SPIRIT OF ISLAM JUNE 2O18

13 Spirit of Islam Issue 66 June 2018 PEACE, SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH A Three Point Formula H EALTH, Spirituality and Peace are linked to one another. Health means a sound physical body; Spirituality purifies one’s soul and develops one’s personality, and Peace is an essential ingredient in building a healthy society. All religions give emphasis to these three issues. The Prophet of Islam once said that a strong believer is better than a weak believer, because a strong believer can shoulder all responsibilities in a far better manner. Spirituality has been called rabbaniyat in Islam, which means to turn one’s materialistic thinking into spiritual thinking. This creates high human values. Peace is essential for every society. No progress and development takes place without peace. This is the reason why Islam enjoins peace, even at the price of unilateral adjustment. Therefore, a three point formula of being healthy, being peaceful and being spiritual is best for all of us. All the religions including Islam are subject to change, not in terms of revision but in terms of reapplication. Religion is an eternal truth. But the social framework in which religion is required to be followed is an ever-changing phenomenon. It is change in society and not in the religion itself that needs reapplication to the given situation. Every religion, including Islam represents a set of values. These basic values are eternal by their nature. But at the time of change, it requires a new kind of adoption and assimilation. It is this process through which human civilization continues its march in history. This process of change or reapplication applies to all human disciplines like politics, media and the market (economics). For example, in ancient times, politics was based on kingship, so religion found ways of adjustment with this political power. But in modern times political structure is based on popular democracy, so we can see that every religion has sought adjustment with a democratic political system. So is the case of other aspects of human life. In every situation religion is bound to play its much awaited role in establishing peace and harmony throughout the world. As far as Indian society is concerned, it is deeply rooted in religion. Almost all the major religions have their roots in India. Indian society is a multi-religious society. Religious values are intact among Indian people perhaps more than in any other country. Any planning in India must take account of this social reality.