The Islamic Personality

http://www.muslimstudent.org.uk/ ^ | Taqiud-deen an Nabhani

[TopQuark]

Shaksiyah Islamiyyah

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The Islamic Personality

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Islam has provided a complete treatment for man to form for him a specific personality, which is distinct from all others. With the Aqeedah (creed), it treated his thoughts, making it an intellectual basis upon which his thoughts are built and according to which his concepts are formed. He distinguishes true thought from false when he measures it against the Islamic Aqeedah and builds it on the Aqeedah in its capacity as an intellectual basis. So his mentality is formed over this Aqeedah. This intellectual basis, the Aqeedah, thus provides him with a distinct mentality and a true criterion for thoughts. It thus safeguards him against erroneous thought; he expels false thought and remains honest in his thought and sound in his comprehension.

At the same time, man's actions, which stem from his instincts and organic needs are properly treated by Islam with Shari'ah rules, which emanate from the Aqeedah itself. The Shari'ah rules regulate but do not suppress instincts, they harmonise between them, not leaving them free without restriction. They enable him to satisfy all his needs in a harmonious manner that leads to tranquillity and stability. Islam has made the Islamic Aqeedah an intellectual one, thus making it suitable as an intellectual basis against which thoughts can be measured. It also made its Aqeedah a comprehensive idea about man, life, and the universe. This comprehensive idea has solved for him all of his complexities whether internal or external. This made it suitable as a general concept, i.e. a criterion that is used naturally when the association between drives and concepts occurs, that is a criterion according to which inclinations are formed. So, Islam provided man with a definite basis, which represented a definite criterion for both concepts and inclinations, that is for mentality and disposition at the same time. Thus Islam formed the personality in such a special way so that it is distinct from other personalities.

We conclude that Islam forms the personality by means of the Islamic creed. This Islamic Aqeedah forms both his mentality and disposition. Accordingly, the Islamic mentality is the one that thinks on the basis of Islam, i.e. that takes Islam and only Islam as the general criterion for thoughts related to life. It is not the mentality that is merely knowledgeable or pensive. Rather, the mere fact that a person actually and practically takes Islam as the criterion for all thoughts makes his mentality Islamic.

The Islamic Nafsiyyah (disposition) is the one that makes all its inclinations based on Islam, i.e. that makes Islam the only general criterion for all satisfactions. It is not the one, which is merely ascetical or stringent. Rather, the mere fact that a person actually and practically makes Islam the criterion for all satisfactions makes his disposition Islamic. A person with this mentality and this disposition thus becomes an Islamic personality, irrespective of whether he is knowledgeable or ignorant, and irrespective of whether he confines himself to observing the obligatory (fard) and recommended (mandoub) rules and refrains from haram (prohibited action), or he observes besides this, other recommended acts of obedience and avoidance of suspicious acts. In both cases, a person is an Islamic personality because anyone who thinks on the basis of Islam and makes his desires conform to Islam is an Islamic personality.

Yes, indeed Islam did order the Muslim to learn more Islamic culture, so that this mentality grows and becomes capable of measuring any thought. Islam also demanded performing matters beyond the (fard) and demanded the avoidance of matters more than the haram (prohibited actions) in order that this disposition is strengthened, so that it becomes capable of deterring any inclination that is incompatible with Islam. But all this is intended to enhance this personality and to set it to proceed towards a sublime pinnacle. Yet this does not classify as non-Islamic, those personalities which are inferior to this one. Rather, this is an Islamic personality and those inferior to it of the common knowledgeable who act in accordance with Islam and the educated who confine themselves to performing the fards (compulsory rules) and refraining from the harams (prohibited actions) are also Islamic personalities. These types of personality only vary in strength but are all Islamic personalities. What matters when judging whether someone is an Islamic personality is whether he takes Islam as the basis for his thinking and inclinations. It is according to this that Islamic personalities, mentalities, and nafsiyyahs (dispositions) become disparate.

So those who envisage an Islamic personality as an angel commit a grave misjudgement. Their harm in society is enormous, because they look for angels amongst people and never find them; they do not find an angel even in themselves. They thus despair and give up hope for Muslims. Those idealistic people verily serve as proof that Islam is utopian, impossible to implement, and is a host of admirable ideals that man cannot implement or endure. Consequently, they repulse people from Islam and render many people too paralysed to act; although Islam came in order to be implemented in practice. Islam is realistic, i.e. it deals with realities and it is not difficult to implement. It is within the potential of every man, no matter how weak his thinking is and how strong his instincts and needs are. Such a man can implement Islam upon himself smoothly and easily after he has comprehended the Islamic Aqeedah and become an Islamic personality. This is because he definitely becomes an Islamic personality merely by making the Islamic Aqeedah the basis for his concepts and inclinations and maintaining this criterion.

The only task that he has to perform afterwards, is to strengthen his personality with the Islamic culture in order for his mentality to grow, and with recommended acts of obedience to strengthen his Nafsiyyah, so that he is on the path to a sublime pinnacle, which he would not only reach but also surpass towards ever-elevating peaks. This is due to the fact that Islam has treated man's mentality with its Aqeedah when it made this Aqeedah the intellectual basis on which to build his thoughts about life. So, he distinguishes true from false thought when he measures thoughts against the Islamic Aqeedah and builds them on it because it is an intellectual basis. Thus, he safeguards himself against erroneous thought, avoids false thought and remains true in his thought and sound in his comprehension.

Islam has treated man's inclinations with Shari'ah rules when it treated his actions, which emanate from his instincts and organic needs. This treatment is sensitive; it regulates instincts but does not harm them by attempting to destroy them. It does not leave them free and unrestricted but puts them in harmony. It enables man to satisfy all his needs in a harmonious manner that leads to tranquillity and stability. So, a Muslim who embraces Islam through ration and evidence and fully implements Islam upon himself and understands correctly the rules of Allah (swt), this Muslim is an Islamic personality distinct from all others. He achieves the Islamic mentality when he makes the Islamic Aqeedah the basis for his thinking. And he achieves the Islamic Nafsiyyah when he makes this Aqeedah the basis for his inclinations. Hence, the Islamic personality is characterised with special attributes that distinguish the Muslim and mark him amongst people; he is as outstanding amongst them as a mole on the face. These attributes that characterise him are an inevitable result of his observance of Allah's commands and prohibitions and of performing his actions in accordance with these commands and prohibitions as a result of his awareness of his relationship with Allah (swt). Thus, his aim from observing the Shari'a is nothing but to please Allah (swt).

After a Muslim has achieved an Islamic mentality and nafsiyyah, he becomes qualified for cadetship and leadership simultaneously. He combines mercy and toughness, luxury and asceticism. He truly understands life, so he seizes this worldly life, allocating for it only its due significance, and he gains the hereafter by striving for it. Accordingly, he is not dominated by any of the attributes of the worshippers of worldly life. He does not drift with religious monomania or Indian asceticism. Simultaneously, he is a hero of Jihad and a resident of a prayer chamber. He humbles himself when he is a master. He combines within him leadership and jurisprudence, trade and politics. His most sublime attribute is that he is a servant of Allah's, his Creator. Therefore, you see him humble in his prayer; he refrains from futile talk; he pays his Zakaah; he lowers his gaze; he observes his trusts; he honours his pledge; he keeps his promise; and he performs Jihad.

Thus is the Muslim.
Thus is the believer.
Thus is the Islamic personality, which Islam forms and by which it makes a person most righteous amongst people.

Allah (swt) described this personality in the Holy Qur'an with a number of ayahs (verses) when He described the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) and when he described the servants of Allah Most Gracious and when He described those who perform Jihad. Allah Almighty says:

"Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers, but compassionate amongst each other,"[29:48].

And He says:

"The vanguard (of Islam), the first of those who forsook (their homes) and of those who gave them aid, and (also) those who follow them in all good deeds, well-pleased is Allah with them as are they with Him," [100:10]

And He says:

"The believers must (eventually) win through. Those who humble themselves in their prayers; who avoid vain talk; who are active in deeds of charity"[1-4:23]

And He says:

"and the servants of Allah Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!" Those who spend the night in adoration of their Lord, prostate and standing." [63-64:25]

And He says:

"But the Messenger, and those who believe with him strive and fight with their wealth and their persons: for them are (all) good things: and it is they who will prosper. Allah has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein: that is the supreme felicity" [88-89:9]

And He said: "Those that turn to Allah in repentance; that serve Him and praise Him; that wander in devotion to the cause of Allah; that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer; they enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limits set by Allah; these do rejoice. So proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers" [112:9]

"Islamic Personality Volume 1" by Taqiud-deen an Nabhani. The English translation of this book is planned to be published soon inshaAllah.

[TopQuark]

And the multi-culturalist proclaimed: "Thou shalt view all cultures to be created equal."

KnightHawk: thank you for the link.

[TopQuark]

FYI

[Black Agnes]

ping

[Lent]

and he performs Jihad.

But of course he does. What would the Muslim Personality be without the Jihad?

[EggsAckley]

He distinguishes true thought from false when he measures it against the Islamic Aqeedah and builds it on the Aqeedah in its capacity as an intellectual basis. So his mentality is formed over this Aqeedah. This intellectual basis, the Aqeedah, thus provides him with a distinct mentality and a true criterion for thoughts. It thus safeguards him against erroneous thought; he expels false thought and remains honest in his thought and sound in his comprehension.

I see. So through this "religion," the human perception of right and wrong is subservient to the "intellectual basis"
Aqeedah, thus allowing the human to tell bald-faced lies and act out in "wrong" ways, with no fear of punishment.

[crystalk]

Murderously xenophobic, bloodthirsty but cowardly, whining constantly, beggarly, demanding of baksheesh, duplicitous, vindictive, constantly at war with everyone outside their own bloodline, criminally abusive toward women and children, effeminate, prone to homosexuality and bestiality, abusive of boys between 7 and 17; totally intolerant of any other belief systems, dishonest and totally unfaithful to contracts, treaties, or credit arrangements.

Makes a hellhole anywhere it rules, then sends its people out to make others' lands a hellhole also.

Wants to turn the clock back to the Dark Ages, resists all innovation and modernity, insists on massive overpopulation and thus drowns in its own excess births.

Parasitic. Without a Christian area outside it could batten upon, would have collapsed of its own weight long ago.

[Maceman]

Islam has provided a complete treatment for man to form for him a specific personality, which is distinct from all others.

I'll say.

As far as I can see, a good description of the Muslim personality is someone who will give you the shirt off his back, but if you don't put it on right away he will hack you to death with a sword and kill your entire family.

[The Great Satan]

That's it, in a nutshell.

[knighthawk]

Thanks for posting it! The world needs to see how these people think. If we do not see that danger we are lost or going to be enslaved. Just look at the way the site looks. Very professional, it not done by a buch of simple loonies, these people are part of a organization that spans from the UK to Indonesia.

Links to their organizations

Also from that same site:

The "Democratic" Dictatorship of the West

Democracy is an idea that many have heard and support but few understand. Unfortunately for the world's population, it is the basis of international politics today. Democracy is not just 'an' idea but 'the' idea and is propagated with almost religious zeal. The setters of 'what is right' are the capitalist west, led by the USA; the most arrogant nation of them all. She prides herself, as does the U.K., as being the bastion of all that is good in world civilisation, arrogantly deciding what is right and who is evil. She haughtily props herself up as the owner of the ideal system for all, democracy. Any nation not following her system is labelled as oppressive, backward and dictatorial. Thus, 'undemocratic' has become a dirty word and nations that are put in this category are attacked for being unrepresentative of the will of their people. This attack will not spare the soon to be established Islamic state. Hence, it has become necessary to scrutinise this 'democracy' of the standard bearer to prove that it is nothing but a slogan shouted out to the world to intimidate it. In reality, neither of the ruling politicians in the USA or Britain are representative of their people and secondly to expose the fact that as an idea, democracy is inherently flawed.

The first aspect to mention is regarding how only the rich and powerful can influence elections, and thus the setting of legislation. It is a well-known fact that the only people who can independently stand for election are the rich. The US Presidential elections of 2000 are a case in point. Prospective candidates, Al Gore and George W Bush, are both millionaires in their own right. This wealth enables them to wield the influence that is required to be nominated as front-runners for their respective parties. In fact, for most of the 200-year history of the U.S. there have only been two parties both similar in nature, the Democrats and the Republicans. The U.S. is not really a multi-party state at all and therefore is no different to most third world countries, the same countries that it criticises for their lack of political pluralism.

Another contradiction is that many of the candidates receive large donations from big business to help them get elected. In the current campaign, Bush has raised over a $100 million in contributions (a record) for his campaign mostly from large companies. Gore has managed to raise similar amounts from some of the same companies. Now pause here for a second. One should ask why would large successful capitalist businesses that carefully scrutinise every investment for financial return give so much money for 'free' to presidential candidates? The answer is surely obvious to anyone who is not a politician. The presidential candidates will seek to ensure that the interests of those companies are protected once they assumed the Oval office. In any normal political language these contributions would be viewed as what they are, a form of institutionalised bribery and corruption on a mass scale. It is this mass funding, and the subsequent alliances made, that ensure that the country is run for the interests of the large multinationals rather than for the common man.

Compare this deep-rooted financial corruption within the West to the pristine example set by Islam. Allah (swt) warns in the Qur'an,

"And do not devour your wealth amongst yourselves through falsehood, and do not offer bribes to the authorities so that you may knowingly devour a part of the wealth of other people with injustice" (Al-Baqarah: 188)

The second aspect relates to the fact that the underlying idea of democracy is itself flawed. People tend to view democracy through rose tinted glasses. They view it essentially as an opportunity to vote in or vote out a political party every four or five years. However this should not be called democracy but election and is shared (with differences in some of the details) amongst other political systems. However what is the essence of democracy is that people can define law. The principle behind democracy is that the majority decision is always the right one. This is not only extreme but also very dangerous. For example the majority in both America and Britain for decades denied women the vote, discriminated against blacks and denied workers basic rights. Therefore we have nothing within the democratic system to safeguard anything or anyone against the whims and prejudices of the majority of people. Indeed if the majority of people voted in a referendum that murder or racism be legalised then this would be democratic as this would represent the will of the people. It is this type of legislation setting process, subject to human beings whims whether it is singular (in a dictatorship) or collective (in a democracy) which is so dangerous to effective governance for the whole population. So it is evident that there in reality is little difference between a 'democracy' and a dictatorship. Both are run for the rich and powerful, and both involve men ruling over men with their desires and fancies. Consequently, both are just as oppressive as each other.

Allah (swt) say's in the Qur'an,

"And whoever does not rule by that which Allah has revealed, they are of the oppressors" (Al-Ma'idah: 45)

The only difference is that 'democracy' maintains a facade of legitimacy and is propagated around the world as the panacea to all problems. However this is nothing but hypocrisy as can be seen in the blatant support of these so called 'democratic' Governments for some of the most brutal military regimes and monarchies in the world. The U.S.'s supports for regimes such as Saudi Arabia and Chile in the past are cases in point. Accordingly, The US and other western nations conveniently ignore 'democracy' in foreign affairs when it is opposed to the fulfilling of their national interests.

The Islamic Khilafah state is neither a democracy nor a dictatorship, nor is it a monarchy or theocracy, it is unique. Muslims do not choose to apply the language of the western political scientists to describe their system. They call it the Khilafah and consider it to be Allah's (swt) law on earth. However, despite the sovereignty being for Allah (swt) the right of selecting a ruler, and putting him straight, lies firmly within the hands of the people. Man simply implements the laws of the Creator and Legislator, Allah (swt) and his Shari'ah. This ensures that nobody is above the law, including the Khaleefah. Consequently, the importance laid on electing the right man is minimal, because the law and peoples rights will be protected and remain the same regardless of who rules.his Islamic Khilafah was the state that, within a very short time, conquered two thirds of the known world, including the Roman (Byzantine) and Persian Empires. It was this state that within just 50 years had gone from a small town in Arabia to conquering the whole of North Africa. It shone as a beacon of light and advancement. It subjected man only to the will of Allah (swt) and not to any other mans desire. Soon, Insha-Allah, it will return to guide mankind towards the right path. Allah (swt) say's,

"Surely we have revealed to you the book (al-Qur'an) with the truth so that you may rule between mankind by that which Allah has shown you, so be not a pleader for the treacherous." (An-Nisa: 105) TMQ

[metacognative]

What is this crap? The mullahs and the schools say to kill infidels and heaven is a whorehouse. The founder of this 'religion' raped nine year olds and broke peace treaties. Who are you fooling? Yourself?

[widowithfoursons]

Has anyone here read "The Haj" by Leon Uris? (he wrote Exodus) His expertise in examining the Islamic personality and character was on target. They truly ARE dual personalities (at least two), and war within themselves daily. God help them. No one else can.

[knighthawk]

And the multi-culturalist proclaimed: "Thou shalt view all cultures to be created equal"

The koran states something the multi-culturists rsther hide from us:

Koran 003.110
YUSUFALI: Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.
PICKTHAL: Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the People of the Scripture had believed it had been better for them. Some of them are believers; but most of them are evil-livers.
SHAKIR: You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah; and if the followers of the Book had believed it would have been better for them; of them (some) are believers and most of them are transgressors.

[another cricket]

This intellectual basis, the Aqeedah, thus provides him with a distinct mentality and a true criterion for thoughts. It thus safeguards him against erroneous thought; he expels false thought and remains honest in his thought and sound in his comprehension.

To the point of executing a professor for saying that Mohammed’s parents were not Islamic because they died before Mohammed received his revelation.

That is logical isn't it?

It's like saying Moses wasn't Christian. Of course he wasn't, Christ came after Moses was dead.

But in Pakistan this is grounds for your being prosecuted and put to death for "Defaming the Prophet"

It is things like this that make me despair of peace. There is no common ground on which to build.

a.cricket

[swarthyguy]

"Murderously xenophobic, bloodthirsty but cowardly, whining constantly, beggarly, demanding of baksheesh, duplicitous, vindictive, constantly at war with everyone outside their own bloodline, criminally abusive toward women and children, effeminate, prone to homosexuality and bestiality, abusive of boys between 7 and 17; totally intolerant of any other belief systems, dishonest and totally unfaithful to contracts, treaties, or credit arrangements. "
Now tell us what u really think! :))

[Black Agnes]

To the point of executing a professor for saying that Mohammed's parents were not Islamic because they died before Mohammed received his revelation

AHA! I NOW see what the leftists and the islamics have in common! No Free Speech or ideas on their very 'tolerant' campuses. All free speech must agree with THEM!

[Loyalist]

According to Islam, we are all born Muslims, but some of us fall astray into 'false' religions. That is why people who convert to Islam are called 'reverts' and not 'converts'.

[truth_seeker]

Has anyone here read "The Haj" by Leon Uris? (he wrote Exodus) His expertise in examining the Islamic personality and character was on target. They truly ARE dual personalities (at least two), and war within themselves daily. God help them. No one else can.

I read it, and have it. Great book, by a great author.

He wrote this book, long before the resurgence of radical islam. In light of radical islam, I doubt Uris would be as kind to them, as he was in "The Haj."

[Brasil]

I'm reading JIHAD IN THE WEST by Paul Fregosi and the goal of Islam culture is to rape, pillage and loot and they have been focused on that evil for 1400 years.

[caddie]

Totally agree, except for the fact that the Dark Ages were not as bad as a contemporary moose limb society.

[besieged]

Are you sure they are called "reverts"??? They seem much more like "perverts" to me? Spelling error perhaps???