The religious knowledge most people possess is based on what they have heard since their childhood. Because they haven’t learned about religion from its real source, that is the Qur’an, they are a prey to many superstitions and foolish thoughts about religion. One of the most harmful of these beliefs is that it is hard to be religious: this is completely fallacious.
Those who have aimed at causing religion to deviate from its essence and tried to prevent religion from being practiced, have throughout history, attempted to add on many difficult practices and superstitions to it. With the practices they have invented, they have caused people to move away from religion, intentionally or unintentionally.
However, the information set forth by God in the Qur’an and the traditions of our Prophet (saas) teach us that it is very easy for sincere people to practice religion.
God, Who knows human beings better than anyone else and Who is closer to them than their jugular veins, has created a religion appropriate to their characteristics. God states in the following verse that humans are called to the most appropriate religion, which is best suited to their character:
Therefore, stand firm in your devotion to the true Faith, as a pure natural believer, following God’s natural pattern on which He made mankind. There is no changing God’s creation. That is surely the true Religion—but most people do not know it. (Qur’an, 30:30)
As a result of our God’s compassion and kindness, all of the true religions sent down through the ages have possessed commandments which are easy to carry out, because, God has always wished ease for His devotees.
The verse
“… God desires your well-being” (Qur’an, 2: 185)
records this reality. One who obeys the limits specified by God is also one who lives in the most excellent way the life most suited to his characteristics.
Those who fear God and who fulfil God’s commands without any shortcomings are in a position of great advantage in this world and the next. Above all, they experience spiritual pleasure and have the clear conscience of obeying God. There are always glad tidings and beauty for them. God gives good news to those who seek His approval and who protect His boundaries:
Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise, those who fast, those who bow, those who prostrate themselves, those who enjoin the right, and forbid evil and, those who observe the commandments of God shall be richly rewarded. (Qur’an, 9:112)
Those, who are remiss in upholding God’s constraints, contrary to their conscience, or who see faith as horrid and infidelity as good, will face hardships and difficulties in this life and in the Hereafter. God tells us in one of His verses
… Those are God’s limits, and anyone who oversteps God’s limits has wronged himself… (Qur’an, 65:1)
By showing things that are not forbidden as being prohibited, such people think that it is their privilege to make up other prohibitions. What's more, they do not comply as they should with the rules they lay down and so suffer because of their conscience. On this topic God gives the example of Christians, who altered Christianity after Jesus (peace be upon him):
Then We sent Our Messengers following in their footsteps and sent Jesus the son of Maryam after them, giving him the Gospel. We put compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. As for monasticism, they instituted it themselves—We did not prescribe it for them. (Qur'an, 57:27)
God, therefore, warns believers against this danger and declares in the Qur’an that those who go extremes in religion have strayed from the true religion:
Say: “People of the Book! Do not go to extremes in your religion, asserting other than the truth, and do not yield to the whims and desires of people who were misguided previously and have misguided many others, and have themselves strayed far from the right path.” (Qur'an, 5:77)
The only rule that the individual has to follow is to carry out the commands set forth by God in the Qur’an and to abstain from whatever is prohibited. When God decrees everything to be easy to believers, those who try to make religion harder will have to account for their behaviour on Judgment Day. As is true of all else, our Prophet 's (saas) life and practices are a good example for us. In one of his traditions, the Prophet (saas) reminds believers not to abandon and at the same time not to exceed God’s boundaries and states that religion is easy.
"Religion is simple. No one can be severe against religion. For he will be defeated. (That is to say, that one should conform to religion’s ease. Whoever tries to be firm will be helpless). Straighten your line of conduct, be close to the boundary/end." (Ramuz al-Ahadith, Vol 1, p 98)
People should evaluate religion in the manner of the tradition of the Prophet (saas), as mentioned above. That is to say, it is a mistake to show what God has conveyed as easy and straightforward and that can be easily implemented as difficult and incomprehensible. In fact, God has made the commands
He sets forth in the Qur’an, so easy that everyone in every situation and environment can easily comply with them.
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