❖ Understanding Human Fitrah (فطرت)
Fitrah refers to the innate disposition or natural inclination that Allah ﷻ has instilled in every human being at the time of creation.
It includes basic moral and physical tendencies such as the need for food, relationships, modesty, and worship—and it remains unchangeable in its essence.
Islam is called “Dīn al-Fitrah” (the Religion of Nature) because its beliefs, teachings, and laws are in perfect alignment with human nature.
There is no ruling in Islam that contradicts genuine human needs; rather, Islam fulfills and respects them.
❖ Islamic Teachings and Natural Human Needs
✔ Hunger and thirst are natural urges, and Islam has given clear, structured guidance on fulfilling them lawfully.
✔ The desire to live socially, establish family systems, and maintain social cohesion is part of human nature—and Islam has comprehensively preserved and facilitated these through:
- Marriage
- Inheritance laws
- Community rights
- Respect for elders and family ties
✘ In contrast, some religious systems—like Christian monasticism—encourage abandoning worldly life, including marriage and family, for the sake of worship.
This is against human nature and not sustainable as a complete way of life.
❖ Fitrah Is Not Affected by Time
Time and cultural shifts do not alter human nature.People often confuse habitual behavior with fitrah.
But in reality:
- Fitrah is permanent and universal
- Habits are temporary and circumstantial
For example, waking up late may become a habit, but it’s not natural—Islam encourages early rising and breaking bad habits.
❖ Fitrah in the Light of Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"كل مولود يولد على الفطرة، فأبواه يهوِّدانه أو ينصِّرانه أو يمجِّسانه."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1358)
Translation:
“Every child is born upon the natural religion (fitrah), but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian.”
✔ This Hadith clearly affirms that every soul begins its journey aligned with the truth, and external influences are what corrupt or change its direction.
❖ Differentiating Between Fitrah and Habit
| Aspect | Fitrah | Habit (ʿĀdah) |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Placed by Allah in human nature | Acquired from environment or routine |
| Changeability | Permanent and unchangeable | Can change with time and effort |
| Example | Love for truth, modesty, justice | Waking late, biting nails, style, etc. |
❖ Struggles in Practicing Islam and the Nature of Fitrah
✔ Following Islam doesn’t mean everything will be effortless.
✔ Fulfilling fitrah may still involve effort, just like earning a living requires struggle.
→ Similarly, praying, fasting, and being honest may require discipline—but they are aligned with fitrah and not unnatural burdens.
❖ Other Religions and Fitrah
✔ Some teachings in other religions may coincide with human fitrah.
✘ However, if any religion includes teachings that contradict fitrah, it cannot be considered completely natural.
Example:
- Christianity promotes some good values, but monasticism (رَهبَانِيَّة) contradicts human nature, hence Islam rejected it.
❖ Relationship Between Intellect (ʿAql) and Fitrah
✔ Islam acknowledges the importance of human reason, but also recognizes its limitations.
- Fitrah provides natural inclinations
- ʿAql provides rational analysis
Where intellect stops, revelation (waḥy) guides. Revelation may convey matters that are:
- Beyond intellect (مَا وَرَاءَ العَقل) but
- Never against intellect (خِلَاف العَقل)
❖ Difference Between
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Khilāf al-ʿAql | Contradicts logic and reason (e.g. 2+2=5) → Islam never teaches this |
| Mā Warāʾ al-ʿAql | Beyond human understanding but not illogical (e.g. Angels, Barzakh, etc.) |
✔ Many Islamic teachings fall under the category of Mā Warāʾ al-ʿAql, such as:
- Punishment and reward in the grave
- The events of the Hereafter
- Divine attributes
These are not irrational, but simply beyond full human comprehension—and thus require faith in waḥy (revelation).
❖ Final Thoughts
- Islam is the only religion that is fully aligned with human nature (fitrah).
- It guides human intellect without contradicting it, and balances faith, reason, and innate needs.
- Any practice or belief that opposes fitrah—whether from culture, religion, or modern trends—must be reassessed in light of Qur’an and Sunnah.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best and is most correct in judgment.
