Rethinking the Concept of Fiṭra
Little attention has been given to the role of innate human nature or fiṭra in the motivation behind human action. This article examines the views of contemporary Western thinkers to creatively rethink the concept of fiṭra, not only from a theological perspective but also a scientific perspective....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Institute of Islamic Thought
2023-11-01
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| Series: | American Journal of Islam and Society |
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| Online Access: | https://8www.koersjournal.org.za/index.php/ajiss/article/view/3189 |
| _version_ | 1797401490755682304 |
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| author | Syamsuddin Arif |
| author_facet | Syamsuddin Arif |
| author_sort | Syamsuddin Arif |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Little attention has been given to the role of innate human nature or fiṭra in the motivation behind human action. This article examines the views of contemporary Western thinkers to creatively rethink the concept of fiṭra, not only from a theological perspective but also a scientific perspective. Drawing upon Islamic scholarship and previous research on the subject that explore the wide spectrum of connotations couched in the Islamic term fiṭra in comparison with Western perspectives, this study offers a fresh look at, and approach to, the concept of human disposition or primordial nature, giving special attention to the biological, epistemological, and ethical dimensions, while most studies of fiṭra focus mainly on the theological and spiritual sides. It is hoped that this conceptual analysis will serve as a stepping stone towards a more nuanced understanding of fiṭra not only as (i) a natural tendency to act or think in a particular way, but also as (ii) the religious instinct, (iii) the power of the mind to think and understand in a logical way, and (iv) the inner voice or conscience of what is right and wrong in one’s conduct or motives that drives the individual towards right action.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:10:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8acac5d544154e7aa9c50291d36daa5d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2690-3733 2690-3741 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:10:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | International Institute of Islamic Thought |
| record_format | Article |
| series | American Journal of Islam and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-8acac5d544154e7aa9c50291d36daa5d2023-12-07T11:33:51ZengInternational Institute of Islamic ThoughtAmerican Journal of Islam and Society2690-37332690-37412023-11-01403-410.35632/ajis.v40i3-4.3189Rethinking the Concept of FiṭraSyamsuddin Arif0Universitas Darussalam Gontor Little attention has been given to the role of innate human nature or fiṭra in the motivation behind human action. This article examines the views of contemporary Western thinkers to creatively rethink the concept of fiṭra, not only from a theological perspective but also a scientific perspective. Drawing upon Islamic scholarship and previous research on the subject that explore the wide spectrum of connotations couched in the Islamic term fiṭra in comparison with Western perspectives, this study offers a fresh look at, and approach to, the concept of human disposition or primordial nature, giving special attention to the biological, epistemological, and ethical dimensions, while most studies of fiṭra focus mainly on the theological and spiritual sides. It is hoped that this conceptual analysis will serve as a stepping stone towards a more nuanced understanding of fiṭra not only as (i) a natural tendency to act or think in a particular way, but also as (ii) the religious instinct, (iii) the power of the mind to think and understand in a logical way, and (iv) the inner voice or conscience of what is right and wrong in one’s conduct or motives that drives the individual towards right action. https://8www.koersjournal.org.za/index.php/ajiss/article/view/3189Human natural dispositionfitrahuman agencyinstinctconscience |
| spellingShingle | Syamsuddin Arif Rethinking the Concept of Fiṭra American Journal of Islam and Society Human natural disposition fitra human agency instinct conscience |
| title | Rethinking the Concept of Fiṭra |
| title_full | Rethinking the Concept of Fiṭra |
| title_fullStr | Rethinking the Concept of Fiṭra |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rethinking the Concept of Fiṭra |
| title_short | Rethinking the Concept of Fiṭra |
| title_sort | rethinking the concept of fitra |
| topic | Human natural disposition fitra human agency instinct conscience |
| url | https://8www.koersjournal.org.za/index.php/ajiss/article/view/3189 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT syamsuddinarif rethinkingtheconceptoffitra |