Steps to Exercise — Page 14
- 14 - ISLAMIC TEACHINGS CONCERNING HEALTH AND HYGIENE Islam uniquely stands out among the religions of the world in one aspect. It gives matchless instructions for the cleanliness of the body and declares physical purity as a rst step towards the achievement of spiritual heights. One wonders at the arrangement and completeness of these instructions. One cannot help but bow one’s head in adoration of Allah, the Gracious, for giving us a complete and unmatched world in the form of the Holy Qur’an in which we see no imperfection, however far we may search. Every time this Book speaks, it lls us with untold wisdom and new subtleties. Furthermore, Allah the Gracious gave us the Holy Prophet who was an embodiment of the Holy Qur’an. He left the example of his life and conduct for all humanity, irrespective of colour, creed or nation, to follow in his footsteps. His is the way to progress in the difcult paths of life. Before his example, no one could even imagine achieving such goals. The relationship that the Holy Prophet has shown to exist between the body and the soul, has not been revealed by any prophet or saint before, and even the philosophers and wise men had no access to this knowledge. Taking a leaf from the perfect teachings of this incomparable Prophet, his erstwhile devotee, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah , explains: “It should be understood that according to the Holy Qur’an, the natural state of man is intimately related to his moral and spiritual states. So much so that even his eating and drinking habits affect his moral and spiritual states…. That is why the Holy Qur’an emphasises the physical cleanliness, and physical moderation for prayers, inner cleanliness and devotions. After