The Significance of Religious Key Terms and Their New Meanings in Al-Faruqi’s Al-Tawḥīd: Its Implications for Thought And Life

Abstract

One of the most brilliant contributions of Ismail Raji al-Faruqi (1921-1986) is his writings in the field of Islamic Thought. His masterpiece Al-Tawḥīd: It’s Implications for Thought and Life is indeed a great and refreshing contribution to the modern Islamic Worldview. This paper discusses selected traditional religious terminologies which have been redefined by al-Faruqi in his Al-Tawhid thus given new meanings, and implications. The selected terms taken from Al-Tawhid and analysed in this paper are ilāh, tawḥīd, īmān, ‘ibādah and ummah. The old meanings of these terms are compared with the new ones. Much positive ethical implications to Islamic practice can be discerned from the new meanings of the terms analysed. The new meanings of these terms contribute more positively to the practice and understanding of Islam to the new generation in a relevant and beneficial way in our modern time and society.