Monasticism is not found in which religion?

• A. Islam
• B. Hinduism
• C. Buddhism
• D. Judaism

Answer: (A)

Monasticism is a form of religious life in which individuals renounce ordinary society, often taking vows, living in a separate community or retreat, and dedicating themselves to intense spiritual practice. This pattern is strongly developed in Buddhism, where monks and nuns live in monasteries and follow strict codes, and in Hinduism, where renunciants or sannyasis enter disciplined paths of ascetic living. Judaism does not have an institutional monastic system; daily religious life centers on study, worship, family, and community. Islam likewise does not have a formal monastic tradition—religious life is lived within family and community, with emphasis on acts of worship, ethical conduct, and devotion to God; mystic paths like Sufism exist but are not monastic in the classic sense. Therefore, monasticism is not found in Islam.