when society is prepared for this, i.e. when society itself wants to be governed according to Islamic teachings. As far as social or national affairs are concerned, their management or governance must be determined by democratic means, through free and fair elections. Spirituality and politics must both refrain from encroaching upon others’ fields. The goal of spirituality is to gain a seat in eternal Paradise of the world hereafter, while politics is basically a worldly affair. It is for society to adopt a political system by its own decision. o Spirituality is a vast subject, covering almost all the nonpolitical affairs of life. Believers must therefore make every effort to attain spirituality, while relegating politics to a subsidiary role. Friendship The principle of friendship is very simple. If you are truly friendly towards others, then you can safely predict that they will also be friendly towards you. Develop genuine love for others in your heart and then others cannot but love you in return.