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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 10
Publication Date: October 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.810.10943. Razzaq, T. (2021). An Analytical Comparison of Monasticism in Semitic Religion. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(10).
79-89.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
An Analytical Comparison of Monasticism in Semitic Religion
Tayyaba Razzaq
ABSTRACT
Monasticism is voluntary sustain and systemic program of self discipline and self
denial in which immediate sensual gratifications are renounced in order to attain
some valued spiritual or mental state. Monasticism demands to get away from
normal sentiment & human emotions particularly to attain spirituality. Purposes of
monasticism are to find out the pure inner self, raise above all flaws & human
deficiency, spiritual excellence, liberation, and deliverance. The research paper is
an approach to show the comparison between the monastic worlds as revealed
through the texts of Semitic religious communities. The comparison of monastic
text has the potential to yield a large amount of informative facts. In the areas of
asceticism, spirituality, and the balance between sacred and routine life, analogies
are numerous and propose many avenues of further comparison still waiting to be
explored. The research paper is an approach to show the comparison & in- depth
analysis of the Babylonian Talmud, Bible and Quran that find literary analogues in
the monastic texts, strategies’, historical examples and suggestions. These examples
open the door for a reconsideration of the nature of the relationship between Jews
and Christians in the ancient world. This article aimed to highlight the main features
of ancient monasticism and to share information in Semitic religion regarding
hermit, ascetic and monk. Likewise, this paper also focuses on several processes of
changes and transformation of monasticism from a negative view to the
enlightenment of identity which lead to the development of a normal and stable
society.
Keywords: Monasticism, Spiritual excellence, salvation, Babylonian Talmud, hermit,
ascetic
MONASTICISM
Monasticism is a devotional life by keeping practice celibacy, physical self torture, wandering
begging and to follow a special diet. The term “Monasticism” is derived from the Greek word
“monos” means "one, alone."i
, Monasticism can be defined as; religiously commanded conduct,
along with its teachings, custom, and convictional frameworks, that exercised by the religious
specialists. The devotees took oath to be committed throughout their life voluntarily. Such
behavior infers from the illustration of devout and spiritual originators who deciphered more
profoundly the fundamentals that apply to all devotees and to the entire society as well. Beyond
such articulation, it could be said that the central characteristics of the ascetic life is not
practicable for the entire humanity.
Celibacy is fundamental to the majority of the world’s monastic orders. It is ritualized form of
climbing to transcendence and move out of society by a systemic control of body, spirit and
speech with the aim of stereological goal of the next world. The motives and reasons to
renounce posterity and leave all’ vary from religion to religion. Christian monasticism is
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sustained mainly by the imitation of the life of Jesus & the idea of “caritas” as mentioned in
Bible; “The monastic life is based on Jesus’ amen to "be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father
is perfect"ii
In monasticism, the physical body is considered as shell, filled with blood and excrement, a sign
of infirmity, age& death. One must overcome this obstacle on the deliverance and they can do
this by identifying the body with the religious substance of immorality or entirely denying the
needs of a normal body: totally shave their hair or never cut it, move about totally nicked or just
tie up a lion-cloth. A monastic monk normally eats food that cooked in collaboration or by
begging. Old doctrines depicts that a monk can’t beg into the village, where he was born. They
have no permanent home; keep on wandering except rainy season.
PURPOSES OF MONASTICISM... DISCOVERY OF THE INNER SELF
All asceticism has its philosophical foundations that by living within a society’ one cannot
generate the spiritual peak stipulated by the religion’s founder. The main objective of
monasticism is to reveal ones inner self. The genuine “self” is closed and hidden by flaws, sins,
and some additional religiously recommended obstacles. The human body and the mental
power are separate. The entire obstacle needs to be controlled, taught, train and chastised;
hence by sin, ignorance, or other theologically suggested impediments.
The sense of self with which the layman and the looking for novice recognizes isn't the genuine
self; it must be found or revealed. Barriers were conceived differently as matter, individuated
intellect, or a soul & mind totally debased by sin, and perversion must be broken through, or a
shroud lifted, so that the genuine self, the primordial soul’ may sparkle forward. The “Purer
inner self” needed to be recognized, find out and explored. Mainly these steps forward are taken
towards an unachievable target by spending generally an awesome life, by adopting and
following a certain approach. Usually a person has the concept that “pure inner self” is the
human ego. But the fact is different because of the hidden capabilities of “pure inner self”.
BACKGROUND OF MONASTICISM
Historically, in the beginning’ (182-251 ca), Christian philosopher and ascetic of Alexandria
insisted upon human equality as "angelic" spirits proposed by God. God had allowed each
individual spirit to descend into a particular physical body and physical body taken as the
“temple of God" but not as the prison. Each person's flesh and blood were specific to him and
the body functions within defined frame of spirit and became its source of temptation and
frustration. Spirits force bodies to interact with the worldly surroundings. To chase the
salvation, the spirit forces down the restrictions imposed by the physical body. It is like a vessel
of clay, that can be transformed as "holy tabernacle" sacred for God. Such thoughts & observance
were central to the emergent ascetics.
Human heart was considered as the core of both heart and soul of a man. It was critical to
master the "struggles of the belly" through fasting. Some deserts of Egypt, Syria, and Palestine’
were selected to implement this scheme & theory. According to them’ both soul and the body
created two separate flows of austerity: the eremitic and the monastic. Inside the eremitic
system, Christians intentionally leave society and went to live into desert cavern. The objective
of the ascetic was to dominate his interests and control his cravings through isolation, fasting,
and petition intended to safeguard his spirit's salvation.
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Among the most famous hermit s; St. Anthony (251-350 ca) gave away his worldly possessions
and went into seclusion in Egypt’ and led to the formation of communities sharing meals and
prayers under St. Anthony’s rule. Bishop Basil of Caesarea (330-379 ca) played a key role in
refocusing Christianity’s ascetic idealism and integrating it into the organization of the urban
church. According to Peter Brown, despite the fact that the monks of early Christianity lived
away from the world, they did not dispense it totally, since their livelihood resources was
supported by the routine contact. In exchange for food, they offered manual work, spiritual
counseling, and herb teas recipes for curing some infirmities, etc.iii
Elijah was celibate, and he spent his life serving the Lord as a Prophet. He spent a number of
years as an ascetic, living alone in the wilderness, drinking only water and eating whatever the
ravens would bring to him;iv
“Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, “Get away from here and turn
eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherish, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be
that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you
there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed
by the Brook Cherish, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread
and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from
the brook.”v
The ancient Christian monastics have been anticipated by the Jewish Qumran community, made
popular within the 20th century by the revelation of the Dead Ocean Scrolls. The Qumran
religious austerity considered themselves to be the genuine, unpolluted carriers of
conventional Judaism and upbraided the Jerusalem priesthood, which they characterized as
debased, spurious, and unclean, sullied by Hellenism, and possibly unorthodox (opposite to
orthodoxy). It was a very crucial struggle between a proto-monastic privileged and an urban
apostolic about the translation of the canonical instructions that became a controversy. Severe
& thorough self-denial, communal supplication were the canon’ in spite of the fact that celibacy
may not anticipated of individuals of the community.
Christian scholars accessed it from the Ancient Jewish dogma to develop framework for epic
clashes between good and bad, God versus devil, blessed messengers versus evil spirits. Wicked
ownership and sin were considered to be the most causes of illness. As it were God’s control,
transmitted to Christ, his messengers and the sacred people, might conquer the darker powers.
Relics of saints and holy persons were supposed to have extraordinary powers; Graves’s visits
and sacred tours were very much emphasized. Numerous devout Christians promoted to visit
their holy places and monasteries to gather some sacred remainders of such places for the
purpose of healing and curing of physical or spiritual illness. According to Saint Benedict of
Nursia vi there were four types of monks; “cenobites”, “hermits”, “Sarabaites” and “Gyrovagues”.
All fours have particular tasks and duties to fulfill and serve God under a religious rule.vii
MONASTICISM IN JUDAISM
Jewish piety consisting originally of faith and trust in covenant God, found no room for it.
Judaism is non ascetic religion. The fasts and the days of humiliationviiiare not strict in practices.
The non-ethical fast led to the entire rejection by the ethical prophets.ix John ‘Baptist’ proclaims
no Monasticism, but faithfulness is the duty of every day.xJudaism insisted upon physical and
ceremonial cleanness. This gives an entirely different character to the thought of the relation of
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the physical to the spiritual. These bindings were just to make closer to the Lord. Monasticism
is not a Jewish product and has little trace upon Jewish life but it has profoundly influence the
Christian development.
All creatures have their origin where they belonged to. Angels created (body and soul) from
heaven, animal created from earth while men have soul from heaven and his body is from the
earth. Judaism has four major grounds; 1st is personal relationship to God that is major focus
described in Torah .2nd is relationship of people to other people. 3rd is relationship with the
rest of the world. 4th is the person within himself. Everything is created by God. The world
required to develop it and make it better place. A demanded life of a Jew was not a totally free
will life as the history of Israeli show.
Major Jewish sects were well-known for their monastic regulation like the Essenes and the
Nazirites. For Jews’, the term “monasticism” was firstly used in Alexandrian Egypt. Many groups
with common devout goals who at that point were staying on a low-lying slope over the
Mareotic Lake close Alexandria in houses defended both isolation and security. Here in every
house’ there' was a sanctified room’ called a sanctuary or closet (monosterion/ monaumenoi).
They started their practices in secrecy’s as monks of the purified life. They take nothing into it,
either drink or food or any other things essential a need or desires of the body, but only the
laws and prophets conveyed revelations, hymns etc that develops spirituality. They keep the
remembrance of God energetically and never ignore it. They pray in the morning and in the
evening and spend rest of the day in certain ritual to attain their spirit. They study the sacred
writings and look for intelligence from their hereditary reasoning. For six days they look for
wisdom and logic by themselves in isolation. At the seventh day they meet together as for a
common gathering & sanctuary.
The texts of the early monks had an important influence on the Christian Church of the East
where the Babylonian Talmud was being produced; they are an important part of the picture to
reconstruct. In the areas of asceticism, spirituality, and the balance between holy and daily life,
analogies are numerous and suggest many avenues of further comparison still waiting to be
explored. In monastic life’ obstructions in an unexpected way conceived as matter, individuated
intellect, and soul totally contaminated by sin, unawareness, and distortion that must be
cracked through, or a covering rise up, so that the genuine self, the primeval soul, may sparkle
forward. In most conventions this advancement by expectedly great life in society, and in this
way a modern approach must be looked for. The body and the intellect, that are taken as the
complete obstacle, to be controlled, restrained, and disciplined that a monk need to practice
and consistent.
Talmudic teachings are codified in the “Turim, Shulhan & Arukh” that are still obligation to Jews
community. There is no evidence of monastic life in these books. There is some tendency of
monasticism in the literature of middle ages, which is Hebrew translated from the Arabic made
by Ibn Tibbon (1161-1180). xi In Misnah Torah mentioned that “Monasticism is not only
unnecessary but even sinful.xiiJudah Halevi, a renowned philosopher says;
“The prevalent custom among us is not the separate oneself from the
world, nor to despise life, but to love the world and length of life”.
xiii
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Razzaq, T. (2021). An Analytical Comparison of Monasticism in Semitic Religion. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(10). 79-89.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.810.10943
MONASTICISM IN BIBLE
Monasticism stands for readiness for a righteous transformation, the enthusiastic
performances of loyalty & ethics. This moral exercise & application is to confined senses for self
regulation the outwards life like self-mortification by abstinence. Both the new and old
testament consisted upon the need of spiritual purification & total acceptance to the command
of God. It is impose upon the priestly order certain temporary forms of abstinence and vows of
virtue. The apostle Paul submitted himself to fasting, watching’s, cold, nakedness’, etc. He looks
for similar actions on the part of other serious minded followers of Christ. According to Bible;
“You cannot become my disciples, until you renounce all.”xiv
“This temporary world is not for you’ as not for me”.xv
Letters of Saint Paul frequently stressed on the Church being Christ’s Spiritual body that each
person comprises it. It also emphasized that “Christ is the chief and the Holy Spirit its soul.
xvi”
Church contains a complete purification system’ capable for passing on the Salvation message
and spiritual development to the entire being as a member of a society.
Many expressions of the Bible depict the same concept of monasticism. It cannot be surely
maintained that such religious monastic practices are excluded by the religion of revelation.
But on other hand it can’t be regarded as primary important or fundamental significance
element of Christianity as there are detailed commandments about the rights and duties of a
person about family and social life.xviiNeither regard as an individual or society do the ethical
teachings and prescription s of the New Testament go further than permit. It is not intended a
rigorous statue, but as a command of love, when the Lord calls his disciples’.xviiiSaint Paul had
made stricter demands. “Regula Benedicti” was later considered the fundamental code of the
greatest of all orders of monks. His course was summarized and simplified. In its present form
is divided into 73 chapters, may be regarded certainly up to 66 chapters as genuine.xixAlthough,
some directions about sexual relation are mentioned xxin Bible but a close examination shows
that the motive was not religious asceticism.
FEMALE MONASTICISM
Christianity gives a very respectable place to woman to become a priest or ascetic as the
representative of Mary’. In Hebrew mythology’ the Hebrews had immediate experience of God's
presence in the desert, and at the same place, they had to struggle for purity of their
devotedness, for the fidelity to their God. However, it was also in the desert that the chosen
people experienced sin and offended the Creator, to the point that the place became a symbol
of absence, loneliness, full of dangers and temptations.
The primeval monasticism, particularly St. Anthony, Ammonius, Pachomius, Basil, Horsy,
Theodora’s Alexandrian, had no room for female monasticism but since the nineteenth century
has been rising to prominence: the female monasticism of byzantine tradition. xxi Female
monastic’s, had to passed through many adjustment processes according to time and space,
whereupon have emerged some peculiarities.
According to Andrew Loath, the strong Helene- Jewish tradition did not allow the essence and
dynamics that the Gospel wanted to propagate emerged: equality for all. "There is neither Jew
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nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus".
xxii
DECLINE OF MONASTICISM
Decline of ascetics’ in most profound sense, started in the eleventh century along with the
emergency of European asceticism. European ascetics got progress in developing benefices;
expanding property and bureaucracy. Campaigns were advanced by a devout specialist’
Bernard of Clairvaux, and the spiritual recipients were laymen, not religious ministers or
priests. They sent their religious communities to go to the Center East for spiritual purposes,
gave European religiosity was in the humiliating situation of being inadequately deal with their
monks training and sent them to other space. Gradually’ firm conspiracy in scriptural holy
places, named "geopiety” broke out. Religious administrative doubted of sacred journeys and
sacrosanct places were not hold anymore. The displacement of ministers to Crusader lands
proceeded, and the creation of modern ascetic communities was bound to be seen in Europe as
a challenge to organize monasticism.
Westerners find out Orthodox recluse but they couldn’t communicate properly due to
unawareness of the language of eastern monks. The eastern Christianity had the most profound
and solid impact on Christian monasticism. They preceded the company of monks in Syria and
Palestine’ strengthened the gathering of Western loners settling on Mount Carmel. They spent
their lives according the Elijahxxiii well known as an ancient monk. Patric and Jerome talked
about the particular claims of Elijah and John the Baptist to the title of "the chief friar," closer
to the Egyptian priests Anthony and Paul. Rupert of Dentz also mentioned “Elijah” as the
originator of monasticism. xxivThe first monastery in the Middle East was near Elijah's house in
the fourth century as Jewish literature also confirmed it. Basically, all the arrangements were
made to confine, move to Europe and change its established standards.
CRITICISM ON MONASTICISM
A particular viewpoint of Christian fidelity is its severity that is prerequisite for Christians.
Ministers and nuns are ordinarily anticipated to promises of celibacy, misery, and submission.
While the other Christians are allowed to wed, to have individual belonging, and to appreciate
a few level of autonomy in numerous choices. Monastic’s acknowledged a life consisted upon
more prominent level of strictness.
Martin Luther’ (the Protestant Reformer), on numerous events he straightforwardly rejected
asceticism, called it “effortless salvation” and claimed that is unsupported by Scripture:
“I suggest breaking pledges and devout orders. This kind of life finds no declaration
in sacred text, but has been made to see forcing exclusively by the works of ministers
and clerics.” xxv“Hence all monasteries are founded upon the filth of the devil.”xxvi
Martin Luther remarked that the Demon is hidden during the crucial year of one's passage into
ascetic life. There's Scriptural point of reference to the thought of having extraordinary devout
position to meet measures. Within the Ancient Confirmation, God given individuals with the
alternative of taking the Nazarite vow:
“Talk to the children of Israel, and say to them’ either man or lady might isolated
themselves to pledge’ “a pledge of a Nazarite”, to partitioned themselves unto the
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There is a narration of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم"
in neither is Monasticism “ انیلع بتکت مل ہینابھرلا نا xxxix
Islam nor of its founder. The holy Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم enjoyed all lively pleasures according to the religion
and commanded his followers same.xlThe five obligations completely train for a Muslim. Fasting
is enjoined as a penance for certain ritual & legal offences,xlipenitence,xliiprayer five times a day
restrain them from committing sins,xliiicharity “zakat”, all purifies hath attained felicity.
The holy Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم stopped His fellows from excessive nafl-salat (overnight),xlivcontinuous
fastingxlvand over spending as alms etc.xlviso the entire life practices of Muslim in accordance
with Quran & Sunnah are the complete code of spiritual purification this life & death are just a
test of our efforts’xlviiand finally a person says; My “xlviii إ نِ ص َّ لاَ ت َ و يِ َ و كيِ ُ
ُس
َاي َمح َ ن
َ ِمی َن ْ ِّ ال َ ب اِتي َِِّM ر َمَم َو َ ْی
َال
ع
prayers and my sacrifices and my life and my death are all for the Lord of the worlds.”
The Sufi monasteries began after 2nd century.xlixThe origin of the word “Sufi” is from “suf” means
wool. Some Sufi’s wear certain type of cloths ‘color &shape’ symbolically.l
Some Sufi’s take
particular type of food ‘date, olives oil, bread’ and supposed to confer a higher spiritual rank.
Likewise, some keep fast other than the month of Ramadan, and also offer prayers other than
obligation, just to seek the will of Allah. They have firm faith in Allah “twakul” and spend all they
have. Sufis engages them in “zikar”, “Allahhu, La Illah Illa’llah”. Sufis gives priority to the life
hereafter rather than merely worldly life’ as the holy Quran says, “The latter is better than
former & everlasting”.liIn Sufi dervish order, the monastic training imposed on their members
by the following rules;
1. An elaborate ceremony of initiation that is preceded by a long & arduous apprenticeship;
2. The wearing of peculiar costume
3. For neophytes, a severe discipline of solitude, prayer, fasting, austerities
4. The immoderate use of “zhikr”, with music, dancing “dhamal”, diverse physical
stimulants, to excite ecstasy
5. Belief in extraordinary spiritual powers vouchsafed to adepts and ecstatic person that
show by chewing burning coal, charming snakes, predicting future events etc.
6. Veneration, approaching to deification, of the sheikh, or head of order.
Islam does not prescribe and empower the theory of dualism between spiritual and physical
life. It is rather a well-integrated and solid combination that each one compliments the other.
Certainty’ Islam emphatically accepted that body is the suitable refuge for soul’ so it laid
emphasis for the best for the body and soul as well. As Quran taught the “dua”; lii رَ اَ
َا ِفي الدُّْنی
َا آِتن
بَّن
َة َح َس
َة َ ِ ر ْ خ ِفي الآ َ ً و ن
سنَ حَ ةِ ً” oh our God, bestowed us best in this worldly life and the best in the life hereafter
as well.” Brought up of body in a clean, pure and sterile environment is equally vital as progress
of the soul.
This highest level of Eman told in a hadith of the holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم” To pray in front of Allah so
devotionally and with eagerness as you are looking towards Allah”.
liii The strategies endorsed
by Islam for accomplishing this level of virtue and transparency of heart and intellect are called
"the columns of Islam". These pillars of Islam with their fastidious activities purify human heart,
mind and soul remarkably easily.
Soul is the human distinction, created from the light of Allahliv. Allah is the “Nur” of skies and
earths of the universe.sky Heavenly Quran: “Allah is the light of the sky and the earth.” lv
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So the spiritual forces, is the vital power of Allah. Allah has control all through the universe. In
case the soul is decontaminated, purified and reserved from the worldly desires, its ultimate
destination is eternal success of this world and the life of hereafter as well.
CONCLUSION
Historians, sociologists, theologians, philosophers, as well as those who aimed to follow those
practices have discussed the several investigative possibilities of monasticism. However,
according to Christian monasticism’ enlightened people’s lives entirety, aiming perfection that
were also inclined to the human susceptibility and fought against demons. The monasticism is
not an exclusive reality of the Christians’ or an ascetic way of life founded by it. Prior to the
Christian model, there were pre-Christian communities of Greek, Israelite and Hindu traditions,
which practiced communal forms of asceticismlvi.
The ancient ascetic and monastic traditions in Christianity are transforming into welfare and
the care of the underprivileged and sick all over Europe. The actual life was a faithfulness and
in obedience of the Lord (Yahweh). The status of the Prophet and law (Torah) was the primary
obligation. Furthermore worship, prayers and sacrifices demanded to be gradually spiritually
high. Human being needs to self improve and look into in self to understand who we are? Every
person has complicated and a unique soul. Each of us has characteristic traits of different kind.
Judaism encourages Jews to work and refine ones character traits. Everyone has some
weakness and drawbacks. It is obligatory for one to overcome his weaknesses to be morally
and spiritually high and a balance life without any extremes. Torah demanded to be constant in
worship, prayers and meditation. If a person committed sin would have to face the penalty.
Yahweh (God) says, that purification is possible by punitive; such sins will be smelt in the
furnace of Yahweh’s wrath:lvii
Islam is the religion of “Deen-Al-Yasir” easiness. It came to breakthrough and taken out
humanity from the cruel and unnatural clutches of severity and pain. The core of the Islamic
framework is to contains and coordinate bearing on the inward life of a man. It is by and large
recognized as the spiritual system and endeavors to free his soul from the bondage of "self",
cleanses it of the desire of the common life and imbues and ingrains it with the passion of His
‘Almighty’ adoration, fulfillment, submission and joy. An individual accomplishes the required
adore of virtue and energy when he distinguishes or subordinates his own likes and loathes
with that of Allah. The life of a pure obedient becomes the reflections of the order of his Lord. A
devotee seeks refugee to obey, to please, to be closer to the Mighty One. This level of mysticism,
which speaks to the loftiest and best standard, is known as "Ihsan" in Islam.
Endnotes
i Encyclopedia.com retrieved from https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclo
ii Matthew 5:48