The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 288
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 288 dictates the same. Secondly, the established reality is that every soul (or spirit) requires a body of some kind, or an apparent form, because no soul can remain alive without a body. Furthermore, any individual who attempts to keep the soul alive without a body, indeed, promptly loses the soul as well. For example, courtesy and respect to elders and officers is entirely an inner state, but can anyone uphold the spirit of this sentiment without apparent or physical adherence? Not at all! Most definitely, if someone claims that I can uphold emotions of courtesy and respect towards my elders and officers whilst acting freely and carelessly before them, as I do before my coeval friends or dear ones, etc, then this claim shall be erroneous and false. Quickly bereaving the spirit of courtesy and respect, such an individual will be left empty handed. In actuality, under the precepts of human nature, there is such a deep connection and profound relationship between the body and soul that one can never be separated from the other. Moreover, both of these things continue to influence one another under a strange but wise law. For example, if an individual emulates weeping in pain, he will begin to sense that, along with this physical alteration, a state of grief and pain shall begin to develop in his heart as well. Similarly, if someone with a grief-stricken heart is given an atmosphere of laughter in the apparent, the grief of his heart shall begin to transform into feelings of happiness. Hence, the prescription of body, or physical form, figure and outwardly appearance is also necessary because the body and soul are patched together in an inseparable state. Without the inclusion of a body, the spirit of worship cannot be kept alive at all; rather, it weakens moment by moment until it dies. This is why we see that in every system of the world, a body is appointed for every spirit. Moreover, it is strange that the very people, who object to the Islāmic ways of worship, have themselves surpassed others in this so-called ‘superficial worship’. Therefore, we see that the foundation of the European and American system, and the entirety of its society and civilization, is based on apparent form and judicial law. Indeed, the emphasis that is put on apparent form in Western countries cannot be seen anywhere else. For example, it is necessary for a subordinate to respect his officer, and it is also obvious, that in reality, respect is merely a heart-felt sentiment, but no Western sovereignty finds satisfaction in the fact that its citizens should merely feel respect for their officers in their hearts, and that is all. Rather, for this purpose, in every government of Europe and America, there are countless