{"id":21445,"date":"2011-09-20T07:53:14","date_gmt":"2011-09-20T07:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/new-wp\/?p=21445"},"modified":"2011-09-20T07:53:14","modified_gmt":"2011-09-20T07:53:14","slug":"affirming-human-religious-disposition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/affirming-human-religious-disposition\/","title":{"rendered":"Affirming Human Religious Disposition"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the Qur\u2019an, mankind, in itsnatural state of being (fitrah<\/em>), affirm the existence, oneness and transcendence of its Creator.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As this affirmation consists originally in the Primordial Covenant agreed and promised by each human soul to Allah (called\u00a0al-mithaq<\/em>), its understanding is based on revealed scripture interpreted by Prophetic tradition.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Qur\u2019anic verses and traditions of the Prophet point to\u00a0fitrah<\/em>\u00a0as\u00a0pertaining to the event when Allah brought forth Adam\u2019s offspring from their loins, and called upon them to testify concerning themselves: \u201cAm I not your Lord?\u201d, to which they answer: \u201cYea, indeed, we do bear witness thereto!\u201d (al-A\u2018raf<\/em>, 7: 172).<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Covenant consists of mankind\u2019s testimony concerning itself byexpressing absolute affirmation of the existence of Allah as the Real, the Truth, the Absolute Being, and as their Lord, i.e., as their Sovereign and Master.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For that matter, it is also an affirmation of their servanthood (\u2018ubudiyyah<\/em>) towards Him.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mankind\u2019s very affirmation of Allah\u2019s Sovereignty\u2014that He is their Lord\u2014should also mean a denial of any partner of His divinity; this can be so inferred because mankind made such an affirmation in an absolute manner excluding the possibility of the existence of any partner in His divinity.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hence, it is clarified that all mankind was once \u2018a single community\u2019 as, primordially, each and every one of them concurrently affirmed the existence of Allah (the Qur\u2019an,\u00a0al-Baqarah<\/em>, 2: 213).<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is also termed the Solemn Covenant as it\u00a0is not pledged by coercion; it is\u00a0the Pure Submission.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mankind\u2019s religious disposition as the\u00a0khalq Allah<\/em>\u00a0(what Allah has created as human nature) is explained in this Qur\u2019anic verse: \u201cAnd so, set thy face steadfastly towards the one ever-true religion, inclining towards a right state or tendency, in accordance with the predisposition which Allah has instilled into man: no change shall there be in what Allah has created as human nature\u2014this is the purpose of the one ever-true religion; but most people know it not\u201d (the Qur\u2019an,\u00a0al-Rum<\/em>, 30: 30).<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Indeed, Muslim scholars always quote and point out the saying of the Prophet Muhammad that \u201cEvery infant is born in the state of\u00a0fitrah<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This inborn\u00a0fitrah<\/em>\u00a0makes man originally pure (tahir<\/em>) in his\u00a0absolute servanthood<\/em>\u00a0of the Lord Most Exalted, excluding other than He.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Among the spiritual states of natural religious disposition that He has instilled into mankind are that it must not serve any except Allah, that it must continue in that disposition on the oneness of Him, and must not associate with Him the other named Allah.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>It also means that Allah creates thehuman soul in the states of being perfect, mature, intelligent, conscious, believing in the oneness of Allah, and affirming His Lordship.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hence Allah does not command except those who understand His command.\u00a0\u00a0This ability to understand religious truths is the real essence of mankind.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nonetheless, this theistic affirmation must be understood in the context of mankind\u2019s\u00a0primordial<\/em>\u00a0existence, and not their\u00a0ordinary<\/em>\u00a0existence in which mankind is subject to the limitations of humanity and the material universe.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the words of a metaphysician, Ibn al-\u2018Arabi (d. 638 AH\/1240 CE), Allah takes the Covenant from the children of Adam before He gives each their individual body. When man is issued in the confines of nature with this body\u2014which is the locus of forgetfulness\u2014he becomes ignorant, and forgets the state of being upon which he was once with his Lord.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This is why the unbelievers shall be told in the Hereafter: \u2018Did you disbelieve after having faith?\u00a0\u00a0Taste, then, this suffering for having disbelieved!\u2019 (Ali \u2018Imran<\/em>, 3: 106); Ibn al-\u2018Arabi clarifies that they are not preceded by a faith except the belief of the offspring (al-iman al-dharr<\/em>) of Adam at the time as recorded in\u00a0al-A\u2018raf<\/em>, 7: 172.\u00a0\u00a0And they forget this Covenant after it has been passed.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then, in life, man needs to reflect upon the proof of the oneness of his Creator\u2014that is to say, if he does reach the condition of life that granted him the ability of reflecting.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If he does not, then his judgment with respect to Allah will follow that of his parents\u2019: if they are faithful believers he will definitely learn the oneness of Allah from them through emulation; if they are not, then he will find himself in whatever religion they hold.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Be that as it may, by their affirmation, mankind\u2019s servanthood towards Allah is established, and its duty must be fulfilled by every one of them; and among the duties is to be compassionate and kind to the poor, the needy, and people in general.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A beautiful analogy is here given by Ibn al-\u2018Arabi.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He says that in the classical world, when a man buys a slave from another man, one of the conditions is that the slave must affirm the masterhood of his buyer.\u00a0\u00a0A mere claim by anybody that he is the master of another person will not be heeded\u2014if at all be heard\u2014by others.\u00a0\u00a0In other words, no argument can be established upon the person by a statement of his supposed master unless the former has acknowledged the latter\u2019s masterhood.\u00a0\u00a0This is due to the fact that his original status is freedom from slavery (al-hurriyyah<\/em>), and the continuity of this status should be presumed.\u00a0\u00a0After the acknowledgment of masterhood, however, the slavery of this person will in turn become the original status.\u00a0\u00a0Then, the continuity of this status is to be presumed until freedom, should it be claimed, being established.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Since this servanthood, in essence, requires mankind\u2019s obedience to Allah, He charges them with religious responsibility to observe His commands and prohibitions in order to test their truthfulness in what they have claimed to be.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ibn al-\u2018Arabi further notes that, as the genesis of trials is a claim, those who have no claim will not have to contend with any trial (as, for instance, other creatures of Allah which dared not assent to the Covenant when offered).<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hence, Allah does not hold us responsible until we have made our claim of servanthood to Him.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But what if one says that he does not know of this divine calling upon him as a witness, testifying for his servanthood to His Lordship\u2014i.e., the Covenant mentioned in the Qur\u2019an and Prophetic Traditions?<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ibn al-\u2018Arabi answers that this knowledge is part of true Faith, not of unaided Reason, nor is this a self-evident subject for human intellect.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0On the question of how could the non-believer\u00a0compos mentis<\/em>\u00a0be included under this religious trial, Ibn al-\u2018Arabi replies that, by his intellect, the\u00a0compos<\/em>\u00a0makes it incumbent upon himself to glorify his Creator in terms of His praises, greatness and perfection.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Readers may want to compare the abovementioned interpretation with the recent theory that religion gives rise to culture and civilization and not the other way around (see \u201cThe Birth of Religion,\u201d\u00a0National Geographic<\/em>, June 2011).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to the Qur\u2019an, mankind, in itsnatural state of being (fitrah), affirm the existence, oneness and transcendence of its Creator. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As this affirmation consists originally in the Primordial Covenant agreed and promised by each human soul to Allah (called\u00a0al-mithaq), its understanding is based on revealed scripture interpreted by Prophetic tradition. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Qur\u2019anic verses and traditions of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_analytify_skip_tracking":false,"_wpzoom_pinterest_image_url":"","_wpzoom_pinterest_hidden_image":"0","_wpzoom_pinterest_description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[220],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-star","category-220","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21445"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21445\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}