Journal of Islamic Studies > Volume 28, No. 1, 2016

Islamic Identity: Its Reality and Traits in Ibn-Taimiya's Book Iqtidhaa' Assiraat Almustaqeem li Mukhaalafat Ass-haab Al-Jaheem / Maha Jerais Al-Jerais

This paper studies the cultural aspect of Ibn-Taymiyah's well known book Iqtidhaa' Assiraat Almustaqeem li Mukhaalafat Ass-haab Al-Jaheem (Pursuit of the Straight Path Requires Unfollowing the Hellfire People). The book deals with the issue of identity from the belief and jurisprudence perspectives, while the research looks into Ibn-Taymiyah's argument from an intellectual angle. The research adopts an inductive approach in tracing and classifying the issues of the book into broad categories that show Ibn-Taymiyah's concept, reality and traits of identity. Obviously, Ibn-Taymiyah considers the distinction of Islamic identity to lie in unfollowing or not emulating the Hellfire people. He defines identity guidelines and traits. These include: intellectual features, such as beliefs and acts of worship; social features, such as looks and habits; and cultural features, such as language, festivities, symbols and slogans. The book's unique methodology reflects the meticulousness with which the salaf approached the issue of identity, which distinguishes the Muslim nation in terms of goodness, witness and wassatiyyah (excellence, truthfulness and usefulness).