RELIGION FINAL PROJECT:

THE SPIRITUAL PATH IN ISLAM AND HINDU

INANDA MEITASARI

GROUP 3A
MGT1-20163
Student ID: 014201600071

Students of
Management Study Program
President University
2017
 The Spiritual Path in
Islam and Hindu
As people has the ability to think with their mind and feel with their sense, they may
believe in something whether it is related to the religion or only their experienced with the
supernatural power. Believers may develop their faith along with their experienced towards
the honor of Oneness, this known as spiritual path, where it leads to the stage of faith. Before
going deeper to understand the stage of faith, need to understand that spiritual is relating to
sacred matters; concerned with religious values; relating to supernatural beings or
phenomena1 (these definition according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Spirituality defined
by Christina Puchalski, MD, Director of the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and
Health, is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning
and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to
others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred 2. While faith is belief and trust in and loyalty
to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion; firm belief in something for which
there is no proof3. Therefore, spirituality represents the paths a persons faith (as defined
above) travels as it seeks meaning, purpose, and significance. In these terms, faith is an
internal feeling, a sense that there is something more.

In the other side, religion refers to the community of people who share similar beliefs, where
belief represents the truth claim by a person as a result of his or her spiritual journey4. Even though
there is relation between spirituality and religion, it does not mean that it is same. People
often confuse to find it difference. A person can be religious and spiritual, however it is also
possible to be religious without being spiritual, or to be spiritual without being religious.
Being a spiritual person is synonymous with being a person whose highest priority is to be
loving to yourself and others. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. A
spiritual person knows that we are all one, and consciously attempts to honor this Oneness
(The Almighty God(s)/Goddess)5. Can be stated that a spiritual person is a kind person who
does the good deeds.

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 According to Dr. James Fowler, an American theologian who was Professor of
Theology and Human Development at Emory University, there are 6 stage of faith
development6 which are as follow:

Stage 1 Intuitive-Projective Faith: This is the faith of toddlerhood and early

childhood (about 0-3). During this stage, when a person starts hearing and exhibiting
some basic understanding of the nature of ones parents search for meaning,
significance and purpose.
Stage 2 Mythic-Literal Faith: When children become school-age, they start
understanding the world in more logical ways. They generally accept the stories told
to them by their faith community but tend to understand them in very literal ways. [A
few people remain in this stage through adulthood.]
Stage 3 Synthetic-Conventional Faith: Most people move on to this stage as
teenagers. At this point, their life has grown to include several different social circles
and there is a need to pull it all together. When this happens, a person usually adopts
some sort of all-encompassing belief system. However, at this stage, people tend to
have a hard time seeing outside their box and don't recognize that they are "inside" a
belief system [This is the stage in which many people remain].
Stage 4 Individuative-Reflective Faith: This is the tough stage, often begun in young
adulthood, when people start seeing outside the box and realizing that there are other
"boxes". They begin to critically examine their beliefs on their own and often become
disillusioned with their former faith. Ironically, the Stage 3 people usually think that
Stage 4 people have become "backsliders" when in reality they have actually moved
forward.
Stage 5 Conjunctive Faith: It is rare for people to reach this stage before mid-life.
This is the point when people begin to realize the limits of logic and start to accept the
paradoxes in life. They begin to see life as a mystery and often return to sacred stories
and symbols but this time without being stuck in a theological box.
Stage 6 Universalizing Faith: Few people reach this stage. Those who do live their
lives to the full in service of others without any real worries or doubts.

These stages of faith are the level where a person has reached the level according to
his or her experienced, whether with or without religion. If someone is a believer of certain
religion, this stages will be stressed into each religion where there are several requirements
which need to be achieved therefore this person can reach the stage. As this paper will discuss

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the spiritual path or stage of faith in Islam and Hindu, the reader may find the similarities or
the differences between both religions.

ISLAM

According to Islam, there are three stages of faith which related by Umar Bin Khattab
and found in the hadith collections of Sahih Muslim, where Jibreel, the angel of Allah SWT,
appeared and was questioning Muhammad (the Prophet) about it. The three stages are Islam
(Submitting to Allah), Imaan (Faith), and Ihsaan (Perfection)7, these stages have its own
requirement to fulfill.

- Stage 1: Islam

When one performs the five pillars of Islam they are exhibiting submission to Allah. A
person who has Islam is a Muslim. By performing the five pillars, a Muslim shows through
their outward actions that they have submitted themselves to Allah. They have or will:

Taken the Shahada or proclamation of faith, is that a person acknowledges the existence of
Allah (God), praise to Him, as the Creator of the Universe, and that Muhammad is the
Messenger of God. This means that a person accepts the message of God revealed to
humanity through Prophet Muhammad, as expressed in the Word of God (the Holy Qur'an)
and the Sunna of the Prophet (his sayings, actions, and what he approved of).

Make the five daily obligatory prayers or Salaah, a Muslim has to clean himself/herself
through wudu', by washing the mouth, nose, face hands, arms, ears, hair, and feet, every time
before prayers. Muslims also have to take showers after sexual intercourse and must keep
their clothes clean.

Fast during the month of Ramadhan, by abstaining from food, drinks, and sexual activity
from dawn to the sunset has tremendous benefits for the body and the soul of a worshipper.

Give charity, or Zakat, a Muslim assists the poor and contributes to the well-being of
society. It is, at least, 2.5 percent of a persons annual savings.

Make pilgrimage to the Kaaba, or Hajj, to the House of God in Makkah, is the climax of
being a Muslim and done at least once in their life if they are able to.

If a person does these things, they are Muslim regardless of the true feelings they have in
their heart.
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 - Stage 2: Imaan

To have true faith, a Muslim must also accept the Six Articles of Faith. A Muslim who
accepts the Articles of Faith is called a Mumin, or one who has Imaan. While it is fairly
easy to spot a Muslim, it is nearly impossible to determine if someone is a Mumin. Others
can verify if a person is a Muslim simply by observing their actions and listening to their
speech. But Iman, faith, is in the heart and only Allah SWT knows what is in there. It is
possible for someone to be a Muslim yet not be a Mumin, it is not possible for someone to
be a Mumin yet not be a Muslim. The Six Articles of Faith as follow:

Belief in the Oneness of Allah, or Tawheed.

Belief in the angels of Allah
Belief in the prophets of Allah. All of the prophets
Belief in the Books of Allah
Belief in the Last Day and the Day of Judgement
Belief in Divine Destiny, or Qadr, both good and bad.

- Stage 3: Ihsaan

Ihsaan means to worship and behave as if they can see Allah. For even though they
cannot see Him, He surely sees them. This high level of perfection is called Ihsaan, and a
person who reaches it is called a Muhsin. There are two types of Ihsaan, both of them are
commendable, but one is slightly better than the other.
The first level of Ihsan is the best as the person who reaches this level will have the
utmost sincerity during the times they are communicating with their Lord. Therefore, when a
person is making their prayers, they will say each word and make each movement knowing
that Allah sees not just their outward actions, but their inner thoughts as well.
The second level of Ihsan is when they aware of their deeds and acting. Because they
know that Allah sees them both inside and out, their minds will be focused on the prayers (or
Hajj, or charity, or fast) and they will be in fear and awe of His Might and Majesty. They will
recite Al-Fatihah (the first chapter of the Quran) with conviction, and feeling, and hope, and
fear. The Muhsin will purify his or her intentions. He or she will not give charity to be seen
but to please Allah. The Muhsin knows that Allah knows their true intentions.
Also, just like a Mumin, it is hard to know if someone is a Muhsin. And just like it is
impossible to be a Mumin without first being a Muslim, likewise it is impossible to be a
Muhsin without first being a Mumin.

HINDU

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 In Hindu, the stage of faith of a person is interpret as a growing tree and divided into
three stages which are blind faith, informed conviction, and personal realization8. The
explanation of each as follow:

- Stage 1: Blind Faith

Faith in its initial stage is simple belief without the support of either knowledge or
experience. Keeping the faith strong in this phase depends heavily on the company the
believers keep. They need to associate with spiritual companions and avoid worldly and
nonreligious people. Attending a weekly satsang with like-minded devotees is sustaining.
Having the darshan of visiting swamis and other Hindu religious leaders helps keep their
faith strong.

- Stage 2: Informed Conviction

Faith in its second stage is belief strengthened by a sound understanding of Hindu

philosophy. Gurudeva called this the bedrock on which faith is sustained. It is established
by studying in a systematic and consistent manner to increase the knowledge about
Hindu philosophy and practices. Such a study can include comparing Hinduism with the
world's other major religions to understand how it differs and how it similar.

- Stage 3: Personal Realization

In the third stage of faith, it refers to the inner knowing as advanced faith, established
by one's own spiritual, unsought-for, unbidden revelations, visions or flashes of intuition,
which one remembers even stronger as the time goes by, more vividly than something
read from a book, seen on television or heard from a friend or a philosopher. Gurudeva
stresses that spiritual experiences--when verified by what yogis, rishis and sadhus have
seen and heard and whose explanations centuries have preserved--create a new,
superconscious intellect. This type of faith, more a knowing than a conviction, is
unshakable.

In reaching these stages, Hinduism also need to pass several stages of life. It is along
with the stage of faith, where they would like to reach their ultimate goal which is reach the
Moksha (final destination). The stages of life (Ashrama) divided into four stages as follow:

The First Ashrama - "Brahmacharya" or the Student Stage

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 This is a period of formal education. It lasts until the age of 25, during which, the
young male leaves home to stay with a guru and attain both spiritual and practical
knowledge.
The Second Ashrama - "Grihastha" or the Householder Stage
This period begins when a man gets married and lasts until around the age of 50,
and undertakes the responsibility for earning a living and supporting his family. At
this stage, Hinduism supports the pursuit of wealth (artha) as a necessity, and
indulgence in sexual pleasure (kama), under certain defined social and cosmic
norms.
The Third Ashrama - "Vanaprastha" or the Hermit Stage
At this age, he should renounce all physical, material and everything, then go to
live in a forest hut, spending his time in prayers.
The Fourth Ashrama - "Sannyasa" or the Wandering Ascetic Stage
The totality of devoting to God, where all his worldly ties are broken, and his sole
concern becomes attaining moksha or release from the circle of birth and death.

CONCLUSION

As the conclusion, between Islam and Hindu, both spiritual paths have the same goals
which is close to the Almighty God(s) or Goddess. The difference is Islam has requirements
in each stages, while Hindu stresses in the stage of life span where the believers need to finish
all the world-things and leave it behind when they are ready. Since Hinduism believe in
reincarnation, therefore it is up to them to choose whether they want to reach moksha or
repeat the life cycle, while in Islam only believe in one-time life. Overall, we need to keep
our faith as to get close to the Oneness and obey the command as to thank for every blesses
given.

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References

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