Islam came from the Arabic root word Salam which means peace. Setting aside any form of connotation with terrorism, let us delve into the spiritual aspect of this religion and how proper Muslims are guided by the Quran to be continually self-aware and introspecting. Let us focus on how Muslims attain inner peace that will lead them to be at peace first with themselves, then towards others and ultimately to be at peace with their creator.
THE NOBLE PURPOSE
The Muslim’s awareness begins with his knowledge of why he was created in the first place. Philosophical dissertations have been made to address the topic of why we are here on Earth and what is the purpose of our existence. Fortunately, Muslims have been taught by the Quran this seemingly metaphysical or highly intellectual topic in the simplest and most easily understood way.
Allah said in the Quran, “We did not create the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.” ¬Quran 51:56. With this simple and straightforward declaration, Allah has defined for the Muslims what his past was, what his present is and what his future should be. And this clear sense of being by knowing why we are here immediately removes the conflict that most people find in their hearts and minds on what to do or what to believe in.
People seek purpose by pursuing careers, sports and others. Some oversimplify things by saying that they exist to seek happiness. So they look for happiness in the most worldly things such as wealth, fame, sexual gratification and others until there is nowhere to go. This is the reason why we see so many successful people commit suicide or are continually under the shadow of depression and suicidal thoughts because happiness is not enough to be a purpose in life while we see the poorest person in the world able to smile and face difficulties because he is a Muslim. The Muslim knows the noblest of purpose to live – to worship and please the Creator. This is the key to happiness.
IT ALL STARTS FROM WITHIN
Upon realizing the purpose of our existence, before we even venture into the vastness of the world beyond ourselves, Muslims are taught to be introspective in order to know themselves. Prophet Muhammad said, “Indeed in the body is a piece of flesh, if it is healthy then the whole body becomes healthy and if it sick then the whole body becomes sick, and it is none other than the heart.” In Islam, the heart is not only the seat of emotions, it is also the domain of the intellect, understanding, and reasoning. These are the reasons why Islam puts so much importance into having a clean heart than having a smart, intelligent brain. The heart is where Allah’s guidance enters through. The heart is the real part of the body that sees, feels and where our feelings emanate. Thus it is of utmost importance that we keep our hearts healthy not only physically but also spiritually.
TRUE RICHES
Upon learning about our hearts, our senses see the grandeur of the world around us and we are immediately overwhelmed by the things we see, feel or hear. Being humans, it has been our nature to love material objects and the possession of such that we unwittingly become a part of the rat race of materialism and consumerism where nobody wins. In reality, even if any one of us gets to possess the whole world and everything that is in it, we’d still want more.
This impulse of lust for material possessions, power, influence, popularity, and others have driven lots of people to commit immoral actions in order to achieve their wants. Some will succeed while most will fail. But everyone on this path will be surely on the path to destruction. Prophet Muhammad said, “Richness is not measured by the number of material possessions, true richness is measured by the richness of one’s self.”
It is clearly denoted here that a Muslim should not be materialistic but must seek balance between extravagance and self-punishment. It is also denoted that the Muslim should not vie in the race to collect material possession but rather, to collect self-richness by being contented and forever thankful for Allah’s blessings by sharing it with others.
THE GOLDEN RULE
Prophet Muhammad said, “None of you truly believes unless he loves for his brethren, what he loves for himself.”
The Muslim should seek inner peace by being at peace with his fellow Muslim or even fellow human beings as a whole by having a sense of harmonious living with others. That he does not become an enemy of theirs but rather as a brethren who is only wishing wellness for them and avoiding inflicting harm unto others. You may have already identified that this is the same golden rule taught even in other religions where it is said that we should not do unto others what we do not want to be done unto ourselves.
Prophet Muhammad said, “The Muslim is one from whom the people are safe from his hands and tongue.” This means that the Muslim should be pious not only when he is alone worshipping God but also when he is with others. The Muslim must not only give benefit. He must not also be a source of harm for others.
TO GOD WE WILL RETURN
Finally, the Muslim finds inner peace by being at peace with his creator by being able to do what was asked of him from the religion obligations and good deeds and the avoidance of all kinds of sin whether big or small.
The greatest good deed for a Muslim is to worship Allah alone without partners while the greatest evil is for him to worship gods other than Allah.
The greatest success for a Muslim is for him to be rewarded by Allah with His mercy in Judgement Day. While the greatest failure is to be among those who earn Allah’s wrath and be punished in the Hellfire.
