THE PURPOSE OF RELIGIOUS RITUALS
Spirit of Islam, Sept 2020, p. 11
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
Rituals, the external aspect of the inner spirit, help maintain the inner spirit. Without rituals, the spirit would be reduced to an abstract idea. rituals have symbolic value, and both are equally important. Rituals, the external aspect of the inner spirit, help maintain the inner spirit. Without rituals, the spirit would be reduced to an abstract idea. In such a situation, ritual, or form, serves the role of a compulsory or a regular reminder. There is a scientific relationship between the inner spirit and external rituals. The spirit, when externalized, is not an entirely detached phenomenon. It is very much attached to inner consciousness. Without inner consciousness, no one can perform external rituals. Both are complementary to each other. It is difficult to understand the inner spirit without external rituals, or external rituals without inner consciousness. Religion always begins from consciousness. This consciousness expresses itself in the form of rituals. Consciousness is the real source of rituals. An important role that ritual plays is to give religion an identity, without which religion would remain only an abstract idea. o One’s initial feeling of disappointment should quickly transform itself into a greater determination to try harder, and to channel one’s energies more effectively towards one’s goal.

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