iSLAM
Spirituality is both personal and communal. An integration of the personal and communal will bring forth an authentic sense of the struggle to understand ones relationship with the Divine. It is only when a person is aware of the love relationship that exists between the Divine and themselves that they will then struggle to deepen their connection with that Source. The effort to come to terms with what the relationship and the process of trying to live out the expression of this relationship is spirituality. Spirituality is that action of becoming a person who is living out their fullest potential, it is an experience and reflection of what their faith has taught them. The Islamic tradition is rich with communal and personal ways of expressing one's spirituality and growing deeper in it. Two very distinctive features of Islamic spirituality that I found most meaningful are the pilgrimage and prayer. While other traditions have similar practices, Islam is rich in tradition in regards to these practices. Searching and traveling are an important part of the spiritual life. Believers yearn to trace the steps and see the sites of those who have gone before them in hopes of encounter the Divine. The pilgrimage to Mecca is not just
The times of prayer are fixed and they coincide with the daily rhythm of life. In class we talked about the ascetic life and whether or not or how it fit in to Islam. Prayer can be an expression of your feelings and emotions to God as well as a source of consolation and petitioning. a journey to a historical place but rather a journey that leads ones heart to God, it is a pillar of Islam, "the worship of a lifetime . Muwaffaq while on pilgrimage thought of those who couldn't go and asked God to give his pilgrimage to those whose pilgrimages were not accepted, and God granted his request (al-Ghazali 87-89). Another interesting facet of this practice is that on some occasions if a person makes a pilgrimage they can offer them for others, as was the case of Ali ibn Muwaffaq. the perfection of religion (al-Ghazali 83). Prayer in whatever form or shape is valid as long as it avoids extremes, excess and has a continuity. While one may pray alone they are still actively participating with the larger community. On the pilgrimage one has to give up their identity through clothing. Once again it is easy to see how ones personal spirituality is enhanced, challenged and supported by the others in the greater community and through their common poverty. They continue to carry on a tradition that is based on the Qur'an and has been practiced for centuries. Does it transform you? Does it sustain you? What does prayer do for you? The spiritual life is based on these questions and how the believer answers them. In the article by al-Ghazali, he lists ten "fine points of propriety" that pilgrims should follow.
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Acceptance Essays
