Islam is a holistic system that impacts all areas of a person’s life. Allah has created man in such a way that is based on balance and tolerance. This balance and tolerance lead to a state of peace in human life. Allah has commanded us three kinds of rights: the rights of Allah and his Prophet, the rights of self or our own life and the rights of people. So, for a good Islamic life, Allah wants a balance between all kinds of rights. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

“O you who believe! Respond to Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to what gives you life. And know that Allah comes (in) between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:24)

Islam places the significance of peace in a practical sense at all levels. Islam undertakes the responsibility to fulfil all needs of the human personality. We need not get into academic details of human needs that influence the development process or processes as described by Maslow and many other psychologists in the form of a hierarchy of human needs. We are here to see the growth of human personality from the Islamic perspective Allah says:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِي قَلْبِهِ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ الْخِصَامِ

“And of the people (is the one) who pleases you (with) his speech in the life (of) the world, and he calls to witness Allah on what (is) in his heart, and he (is) the most quarrelsome (of) opponents.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:204)

Islam deals with and covers the entire conduct of human life. Personality in Islam is viewed as a multidimensional entity comprised of body, mind, and spirit that interact with one another and constitute an individual human being. In the Quran, the Muslim holy book, humans are encouraged to reflect on the signs within and outside themselves so they can know their real self and their relationship with their Creator. From an Islamic perspective, the concept of personality is derived from human nature, which is considered dialectical.

Islam plays in setting up the system that results in human life:

1. Human life is to believe in the Prophets and Messengers
2. Human life focuses on what is in your control & try best
3. Human life establishes peace and justice in society
4. Human life commands love, mercy, and peace
5. Human life is to have a variety of experiences
6. Human life is to think you will be accountable
7. Human life means to know where you stand
8. Human life is to think you will return to God
9. Human life is to believe in the Holy Books
10. Human life is to believe in the Will of Allah
11. Human life is to leave a legacy
12. Human life is to be happy
13. Human life is to love others
14. Human life has infinite value for all
15. Human life has received a positive verdict
16. Human life considers all life forms as sacred
17. Human life forbids hateful words and actions
18. Human life has the dignity of all human beings
19. Human life is being respectful and open to other cultures
20. Human life teaching shows that all innocent life is sacred

Islam leads us to the creation of man with the most beautiful and perfect balance. Peace starts from the human personality. A personality is a single unit of mankind. If there is no peace inside man and if there is no balance and tolerance in his own personality, how can he provide peace, tolerance, and balance to mankind in his social and collective life? Islam never allows any aspect of human personality to create any sort of clash or conflict with the rest of the personality. Allah says:

وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلَّا الدَّهْرُ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ

“And they say, “Not it (is) but our life (of) the world, we die and we live, and not destroys us except the time.” And not for them of that any knowledge; not, they (do) but guess.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:24)

Islamic teachings in connection with the development of personality, nourishment and perfection of personality are based on this principle that you cannot promote your spiritual self to that extent where it would deprive you of the rights of your bodily and physical aspects of personality. So, you are supposed to create a balance between your body and spirit, between spiritual and secular aspects of life. According to Islam, a human being is an entity.

Purpose of Life According to Islam:

• Life is a Test: “He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed-and He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.” (Al-Mulk 67:2)
• Life is Momentary: The life that is currently lived on this earth will not last forever. It is only a momentary thing. “O, my people! this life of the world is only a (passing) enjoyment, and surely the hereafter is the abode to settle.” (Al-Mu’Min 40:39)
• Life in Heaven Will be Better: That’s why it’s not good to only care about the materialistic things that exist in this life.
• Dutiful Worship: Muslims always remember Allah. This can be done by carrying out all the dutiful worship.
• Live According to the Rules of Islam: When a Muslim is willing to dedicate oneself to Allah, then they must live according to the rules of Islam.
• Life Motivation: If a Muslim doesn’t know what their life goal is then they could lose the motivation to carry on with life.
• Live Life in Kindness: A Muslim must always remember to be kind while living on earth. Every living and non-living thing is Allah’s creation and one should try to be kind to them all.

Islam is the response to humanity’s search for meaning. Human life is a complete ideology of life that deals with the fundamental problems of life on the basis of sensorial observations. This world is no more than a test in which all humans are bound to face some hardships and challenges that reveal their patience and steadfastness. Problems and troubles serve as means to expiate sins and elevate the believer’s rank in the Hereafter.

Islam does the comprehensively guideline and parameters on human personality:

• Islam provides a proportion balance and equilibrium in a solid personality
• Islam fulfils the needs of education, economy and cultural activities
• Islam undertakes the responsibility to fulfil the basic needs
• Islam has an outstanding significance for human life
• Islam establishes a balanced personality in society.
• Islam fulfils the socio-economic needs of human personality
• Islam establishes the system of marriage and ensures the promotion
• Islam provides equips self sublimation, emotional stability and divine wisdom

Islamic life is that which creates a balance and tolerance proportionate to the various aspects of human personality because this proportional tolerance would provide you with peace. The same balance, the desirable beauty of poise and equilibrium and the finery of tolerance and peaceful togetherness have been given to the celestial order of the universe. There is peace within ourselves that we so ardently coveted.

Quranic verses about human life, Allah says in the Holy Quran:

• “Men not created without a purpose.” (Quran 23:115)
• “Man is himself accountable for his own actions.” (Quran 17:1)
• “And the Hereafter is better for you than the first life.” (Quran 93:4)
• “you have that day, nor for you will there be any denial.” (Quran 42:47)
• “The life of this world is merely the enjoyment of delusion.” (Quran 3:185)
• “I have not created men except that they should serve Me.” (Quran, 51:56).
• “…Eat and drink; but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters.” (Quran 7: 31)

Faith and worship are the sources by which the Muslim finds his or her direction in daily living and the kind of relationship with the Divine that is required to face the difficulties that come with service to the Truth. A Muslim feels in the depths of his soul that he is in constant need of the help and support of Allah, no matter how much he may think he can do for himself. He has no choice in his life but to submit to the will of Allah, worship Him, strive toward the Right Path and do good deeds. Allah says:

وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلَّا الدَّهْرُ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ

“And they say, “Not it (is) but our life (of) the world, we die and we live, and not destroys us except the time.” And not for them of that any knowledge; not, they (do) but guess.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:24)

Islam is a system of life, informed by the teachings of the Divine, and embodied in the real-life example of Prophet Muhammad, the final prophet of Islam. So in order to build up a balanced personality, we need to fulfil every requirement of the various aspects and developmental phases of human personality. Sufism is one of the most successful and effective tools that make it possible.