Lifestyle from the perspective of the Purified Imams

The subject of lifestyle in the holy religion of Islam has a history of 1,400 years and is ‎mentioned in various letters. ‎

News ID: 450376

Date: 10 July 2020 - 20:37

RNA – The subject of lifestyle in the holy religion of Islam has a history of 1,400 years and is ‎mentioned in various letters. There are several narrations from the Holy Prophet Muhammad ‎and the Infallible Imams about living a happy life, living a righteous life and encouraging ‎Muslims to follow religious orders in all stages of life in Islamic sources. ‎

One of the narrative documents about the correct lifestyle is the sermon 193 of Nahj al-‎Balaghah (The Peak of Eloquence) so that several passages from this sermon explain the ‎lifestyle of the pious. The first description of the pious in this sermon is that “their speech is ‎to the point” (‎مَنْطِقُهُمُ الصَّوَابُ‎). This phrase defines the style and manner of speaking of the ‎pious. The second attribute that the Imam has stated for the pious is that “their dress is ‎moderate” (‎وَمَلبَسُهُمُ الأِققتتِصادُ‎). This verse points to the correct dress of the pious, which is ‎an important example of lifestyle. ‎

The next attribute given to the pious is that “their gait is humble” (‎وَمَشْيُهُمُ التَّوَاضُعُ‎). That is, ‎the pious have a humble demeanour, which is not only humility in their gait, but also in their ‎other behaviours. The next feature that has been considered in their lifestyle that “they keep ‎their eyes closed to what God has made unlawful for them” (‎غَضُّوا اَبصارَهُم أمّا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيهِم‎). ‎This phrase indicates that the pious keep their eyes protected and refuse to see when ‎confronted with what God has forbidden. ‎

In the next verse, it says, “and they put their ears to that knowledge which is beneficial to ‎them” (‎وَقَقَفُوا اَسماعَهُم عَلَى العِلمِ النَّافِعِ لَهُم‎). It is as if this verse indicates that pious people ‎devote their ears to useful material and do not listen to just anything. These verses are a ‎reflection of living in the style of the pure Imams and as a result, it has described the Quran. ‎Elsewhere, Imam Ali tells his son, Imam al-Hasan, about the plans for a happy life: “My ‎child, the pious, should set three times in his activities: when he prays to God in it, when he ‎takes account of his soul in it, and when he empties it for his lawful pleasure and beauty. ‎There is no escaping a believer who is present in three things: improving his livelihood, ‎taking steps for the Hereafter, or enjoying lawful pleasures.” (ibn Shu'bah al-Harani, 1404, ‎‎1:11)‎

It should be noted that in addition to the narrations of the Infallible Imams: There are ‎narrations about explaining the correct way of life and some narrations from these nobles ‎point to the condemnation and avoidance of inappropriate lifestyle and avoidance of ‎similitude to disbelievers. Among them, we can mention this narration that Imam Ja’far al-‎Sadiq quotes his ancestors in a hadith al-qudsi [sacred narration] from the tongue of God ‎Almighty:‎
‎“My servants, do not wear the dress of my enemies and do not eat the food of my enemies ‎and avoid all similar forms (lifestyle) of my enemies, otherwise you will become my enemy ‎like them” (al-Hurr al-Amili, 1368:1957). It can be clearly stated that the correct way of life in ‎the words and manners of the Prophet Muhammad and the Infallible Imams: It is quite ‎obvious that if we go deep into the lifestyle of these nobles, we have the best way to ‎achieve an ideal lifestyle.‎

Conclusion:‎

Lifestyle in recent decades has been one of the basic concepts in the field of humanities. ‎This concept is examined from different angles and, from the point of view of experts, forms ‎a set of perceptions, values, behaviours, states, and tastes. Lifestyle is a meaning that deals ‎with a particular way of life of an individual or a society and is influenced by the worldview ‎and values that govern that individual and society. Each religion or school of thought, ‎according to the theoretical approaches, worldviews, and values and social and cultural ‎conditions of its time, has provided definitions and characteristics with a focus on the aspect ‎or aspects of this multidimensional concept. ‎

Thus, the way of life from the point of view of the Quranic and divine worldviews is a style ‎that is pure in every sense and free from all impurities and anything that makes the clear ‎water of life miserable in human mouths. When faith is accompanied by righteous deeds, it ‎bears fruit, which is referred to as hayat al-tayyibah, the good life. Although the Quran only ‎explicitly mentions hayat al-tayyibah once, there are many references to it in the Quran that ‎can be found among the components that the Quran introduces for a healthy life. ‎

From the perspective of the Pure Imams, this concept is not different from the viewpoint of ‎the Quran. In such a way that the correct way of life is evident in the words and manners of ‎the Prophet Muhammad and the Imams, and if we go deep into the lifestyle of these nobles, ‎we will have the best way to achieve the ideal and Quranic lifestyle. With a brief look at the ‎views of intellectuals, it can be said that lifestyle is a special system-like and systematic way ‎of life that gives a person, family or society a special identity. Therefore, according to the ‎characteristics of the lifestyle that has been expressed, action should be taken to improve or ‎build a lifestyle according to the worldview and values that govern the individual and society.‎

Rasa News Agency