FACULTY OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION UICW 6023: Philosophy of Science and Civilisation Lecturer: Associate Professor Azmi Shah Bin Suratman
BOOK REVIEW Islam: The Concept of Religion and the Foundation of Ethics and Morality (Author: Syed Naquid Al-Attas)
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An Introduction of the Book The book “Islam: the Concept of Religion an d the Foundation of Ethics and Morality” was first published in 1976. Later, in 1992 the book was published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. This book explained detail the concept of the term religion and din (Arabic word) into describing the Islam. Syed Al-Attas had clarify how human are related to the God in Islam, which is different than the concept of religion understood by Western people. In addition, ethics and morality are claimed to be derived from the practice of the din itself. This book defined the concept of the din deeply through the art of Arabic language supported by several God’s verses in the Quran, which is enough to understand that the din is referring to Islam as a whole. This book is very useful for both Muslim and non-Muslim to understand the concept of din and the practices in Islam.
Author Biography Name
: Syed Muhammad Naquid ibn Muhsin Al-Attas
Birth date
: 5 September 1931
Place of Birth : Bogor, Jawa Barat, Indonesia Mother
: Syarifah Raquan Al-Aydarus, from Bogor, Jawa Barat
Father
: Syed Abdullah ibn Muhsin ibn Muhammad Al-Attas, from Johor, Malaysia
Lineage
: The descendants of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
Educational Background
:-
Sekolah Dasar Ngee Heng, Johor (1936-1941)
Madrasah Al-‘Urwatu Al-Wuthqa, Sukabumi, Jawa (1941-1945)
Bukit Zarah School and English College, Johor (1946-1951)
Military education in Eton Hall, Chester, Wales (1951), then
Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England (1952-1955)
Universiti Malaya, Singapura (1957-1959)
Institute of Islamic Studies, University McGill, Montreal (1960-1962)
SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), University of London (19631965)
Chairman of the department of literature in Malay studies of Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (1968-1970)
The Main Founder of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (1970)
Establish and lead IBKKM (Instritut Bahasa, kesusasteraan, dan kebuda yaan Melayu) in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (1973)
Book Review Islam is only sufficiently described through the concept of din rather than other terms that used to express religions. The concept of the din have many connotation interpretations that are interconnected to one another, forming a coherent meaning directed to the b elief in one God. Thus, the concept of the din, reflected what described by the Quran. The concept of din could be summarized into indebtness, submissiveness, judicious power and natural inclinations or tendency of humans. Based on the concept, human is indeed indebted to the God who is his Creator and
Provider. The God make a human to exist in this world and maintain his existence through His Generosity. Hence, human who is indebted, will definitely understand the significant rules or the obligations that he need to full fill in order to pay for the kindness of the Creditor or Giver (the God or Allah). The obligations should be don e willingly with the sense of grateful thinking that he is given the opportunity to live in this world. Declining to obey the God’s rules, result in declining his own natural tendency or his very own soul. Besides, human should understand that he owns nothing to repay his debt because even his soul is given by the God. This means, he need to enslave himself by following the God’s rules. In return, the slave who serve his Lord (the God or Allah) will receive benefit from what his had done. Due to His Generosity, human are obligated to do all the things asked by Him in conscious (with ‘niat ’) and never be in a state of loss. In addition, as mentioned in Quran, human (the soul) already made a contract with God to devote himself. So, as human doing good by obeying God, he is actually following his natural tendencies and gains the true happiness. All the things done to cherish God is known as ibadah. The practice of the din which means to cherish the God solely, is the foundations of ethics and morality. Human who practices the din of Islam (Muslim), no longer do somethings due to his selfishness or the dunia (secular) and prevent himself doing somethings forbidden. However, the form of Muslim determined with the how much knowledge he had. Syed al-Attas stressed that it is important for human to learn and seek knowledge about the God. Ones need to know his Creator to establish strong connection between man and God, besides understand the purposes of his existence. As for Muslim, the role model is Nabi Muhammad s.a.w., whose manners are the exemplary for all human kind.
Comments Islam should be understood through an organized, accurate and truthful description, avoiding any confusion that may lead to a misunderstanding of the true concept of religion. Syed Naquid Al-Attas once said that, “To know how to put what knowledge in which place is wisdom (hikmah). Otherwise, knowledge without order and seeking it without discipline does lead to confusion and hence to injustice to one’s self”. This principle of Al-Attas is indeed reflect his work in the book, Islam: The Concept of Religion and the Foundation of Ethics and Morality. Reading his work (the book) make us to reflect our self, how much we are already forgotten our origin especially for Muslim. The best about this book, it is generally written by keeping in mind that Islam is a religion for all human, not only for certain community. Islam is described deeply by exploring the concept of the din, an Arabic word referred to religion. Besides, in each meaningful verse, there are several different words used to describe its main idea. This enable readers to understand the idea through different angles. However, the usage of too man y repeating of specific words such as “and” is enough to make reader exhausted before even finish reading the line. Although, reading the book required a lot of effort, the knowledge gained are worthy. After reading this works, readers shall realize that religion as understood through the concept of the din, is human’s natural tendency. There should be no stress in fulfilling obligations as ordered by God. Moreover, human should belief that each obligations will benefits them. In addition, Al-Attas suggested to learn to about the God in order to feel attachment with Him and establish strong connections between man and God. This kind of association produces obedient devotees that exhibit beautiful manner which usually mentioned as ethics and morality. I belief that one step to revise our understanding toward Islam, Muslim should have read this book.
