Spirit of Islam, September 2018

SERVICE TO MAN All the teachings of Islam are based on two basic principles—worship of God and service to man. Without putting both of these principles into practice, there can be no true fulfilment of one’s religious duties. In its followers, Islam inculcates the spirit of love and respect for all human beings. By serving human beings on the one hand they please their God, and on the other they achieve spiritual progress for themselves. According to a Hadith, you should be merciful to people on earth and God on high will be merciful to you. In this way Islam links personal salvation to serving others. One can receive God’s reward in the Hereafter only if one has done something to alleviate the sufferings of humankind. According to another Hadith, on Doomsday God will say to a person, “I was ill, but you did not come to nurse Me.” The man will reply, “God, You being the Lord of the universe, how can You be ill?” God will answer, “Such and such servant of Mine was ill. Had you gone there, you would have found Me there with him.” Then God will say to another person, “I was hungry, but you did not feed Me.” The All the teachings of Islam are based on two basic principles—worship of God and service to man. Without putting both of these principles into practice, there can be no true fulfilment of one’s religious duties. ISLAM: A SCHEME OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT The dictionary meaning of spirituality: The quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. The Quranic term for spirituality is Rabbaniyat. It is the elevation of the human condition to a plane on which the mind is focused on the higher, non-material realities of a godly existence. The Prophet said: “God plants wisdom in the heart of one who shows disinclination for the world.” To be a spiritual person one should understand the principles of life which Islam expects from its believers. In the following article we bring you a bouquet from the garden of Islamic principles. PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM