Fitrah

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In Islamic philosophy, Fitrah (فطرة) is the inherent disposition towards virtue in humanity, and what endows people with the ability to differentiate between right and wrong. According to the Quran, it is the original state in which humans are created by Allah (God).[1]

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[edit] Linguistic information

The noun fitrah is commonly translated in English dictionaries as "creation," while its plural form (fitar) is translated as nature, innate character or instinct. It comes from the root of the verb fatara, which describes the action of creating (among other usages). Related words include fitrī (natural) and fitrīya (innate manner resulting from natural character).[2]

[edit] Background and usage

The Quran describes the fitrah of the human soul by saying: …and by the soul and He who perfected it! Then He inspired to it (the ability to understand) what is good for it and what is evil for it. Successful is he who purifies it, and failure is he who corrupts it.[3]

Muslims believe every child is born with fitrah, including those in non-Muslim communities, and that without external influence, these children would come to worship Allah on their own. As such, every child is born Muslim. The Islamic prophet Muhammad emphasized this in a hadith where he said: “Every child is born with the believing nature (al-fitra), it is his parents who make him into a Jew or a Christian.”[4]

Another well known hadith was narrated by Aishah who said: The Messenger of Allah said: “Ten (actions) are part of the fitrah: trimming the moustache, letting the beard grow, using the siwaak (tooth-stick), rinsing the nose with water, clipping the nails, washing the finger joints, plucking armpit hairs, shaving pubic hair and washing with water after relieving oneself.”[5]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ J. Esposito p.87
  2. ^ J. Cowan p.842
  3. ^ Qur'ān, Chapter 91, Verse 10
  4. ^ Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 2 (Beirut: Dãr al-Fikr, 1401) p. 104
  5. ^ Sahih Muslim, 261

[edit] References

  • J.M. Cowan (1994), The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic
  • John Esposito (2003), The Oxford Dictionary of Islam
  • M. Masud (1996), Islamic Legal Interpretation: Muftis and Their Fatwas
  • Imam Ali, Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, Letters & Sayings of Imam Ali
  • Al-Kulayni, al-Usul mina ‘l-Kãfi, vol. 2, p. 13; al-Bukhãri, Sahih, vol. 2 (Beirut: Dãr al-Fikr, 1401) p. 104

[edit] External links