The Two Dimensions of Islam
Islam is composed of two different dimensions.
The outer and the inner
The external and the internal
The form and the essence
The apparent and the spirit
Why is this important? Why do we need to know that there are these two different dimensions of Islam? What can it cost us if we fail to understand these two different dimensions?
One example of its importance can be found in the story of Iblis (Satan) – Iblis excelled in external practice. There is not a space in the world where he has not done sajdah. (Prostrated to God) His physical Ibadah was untouchable. His core and fundamental mistake was that he had no internal development. He failed to serve the Lord internally.
Form does not constitute essence. This is the most critical mistake we make as Muslims nowadays. Carrying out only the physical obligations does not constitute the spiritual state which is our ultimate goal.
External submitting means to adhere to Shariah; to pray, to fast and to do all of our normal obligations in order to carry out the external dimension of Islam. How do we apply Islam internally in addition to the external dimension?
One critical mistake we often make is linking piety with the forms. If a Muslim is praying, wearing a hijab, growing a beard, dressing Islamically or reading the Quran – we equate these external forms with piety. The critical mistake we make is equating the essence with the form. And they are not often the same.
The reality of Islam is when it’s applied to both dimensions. Physically as well as spiritually. Externally as well as internally. The internal state is what is the most important. That is essential. We can have the forms and in reality the forms are meant to give expression they’re meant to give form, they are meant to emerge from the inner state of Islam and to give us a way to communicate and express the internal dimension of Islam, but they cannot replace the internal dimension of Islam.
They cannot replace internal surrender. One example being Salah (Prayer). The body goes through different motions when praying. The final point being a physical act of surrendering when the forehead is touching the ground. But how do we feel inside?
Salah (Prayer) gains its power and meaning when the heart and soul is in a state of Islam. That is the perfection of the Islamic spiritual path and the perfection of Islam.
Over the last few decades Islam has become politicised due to the varying conflicts of the modern world whereas in history the spiritual path was always adhered to. Islam has lost its spirituality and therefore lost its soul.
What we've ended up with and few people are actually admitting it is the second age of ignorance. An age of total ignorance of what Islam truly is. We've lost the meaning and purpose of Islam. Even though we go through the forms and we talk about Islam, the results are very clear. Islam is not doing well on the superficial level in the world today and we see this horrible image portrayed of Islam and we have no one to blame but ourselves.
If MUSLIMS truly understood Islam and if we truly practised it in the way that it was meant to be practised we would have much better results. Allah swt says “I do not change the condition of a people until they change it themselves”.
It is up to us to carry the true banner of Islam towards peace and enlightenment as it was meant to be carried. Muhammad (pbuh) said “there will come a day where nothing remains of Islam but its name.”
We are very likely in that day now. Where we talk about Islam and we hear about Islam but nobody understands the REALITY of Islam.
What is the reality of the Islamic spiritual path? Is it just a formal religion? Is it just this external code of conduct? Or is there something more to it? Is it an authentic path to enlightenment? A real path to divine peace. To Human excellence. Is it a path to progress? Are we as Muslims demonstrating that? This lack of understanding, this loss of understanding, now necessitates a second age of enlightenment, a second Islamic golden age and it’s on the horizon. I believe that we are beginning to wake up and we’re beginning to realise what Islam truly is, and we’re beginning to go back to its spiritual root, to its spiritual core and its essence. There is nothing more necessary now than a rediscovery of Islamic spirituality.
Let’s review what we have covered thus far. Islam is a gift, it is a divine gift from God. And it was given to us for our benefit, you see Allah (swt) does not need anything from us, He doesn't need our worship, He doesn't need anything we can possibly offer or do, and He gave us Islam as a gift for US. And if we truly understand it and if we practice it properly, it begins to change every aspect of our lives, our spiritual lives as well as our practical lives. We can achieve a complete balanced experience of life through the Islamic spiritual path.
Adapted from the works of Brother Ihsan Torabi.
Full access to his works can be found here:http://www.islamicmeditation.com/main/
To see Brother Ihsan talk about this topic in detail himself please visit here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrAZQaYA3yw
May Allah bless his family and his loved ones for all his hard work and may we all wake up to an age of enlightenment.
