Islam Is Easy, Why Is It Made Difficult?

Islam is an easy and convenient religion. In teachings, Islam is always easily accepted by all groups, all tribes, races, or different languages and different skin colors, or according to various conditions (contexts) and in all places. Islam also teaches about simplicity in everything and rejects anything superfluous.

All Islamic shari'a is easy, whether in matters of aqidah, worship, morals, mu'amalah, and others. Because of the basis of aqidah that goes back to faith in Allah, His angels, His books, His apostles, the last day, and taqdir good and bad. All this is a true aqidah that can reassure the heart, ushering in the one who believes in it towards the noblest goal and the ultimate demand.

In the morals and daily practices of a Muslim is also facilitated, with the obligatory practice that a Muslim must carry out in a day, namely, doing prayers that are 5 times; Shubuh, Dzhuhur, Ashar, Maghrib and Isya, in doing so is also easy. If we pay attention, the overall prayer time in one day and one night is about 75 minutes. With details, each prayer takes 10 minutes, and ablution 5 minutes. Very little when compared to the time we have in one day. Not to mention other conveniences, this prayer is not carried out all at once, but is carried out separately in 24 hours. Its implementation is also determined not at human rest periods.

In the mandatory practice that a Muslim carries out once a year, namely, mandatory fasting in the month of Ramadan, which is 1 month in 12 months. Likewise with zakat which is only issued when it comes to nasabnya, namely, 2.5 of the treasures owned in the form of trading treasures, gold and silver. As well as the obligatory practice of a Muslim to carry out once in his lifetime, namely, to perform the Hajj if he is able. Islam makes it easy, everything has been arranged, it is only necessary to carry it out as best as possible.

What if a Muslim wants to do additional practice?

In Islam, it is also called the practice of sunnah namely: the practice if done can be rewarded and if abandoned is also sinless, which is in accordance with the Prophet Muhammad shallahu 'alaihi wasalam taught, not by making practices beyond what the Prophet once taught. For example, the practice of sunnah in prayer ; Rawatib sunnah prayers, Dhuha and tahajjud prayers, Monday-Thursday fasting, shadaqah or infaq and others.

Even in terms of additional worship and charity, Islam teaches simplicity, which a person can do in his spare time, such as thinking. As the Prophet shalallahu 'alaihi wasalam said to the Noble Friend of Abu Hurairah:

 "Indeed, religion is easy. No one makes religion difficult but rather he will be defeated by him. Then be straight in charity, approach (the degree of perfection), and rejoice, and ask Allah Azza wa Jalla for help in the morning, evening, and end of the evening." On another lafazh it is mentioned, "… Be simple (not excessive), be simple, you will undoubtedly arrive (to the destination)." (HR. al-Bukhari and besides)

In the life guidelines of a Muslim, the Qur'an, Allah ta'ala says:

وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ

… and He did not make tribulations for you in religion. [al-Hajj/22:78]….

God has given us religious convenience and has made us feel no objection or difficulty in carrying it out and gives us the pleasure of ease. Then we must not make it difficult for ourselves to worship Rabb. Because a person who makes it difficult for himself in worship, means that he is contrary to the spirit of Islam, which sooner or later it will cause boredom, weariness or inability to carry out the worship anymore.

This Islamic religion has many conveniences, both from within aqidah, worship, akhlak mua'amalah and others. And the thing that makes it seem difficult is the unclean heart in running it, so everything that is easy seems difficult to run. In fact, we know that Islam forbids doing something that makes it difficult for a Muslim and carrying out Allah's commands with a degree of ability means that it is not excessive. Anything that is done excessively is not good to do either in the view of the Islamic religion or in the eyes of others. This attitude will not bring good to the culprit nor will it produce good results in all matters, be it the affairs of the world or the hereafter.