Hojjat ol-Islam Hosein Diba's essay, "Islam - A Definition" first discusses the literal meaning of the word Islam and its etymology, drawing from traditional as well as modern sources, such as Toshihiko Izutsu's oeuvre. Dr. Diba then discusses the relationship between Islam and Iman (faith), before explicating the various characteristics of Islam, among which he includes: conformity with man's primordial disposition (fetrat); moderation and balance; truthfulness; being the one ever-true faith; comprehensiveness and ...
Read More
Hojjat ol-Islam Hosein Diba's essay, "Islam - A Definition" first discusses the literal meaning of the word Islam and its etymology, drawing from traditional as well as modern sources, such as Toshihiko Izutsu's oeuvre. Dr. Diba then discusses the relationship between Islam and Iman (faith), before explicating the various characteristics of Islam, among which he includes: conformity with man's primordial disposition (fetrat); moderation and balance; truthfulness; being the one ever-true faith; comprehensiveness and perfection; the universality of the call of Islam; finality; being endowed with a miracle that is ever-present; the entreaty to reason; encouraging the pursuit of knowledge and science; the synthesis of the values of the life of this world and that of the hereafter; social orientation; ease and facility; the gradualness of the call; prevailing over other religions; and other characteristics. Dr. Diba rounds off the essay with the crucial section on the role of welayat (waliyic or guardianship-type sovereignty and governance) in Islam. Hojjat ol-Islam Hosein Diba is Director of International Affairs at the Office of Publicity and Promotion of the Seminary at Qom in Iran.
Read Less
