Spirituality in Islam focuses on purifying one’s inner being, and then on manifesting this positive inner change in daily life through ritual worship and ethical conduct.
Islam teaches that Allah has instilled in all people a predisposition towards having faith, enjoying a meaningful relationship with Allah, and living a life of doing good. This predisposition is called the *fitrah,* and it is what causes people to embark on spiritual journeys in pursuit of truth and the meaning of life. The fitrah can only be fully satisfied when it finds Allah’s Revelation and the teachings of His true prophets.
Lack of faith in Allah, or baseless spiritual beliefs, can make people feel that their lives are without purpose or meaning.
*How does Islam understand the soul?*
The Islamic conception of the soul is that it is not a physical thing that can be studied. Rather, the focus should be on understanding how it can help us achieve spiritual growth.
The human soul is a non-physical essence that cannot be observed through any scientific instruments. Muslims focus on understanding the nature and function of the soul, rather than on questions about the soul’s location or physical existence.
The relationship of the soul to the body is a mystery beyond human comprehension.
So how can we best fulfill this need to nourish the soul? God says,
“So turn your face toward the true natural way of life-God’s chosen fitrah (constitution) upon which He has formed humanity. There is no altering the primary state of God’s creation. That is the correct way of life, though men fail to realize it. It is the path of turning towards God, remaining dutiful to Him, establishing prayer, and being not of those who ascribe partners to Him.”
[Qur’an, 30:30]