Exploring the multifaceted roles of religion—a beacon from individual edification to societal harmony
Religion has been revealed for the individual, social, economic, moral, and spiritual edification of human beings. It is religion that directs the orientation of the boat of life. It exposes the enigmatic trajectories of life to let man tread smoothly towards the realization of his potential with which he was created and dispatched into this world. It grants identification in times of anonymity. It is knowledge in times of ignorance, light in times of darkness, hope in times of despondency, and freedom in times of servitude.
Religion does not cripple the freedom of man. The West has attacked religion, considering it a hurdle in the way of freedom. Western thinkers promote absolute freedom to let loose man to fulfill his corporal desires. A great Iranian scholar, Misba Yazdi, says that absolute freedom is impossible because man cannot be allowed to be absolutely free to do things as per his physical whims and wishes. It clarifies the difference between good freedom and bad freedom. Freedom with restrictions is good freedom. Man will not remain man if he enjoys absolute freedom, nor will he be able to realize his potentials.
Religion itself is a system to administer all the dimensions of life. It is for life. Ali Shariati says that if religion does not benefit man in this world, it cannot benefit him in the hereafter. It is the requirement of every human being. Life cannot be lived meaningfully without religion. It gives the syllabus of life. It is the constitution of life. It helps man individually to become a better version of himself, which consequently leads to a better society and a better world. It is the core of society. Good humans make good societies and vice versa.
Religion unravels the mysteries of this world. The human being is the greatest mystery of this world who can never comprehend himself without the help of religion. His composition is explained by religion only. Science fails to explain all dimensions of man, but religion has complete explanations for all the dimensions of the life of a human being. Self-knowledge is the knowledge of everything. Self-knowledge is so significant that it has been considered paramount to the knowledge of God. The Hadith goes, “Knowing self is knowing God.” Religion elevates man above mundane boundaries. One rises above to obtain the transcendental reality. One traverses the mysteries of being and is enabled to grasp the enigmas of reality in intelligible terms.
Religion has vivifying powers. It revives us from the death of lethargy and dormancy. It assigns duties and obligations on us to be active and agile in our lives. The stupors are eliminated, and a new movement is brought into life. A new consciousness of God develops in us, motivating us to work for the hereafter. It helps us to understand our potentials and to exert to realize these potentials. Man has different appellations to his credit. He is sent on earth as an ambassador of God. He needs to execute the assigned duties to fulfill the objective of his creation. Religion helps him to achieve the pedestal of excellence with which he was designed. The true meaning of life is understood only with the help of religion. Existentialist philosophers and their adherents grappled with the enigmas of life but failed to arrive at any meaningful end. They abandoned religion and roved after absolute freedom that deteriorated their lives and made them pessimists and cynical. Religion lifts off the curtains of negligence and forgetfulness. It helps us to have a journey from ignorance to light. It prepares us for the challenges of life through troubles and tribulations. It cultivates us, educates us, and humbles us to be good human beings. It civilizes us and promotes the civilization that is human-friendly.
Religion generates love and affection among human beings. It produces brotherhood among them. It promotes unity. It gives the constitution to govern people. Religion satiates the inner longing of a human being. The convulsions of soul and body can be fixed only by religion. Shaheed Mutahhari says that science decorates the outside world of a human being, while religion decorates the inner world of a human being. The spiritual trepidations are calmed by religion. Science can treat the physical ailments of a human being whereas religion treats the spiritual ailments of a human being. Spiritual impairments are more detrimental than physical impairments. It is religion that cures the spiritual impairments.
Surveys and analyses reveal that religious human beings are happier and more satisfied than unreligious human beings. Implementing religion in one’s life exonerates him/her from the binding shackles of this world. The bogus charm of this world loses its grip on us as things are clarified to us, their reality is known to us, and the transitory nature of things repels us.
The writer can be reached at az*********@***il.com