Body and soul in Islam
Ahuman-being is made up of body and soul. Many verses of the Noble Quran allude to the fact that the soul is breathed into a fetus during the 15th week. Thus, the fetus stays with the soul, in its mother’s womb, for six months (Quran 32: 7–9).
The body is regarded as a house for the soul. The soul departs it during sleep and returns when we wake up. When someone dies, the body becomes like a demolished house (Quran 39: 42). Sleep is essential for rest – among others – and death is imperative because it is a transformation from a temporal life to an everlasting one. Souls will be rejoined with the bodies on the Day of Judgment as they are rejoined with our bodies when we wake up from sleep (Quran 36: 51 – 52).
Indeed, Allah (the Almighty and Majestic) knows what is best for us and what is compatible with our natural dispositions, tendencies, abilities and needs. Whoever ignores the significance of striking a balance between our physical needs and spiritual ones, is deviant and will destabilize his life on earth and may cause incurable psychological and social diseases.
If we compare a human-being to a computer, then his body is like a computer itself, life like electricity, and the soul like software programs. So, with such complex softwares, the computer is different from other machines just like a human-being is different from other animals.
Allah (the Almighty and Majestic) described His righteous servants as: “Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah.” [Surat An-Nur:37]. Even when involved in business, they do not forget spiritual and moral duties due to fear of the account before Allah in the Hereafter. Imagine the conduct of these businessmen with this kind of belief and moral character, and how life in its every aspect would be among such people. (See www.en.alukah.net)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) presented the most splendid examples and directives concerning the balance between spirituality and materialism. He (pbuh) would become extremely angry with those who opposed the inborn human nature and traditions of the prophets and messengers. Once, he heard that some people, out of keenness to worship Allah (the Almighty and Majestic) had taken an oath to refrain from sleep, marriage and food and drink. His position toward them was strict determination to uphold the balance he had been charged to teach. Abu Juhaifa (RA) narrated thus: “The Prophet (pbuh) made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abu Ad-Darda’a. Salman paid a visit to Abu Ad-Darda’a and found Um AdDarda’a dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. She replied, “Your brother Abu Ad-Darda’a is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world.” In the meantime Abu Ad-Darda’a came and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested him to eat (with him), but Abu Ad-Darda’a said, “I am fasting.” Salman said, “I am not going to eat unless you eat.” So, Abu Ad-Darda’a ate with him. When a part of the night had passed, Abu Ad-Darda’a got up (to offer the night prayer), but Salman told him to sleep and Abu Ad-Darda’a slept. After sometime Abu Ad-Darda’a again got up but Salman told him again to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman told him to get up then, and both of them offered the Tahajjud (late night optional) prayer. Salman told Abu Ad-Darda’a, “Your Lord has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a right on you; so you should give all their due rights.” Abu Ad-Darda’a went to the Prophet (pbuh) and narrated the whole story. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Salman has spoken the truth.” (Al-Bukhari # 1, 968)
Despite unanimity about the dichotomous relationship between the body and the soul, the vast majority of the people focus more on the body at the expense of the soul. They eat good food, drink tasty beverages, and some undergo cosmetic surgery to look more beautiful or handsome, but very few make an effort for spiritual enlightenment. Allah (SWT) tells us what can be translated as: “And by the soul and Him who fashioned it, and informed it (with consciousness) of its wickedness and righteousness. Truly, whoever purifies it succeeds. And truly, whoever defiles it, fails.” (Ash-Shams 91: 7 – 9)
From the Islamic point of view, the religious man will be as active as the man of the world indeed, more active in his domestic and social life, which extends from the confines of the household to the market square, and even to international conferences (refer to Islamreligion.com).
Courtesy of the TIES Center: The
G TIES Center is the social and educational hub for English Speaking Muslims in Kuwait and aims at empower Kuwait’s expats through social and educational services that promote a positive and productive role in society, and to facilitate opportunities for intra- and interfaith interactions that promote social solidarity. For more information, you can contact TIES at Tel:25231015/6; Hotline:94079777; e-mail: info@tiescenter.net.