Fitrah as the Basis of Dialogue

In Islamic thought, fiṭrah (Arabic: فطرة) refers to the primordial nature or innate disposition of human beings, created by God in a state of purity and inclination towards truth and virtue. This concept serves as a foundational principle for dialogue, particularly in interfaith dialogue and intercultural communication. It posits that all humans share a common, God-given essence that transcends cultural, religious, and ethnic differences, thereby providing a universal basis for mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence .

Concept of Fiṭrah in Islamic Theology

The concept of fiṭrah is deeply rooted in the Quran and the Sunnah. The Quran states: "So set your face toward the religion, as a Hanif (a true believer in the Oneness of God), the fiṭrah of Allah upon which He has created all people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most people do not know" (Surah Ar-Rum 30:30) . This verse establishes fiṭrah as the original, uncorrupted state of human beings, which is inherently inclined towards monotheism and submission to God.

In Islamic anthropology, fiṭrah is considered one of the core concepts . It is not merely a passive state but comprises a set of innate cognitive abilities, primordial drives, and moral sensibilities. These include the capacity for rational thought, the innate desire for justice, the inclination towards goodness, and the intrinsic awareness of the Creator . Scholars have identified fiṭrah as the "way of divine creation of man," providing the basis for universal human values and the common identity shared by all people .

Fiṭrah as the Foundation for Dialogue

Contemporary Islamic scholarship has developed the concept of fiṭrah as a powerful foundation for dialogue, particularly in addressing modern epistemological and social crises . The shared primordial nature across all of humanity is seen as a "common identity" that provides the basis for extensive global intercultural communication . This approach moves beyond purely theological or legalistic frameworks, seeking common ground in the shared human experience of the divine and the innate moral compass that all people possess.

The Three Bases for Mutual Understanding

According to researchers such as Yousefzadeh (2018), the Islamic perspective provides at least three bases for mutual understanding, all of which tend towards monotheism:

The Islamic legal and social system: The practical applicability of Islamic laws within an Islamic society.

Potentials shared by religions: The commonalities found across different faith traditions.

Human innate nature (fiṭrah): The universal, God-given nature that all humans share .

The third element, fiṭrah, is seen as the most fundamental, as it represents the common starting point for all human beings, irrespective of their subsequent cultural or religious affiliations. This perspective reframes intercultural dialogue not as an attempt to reconcile disparate systems but as a return to a shared, divinely ordained origin.

Implications for Intercultural Communication

The implications of the theory of fiṭrah for intercultural communication are extensive and multi-faceted. Sabouri Kazaj and Khani (2023) have outlined several key implications:

Language: The ability to communicate and the very concept of language are seen as natural (fiṭrī) phenomena. Fiṭrah itself functions as a communicative language between human beings and between humans and God .

Religion: Religion is rooted in fiṭrah, making the primordial nature a cornerstone for inter-religious communication. The shared "human innate nature (fitra)" is a key basis for mutual understanding .

Dialogue and Negotiation: Principles like free will, respect for oneself and others, and logical and respectful speech, all of which are aligned with fiṭrah, become paramount in dialogue .

Identity and Global Communication: Fiṭrah provides a "common identity" for all human beings, which inherently enables extensive global intercultural communication .

Truth-seeking and Cultural Encounter: Fiṭrah is characterized by truth-seeking, which encourages participants in intercultural communication to look for the righteous (haqq) aspects of other cultures .

Role in Interreligious Dialogue

The concept of Dīn al-Fiṭrah (the primordial religion) has been a significant topic in modern Islamic thought, particularly for scholars like Ismail Raji al-Faruqi, who viewed it as a spiritual basis for nurturing inter-religious dialogue . Al-Faruqi's work explored the shared primordial nature of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, arguing that adherents of these faiths can find deep common ground in their inherent disposition towards God.

Furthermore, scholars of Islamic mysticism have identified the anthropological thesis of fiṭrah as one of three key mystical principles for promoting interreligious dialogue, alongside the principle of the "unity of existence" (wahdat al-wujud) and a hermeneutic method for interpreting the Quran . This underscores the profound potential of fiṭrah to serve as a theological and philosophical foundation for mutual understanding among different faith communities, bridging doctrinal differences by appealing to a shared, divinely created human nature. The works of Muhammad Ali Taskhiri also point to the unity of this concept across different religious traditions, suggesting that shared primordial nature can be the starting point for establishing deep, meaningful dialogue across religious boundaries.

In essence, the concept of fiṭrah offers a unique and compelling framework for dialogue. By grounding mutual understanding in a common, divinely-ordained human nature, it provides a neutral and universal starting point for conversation, bridging cultural and religious divides and promoting a culture of peaceful coexistence.

References

Abdul-Jabbar, Wisam Kh. (2018). Towards Intercultural Dialogue, Synthesis, and Pluralism: Revisiting Baghdad’s House of Wisdom. Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review / Revue canadienne de philosophie.

Sabouri Kazaj, J., & Khani, E. (2023). Implications of Fitrah Theory in Intercultural Communication. Journal of Cultural Relations Studies.

Saeedimehr, Mohammad (2020). Islamic Mysticism and Interreligious Dialogue. Poligrafi, 25(99/100).

Shehu, Fatmir Mehdi (2018). Deen al-Fitrah (Primordial religion): nurturing inter-religious dialogue and beyond in al-Faruqi’s thoughts. Studies in Interreligious Dialogue, 28(2), 69-88.

Yousefzadeh, Hasan (2018). The Islamic Basis for Mutual Understanding in Intercultural Communication. Kom: Časopis za Religijske Nauke, 7(2), 47-67.