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al-Din fi al-Istilah al-Islami

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The book is published on the website of the Saudi Ministry of Awqaf without publication data

al-Din fi al-Istilah al-Islami (Religion in Islamic Terminology) is an Islamic theological treatise that examines the conceptual definition of religion (din), the innate human inclination toward faith (fitrah), the sources of religious epistemology, and the relationship between revelation and scientific knowledge.

Definition and Concept of Religion

The treatise outlines the definition of religion in the Quran around four core pillars:

  1. The supreme, sovereign authority (al-sultah al-'ulya dhat al-hakimiyyah), which belongs exclusively to God.
  2. Complete obedience and submission to that authority.
  3. The integrated framework of credal beliefs, intellectual systems, and practical rulings governed by that authority.
  4. The recompense earned by adherents based on their sincerity and adherence or their defiance.

It summarizes religion as the belief in a Divine Being worthy of obedience and worship through texts defining the divine attributes and establishing practical paths of worship. The text engages critically with secular and comparative theories of religion, refuting the notion that religiosity originated from mythical folklore or from fear of colossal natural forces like stars or mountains. Instead, it argues that pagan practices themselves reflect an innate human quest for a transcendent power beyond material limits, and that religious sensibility uniquely expands human cognition toward the realm of the unseen (al-ghayb).

Innate Nature and Legislation

The treatise presents religiosity as an intrinsic disposition (fitrah) created by God within humanity, citing the primordial covenant in Quran 7:172 and the prophetic tradition: كل مولود يولد على الفطرة فأبواه يهودانه أو ينصرانه أو يمجسانه ("Every child is born upon the fitrah, then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian").

To function correctly, this innate nature requires two components:

  • A sound heart (al-qalb al-salim) free from corrupting influences.
  • A sound intellect (al-'aql al-sahih) that accepts truth and rejects superstition.

The text notes that Islamic law (Sharia) is designed to complement this innate disposition without imposing undue hardship (haraj). It regulates natural human desires—such as sustenance, marriage, and trade—while prohibiting excess and illicit practices. It also stresses that Islam represents an indivisible system governing spiritual, social, and personal life, condemning the selective implementation of religious laws.

Epistemology and Science

The work identifies three primary sources of knowledge (masadir al-talaqqi):

  1. Divine Revelation (al-khabar al-sadiq): Communicated via direct speech without an intermediary (as occurred with Moses), inner prophetic inspiration, or angelic messengers.
  2. Innate Disposition (al-fitrah): Provides generalized awareness of the Creator, preparing humans to receive detailed revelation.
  3. Intellect (al-'aql): Yields general deduction of the Creator's existence and uniqueness, though understanding metaphysical specifics requires the guidance of revelation.

In addressing the relationship between religion and science, the text distinguishes between the physical world ('alam al-shahadah) and the unseen world ('alam al-ghayb). Empirical science is confined to the physical realm and governed by the limitations of human sensory faculties and scientific instruments. Knowledge of the unseen depends on authentic divine reports. It concludes that definitive scientific facts and verified religious truths cannot contradict each other, as both originate from God.

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