Divisions of the world in Islam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008) |
 |
This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (November 2008) |
Different divisions of the world have existed in Islamic religion and culture. Some are geo-political divisions that are derived from non-Qu'ranic traditions in Islamic culture. These conventions delineate several divisions of the world called "Houses" or "Dar" - literally "place" in Arabic. Other geographic divisions of the world are described in the Qur'an.
Contents |
[edit] Major Division
[edit] Dar al-Islam
|
|
| Islamic flags, known as the Flag of Islam ('Alam al-Islam) or Flag of Shahada ('Alam al-Shahada) feature a script of the first Kalimah, the Shahada. White flags with black lettering represent 'Dar al-Salam/Islam' (such as the Taliban), and black flags with white lettering represent 'Dar al-Harb/Kufr' (such as the ICU). |
Dar al-Islam (Arabic: دار الإسلام literally house/abode of Islam; a.k.a. Dar as-Salam , house/abode of Peace; or Dar al-Tawhid , house/abode of Union) is an Islamic term used by Muslim scholars to refer to those countries where Muslims can practice their religion freely.[1][2] In the orthodox tradition of Islam, the world is divided into two components: dar al-Islam, the house of Islam and dar al-Harb, the house of war.
The two requirements for a country to be part of Dar al-Islam are according to the founder of this concept, Abu Hanifa, the following two:[2]
- Muslims must be able to enjoy peace and security with and within this country.
- It has common frontiers with some Muslim countries.
If the former does not apply then physical means such as Jihad can be used to correct the situation and in the latter case, individuals are required to do hijra to where they can practice their religion.
Muslim scholars maintain that the labeling of a country or place as being a part of Dar al-Islam revolves around the question of religious security. This means that if a Muslim practices Islam freely in his place of abode despite that the place happens to be secular or un-Islamic, then he will be considered as living in the Dar al-Islam.
Dar al-Salam
Dar al-Islam is also known and referred to as Dar al-Salam, or house/abode of Peace.
The term appears in the Koran in 6.127 as a name of Paradise.[3]
[edit] Dar al-Harb
Dar al-Harb (Arabic: دار الحرب "house of war"; also referred to as Dar al-Garb "house of the West" in later Ottoman sources; a person from "Dar al-Harb" is a "harbi" (Arabic:حربي)) is a term classically referring to those countries where the Muslim law is not in force, in the matter of worship and the protection of the faithful and Dhimmis.[4] The term refers to the relationship between an Islamic state and neighbouring non-Muslim states with whom it has not signed a peace treaty or pact.[5]
In Reliance of the Traveller, point w43.2, a hadith is referred to containing the exact word Dar al-Harb. Scholars have, nevertheless, disagreed on its reliability as is commented in Reliance of the Traveller.[citation needed]
[edit] Dar al-Kufr
Dar al-Kufr (Arabic: دار الكفر, "house/domain of disbelief") is a term used by Muhammad to refer to the Quraish-dominated society of Mecca between his flight to Medina and his triumphant return.
For much of Islamic history, the preferred term used to describe non-Islamic societies has been dar al-Harb, emphasizing various Islamic countries' aspirations to conquer such territories and render them part of dar al-Islam.
A traditional Arabic saying attributed to Muhammad goes: "Unbelief is one community", or in other words, "infidels are of one nation", expressing the view that distinctions between different types of non-Muslims are insignificant in relation to the overriding distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim.
[edit] Other Ideological Perceptions and International Relations
[edit] Dar al-Hudna
Dar al Hudna (Arabic: "house of calm"): The land of non-believers currently under a truce, which is a respite between wars. A truce is bought by tribute by harbis. If the harbis refuse to pay tribute in exchange for the truce, hostilities are resumed. Furthermore, only treaties that conform to Islamic prescriptions are valid; if these conditions are not fulfilled, the treaty is worthless.
[edit] Dar al-'Ahd
Dar al-'Ahd (Arabic: دار العهد "house of truce" or Dar al-Sulh "house of treaty") was invented to describe the Ottoman Empire's relationship with its Christian tributary states. The invention of Dar al-Ahd was necessary, as the worldview prevalent at the time did not allow for a protracted peace with non-Muslim states, even those under Muslim domination.
Today, the term refers to those non-Muslim governments which have armistice or peace agreements with Muslim governments. The actual status of the non-Muslim country in question may vary from acknowledged equality to tributary states.
[edit] Dar al-Dawa
Dar al-Dawa (Arabic: دار الدعوة "house of invitation") is a term used to describe a region where the religion of Islam has recently been introduced. Since the population had not been exposed to Islam before, they may not fit into the traditional definition of dar al-Harb. On the other hand, as the region is not yet Muslim, it cannot be dar al-Islam either. The most frequent use of the term dar al-Dawa is to describe Arabia before and during the life of Muhammad commonly referred as Jahiliyyah period, era of ignorance of divine guidance.
More recently, the term dar al-Dawa has been proposed by Western Muslim philosophers to describe the status of Muslims in the West.
The term dar al-Dawa may be used in conjunction with, or in opposition to, the older terms dar al-Islam and dar al-Harb, from which it is derived, or simply be seen as just another sub-category of dar al-harb.
[edit] Dar al-Amn
Dar al-Amn (Arabic: دار الأمن "house of safety") is a term proposed by Western Muslim philosophers to describe the status of Muslims either in the West or other non-Muslim societies.
The term dar al-Amn may be used in conjunction with, or in opposition to, the older terms dar al-Islam and dar al-Harb, from which it is derived.
[edit] Scriptural references
The house of divisions in Islam such as "Dar al-Islam" and "Dar al-Harb" does not appear in the Koran or the Hadith.[1][2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Fatwa by Sheikh `Atiya Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, about the concept of Dar al-Harb and Dar al-Islam
- ^ a b c Ahmed Khalil: "Dar Al-Islam And Dar Al-Harb: Its Definition and Significance"
- ^ The Encyclopaedia of Islam. New Edition. Brill, Leiden. Vol. 2, p. 128
- ^ The Encyclopaedia of Islam. New Edition. Brill, Leiden. Vol. 2, p. 126
- ^ Dar al-Harb, Encyclopedia of Islam Online
[edit] Additional reading
- Western Muslims and the Future of Islam, by Tariq Ramadan
