Fundamentally man is a social being and has been created within a society and his well-being both in material and spiritual will be upgraded and made secure in the same society. But in many religious faiths in contemporary world , their exists a set of self-instituted and innovated belief called "monasticism". Monasticism is a religious way of life in which one renounces the worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual works. This form of religious life exists in many faiths all over the world. For example in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and in fact in Jainism also although the expression differs considerably. By contrast on other religions "monasticism" is criticized and not allowed to practice in Islam.
Islam has categorically and vehemently rejects and denounces "monasticism" . Numerous scholars are of the view that "لاَ رَهْبَانِيَّةَ فِي الإِسْلاَم" means their is no monasticism in Islam. Allah (S.W) mentions in Surah Al Hadid Verse 27 "رَهْبَانِيَّةً ابْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَاهَا عَلَيْهِمْ" “And (as for) monkery (Monasticism), they innovated it– We did not prescribe it to them. The term used for monasticism is رَهباَنِيَّة "rehbaniyah" is originally derived from the root" رهبة " (rehbah) ,means to fear and to dread .In "Mufradat" of imam Ragib, he mentions it is a fear , which is in combination with piety and perturbation.
In Islam we have guidance from QURAN and Sunnah of prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) to set our affairs in order. We are taught to maintain an appropriate balance between the religion "Deen" and world "duniya" and not indulge yourself in any kind of burden in the name of religion which you are not supposed to do.Allah (S.W) mentions this in Surah Al baqara (ch.2 Verse 185)" Allah intends for you ease and he doesn't want to make things difficult for you".
At the time of of prophet (S.A.W) Sahaba were working as was needed and worship as was mentioned. They were doing good in both the religion and world, but nowadays people of some kind are either involved much in religion and left world (monasticism) or either involved much in world and left the religion
(meteralism). Islam demands appropriate balance and equilibrium between the "Deen "and "Duniya".One should not only see the "fitn" in world and remain in isolation . Once the companions of prophet complained to him that we are like hypocrites.Prophet(S.AW) said to them why you think so. They replied that when we are with you(S.A.W) our imaan is high and when we left you our imaan lowers. Because we got indulge in world affairs such as family, market etc. Prophet (S.A.W) replied to them that this is not the case ,you have to get engaged with both Deen and Duniya. So this balance and moderation was not left hidden and unclear when Prophet and Sahaba left this world.
Islam prohibits the ibadah (worship) beyond one's capacity lest one gets tired and stops it altogether. One should therefore maintain balance between the two religion and world. Allah likes the action which is done regularly even if it is small one . Prophet (S.A.W) referred as model for ummah ( usswa-i- hassanah) maintain the moderation in worship.He prays and sometimes do not prays, he goes to market and fasts and do not fasts as well , and have numerous wives. So if prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is model for us we must also follow the same.
Al Bukhari and Muslim mentions that three men came to house of the wives of Prophet (S.A.W) and inquire about his daily routine and worship. They when informed considered it very insignificant and low as was expected and said " where are we in comparison to prophet (S.A.W) whom Allah (S.W) have forgotten all Sunna from past and future. One of them countnues that I will offer Salat all through night and do not sleep , another said that I will fast all through my life and never break and the third one said that for me I shall abstain from women and shall never marry. In the meantime prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) came and said to them " are you people who said such and such things, by Allah I fear Allah more than anyone of you and I am most obedient and dutiful among all of you. And what about me is I pray and I sleep as well, I fast and I break and for sure I take numerous wives". And then prophet (S.A.W) obligates whole ummah to a special rule "whoever turns away from my Sunnah does not belong to me". (Imam Navi mentions this hadith in Riyadh - saleheen.)
In the above hadith what is in Sunnah ,we find merely a balance and equilibrium between the Deen and Duniya not such kind of monasticism. So prophet also disapproves that which is not his Sunnah and purely and clearly rejects monasticism. And in a particular hadith it also reflects that all blessings and rewards lie only in following the Sunnah. In another hadith Abu huraira( R.A) reports that prophet (S.A.W) said" religion is easy and whoever makes it difficult or a rigorous it will overpower him" ( al-bukhari). One should make it very clear that one cannot attain pleasure of Allah by means of self innovated methods , it can only be achieved by means prescribed by Allah in QURAN and Sunnah of prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) . That is what "usswa-i-hassanah" demands. So their is no scope for monasticism in Islam and one must clearly maintain appropriate balance between the two religion and world.

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