A programme of life

“To attain that supreme goal of life, man is, in Islam, not compelled to renounce the world; no austerities are required to open a secret door to spiritual purification; no pressure is exerted upon the mind to believe incomprehensible dogmas in order that salvation be secured. Such demands are utterly foreign to Islam: for it is neither a mystical doctrine nor a philosophy. It is simply a programme of life in accord with the laws of Nature which God has decreed upon His creation; and its supreme achievement is the complete coordination of the spiritual and the material aspects of human existence. In the teachings of Islam, both these aspects are not only “reconciled” to each other in the sense of leaving no inherent conflict between the bodily and the moral existence of man, but the fact of their coexistence and actual inseparability is insisted upon as the natural basis of life.” - Muhammad Asad, Islam at the Crossroads

"It [taqwa] mostly comes to someone who does his duty to Allah with loving obedience. Most people if they try to do this neglect their duties to others or only fulfill them partially. These people do not leave time or energy for their duties to their families and the community. To be able to give what is due to Allah, and what is due to people is something which can only be achieved by a few special people; they are the true people of taqwa." --- Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī [d. 795H/1393CE] (In Mohsen Shaker al-Bayoumi, Slaves of the All-Merciful, Ta-Ha Publishers, London, 2005.)

The Sincere Ruler Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) said: When Allah has a good purpose for a ruler, He appoints for him a sincere minister who reminds him if he forgets and helps him if he remembers; but when Allah has a different purpose from that for him. He appoints for him an evil minister who does not remind him if he forgets and does not help him if he remembers. (Sunan Abu Dawood)

In principle a balance between the spirit of the religion–any traditional religion–and the letter, must be established, however difficult this may be; and it is very difficult for most people. Extreme positions always offer a certain comfort. You can take your rest at the extreme. Tension and effort are involved in maintaining a balance, together with skill and judgment. Those who watch ballet with enjoyment may think that it looks easy. They do not know that sometimes the dancers have blood in their shoes. --- Hasan Le Gai Eaton, Remembering God: Reflections of Islam