‘There is no
deity worthy of worship except God’ this convinction creates a world view, a
perspective and a unique behaviour. It essential means that all actions – from
having a shower to picking up litter from the floor – should be referred to the
Creator. This establishes a constant awareness, mindfulness and consciousness
of God in everything that the Muslim says or does.
The
understanding of spirituality in Islam is unlike the secular understanding. It
is the constant reference to God and ensuring that everything he or she does is
in accordance with God’s pleasure.
This
consciousness is not static, it is dynamic. The level of God consciousness is
dependent upon how close the Muslim is with His Lord. This personal
relationship is established and strengthened by following a unique programme of
activities that have been prescribed by God Himself. This ‘spiritual’
programme is also an effective means to change the negative traits and habits
of the Muslim. Some of these activities include remembrance of God, prayer,
giving charity, fasting, reflecting on creation, meditation, reading and
reflecting upon the Qur’an, memorising the Qur’an and daily supplications.
The Prophet
Muhammad emphasised on developing a good character by engaging a constant
practice of prayer, meditation, remembrance of God and other activities, as these
actions change the heart and thereby bring one closer to God.
“Verily in
the body there is a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the body is all sound. If
it is corrupt, the body is all corrupt. Verily, it is the heart.”
God
consciousness is an essential element in Islamic spiritual practice, without
it, the Muslim’s behaviour and attitude are corrupted. The benefits of God
consciousness as derived from the Qur’an are:
§ Guidance: because of
His words “guidance for the muttaqeen (the people of God consciousness)”
§ Help: because of
His words “Truly, Allah is with the people who have taqwa (God consciousness)”
§ Closeness
with God: because of His words, “Allah is the close
friend of the muttaqeen”
§ Love: because of
His words, “Truly Allah loves the muttaqeen”
§ A way out
from unhappiness, and provision from where one does not expect
because of His words, “Whoever has taqwa of Allah He will make a way out for
him and provide him from where he does not expect”
§ Facilitation
of affairs because of His words, “Whoever has taqwa of Allah
He will make ease for him in his affair”
§ Full covering
over of wrong actions and magnification of rewards because of His
words, “Whoever has taqwa of God He will cover over his wrong actions and
magnify a reward for him”
Islam has a unique view on
spirituality as it encompasses all aspects of the Muslim’s life. All actions
that are referred to God are spiritual, and these actions include the
supplications we utter before we go to bed to the type of bank account we hold.
God has prescribed certain actions that develop positive characters as well as
bringing the Muslim closer to God thereby attain God consciousness. This state
achieves many things including God’s love, closeness and divine assistance.
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