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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imam ‘Ali’s First Treatise On The Islamic Ethics And Education Cause your heart to die through asceticism ============================================= و أمته - بالزهادة As we have already said: in order to survive, man is equipped with certain means such as desires towards possession, food, clothing, shelter, horses, social positions, and sexual drives. If man did not have these innate drives, he would not attain perfection.

But if these desires go beyond the status of means and justice and become aims by themselves, they would, no doubt, bring about irreparable losses and lead us toward the lowest of the low.[^1]* Although Islam considers one's beloved affairs as hasanah [^2] (good) and embellishment of Allah,[^3] it blames too much enchantment with the world. ^4 For this reason, Islam proposes the ethical principle of God-wariness to control excessive attachment to the differing manifestations of this world.

Through this policy, Islam harnesses man's exceeding demands and lusts from one hand, and tames his aggressive spirit, on the other hand to the degree that he will say, as Imam ‘Ali (as) has said, "مَا لِعَليٍّ وَلِنَعِيمٍ يَفنَى وَلَذَّةٍ لا تَبْقَى" "What does ‘Ali have to do with transitory enjoyments and pleasures?" [^5] and he would agree with Hafiz: I am a slave to the high-mindedness of that person who is free from anything possessible.

The Essence of Asceticism In Islam The word " zuhd " or "asceticism" means lack of desire and to abandon something. It is true that in the Qur’an and tradition the topic of asceticism and the lack of concern for this world is emphasized, and the world and its manifestations are blamed. On the other hand, our religious leaders have had an ascetic approach, however.

The issue to be researched here is whether the essence of zuhd is the same as monastic life which exists among Christians, Buddhists, and some other nations? What is the philosophy of the Islamic asceticism? Definitely, the Islamic asceticism does not imply monastic life. As we have said before, from the view point of the Islamic logic, all aspects of life, including wealth, women, clothing, food and social position and the like, are just a means for man's perfection.

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