CHAPTER TWO:

ISLAM AS AD-DIN (A WAY OF LIFE )

CENTRE OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT & UNDERSTANDING (CITU) UITM MALAYSIA

2.1 DEFINITION OF AD-DIN

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REFERENCE: PROLEGOMENA TO THE METAPHYSICS OF ISLAM BY SYED MUHAMAD NAQUIB AL-ATTAS

ISLAM AS AD-DIN 3
- When we speak about Islam,

We refer it as a religion (in English term)

But We mean and understand by it --- ad-din WHAT IS ISLAM AS AD-DIN??

FAITH

TEACHINGS BELIEFS PRACTICES ADHERED TO BY A MUSLIMS INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY

THE MEANING OF AD-DIN

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AD-DIN
INDEBTEDNESS NATURAL INCLINATION/ TENDENCY

SUBMISSIVENESS

JUDICIOUS POWER

1. INDEBTEDNESS & judicious power

DIN
DANA BEING INDEBTED

DEBTOR (MADIN)
HAVE TO YIELD / SURRENDER / OBEY TO LAW AND ORDINANCES GOVERNING DEBTS.

CREDITOR(DAIN) TO SERVE A MASTER TO BECOME ENSLAVED

JUDGE / RULER / GOVERNOR BECOMING MIGHTY, POWERFUL, STRONG HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE LAW, THE ORDER, THE JUSTICE

UNDER OBLIGATION INVOLVES JUDGEMENT

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The situation described is practicable only in

organized societies involved in commercial life in towns and cities (MADINAH).

-Has a judge,ruler (DAYYAN) - a civilized living - a societal life of law and order - justice and authority

TAMADDUN = civilization, refinement in social culture.

The concept of DIN reflects the natural tendency of man to form societies and obey laws and seek just government.

QUESTION??...

HOW CAN THE CONCEPT OF BEING INDEBTED BE EXPLAINED IN THE RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL CONTEXT?
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE DEBT? TO WHOM IS THE DEBT OWED?

ALLAH
IS INDEBTED TO ALLAH

MAN WAS ONCE NOTHING AND DID NOT EXIST (SURAH INSAN:1) - THE WHOLE MANKIND
NOW EXISTING NEITHER EXISTED NOR KNEW OF THEIR POSSIBLE PRESENT EXISTENCE.
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CREATOR -- BRING INSAN INTO EXISTENCE PROVIDER --- MAINTAIN INSAN IN THE EXISTENCE
-FOR CREATION - CAUSING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT - MATURE AND PERFECT - SENSES (HEARING AND SIGHT)

Man does not cause his own growth and

development. Even in his mature and perfect state he is not able to create for himself his sense of sight or hearing.

THE HUMANS COVENANT WITH ALLAH.

AL MUKMINUN (12-14) AL ARAF (172)

- The rightly guided man realizes that his very self , his soul has already acknowledge Allah as his Lord, even before his existence as man.

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INSAN OWNS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO REPAY HIS DEBT BECAUSE EVERYTHING BELONGS TO ALLAH
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QUESTION??...
HOW TO PAY THE DEBT TO ALLAH???

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HE MUST RETURN HIMSELF TO ALLAH WHO OWNS HIM ABSOLUTELY. RETURNING THE DEBT TO GIVE HIMSELF UP IN SERVICE TO ABASE HIMSELF BEFORE HIM ENSLAVES HIMSELF FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH IN ORDER TO FULFILL HIS COMMANDS, PROHIBITIONS AND ORDINANCES. TO LIVE OUT THE DICTATES OF HIS LAW 13

IMPLICATION??.... BY RETURNING HIMSELF TO ALLAH,BY LOYALLY AND TRULY FOLLOWING AND OBEYING ALLAHS COMMANDS AND PROHIBITIONS, ORDINANCES AND LAW, THE MAN WILL RECEIVE HIS GOOD RETURN MULTIPLIED MANY TIMES OVER

AL BAQARAH: 164-165

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The Holy Prophet said:

The intelligent one is he who enslaves

himself (dana nafsahu) and works for that

which shall be after death.

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Abd = servant or slave of Allah * being owned by Allah * realizes that he is indebted to Allah * abases himself in service to Him

What is the difference between abd and khadim?

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A khadim gives khidmah (service). * He is free not a bondman. * He owns himself.

THE ACT OF SERVICE APPROPRIATE FOR INSAN

IBADAH

SERVANT

ALL CONCIOUS AND WILLING ACTS OF SERVICE FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH ALONE AND APPROVED BY HIM FULFILL THE PURPOSE OF CREATION / EXISTENCE
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KHALIFAH

2.

NATURAL INCLINATION (FITRAH)

FITRAH = A PATTERN ACCORDING TO WHICH ALLAH HAS CREATED ALL THINGS IN ITS PROPER PLACE.

SUNNATULLAH = ALLAHS MANNER OF CREATING

SUBMISSION TO IT BRINGS HARMONY
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OPPOSITION
TO IT BRINGS DISCORD

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It is normal for a man to serve Allah

because it comes as a natural inclination for man to do so. Din as fitrah refers to the realization of the Covenant Day between man and Allah. It involves the true / origin nature of rational soul and animal soul. Real freedom for man is when the soul acts as his true nature demands.

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3) SUBMISSIVENESS

What is the meaning of the real submission to Allah?

REAL SUBMISSION TO ALLAH DOES NOT MEAN: 22

Just as belief or faith
momentary or erratic Operate only within the realm of the heart without

manifesting itself outwardly in the action of the body as works performed in obedience to Allahs law. BUT IT MEANS A continuous act lived throughout the entire span of ones ethical life.

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The word denoting this sense of submission is aslama. Please check the following ayat: 1) An-Nisa : 23 2) Ali Imran : 85 3) Ali Imran : 19

Is there any other form of submission to God?

Islam is sincere and total submission to Allahs will and this is enacted willingly as absolute obedience to the law revealed by HIM.
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Other religions have evolved their own systems or forms of submission based upon their own cultural traditions, OR a mixture of their own cultural traditions with traditions based upon Revelation.
Now, lets check this ayat : (2:256)

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- In true religion there should be no compulsion. - One must not compel others to submit - One must submit oneself wholeheartedly, willingly, and love and enjoy the submission. WHAT ABOUT IBLIS?

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IBLIS:
- Believes in Allah

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- Knows and acknowledges Allah as his Creator,

-

Cherisher and Sustainer (RABB) BUT he is a misbeliever (Kafir) Although Iblis submits to Allah, yet he submits insolently and grudgingly His kufr is due to arrogance, disobedience, rebellion. His submission is the most notorious example of unwilling submission.

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Real submission is shown by the Holy

Prophet. Thus, the fundamental core of true religion is not belief but the submission. Because the submission confirms and affirms the belief to be true and genuine.

THE COVENANT

ABD
29 TO SERVE ALLAH

IBADAH
ALL CONCIOUS AND WILLING ACTS OF SERVICE FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH

FREEDOM
BECAUSE HE HAS FULFILLED THE PURPOSE OF CREATION AND EXISTENCE

MAKE THE ANIMAL SOUL SUBJECT TO THE RATIONAL SOUL

ACHIEVE SUPREME PEACE (ISLAM)= SEJAHTERA

THE RATIONAL SOUL PACIFIED: MUTMANINNAH

 2.3 THE CONCEPT OF 30 RELIGION (AD-DIN) IN

ISLAM Islam is the religion to humanityoffered since Adam-looks at mankind as created frm single soul, male & female, black and white, rich and poor
Rasulullah was sent to all people and nation. Not send for certain tribe and countries but to the whole human race. Allah mention: We have sent

you (Muhammad as a mercy) to all nations (21;107)

Literally: Islam means peace and submission to God. 31 Technically: Complete submission to the will of GodNot to other creature
Once human being obeys Allah rules and laws, he is a Muslim. Not a new religion, BUT the same truth that god revealed to all His prophets to every people. Islam is both: religion and complete way of life-Muslim follow the religion of peace, mercy and forgiveness

Islam is NOT just a religion in traditional sense.-Not just 32 confined to the act of worship, morality & other aspect of personel piety. The teaching of Islam also covered all other aspects of lifeNot only religious rituals and morality. Also include guidanceapplicable for all time and places For example: economics, politics, welfare and family life-due to diversity and success in Prophets mission, Muslim have clear guidance from God and final prophet.

 Islam, as it has been declared by the Qur'an, and

religion as Muslims believe, is the perfect and completion of the God's favor upon mankind so far as the regulation of their life is concerned.
Allah says in the Qur'an:

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[This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favors upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.] (Al-Ma'idah 5:4)

 This verse speaks of the fact that the favors of God

in the form of deen (a code of life) have been perfected in Islam and34 nothing that is not rooted in it, whether in the form of belief or in the form of individual and social behavior, is acceptable to God.

To a non-Muslim nurtured on a traditional concept of

religion,-only a private relationship between man and His Creator. But for a Muslim, religion comprehends the whole of life: its pattern of thought and behavior. It posits the ideal of a life from the cradle to the grave. No sphere is left in which the thoughts and deeds of a Muslim both in his personal and public life are inconsequential for his fate in the Hereafter

 That is the reason why God exhorts people to accept

Islam in 35 its entirety, [O you who believe! Come all of you into submission (to Him); follow not the footsteps of the devil. He is an open enemy for you.] (AlBaqarah 2: 208) distinction between the religious and secular, but views in one sweep the entire life of humanity. The philosophy of ethics, law and morals, manners, arts and sciences, forms of social, political and economic organization, including the nature of family and marriage side by side with the problems of worship and theology have their legitimate place in the all-inclusive system of Islam.

Islam is the only religion of the world which knows NO

 The Qur'an calls upon Muslims to say:

36 [Verily my prayers and my sacrifices and my life and death are all for Allah.] (Al-An`am 6:162) It means: the whole life of people in all its spheres should be an expression of complete submission to Allah, the Creator of this Universe and the Rightful Master. Refer also: Ali Imran:85

Therefore, the basic concept of religion in Islam vital

necessity as the sunshine and air.

Just as the Sustainer and the Nourisher of the world has

made provision of all those things which humans need for their physical development + Divine knowledge for the satisfaction of his religious yearnings +for the fullest growth of their spiritual and moral self.

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It covers all aspects of human life

It is a way of life in Islam-aqidah, syariah, akhlaq, family,society,politics,t ransactions,education

Islam is a complete way of life

It does not confined to prayers only like other religions

Islam is a revealed religion (samawi)

Islam is not similar to christianity,hinduisme,not just faith like Taoisme,Confusiousnisme DISCUSS..WHY???

2.4 THE PILLARS OF ISLAM

38 SYARIAH

AKHLAQ
THE PILLARS OF ISLAM

AQIDAH

2.5 THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTIC OF 39 ISLAM

RABBANI (BASED ON REVELATIO N) SAMAWI & KAMIL( COMPREHENSIVEN ESS & COMPLETE) WAQIE(PRACT ICAL & APPLICABLE) INSANI (BASED ON HUMAN) BASED ON AUTHENTI C SOURCES

WASATI (BALANCE D)
ABSOLUTE & ETERNAL

ALAMI (UNIVERSAL)

UNIQUENES S OF THE NAME

ALAMI (UNIVERSAL) 40
Not restricted to Al-Quran repeatedly saying O, mankind certain tribe and (all human being)nation-addressed never addressed as the to all mankind God of particular nation

Among the beauties of Islam: No intermediaries in the relationship between person and God

Entering Islam, Not involve any special ceremonies or procedure done in front of any people nor approval

Becoming Muslim very easy, everyone can do it even in the desert.

From the beginning of the mission of 41 prophet Muhammad,his followers came from wide spectrum of individual ie:
There was BILAL-African slave; SUHAIBbyzantine Roman; IBN SAILAM-The Jewish Rabbi and SALMAN-The Persian Mankind is universal brotherhood-Islam is the only religion acceptable by Allah

42 RABBANI (DIVINE REVEALATION)

Concept of God completely based on divine revelation Concept of God: characterized by purity & clarity
Not made by myth, superstitions/ man-made philosophical ideas

Pure & straightforward teaching of Islamrevealed unique nature

Compared with other religion mix manmade doctrine+ divine revelation/ignored d.r totally

Islam concept of God is totally based on 43 what has God says about Himself-Clear

distinction between Creator and the created (Pure and straightforward)

It is clear, nothing divine /worthy being worship except Allah. Although Allah is Trascendent over creation-due to infinite

mercy, always involve with all affairs of His creatures

By sending revelation through His Prophet,-allowed Himself to be known through His unique & most beautiful attributes

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The message of Islam eternally true-very robust

Pure monotheisme in Islam, universal brotherhood, positive outlook-STILL RELEVANT & meaningful to modern man Relevance and applicable to both spiritual & worldly life

ETERNAL & ABSOLUTE

Still has a strong spiritual impact on million of people living in the world today

Teaching of Islam no need to be updated or watered-down to appeal to human

Teaching of Islam-Spiritually true, eternally practical-man can lived and implemented in daily life
Unique among all other religions-Islam Not to be sacrificed its integrity to applicable to modern life

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Islam applicable to people living today in modern life just as it did for people living 1400 years ago

46 WASATI (BALANCE)/M ODERATION

Divinely revealedbalanced in all aspects of life

e/t Islam all encompass way of life, it preaches moderation-rejects extremism Islam NOT preach complete rejection to worldly life-NOT teach earthly life just for pleasure and enjoyment Worldly pleasure still can be taken as long as they enjoyed in a way in the obedience to God

Muslim has to keep in mind that life in the 47 goal-so should be hereafter is the ultimate charitable & Not too attached to worldly things.

Keep maintained between mas spiritual and physical needs. Human being responsible at all level/ind, family, society

Rejects man-made religious excesses

48 AUTHENTI C SOURCES

Preservation of the scripture of IslamHoly Quran

No other religion has a scripture both as old and well-preserved as Quran

Quran not written by Rasulullah BUT it is a literal word of God

Comparison: Scripture of other religion made up by writing-Not authentic-claim to be scripture even the author unknown

Scholars admit the similarities between the Quran exist today and the old one during Rasulullah period

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Remain pure-written down & memorized during the lifetime of Prophet s.a.w

Quran is unique scripturecome down in its original form and unique language

RELATIONSHI P WITH GOD

In other religions, people approach God through intermediarye.g saint, angle, Virgin Mary and Jesus In Islam, there is No priest-each worshipper, has direct relationship with Merciful Creator Allah is Owner and Sustainer of everything-provide true and complete forgiveness

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It is only in Islam, a person is required ONLY to pray to God

In Islam, praying/worship ping anything other than Allah is the greatest sin committed

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Other religions nullify their beliefmake grave mistake of NOT always approaching Him directly

Accor to them-due to sinfulness, human cannot approach God without intermediarymistakenly implies that God unable/unwilling to forgive human being directly

In Islamic teaching, God always ready to bestow His mercy on anyone who turns to him in repentance

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF ISLAM

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To educate and guide human to know his or her Creator

To teach human to become good servant of God as a To lead human to the right path in life

vicegerence on earth To leave room to human to worship God (Human are dependant on God) To give opportunity to human to achieve rewards in their good deeds on the earth To lead and teach human with the right way of his command in ibadah and Muamalah( transactions)

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THANK YOU