Chapter 1

ISLAM
& ITS
CHARACTERISTICS

MEANING OF RELIGION
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- The word religion - referring to the faith or the

belief of someone.
- The religion expresses the eternal questions of
life, death and next world.

- Religions can be classified into two

categories based on its source :
revealed and non-revealed religion.

Differences Between Revealed Religion (RR)

& Non-revealed Religion (NRR).
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1) RR are based on the concept of the Oneness

of God while the NRR are not necessarily so.
2) RR believe in prophets ; NRR do not.
3) According to RR, the main source of guidance
and the criteria of right and wrong are heavenly
scriptures ; NRR do not regard heavenly
scriptures as essential.

4) All RR were born in Middle East countries;

NRR were born outside of this area.
5) RR are missionary religions according to
their teaching or historical traditions ; NRR
are vice-versa.
6) The teaching of RR are clear and well
defined, whereas the NRRs teaching are
vague and very elastic.
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MEANING OF AL-DEEN
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% al-Deen - to describe the way of life to which someone is submitted to.

% Its derived from Arabic word - {daana - yadiinu - deen}
% Technically - believe in the Omnipresence and the Omnipotence of
God and practices based on this belief.

Descriptions of al-Deen
1) al-Deen - a complete system that has everything, in order to fulfill the
needs of mankind in running their life in a proper manner.
2) al-Deen - comprises worldly affairs and Hereafter.
3) al-Deen - serves spiritual, mental and physical aspect (three basic and
important aspect of mankind.

DEFINITION OF ISLAM
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# The word Islam itself is given by

Allah.
# Its derived from Arabic word [salima - aslama - islaaman]
# Literally - harmony, tranquility and
obedient.
# Technically - admit the Oneness of Allah
and worship Him by following all His
commandments and avoiding all His
prohibitions in order to achieve the
true faith.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLAM
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a) AL-RABBANIYYAH - Recognition of God.

b) AL-SYUMUL

- Perfect or Complete

c) AL-WASATIYYAH / AL-TAWAZUN - Moderation

d) AL-WAQIEYYAH

- Reality.

e) AL-THABAT WA AL-MURUNAH - Fixity & Flexibility

f) AL-IJABIYYAH

- Two ways interaction.

a) AL - RABBANIYYAH
-

Recognition of God8 -

^ Prof. Dr. Yusuf al-Qardawi said that

al-Rabbaniyyah is divided into two
categories :
a) al-Rabbaniyyah - objective and concentration.
- Effects : to know the objectives
: to recognize the fitrah
: to free oneself from internal conflicts and anxiety
: to free oneself from individualism
b) al-Rabbaniyyah - source and method
- Holy Koran - as the prime source
- Prophets Tradition - complimentary source to the Koran

b) AL-SYUMUL
- Complete & Universal 9

* It is derived from Arabic word - (syamila - yashmilu) - which means

complete, perfect or universal.
FEATURES OF AL-SYUMUL
1) The universality of Islamic Revelation
- convenient to all - time & places
- mankind & society levels
2) The universality of Islamic Teaching
a) aqidah
- recognition of God (fundamental)
b) ibaadah
- through all senses (method)
c) akhlaq
- relationship with society (decoration)

- Moderation -

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~ Its derived from Arabic word - (wastun) - means

middle
~ It indicates that the Islamic teaching is leading its ummah to be a moderate
ummah in the sense that it is paralleled to human nature (fitrah)

ADVANTAGES OF MODERATION
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Justice
- moderation between two contradictions
Straight path
- far from deviation
Evidence of all goodness - good relation with mankind
Peace
- far from dangers
Evidence of strength
- Muslim youth are the best source in
propagating Islam

d) AL-THABAT WA AL-MURUNAH
- Fixity & Flexibility 11

< Its derived from Arabic word (thabata), means fixity, stable or state
< Murunah is derived from (marona), means flexibility or gentleness

Meaning of al-Thabat :
~ Islam is fixed and cannot be changed in aspects which must be
fixed although environment, situation of life as well as human
beings are changeable due to rotation of time.
< The aspects which have been fixed are :
a) Basic principles of Islam
b) Objectives and purposes
c) Religion values and morality

> Meaning of al-Murunah :

Gentleness or flexibility in Islam can be seen in
several parts which should be changed according to
alternation of human life and duration of time.
> The aspects which are changeable :
a) Matters which are related to branches of religion.
b) Methods and techniques.
c) Worldly and knowledge affairs

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e) AL-WAQIEYYAH
- Reality 13

/ Derived from Arabic word ( waqoa ) which means

obvious, clear or reality
/ Reality means life as well as its nature is true and real.
i.e - all creations of Allah can be observed.
/ All matters mentioned by Islam can be occurred or
observed either in this world or Hereafter.
i.e - punishment to sinners.

f) AL-IJABIYYAH
- Two Ways Interaction 14

It is derived from Arabic word ( ajaaba ) which means

answering call.
al-Ijabiyyah means the existence of two
positive ways of relationships :
1) the Creator (Allah) and His Creations
2) among Muslims (brotherhood).