Fitra or fitrah (Arabic: فطرة; ALA-LC: fiṭrah) in Islam is the innate human nature that recognizes the oneness of God (tawhid). It may entail either the state of purity and innocence in which Muslims believe all humans to be born, or the ability to choose or reject God's guidance, with which both humans and jinn are endowed.[1]Fitra is an Arabic word that is usually translated as "original disposition", "natural constitution", or "innate nature of any Muslim."[2]
The root verb F-Ṭ-R means to split or cleave, also found in Iftar (breaking the fast), Eid al-Fitr, and in the 82nd chapter of the Quran (Surah Al-Infitar - The Splitting). Arabic lexicographers also relate it to create.[3]Fatir is usually translated as originator or creator, and thus fitra is also considered to refer to the "state of creation".[3]
Quran, Hadith and interpretation
According to The Study Quran, the fiṭrah or primordial nature mentioned in the Quran (verse 30:30) refers to the innate recognition of God's oneness that is inherent in every human being. This recognition is considered to be the core of human nature, representing the essence of what it means to be human in the Islamic tradition.[4] According to Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Islam views humans as inherently possessing a primordial nature known as al-fitrah. Despite its existence, this nature can become obscured and deeply buried within individuals as a result of neglect and forgetfulness. The Quran recognizes that humans were created in the best possible form (ahsan altaqwim) (95:4), with the intelligence necessary to recognize and know God. The message of Islam is intended to address and reconnect individuals with their innate, primordial nature.[5]
[Islam] is a call for recollection, for the remembrance of a knowledge kneaded into the very substance of our being even before our coming into this world. In a famous verse that defines the relationship between human beings and God, the Quran, in referring to the precosmic existence of man, states, “‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said: ‘Yes, we bear witness’” (7:172). The “they” refers to all the children of Adam, male and female, and the “yes” confirms the affirmation of God’s Oneness by us in our pre-eternal ontological reality. Men and women still bear the echo of this “yes” deep down within their souls, and the call of Islam is precisely to this primordial nature, which uttered the “yes” even before the creation of the heavens and the earth. The call of Islam therefore concerns, above all, the remembrance of a knowledge deeply embedded in our being, the confirmation of a knowledge that saves, hence the soteriological function of knowledge in Islam.[5]
According to William Chittick, "Fitra is the divine form that God bestowed upon Adam when He created him; or, it is the divine spirit that, according to the Koran, God blew into the clay of Adam in order to bring him to life".[6] In the Qur'an, the spirit that was breathed into Adam by God is referred to with the pronouns "His" (32:9) and "My" (15:29, 38:72).[7] This spirit is known as the "attributed spirit" (al-ruh al-idafi), which implies that it has both divine and human characteristics. The spirit that God blew into Adam possesses spiritual and angelic attributes such as luminosity, subtlety, awareness, and oneness.[7] The fitra constitutes "the very self of Adam to whom God “taught all the names” (2:31)".[8] It is considered to be the foundation of human wisdom and knowledge, as it inclines naturally towards the belief in the oneness of God, which is the essence of tawhid. This belief is the basis for true understanding of God, the universe, and the self.[8] In surah 30 of the Quran, the word is used in the context of the following verse: "Set thy face to religion as a Hanif in the primordial nature from God upon which originated mankind there is no altering the creation of God; that is upright but most mankind know not." This verse (30:30) links fitra to the concept of Hanif, who "is understood by most to mean in a straight and upstanding manner, neither inclining nor adhering to past religions that have been altered or abrogated".[9] In the Quran, the term "Hanif" is often used in relation to Abraham, but in a broader sense, it refers to someone who turns away from misguidance and instead embraces faith in the unity of God.[9]
If the term is understood to mean "divide", it might signify that God separates his creation into believers and unbelievers by means of the "true religion".[3]
In the prophetic traditions (hadith), the term gets new attention: “No one is born except according to intrinsic nature [(fitra)], but their parents make them Jews, or Christians, or Magians, just as a cow gives birth to a calf that is whole do you find it mutilated?'"[10] The Mu'tazilites argue that Islamic law is rational and given to every born child, thus fitra is identified with Islam. This viewpoint was also adapted by several canonical traditions. In others however, fitra refers to the pre-Islamic religion, originating in Adam, before any religious obligations have been revealed.[11]: 214-216 According to the Maturidischolar (ʿĀlim) Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi, humans and jinn are created with fitra, and thus obligated (taklīf) to follow God's law.[1]
Revival of fitra
According to William Chittick, the Koran and the Hadith suggest that humans possess an innate capacity to understand reality as it is, but their environment obscures this ability. Prophets' role is to remind (dhikr) people of the knowledge they already have, while humans just need to remember (dhikr) it. Once they recall this knowledge, they return to their innate capacity, which has always been a part of them and never truly separate.[12]
^ abAbu l-Lait as-Samarqandi's Commentary on Abu Hanifa al-Fiqh al-absat Introduction, Text and Commentary by Hans Daiber Islamic concept of Belief in the 4th/10th Century Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa p. 243
^Cleary, Thomas, translator. The Wisdom of the Prophet: Sayings of Muhammad. Shambhala, Boston & London, 1994, p. 9. ISBN1570620172
^The Muslim Creed by A.J. Wensinck Publication date 1932-06-30 Usage Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Creative Commons License Language English The Muslim Creed: Its Genesis and Historical Development by A.J. Wensinck, Cambridge University Press, 1932 Addeddate 2016-12-27 21:03:29 Identifier WensinckMc1932 Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t4vj0kp9h Ocr ABBYY FineReader 11.0 Ppi 300 Scanner Internet Archive HTML5 Uploader 1.6.3
Chittick, William (1998). "Between the Yes and the No: Ibn al-'Arabi on Wujud and the Innate Capacity". In Forman, R.K.C. (ed.). The Innate Capacity: Mysticism, Psychology, and Philosophy. Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-511697-7.
Nasr, S.H.; Chittick, W.C. (2007). The Essential Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Library of perennial philosophy The perennial philosophy series. World Wisdom. ISBN978-1-933316-38-3.
Nasr, S.H.; Dagli, C.K.; Dakake, M.M.; Lumbard, J.E.B.; Rustom, M. (2015). The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary -- Leather Edition. HarperCollins. ISBN978-0-06-112588-1.
Chittick, William (2007). "The Traditional Approach to Learning". Sacred Web. 18: 29-47.
Chittick, W.C. (2007a). Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul: The Pertinence of Islamic Cosmology in the Modern World. Oneworld Publications. ISBN978-1-85168-495-3.
Chittick, W.C. (1989). The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn al-Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination. G - Reference,Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series. State University of New York Press. ISBN978-0-88706-885-0.
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
April 11, 2023
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Fitra or fitrah Arabic فطرة ALA LC fiṭrah in Islam is the innate human nature that recognizes the oneness of God tawhid It may entail either the state of purity and innocence in which Muslims believe all humans to be born or the ability to choose or reject God s guidance with which both humans and jinn are endowed 1 Fitra is an Arabic word that is usually translated as original disposition natural constitution or innate nature of any Muslim 2 Contents 1 Root of word 2 Quran Hadith and interpretation 3 Revival of fitra 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 Further readingRoot of word EditThe root verb F Ṭ R means to split or cleave also found in Iftar breaking the fast Eid al Fitr and in the 82nd chapter of the Quran Surah Al Infitar The Splitting Arabic lexicographers also relate it to create 3 Fatir is usually translated as originator or creator and thus fitra is also considered to refer to the state of creation 3 Quran Hadith and interpretation EditAccording to The Study Quran the fiṭrah or primordial nature mentioned in the Quran verse 30 30 refers to the innate recognition of God s oneness that is inherent in every human being This recognition is considered to be the core of human nature representing the essence of what it means to be human in the Islamic tradition 4 According to Seyyed Hossein Nasr Islam views humans as inherently possessing a primordial nature known as al fitrah Despite its existence this nature can become obscured and deeply buried within individuals as a result of neglect and forgetfulness The Quran recognizes that humans were created in the best possible form ahsan altaqwim 95 4 with the intelligence necessary to recognize and know God The message of Islam is intended to address and reconnect individuals with their innate primordial nature 5 Islam is a call for recollection for the remembrance of a knowledge kneaded into the very substance of our being even before our coming into this world In a famous verse that defines the relationship between human beings and God the Quran in referring to the precosmic existence of man states Am I not your Lord They said Yes we bear witness 7 172 The they refers to all the children of Adam male and female and the yes confirms the affirmation of God s Oneness by us in our pre eternal ontological reality Men and women still bear the echo of this yes deep down within their souls and the call of Islam is precisely to this primordial nature which uttered the yes even before the creation of the heavens and the earth The call of Islam therefore concerns above all the remembrance of a knowledge deeply embedded in our being the confirmation of a knowledge that saves hence the soteriological function of knowledge in Islam 5 William Chittick The Essential Seyyed Hossein Nasr 2007 According to William Chittick Fitra is the divine form that God bestowed upon Adam when He created him or it is the divine spirit that according to the Koran God blew into the clay of Adam in order to bring him to life 6 In the Qur an the spirit that was breathed into Adam by God is referred to with the pronouns His 32 9 and My 15 29 38 72 7 This spirit is known as the attributed spirit al ruh al idafi which implies that it has both divine and human characteristics The spirit that God blew into Adam possesses spiritual and angelic attributes such as luminosity subtlety awareness and oneness 7 The fitra constitutes the very self of Adam to whom God taught all the names 2 31 8 It is considered to be the foundation of human wisdom and knowledge as it inclines naturally towards the belief in the oneness of God which is the essence of tawhid This belief is the basis for true understanding of God the universe and the self 8 In surah 30 of the Quran the word is used in the context of the following verse Set thy face to religion as a Hanif in the primordial nature from God upon which originated mankind there is no altering the creation of God that is upright but most mankind know not This verse 30 30 links fitra to the concept of Hanif who is understood by most to mean in a straight and upstanding manner neither inclining nor adhering to past religions that have been altered or abrogated 9 In the Quran the term Hanif is often used in relation to Abraham but in a broader sense it refers to someone who turns away from misguidance and instead embraces faith in the unity of God 9 If the term is understood to mean divide it might signify that God separates his creation into believers and unbelievers by means of the true religion 3 In the prophetic traditions hadith the term gets new attention No one is born except according to intrinsic nature fitra but their parents make them Jews or Christians or Magians just as a cow gives birth to a calf that is whole do you find it mutilated 10 The Mu tazilites argue that Islamic law is rational and given to every born child thus fitra is identified with Islam This viewpoint was also adapted by several canonical traditions In others however fitra refers to the pre Islamic religion originating in Adam before any religious obligations have been revealed 11 214 216 According to the Maturidi scholar ʿAlim Abu al Layth al Samarqandi humans and jinn are created with fitra and thus obligated taklif to follow God s law 1 Revival of fitra EditAccording to William Chittick the Koran and the Hadith suggest that humans possess an innate capacity to understand reality as it is but their environment obscures this ability Prophets role is to remind dhikr people of the knowledge they already have while humans just need to remember dhikr it Once they recall this knowledge they return to their innate capacity which has always been a part of them and never truly separate 12 See also EditNatural law Ritual purity in Islam ShuddhiReferences Edit a b Abu l Lait as Samarqandi s Commentary on Abu Hanifa al Fiqh al absat Introduction Text and Commentary by Hans Daiber Islamic concept of Belief in the 4th 10th Century Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa p 243 Jon Hoover Fiṭra EI3 a b c Burge Stephen R The Angels in Surat al Mala ika Exegeses of Q 35 1 The Institute of Ismaili Studies Archived from the original on 4 July 2017 Nasr et al 2015 p 467 a b Nasr amp Chittick 2007 p 45 Chittick 2007 p 44 a b Chittick 1989 p 17 a b Chittick 2007a p 29 a b Nasr et al 2015 p 991 Cleary Thomas translator The Wisdom of the Prophet Sayings of Muhammad Shambhala Boston amp London 1994 p 9 ISBN 1570620172 The Muslim Creed by A J Wensinck Publication date 1932 06 30 Usage Attribution Noncommercial No Derivative Works 3 0 Creative Commons License Language English The Muslim Creed Its Genesis and Historical Development by A J Wensinck Cambridge University Press 1932 Addeddate 2016 12 27 21 03 29 Identifier WensinckMc1932 Identifier ark ark 13960 t4vj0kp9h Ocr ABBYY FineReader 11 0 Ppi 300 Scanner Internet Archive HTML5 Uploader 1 6 3 Chittick 1998 pp 97 98 Sources EditChittick William 1998 Between the Yes and the No Ibn al Arabi on Wujud and the Innate Capacity In Forman R K C ed The Innate Capacity Mysticism Psychology and Philosophy Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 511697 7 Nasr S H Chittick W C 2007 The Essential Seyyed Hossein Nasr Library of perennial philosophy The perennial philosophy series World Wisdom ISBN 978 1 933316 38 3 Nasr S H Dagli C K Dakake M M Lumbard J E B Rustom M 2015 The Study Quran A New Translation and Commentary Leather Edition HarperCollins ISBN 978 0 06 112588 1 Chittick William 2007 The Traditional Approach to Learning Sacred Web 18 29 47 Chittick W C 2007a Science of the Cosmos Science of the Soul The Pertinence of Islamic Cosmology in the Modern World Oneworld Publications ISBN 978 1 85168 495 3 Chittick W C 1989 The Sufi Path of Knowledge Ibn al Arabi s Metaphysics of Imagination G Reference Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series State University of New York Press ISBN 978 0 88706 885 0 Islam portalFurther reading EditJ 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 amp Sayings of Imam Ali Al Kulayni al Usul mina l Kafi vol 2 p 13 al Bukhari Sahih vol 2 Beirut Dar al Fikr 1401 p 104 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fitra amp oldid 1147362564, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
