Islam - like Hinduism and Buddhism - recognises that sensuality is not simply a profane pleasure but has a sacred or 'tantric' dimension. "It distinguishes between sensuality in its crude sense and a sensuality that is sanctified, and includes within its Paradise the second possibility"1. The Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist Paradises contain sensual delights (wine, women and song) which only appear shocking to those who have had a Western - Christian - education.
It is noteworthy that Western Christianity's dichotomy between the spirit and flesh (spiritual and the sensual) was largely inherited from Greece during its period of decadence.
"It would be an error to think that authentic Christianity is hostile to the body as such; the concept of the “Word made flesh” and the glory of Mary’s virginal body forbid from the outset any possibility of Manichaeism"
- Frithjof Schuon 2
References
1. Frithjof Schuon, Form and Substance in the Religions (Paraphrased)
2. Frithjof Schuon, Christianity/Islam: Essays on Esoteric Ecumenicism, page 94
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