فهم النص المسيحي عن الإنسان

Chapter 4: The Fitrah Of Human Being From Islamic Perspective

• This chapter examines the concept of Fitrah from an Islamic perspective, contrasting it with the concept of "original sin".
• It explores the relationship between Fitrah, Qada' and Qadar.

Concept of Fitrah

• Literal meaning: Derived from the Arabic verb "fa-ta-ra" (to cleave, split, slit, rent, or crack), and the noun "fatrun" (first form). It encompasses various subtleties of existence and beginning including repetition of the action.
• Meaning: The word "Fitrah" signifies a natural disposition, constitution, innate nature of a human, an inherent quality, or creation, or an original form at birth. It signifies a person's innate disposition or nature.
• Quality of the soul: The nature of the soul can be either habitual or created. Humans are born with predisposition to either prosperity or adversity in relation to the soul.
• Innate disposition: This innate disposition cannot be changed and exists inherently within all human beings. It's their natural inclination or temperament.
• Fitrah as creation: Fitrah also describes creation which originated at the first time; it's synonymous to the words natural, innate, intrinsic, or inherited.

Ayatul Qur'an on Fitrah

• The Quran (30:30) emphasizes the importance of establishing the heart's inclination towards the pure faith – the faith established by God.
• This divine predisposition is the just and righteous way of life originated by God.

Hadith on Fitrah

• Every child is born in a state of Fitrah (a natural propensity toward Islam), and it's the responsibility of parents to guide them towards a faith and way of life.
• It implies that humankind has natural inclination to Islam, which parents can guide and influence.

Religious Meaning of Fitrah

• Fitrah signifies an innate disposition toward Islam - a natural inclination to accept Islam, innate ability to know God.
• Fitrah signifies an inborn predisposition to submission to God's will and to submit and accept the truth.
• The ability to accept the religion of truth is implicit in a person’s fitrah.

Tawhid is engraved in the heart of the souls.

• Tawhid, the belief in the oneness of God, is ingrained in the human heart.
• God made people bear witness.
• The people have said to God, "Yes Indeed" - We bear witness.
• (Al-A'raf, 7:172-3) emphasizes the innate understanding of God within humanity.

Relationship of Fitrah & Life

• Fitrah is directly related to the religion (Din) of Allah.
• The way of life and laws that bring people back to faith naturally come from God
• Fitrah represents the unconfirmed state of an individual until faith is consciously acknowledged.

Interpretation of Fitrah

• Various scholars offered differing opinions, which can be grouped into Classical, Neo-Classical, and Modern.
• Classical interpretations include pre-destinarian, neutral, and positive views.
• The Pre-destinarian view - some scholars believed that before birth, human's destiny of good or bad is already determined.
• The Neutral view - some believe that before birth, people are in a blank state regarding faith, but external factors can affect the person.
• The Positive view - some scholars believed that humans are inherently good, but social conditions can influence them in an adverse way.
  • Different scholars have varying interpretations of Fitrah, from emphasizing inherent goodness to a neutral starting point and sometimes to predetermined destiny.

Original Sin vs Fitrah

• Islam and Christianity regard humans with a spiritual capacity to approach goodness but differ in how it begins.
• Christianity emphasizes self-redemption, often through Christ, which is different from Islam's belief in a born good disposition.

Original sin and the role of Jesus: Christian Perspective

• The Christian perspective on original sin highlights the fall of Adam and Eve, which resulted in a human condition inclined towards sin.
• Religious teachings suggest that redemption is possible through Christ, who is believed to be divine and is essential for salvation.

Classical Views:

• Jahm ibn Sofwan's views.
• Ibn Abdul Barr's views.

Neo-Classical Views:

• Muhammad ‘Ali al-Sabuni's views.

Modern Views:

• Sayyid Qutb's views.
• ‘Ali Shari’ati's views.

Islamic Perspective on Fitrah and Tawbah

• Islam acknowledges the possibility of errs and mistakes.
• The Quran and Sunnah provide guidance for remorse and reconciliation.
• The individual takes responsibility for their actions and can implore forgiveness and change their path through Tawbah.
• Tawbah: repentance, remorse and seeking forgiveness from God.
• Tawbah is performed directly to God without intermediaries.

Relationship Between Fitrah and Qadar & Qadar

• Emphasize that human is naturally created in the best form
• Emphasize that human has an inclination toward virtue and goodness but also tendencies and factors that can change their paths.
• Human is created in a state of purity and with knowledge of their Creator, hence predisposed to follow the teachings and guidance of the Creator.
• The existence of negative factors is recognized, but good and virtuous qualities are also strongly emphasized.

Conclusion

• The Quran and Hadith provide profound insights into human nature.
• The concept of Fitrah (natural disposition) is crucial for believers to understand their intrinsic qualities.