IMPORTANCE OF DEEN IN HUMAN LIFE
(CSS 2016, PMS KP 2016)
Introduction:
Deen plays a vital role in individual life and human society. The message of Deen is divine and comprehensive as it encompasses all human actions falling in both sacred and mundane spheres. Deen enlightens us about the Oneness of Allah, the prophetic mission of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and of earlier Prophets, and human accountability in the hereafter, the final abode of mankind, this world being the temporary existence. It tells us ways and means for living a virtuous life, carrying out domestic chores, dealing the public issues, treating the parents, relatives, friends, strangers, and caring the poor and orphans Similarly Deen provides guidance vis-à-vis mankind’s spiritual, social, educational political and economic needs and ends. It deals with domestic challenges and foreign relations, and supplies provisions for laws of war and peace. It provides guidance in matters concerning marriage, divorce, birth and death, property, inheritance, buying and selling, trade and commerce, civil and criminal law and many other practical matters. In short, it is complete code of life furnishing adequate guidance in all human situations. It is an admonition and Guide for those who are not obstinate, but willing to accept,
and follow the Truth:
وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَثَلٍ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ .
“And certainly We have set forth to men in this Quran similitudes of every sort that they may mind. (Al-Zumar 39:27)
Religious Consciousness among Human Beings Human beings
Human beings, the Quran suggests, are religious by nature. This is so because God instilled in them His awareness through their ‘primordial nature’ (fitrah). This primordial nature in human beings is so constituted as to enable them to recognize God, truth and goodness. All human beings have common religiousness, just as they have common sense. Furthermore, this original nature was strengthened by the ‘primordial covenant (mihaq) that God took from every person in their pre-existence:
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَى شَهِدْنَا أَنْ تَقُولُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَذَا غَافِلِينَ –
“And when your Lord took from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves (saying 🙂 ‘Am I not your Lord? They said, ‘Yea! We do testify’, lest you should say on the Day of Judgment: ‘Of this we were never mindful.” (Al-Aaraaf 7:172)
Religion and Divine Religion (Islam):
Religion deals with man’s relations with God whereas Deen deals both with man’s relation with God and his fellow beings. Religion deals with private affairs of life whereas Deen covers all aspects of life, individual as well as collective. In other words, Deen is all embracing term which includes religio-socio-politico-economic systems. It touches upon the mundane as well as spiritual dimensions of human existence and insists that all our thoughts and deeds should be performed in accordance with the will of God expressed in Quran and practiced in Sunnah. Islam is not only a religion but also a Deen i.e. it is a complete code of life.
What is Religion?
The English word religion comes from the Latinate Italian, religare, which means re- liga: “tie back” or “bind to.” According to the philologist Max Müller (1823-1900), the root of the English word religion, the Latin religio, was originally used to mean only reverence for God or the gods, careful pondering of divine things, piety (which Cicero further derived to mean diligence).
The word religion is commonly used in a narrow sense, its scope being limited to a set of dogmas, some rituals for worship, and a number of social customs to celebrate Important life-events. Religion deals with individual life only.
According to Sir E.B. Taylor (1838-1917):
“Religion means the belief in spiritual beings.”
The sociologist Emile Durkheim, in his seminal book Thers and practicesms of the Religious Life, defined religion as a “unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things”
According to Muhammad Mazhar-ud-Din Siddiqui:
“Religion affects every step of life. It has great impact on political life, economic domain, philosophy and other spheres of life It glorifies the concept of universe
Ibn-Khaldun (1332-1406) describes the chief objectives of religion as follows: “(Divine) Deens are introduced by Allah in order to lead mankind to eternal blessings Their objective is to worship Allah as well as management of worldly affairs Deens provide guidelines to establish a composite state and government on the fundamentals enjoined by Allah
Need of Religion:
Religion is necessitated by its following functions:
- Man is naturally a religious being, he requires a metaphysical being to fall upon in his
quest for unresolved mysteries of universe, life, death etc. Religion creates mental satisfaction by giving meaning to life.
- Religion also plays a very significant role in moral and ethical development of society.
- Religion teaches man as to how to seek assistance from and pleasure of God.
- Religion teaches equality and dignity of mankind. Religion gives us the concept of brotherhood of mankind.
- Religion teaches such concept as tolerance, coexistence and mutual cooperation which are essential for world peace.
- Religion leads to purification of soul.
- Research takes place in various branches of knowledge because of motivation provided by religion.
- Religion teaches us to care for the needy, the crippled, the minorities, the women, the weak etc.
Concept of Deen:
Deen refers to a complete code of life. Deen deals both with man’s relation with God and his fellow beings. Deen is all embracing term which includes religio-socio-politico- economic systems. It touches upon the material as well as spiritual dimensions of human existence. Deen covers both sacred and secular aspects of man. The sacred part is same as covered as by religion, the secular part is the guidance of divine code in the mundane affairs like political, social, economic, judicial aspects of man and society.
According to Dr. Khalifa Abdul Hakim:
Islam means peace as well as submission… The purpose of life is to live it well; in ther words, well-being. The purpose of life is life edified, harmonized, enriched trengthened and elevated.” He further went on to say that: “The craving for peace is inherent human nature; hence every being naturally craves for Islam or peace.”
Importance of Deen in Human life:
- Deen Provides Guidance to Mankind:
The primary function of Deen is to guide people towards the right path as said in the Quran:
إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا
“Surely this Quran guides to that which is most upright and gives good news to the believers who do good that they shall have a great reward”. (Al-Israa 17: 9)
- Deen Provides a Clear Path:
It is the Divine Light of God which shows the clear path the right from the wrong, the true from the false:
فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالنُّورِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْنَا ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
“Therefore believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Light which We have revealed; and Allah is Aware of what you do”.
- Deen Leads Mankind from Darkness to Light:
(Al-Taghaabun 64:8)
The Quran leads people out of the ignorance of darkness and evil into the Light of goodness and piety;
الرَّ كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ
“Alif Lam Ra. (This is) a Book which We have revealed to you that you may bring forth men, by their Lord’s permission from utter darkness into light– to the way of the Mighty, the Praised One”.
(Ibrahim 14:1)