Religion in Islam

Religion:

Investigating the meaning of the term “دین” ([din]) both etymologically and also by its usage in Quran is an effective step in knowing religions, including Islam. The term “دین” in Arabic language is taken from Semitic language which means law. This term has been also used in Quran with the same meaning.

Quran has used one single term universally and also in a singular and not plural form for all religions and also schools of thought. This will help in a pluralistic account of the religion concept in Islam. Quran, by using additives such as “دین الله” [din olläh][1] or “دین القیم” [din olq æ jem][2] or “ل” [l][3] has specialized its chosen religion.

In some verses of Quran the term “دین” has been used along with the term “شریعت” [sh æ ri æ t] rooted from “شرع” [sh æ r’] which originally means “to clarify or to uncover” and refers to the clarity of religion.

In Quran it has been indicated that “there is no force (or oppression) in accepting the religion [since] the growth (or develop) is apparent from misleading. “[4] i.e., in order to understand the religion, there is no need for solving a puzzle and the way of growth is obvious for all people. In another quota[5] the reason has been indicated by defining the religion as: “the divine intrinsic basement which the creation of people is based on it”.

Defining religion as the intrinsic base of creation leaves door open for a scientific interpretation of religion in which it is based on human being’s inherent (genetic) structure. That’s how the religion becomes the way to reach the growth and health and also can be clear for everybody without a need for any mysterious explanation.

[1] Law of God

[2] Steady religion

[3] Like “the” in English

[4] verse 256 of Baqarah Surah

[5] Verse 30 of Room Surah

ligion-in-islam.h

Islam: Religion of Health and not Submission

Islam: Religion of Health :

Name is the main representative of a school of thought, especially about Islam religion, which according to the Muslim’s beliefs, God himself has determined its name in the holy book of Qur’an[1]. Islam mostly has been translated and interpreted as submission. In this article first, based on a theological approach, this interpretation has been challenged. The base of reasoning is that creatures are intrinsically per se submissive to the divine; therefore not being submissive is not possible and insisting on submission as the main representative of a religion from God is not plausible.

Then the meaning of Islam has been investigated from an etymological point of view. The term ‘Islam’ (‘اسلام’) is rooted from ‘سلم’ /s l m/ which means “entering to health” and it has become transitive by taking it to “باب الافعال”. Therefore its literal meaning is “making healthy and giving health”. Then by an inter religion point of view the consistency of this new meaning of Islam will be investigated. The word ‘Islam’ has been used 8 times in Qur’an. In this article the translations of these notations by both submission and health have been compared and consistency of two meanings has been discussed based on which, the meaning of “religion of health” has been inferred. This new meaning shows more consistent translation of Qur’an in comparison with that of submission interpretation. Afterward historically we discuss why this meaning has been concealed throughout the history; the most important reason is the warrior spirit of Muslims during the first decades after its prophet’s death.

Finally we demonstrate how fruitful this new meaning could be which the most significant one is its consistency and alignment with science, since “Health” is a concept that has been targeted in many branches of science like medicine and psychology.
[1] Al imranSurah, verse 85- MaidahSurah, Verse 3