The Status of Austerity in Ethical Education As Is Understood by the Quran and Hadith

As a concept being discussed in mysticism, austerity goes within a different direction in religious texts, especially the verses and hadiths. According to Islamic educations, austerity gives “strength” and “humility” to human soul and these two traits guarantee success in all areas including individual and social, economic and political, as well as mundane and eternal aspects. Austerity is divided into two voluntary and involuntary types that all religious obligations fall within the voluntary type. By involuntary austerity, we mean the divine hardships and tests. These two types are each other’s complement in the process of human education and are tied to the philosophy of human creation. The philosophy of exiling human to the tribulations of the mundane world, and the superiority of his soul among the other creatures exposed him to the most dangerous ethical disorders i.e. pride and arrogance. Since the remedy of every vice is by its opposite, austerity is the sole path in which not only human vice of pride will be refined but also it will tie him to the most beautiful ethical virtue i.e. divine love and kindness.