Spiritual Intelligence is defined as “the ability to behave with compassion and wisdom while maintaining inner and outer peace, regardless of the situation”. It is concerned with the inner life of mind and spirit and its relationship of being in this world. It implies a capacity for a deep understanding of existential questions and insight into multiple levels of consciousness.
Spiritual Intelligence also implies awareness of spirit as the ground of being or as the creative life force of evolution. It mainly comprises three elements, experience, reflection on that experience and right practice based on divinely revealed guidelines and inner knowing. It is the intelligence with which we access our deepest meanings, values, purposes, and highest motivations.
There are mainly four forms of intelligence, Mental Intelligence (IQ), Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Physical Intelligence (PQ) and Spiritual Intelligence (SQ). Among all four Spiritual Intelligence is the most important, as it will make the person stronger and confident from within. It is critical for personal growth and authentic leadership. The community, family, global and business leaders of the future will be those who are quickest to recognise this fact and begin to measure and cultivate the skills of spiritual intelligence in themselves and their area of work.
Many spiritual gurus have also emerged in the recent past with a claim to help people overcome their stress and lead them to peace and tranquillity; which is termed as the neo-spiritual movement. The million dollar question is that, are they really successful in making people spiritually strong? Can it be done with the help of a few physical exercises? But on the other hand, the movement has just made the spiritual gurus richer and richer.
Islam gives high importance to spiritual intelligence as it contributes to the individual’s behaviour. It mainly focuses about the individual’s relationship with Allah, the stronger the relationship; the better will be the actions and the lesser will be the chances to commit wrong acts. Various methods and techniques are adopted by Islam for an individual to become spiritually intelligent.
The following are some of the methods adopted to improve one’s spiritualty:
i. Performing Tahajjud: Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O you who wraps himself (in clothing), Arise (to pray) the nigh, except for a little, Half of it – or subtract for it a little. Or add to it, and recite the Qur’ān with measured recitation.” (Qur’ān 73: 1-4) After Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) attained Prophethood, the first command given to him was to perform Tahajjud Salah. He used to stand in the prayer in the night to such an extent that his legs would be swollen. This act contributed to the spirituality of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) which made him mentally very strong and confident.
Performing Tahajjud also gets a person closer to Allah, as the Prophet once said, “The Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’” (Bukhari and Muslim)
ii. Gaining Knowledge: In Islam spiritual intelligence is instilled in the process of continuous learning. Knowledge alone builds a solid basis for the exercise of spiritual intelligence in view of the fact that ignorance and pride cause poor records of spiritual performance; thus Islam encourages people to gain knowledge. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “Are those who have knowledge and those who have no knowledge alike? Only the men of understanding are mindful.” (Qur’ān 39:9) Thus, Islam emphasises people to gain knowledge as it guides the individual and has an impact on his level of spirituality. Even Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) has emphasised on gaining knowledge as he once said, “The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim.” (Tirmidhi)
iii. Sacrifice: Allah says in the Qur’ān, “Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that (to) which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.” (Qur’ān 22:37) The verse makes it clear that it is not the physical elements which matter but it is the piety which is a part of one’s spirituality which matters.
Spiritual Intelligence ultimately helps an individual to become a much better person in life. Islam emphasises on Performing Tahajjud, Gaining Knowledge, Performing Obligatory Salah, Fasting, Performing Hajj, Reciting Qur’ān, Observing Etekaf, Sacrificing, etc., to make a person spiritually intelligent. When a person is spiritually strong, he will abstain from all sorts of wrong activities which will ultimately make him a better person in life and he will only be in a position to contribute positively when he is spiritually strong.
iv. Performing Obligatory Salah: In order to become spiritual, one needs to get closer to Allah and Salah helps us doing so. One of the important acts of Salah is prostration and it takes a person closer to Allah, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) has said, “The closest that a servant is to his Lord is when he is in prostration.” (Muslim) Performing Salah also helps a person to remember Allah, develops a sense of duty and makes a person God-conscious. Ultimately, performing Salah helps a person to increase his level of spirituality as it takes a person closer to Allah and keeps him from sin. As the Qur’ān has rightly said, “…Indeed Salah prohibits immorality and wrongdoing…” (Qur’ān 29:45).
While the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) was praying, a sound, like a boiling pot, was heard. He always prayed with a burning heart. Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) often found him in the presence of his Master, prostrating and trembling.
iv. Fasting: Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” (Qur’ān 2:183). The verse clearly states the objective of fasting is to make the person righteous which directly contributes to the spirituality of an individual. Thus Islam has given high importance of fasting. The Qur’ān instructs us to fast in the month of Ramadan. From the sayings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) we learn to fast for three days in a month and to fast on Mondays and Thursdays as the Prophet was keen on doing so.
v. Performing Hajj: Hajj is nothing but a spiritual journey as it comprises all the elements to make a person spiritually strong. Hajj is a chance to see the ideal Muslim world in actual action. Hajj is an event which demands the sacrifice of your money, time, energy, and most importantly brings down your image to a common man. Hajj is an act which should remind one person about his death – especially when he is in the state of Ihram. Hajj reminds one about the oneness of the Ummah. Witnessing all these acts helps a person to improve his level of spirituality.
vi. Reading and Understanding the Qur’ān: Reciting the Qur’ān increases the spirituality level of an individual as he is reciting the word of Allah. When one recites the Qur’ān, it is a form of communicating with Allah. The sincerity that is due to the Book of Allah is to recite it regularly, beautifully, to understand it and to implement it. Thus these four stages of treatment with the Qur’ān, helps a person increase his level of spirituality.
vii. Observing Seclusion (I’tikaf): The ultimate objective of I’tikaf in the month of Ramadan is to gain the reward of Laylat-ul-Qadr but it also helps a person to become spiritually strong as he leaves the world behind and only focuses on the worship and remembrance of Allah. And as the person observes I’tikaf in the Mosque, it again contributes to his level of spirituality.
Islam is a way of life which is based on spirituality; as it would act as a base for all the actions. Once the revelation of the Qur’ān began, all the verses and chapters which were revealed at the initial stage were focusing on oneness of God, Prophethood and the Life after Death, which helps a person to strengthen his spirituality. On the other hand, Islam aims at increasing one’s spirituality through many of its obligatory acts. The level of spiritual intelligence of a person reflects through his actions. A person with a high level of spiritual intelligence tends to be honest, humble, well mannered, moral and just in all his activities.