Aslah al-Adyan lil-Insaniyya Aqida wa Sharia
- Author died
- 1411 AH
- Editions
- Unknown
Aslah al-Adyan lil-Insaniyya Aqida wa Sharia (Arabic: أصلح الأديان للإنسانية عقيدة وشريعة, lit. 'The Most Suitable of Religions for Humanity in Creed and Sacred Law') is a comparative religious treatise by the Saudi thinker and writer Ahmad bin Abd al-Ghafur Attar (1337–1411 AH / 1919–1991 CE) . The book investigates ancient and contemporary world religions and social philosophies to determine which system comprehensively fulfills human needs in both doctrine (aqida) and legislation (sharia) .
Purpose and Scope
Attar sets out to evaluate major world religions and ideologies through an objective examination free from bias, establishing that any religion fit for all mankind must combine sound theology with a complete legal and moral framework regulating worship, commerce, ethics, and social conduct . He examines prominent historical and surviving belief systems to determine their validity as a universal path for humanity .
Content and Arguments
The author reviews several major ideologies and faiths:
- Marxism and Communism: Evaluated as a materialist social ideology that, despite governing large populations, is built on atheism, the denial of God's existence, and hostility toward religious belief, rendering it spiritually hollow and unfit for humanity .
- Eastern Religions: Analyzed through the traditions of India, China, Tibet, and Korea, such as Buddhism; the author states that they lack sound theological foundations, are marred by idolatry, and possess no comprehensive sacred law (sharia) to regulate justice, rights, and societal affairs .
- Judaism: Characterized as a divine religion originally sent to Moses and the Children of Israel that was subsequently distorted; Attar argues that its adherents treat their deity (Yahweh) as a tribal God exclusive to themselves, ascribe human flaws and anthropomorphic traits to Him, and consider the faith closed to the rest of mankind .
- Christianity: Discussed as adopting the Old Testament scriptures while lacking an independent legal code of its own, relying historically on Mosaic law .
- Islam: Argued to be the sole universal religion suited for humanity for all time, possessing pure monotheism free from polytheism and anthropomorphism, and a comprehensive divine legal code that regulates life, honors human dignity, and establishes women's rights as equal counterparts to men in property, inheritance, and religious duties . The author also touches on the decline of the application of Islamic law in Arab and Muslim countries .
Publication History
The work was published in Mecca by the author in 1399 AH (130 pages), with another printing dated 1400 AH / 1980 CE . An edition was also issued by the Muslim World League in Mecca in 1407 AH (124 pages) .
Answer updated