Islam & Christianty

Monasticism and Celibacy

Christianity is too other-worldly. Jesus Christ is reported to have told the people,

 

"If a man comes to me, and hates not his father and his mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple"

(Luke 14:26)

 

And again:

"Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple"

(Luke 14:33) 

 

When a man told him that he would follow him but he should be allowed to go and bury his dead father, Jesus is reported to have said,

"Follow me; and let the dead bury the dead."

(Matthew 8:22)

He even told the people to

 

"Make themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake."

(Matthew 19:12)

 

The outcome of such a teaching can only be the production of stunted and contorted hypocrites instead of full grown human beings.

 

Islam keeps a healthy balance between this world and the next. It says that the spirit cannot grow by crushing the body. Human instincts are not intrinsically bad. They must not be killed, but wisely controlled, channelized and purposefully used to make the life of man richer and better. This world has a meaning and a purpose, and it is only by leading a normal and fruitful life in the world and by appreciating and enjoying the beautiful Gifts of God that man can come near to God, be of service to others, and prepare himself for the other world. Islam favors the middle path. The Prophet declared that there was no monkery in Islam.