Body and Soul of Islam:

                                          

Today, many Muslim youth have adopted the outward obligations of Islam, praying five times a day, adhering to strict Islamic dress codes and implementing all the fundamental beliefs in their daily lives. They are able to quote readily sections of Qur’an and hadith and implore others to come to the path of Islam. Unfortunately in the midst of reformation, there is often a lack of true understanding of Islam – its heritage and true moral values. These are essential if a balanced way of life is to be lived.

One such misunderstanding is the position of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Islam. Some of the new generation Muslim youth have in essence reduced him to a Prophet alone, who came with a message sent by God. They believe his value lies in the message he brought rather than in the personality itself. Unfortunately this is a misguided and erroneous concept. Perhaps this view is understandable since the original Muslim settlers seemed only to be attached with the personality of the Prophet rather than what he taught. They discussed his life, his personality and wonders rather than implement in their lives the Qur’anic injunctions that were Divinely revealed to him. They claimed to love him dearly and celebrated his birth but failed to act upon his sunnah and to live the way he lived.

Witnessing a dichotomy between belief and actions, sections of the Muslim youth have sought to readdress the balance. Unfortunately they have gone to the other extreme and become unbending. They argue that Islam is based not on love but on obedience alone. They are convinced that the purity of tawheed can only be achieved by eliminating from the faith, love, respect and all emotional attachments with the Holy Prophet. Extreme love and reverence for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) for them has become irrelevant in Islam.

Unfortunately this is an erroneous and misguided view. By maintaining the outward practices and obligations of Islam, but departing from the idea of the fundamental significance of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) they have decentralized religion, belief and practice from the pivot of love of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). Consequently this results in the denial of the necessary and final authoritativeness of the sunnah and hadith. By inculcating in the minds of the Muslim youth that love and extreme respect for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) is contradictory to the teachings of Islam is a dangerous by product of the recent Islamic resurgence.

Religious practices such as offering prayer, performing hajj, giving zakat, keeping fasts, preaching, and spending in charities comprises the body of Islam. where as the extreme love and reverence of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) constitutes the soul of the body. Both the body and the soul are combined to make a human. A soul can exist without a body as it did in the spiritual world. It exists in the material world and it will continue to exist until the Hereafter. However, a body without a soul cannot exist instead it decays. Similarly our practices and good acts without the love of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) can never be proved to be fruitful, everlasting or rewardable. Like the soul, the love of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), even in its abstract form can remain positive and earn reward. However, it would not be a complete and productive eiman. Although the love of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) helps a man to restore its relation with the body, an enlightened and strong eiman can only be achieved by combining the soul and the body. Religious acts and obligations must be strictly adhered to as well as developing love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

May Allah bless us with understanding the position and love for prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), morals of faith and make us momin. A momin complete with body (abiding to obligations of islam and practicing sunnah along with claim of love we make) and soul (of extreme love, honor & respect for prophet peace and blessings be upon him)