Monasticism

Monasticism or monkhood is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic life plays an important role in many Christian churches, especially in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions as well as other faiths such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. In other religions monasticism is criticized and not practiced, as in Islam and Zoroastrianism, or plays a marginal role, as in modern Judaism.

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Monasticism

What is the difference between asceticism and monasticism ?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 2 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Asceticism is the renunciation of worldly pleasures and has different degrees, whereas monasticism is where a person renounces the worldly life in order to solely devote themselves to a spiritual one, usually remaining celibate and distancing themselves from people in a convent or a similar institution. Monasticism and celibacy are not allowed in Islam.

A level of asceticism is desired and in our traditions, it has been expressed that asceticism is not that you do not own anything, but that nothing owns you. Meaning that what is important is that a person develops past an unhealthy relationship with material things, so that they do not become a source of distance from God, or make us do what is not right.

May you always be successful.

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Monk . Monasticism . Prophet Jesus

If Jesus (A) did not have a wife in his lifetime does this mean he was following the ways of monks? If so, isn't monasticism forbidden in Islam and so how can we say that Jesus (A) was a Muslim?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 2 years ago

Jesus (A) was unusual, given that he was not created in the same way as other human beings, so he could be considered as a special case.

Anyway, it is not necessary to marry in Islam. One is allowed to marry or not to marry. What one should not do is forbid marriage or tell people that it is religiously better to be celibate.