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The
root of the word is D-Y-N د ـ ي ـ ن , which leads to the following
primary meanings:
-To obey [some
authority]
-To become obedient
[to some authority]
-To become abased,
submissive and obedient [to some authority]
-To serve [some
authority]
The word
DEEN has the following primary meanings:
-Obedience
[to some authority]
-State of abasement
and submissiveness [to some authority]
-Service [of
some authority]
There
are other meanings of the word deen as well, such as: “a
particular law”, “a statute” “an ordinance”, “requital”,
“recompense”, “judgement”, “reckoning”, etc. but when the
preposition “la” OR “laam” ل is used with deen
دين , it particularly means, “obedience”.
Please see the following verses:
…lahu
ad-deen…
لَهُ الدِّينَ
[10:22, 16:52, 29:65, 31:32, 39:2, 39:11, 40:14,
40:65, 98:5]
which
means:
“Ad-Deen
[i.e. obedience] is only to Him [i.e. Allah]”
The verse
42:13 indicates IQAAMAT-e-DEEN, i.e. the
setting up or establishment of Ad-deen.
أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ
"…aqeemoo
alddeena…" [42:13]
which means:
“…Establish
Ad-Deen…”
As
Ad-deen
is of Allah [10:22, 16:52, 29:6531:32, 39:2, 39:11, 40:14,
40:65, 98:5], so “…Establish
Ad-Deen…” is actually “…Establish Allah's Deen”, which means
“…establish a way of life in which obedience is only of Allah…”
Now let
us see verse 3:19, which says,
إِنَّ
الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الإسْلامُ
Ad-deen
approved by Allah is AL-ISLAM.
The primary meanings of
Al-ISLAM
are:
- Submission
and obedience to Allah
-
Humility, submissiveness and conformance to the Laws of Allah
-Taking
upon oneself what Allah Has ordained and His Messenger practically
demonstrated and conveyed to the mankind
Now let
us see 12:40:
إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلا تَعْبُدُوا إِلا
إِيَّاهُ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ
…Verily
Al-HUKM belong to none but Allah and He has commanded that
you should serve none except Him; This is Ad-Deen-e-Qayyam…
[12:40]
Notice
the use of the word Al-HUKM [from which the word HAKOOMAT
is derived] in context of Deen.
Now let
us consider verses
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
1:4 and 82:18-19
ثُمَّ مَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ
يَوْمَ لا تَمْلِكُ نَفْسٌ لِنَفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَالأمْرُ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلَّهِ,
where the word Ad-Deen is used
with the word “MAALIK” and “TAMLIK”. The root of the words
“MAALIK” and “TAMLIK” is M-L-K.
MULK means
the following:
-Dominion
-Sovereignty
-Authority
-Kingship
-Rule
-Ownership,
etc.
According
to 82:18-19, YAUM-ul-DEEN is the time, day, era, age,
zamaana when none have the sovereignty, authority or dominion
except Allah.
Now if
we take it all together – the word Deen and its meaning as
obedience, ordinance, a particular law-the word Islam and
its meanings as submission and obedience - IQAAMAT-e-DEEN and
its meaning as establishing Deen - the word MULK
and its meanings
as sovereignty, rule, kingship - the use of word Al-Hukm in
context of Deen - this would lead to the following conclusions:
Deen
is not just about some rituals but it is about:
-Obedience
to Allah,
-Submission
to the Laws of Allah, and
-Establishment
of the sovereignty, kingship and the rule of Allah
Now let us take
the word MADDHAB مذهب.
DHAHABA
ذهب
means “he went”. MADDHAB مذهب has the following meanings:
- A
place to which one goes
-A
way, course, mode or manner of acting or conduct or the like
-A
way that one pursues in respect of doctrines and practices
-A
way of believing, opining, thinking or judging
-A
belief, a creed, a persuasion, a doctrine, an opinion, a tenet,
a body of tenets
-A
school of thought
Religion
There
is no definitive agreed-upon definition of religion. It has
the following meanings:
-Belief
in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded
as creator and governor of the universe.
-A
personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief
and worship.
-The
life or condition of a person in a religious order.
-A
set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings
of a spiritual leader.
-A
cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious
devotion.
Summary:
A careful reading
of the above will indicate that Deen is not same as religion
or Maddhab. MADDHAB and DEEN are both Arabic words and have
entirely different meanings and connotations. The meaning
and concept of religion is more close to MADDHAB rather than
Deen.
For more, see
Ad-Deen
(.pdf) |