Islam Rediscovered
14. Spirituality in Islam
~ 251 ~
that materialism is a major motivating factor in
your life. One who sees the same things, but
remains unaffected by the notions of luxury that
they convey, and therefore feels no desire to acquire
them, lives in a more rarefied sphere in which
materialism plays no part. He sees no attraction in
the lesser world of material appearances, being
engrossed in the higher realities of the supremely
spiritual life. The truly non-material person is never
influenced by superficialities: his soul exists at too
profound a level of spirituality.
This is true, and without any exaggeration. Those
who live for worldly pleasures believe that
gratification cannot be had except from material
things. But this thinking is due to sheer ignorance.
Worldly pleasure being the only thing they have
experienced, they imagine that for enjoyment they
must depend solely on material things. Had they
experienced spiritual pleasure, they would certainly
have forgotten material pleasure. The pleasure to be
derived from material things is limited in nature
and very short-lived. Whereas spiritual pleasure
may be eternally savoured.
