ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Islamic Concept and Its Characteristics Chapter Iii : the Divine Origin of the Islamic Concept Say: Surely my Lord has guided me to the straight way (Al-An 'am 6:151). Divine origination is the foremost characteristic of the Islamic concept and the source of all other characteristics, for this belief-­concept has been revealed by Allah Most High. The Islamic concept is confined to this one Source, not taking anything from anyone else.

It is therefore entirely different from philosophical concepts, which originate in human minds, about the reality of God, the reality of existence, the reality of man, and the connections among these realities. It is also different from pagan beliefs, which originate in human emotion, imagination, and superstition. An objective scholar can say with conviction that among all belief- concepts only the Islamic concept has remained as it was revealed by Allah, true to its origin in Allah Himself.

Other Divinely-revealed concepts, with which the messengers of Allah before Muhammad came, were corrupted in some way or another, as we explained earlier. Interpolations, additions to the originally-revealed principles, far­fetched interpretations, and information from human sources are so intermingled with the texts of their scriptures that their "Divine" characteristic is lost.

Islam alone remains with its principal sources intact, untouched by foreign pollutants, and without any mixture of falsehood in its truths. Allah's promise concerning it remains fulfilled: Surely We have sent down the Message, and surely We are its guardian (Al-Hijr 15:9). This is an established fact, which gives this concept a unique value. Philosophical concepts and belief-concepts, as such, have differing approaches.

A philosophical concept originates in the thought of a man, the one who formulates it, in an attempt to explain the world and man's relationship with it. But such a concept remains in the cold realm of ideas. A belief-concept on the other hand, proceeds from the conscience, interacting with feelings and intermingling with practical life, because it is a living relationship between man and the world, or between man and the Creator of the world.

The Islamic concept differs further from other belief-concepts due to its Divine origin. It is not a concept originated by man, but comes directly from Allah. Mankind received it in its entirety from its Creator.