Fitra

Fitra

Fitra is an Arabic word meaning 'innate human nature'. However, other common translations include "primordial nature" and "innate disposition".

According to Islamic theology, human beings are born with an innate knowledge of "tawhid", which is encapsulated in the "fitra" along with intelligence, ihsan and all other attributes that embody what it is to be human. It is for this reason that some muslims prefer to refer to those who embrace Islam as reverts rather than converts, as it is believed they are returning to a pure state.

The perfect embodiment of "fitra" was Abraham and Muhammad.

Narrated Abu-Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "No child is born except on Al-fitra (Islam) and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian (Zoroastrian), as an animal produces a perfect young animal: do you see any part of its body amputated?"
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 23, Number 441

Root of word

* To split or cleave
* Implies opening up and coming out
* Verb means 'to bring forth', 'to originate', 'to knead and shape dough'.

Manifestation of "fitra"

Islam holds that Adam possessed "fitra" (innate nature) that allowed him knowledge of Allah. Subsequent generations are born with such an innate knowledge of Allah and His "tawhid", but this knowledge has to be manifested through religious education as sin leads to heedlessness and ignorance of Allah. Therefore, prophecy acts as a reminder ("dhikr"), according to the mercifulness of Allah and allows the actualisation of "fitra".

References

cite book
last = Murata
first = Sachiko
coauthors = William C. Chittick
title = The Vision of Islam
publisher = I. B. Tauris
date = 2000
pages = pp. 267-282
isbn = 1-86064-022-2


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fitra — (arabisch ‏ فطرة‎, DMG fiṭra ‚Natur, Veranlagung; Schöpfung‘), von ‏فطر‎, DMG faṭara, ‚schaffen, erschaffen (von Gott); angeboren sein‘, bezeichnet ein islamisches Konzept von der Natur des Menschen, die so angelegt ist, dass jeder… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fitra — La fitra (arabe : فِطْرة [fiṭra], état de nature ; naturel) est un terme arabe qui fait référence à la nature originelle de l être humain en islam. La fitra en fait est L’attitude naturelle par laquelle nous allons vers Dieu . En d… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • fitra — noun the original innocent state of humans after being created by Allah …   Wiktionary

  • fıtra — (A.) [ ﻩﺮﻄﻓ ] 1. fitre. 2. kuru üzüm …   Osmanli Türkçesİ sözlüğü

  • FITRA — (Fitre) Fıtrat sadakası, yaradılış atiyyesi …   Yeni Lügat Türkçe Sözlük

  • Fetra — Fitra Religion religions abrahamiques : judaïsme · christianisme · islam Ce …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fitrah — Fitra Religion religions abrahamiques : judaïsme · christianisme · islam Ce …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fitrah — 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… …   Wikipedia

  • Achselbehaarung — Frau mit Achselhaaren Achselhaare (lat. hirci [1]) nennt man Haare, die in den Achselhöhlen von Menschen wachsen. Sie sind als Teil der Körperbehaarung sekundäres Geschlechtsmerkmal …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Achselhaare — Frau mit Achselhaaren Achselhaare (lat. hirci [1]) nennt man Haare, die in den Achselhöhlen von Menschen wachsen. Sie sind als Teil der Körperbehaarung sekundäres Geschlechtsmerkmal …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”