– Linguistically it usually is translated as “the religion” – but if we analyse this term in the Arabic, we find that the word is:
- from root word “daa-na “ which can also mean : be indebted, to owe one’s thanks, to be subjected, bow, yield, owe allegiance;
- from “dain” which means debt, obligation, liability;
- from “dainuu-na” which means judgement, Last Judgement;
- related to the word “maaddana” which means “to build or found cities to civilise, to refine and to humanise” from which the word “tamaddun” meaning “civilization and refinement in social culture.”
The primary significations of the term “deen” thus, can be reduced to four:
(1) Indebtedness
(2) Submissiveness/submission/surrender
(3) Judicious power
(4) Natural inclination or tendency
Thus, the implication of “religion” in the ordinary usage which tends to be affected by secular thoughts is not in accord to Islam’s concept of religion which is life in totality, all-encompassing and cannot be dichotomised. A Muslim always is mindful that ultimately he is a servant of God whether in mosque or in the market place, in private or in public etc. Life of this world is intrinsically link with the Hereafter (also referred to as ‘Yaum al-Deen’ -The day of Judgement).
What more can we understand of its reality?
Ad-Deen is to be nurtured in a person, not merely that they be informed. Muslim must be systematically educated, not merely taught. When creatively adopting new approaches, it must conform to its own traditional perspectives and must be true to its own philosophy as done by traditional Muslim teachers. These teachers take their task as inheritors of the prophetic tradition, to build conviction, to correct and reform worldview, instilling genuine commitment, added with making them competent to establish its teachings, but most of all, inculcation of noble character or disposition in every Muslim. It is not mere knowing the way one studies in contemporary schools. Muslims approach in studying his Deen today are slowly being changed; many are unknowingly imitating secularist way like emphasis on being objective, and therefore learners do not have to subject themselves to every truth, for they (secularists) view every religion only from the perspective of a relativist. They reject any form of absolutism, where Muslims regard their Deen as the Absolute truth.
Ad-Deen is to be nurtured in a person, not merely that they be informed. Muslim must be systematically educated, not merely taught. When creatively adopting new approaches, it must conform to its own traditional perspectives and must be true to its own philosophy as done by traditional Muslim teachers. These teachers take their task as inheritors of the prophetic tradition, to build conviction, to correct and reform worldview, instilling genuine commitment, added with making them competent to establish its teachings, but most of all, inculcation of noble character or disposition in every Muslim. It is not mere knowing the way one studies in contemporary schools. Muslims approach in studying his Deen today are slowly being changed; many are unknowingly imitating secularist way like emphasis on being objective, and therefore learners do not have to subject themselves to every truth, for they (secularists) view every religion only from the perspective of a relativist. They reject any form of absolutism, where Muslims regard their Deen as the Absolute truth.
WaAllaahu a'lam
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1 comment:
Masya allah...The definition that you have elaborated had probably been long forgotten or 'misinterpreted' only as religion, which can't do justice to what the word ad-deen actually meant.
May Allah swt forgive me for the mistakes that i made in this comment.
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