Introduction:
Deen plays a vital role in individual life and human society) The message of Deen is divine and comprehensive as it encompasses all human actions falling in both sacred and mundane spheres. Deen enlightens us about the Oneness of Allah, the prophetic mission of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and of earlier Prophets, and human accountability in the hereafter, the final abode of mankind, this world being the temporary existence. It tells us ways and means for living a virtuous life, carrying out domestic chores, dealing the public issues, treating the parents, relatives, friends, strangers, and caring the poor and orphans. Similarly Deen provides guidance vis-à-vis mankind's spiritual, social, educational political and economic needs and ends. It deals with domestic challenges and foreign relations, and supplies provisions for laws of war and peace. It provides guidance in matters concerning marriage, divorce, birth and death, property, inheritance, buying and selling, trade and commerce, civil and criminal law and many other practical matters. In short, it is complete code of life furnishing adequate guidance in all human situations.
Concept of Deen:
Deen refers to a complete code of life. Deen deals both with man's relation with God and his fellow beings. Deen is all embracing term which includes religio-socio-politico economic systems. It touches upon the material as well as spiritual dimensions of human existence. Deen covers both sacred and secular aspects of man. The sacred part is same as covered as by religion, the secular part is the guidance of divine code in the mundane affairs like political, social, economic, judicial aspects of man and society.
Importance of Deen in Human life
1. Deen Provides Guidance to Mankind:
The primary function of Deen is to guide people towards the right path as said in the Quran:
"Surely this Quran guides to that which is most upright and gives good news to the believers who do good that they shall have a great reward". (Al-Israa 17: 9)
2. Deen Provides a Clear Path:
It is the Divine Light of God which shows the clear path the right from the wrong, the true from the false:
"Therefore believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Light which We have revealed; and Allah is Aware of what you do". (Al-Taghaabun 64:8)
3. Deen Leads Mankind from Darkness to Light:
The Quran leads people out of the ignorance of darkness and evil into the Light of goodness and piety;
"Alif Lam Ra. (This is) a Book which We have revealed to you that you may bring forth men, by their Lord's permission from utter darkness into light-- to the way of the Mighty, the Praised One".
(Ibrahim 14:1)
4. Deen: Source of Wisdom and Knowledge:
The book of Deen contains unsurpassable wisdom and knowledge: "Yasin, by the Quran, full of Wisdom."(36:1-2). The wisdom of the Quran is really insightful and provides guidance. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was taught the wisdom of the Quran in order that he may deliver it to the whole of mankind which he did successfully
5. Deen sets Criterion for Right and Wrong:
The Quran provides guidance on judgment and justice:
"The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction" (Al-Baqarah: 185)
The Quran is undoubtedly a manifest criterion between truth and falsehood.
6. Deen is spiritual Cure of Modern Man:
God promises mercy to those who follow the guidance of the Quran:
"And We reveal of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to the believers, and it adds only to the perdition of the unjust". (Al-Israa 17:82)
7. Teachings of Deen are Guard against Evil:
The Quran develops fear of God, and reverence and love for Him: thus it guards those against those evil: respect.
"It is a Quran in Arabic without any crookedness therein, in order that they may guard against evil." (Al-Zumar 39: 28).
8. Deen Provides a Clear Message to Mankind:
Allah says:
"Alif Lam Ra (This is) a Book, whose verses are made decisive, then are they made plain, from the Wise, All-aware". (Hud 11:1)
9. Deen Induces in Man Piety and Remembrance of God:
Piety refers to the inner fear and deference man should have for his Creator. Thi profound fear centralizes the concept of God and His remembrance in the mind of the believer.
10. Deen Provides Principles for Establishment of Justice:
A vital function of the Deen is to guide in the establishment of balanced system of justice and equality:
"It is God who has sent down the book which is truth, and the balance to judge between right and wrong." (Al-Shuaraa 42:17)
Thus the Quran, being the last of the Revealed Books and Islam provides the most comprehensive Code of Justice.
Critical Assessment:
Professor H. A. R. Gibb (1895-1971) once said of Islam as a Deen:
"Within the Western world Islam still maintains the balance between exaggerated opposites (body and spirit). Opposed equally to the anarchy of European nationalism and the regimentation of Russian communism, it has not yet succumbed to that obsession with the economic side of life which is characteristic of present-day Europe and present-day Russia alike."
The historian, A. J. Toynbee (1889-1975), has some interesting observations to make in this respect. In Civilization on Trial, he writes: "Two conspicuous sources of danger-one psychological and the other material-in the present relations of this cosmopolitan proletariat, (westernized humanity) with the dominant element in our modern Western society are race consciousness and alcohol; and in the struggle with each of these evils the Islamic spirit has a service to render which might prove, if it were accepted, to be of high moral and social value.
In his book The History of Civilization, Will Durant (1885-1981) considered the rise and fall of the Islamic civilization a great event in history and maintained that during five centuries (700-1200 A.D), Islam was the world precursor of power, discipline, and expansion of its realm, good manners, improvement of the standard of living, fair human laws, religious leniency, literature, and scientific research in medicine, philosophy, etc.