Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
Religious Needs Assessment of Human Beings in the Light of Islamic Teachings (Part One)
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعیْنُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَعُوْذُ بِاللّهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ اَنْفُسِنا وَمِنْ سَیِّئاتِ اَعْمَالِنا مَنْ یَّهْدِهِ اللّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ یُّضْلِلهُ فَلَا هَادِیَ لَه وَاَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَا اِلهَ اِلَّااللّهُ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدَاً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ، أمّا بَعد:
Man, this complex and mysterious being, has always faced fundamental questions throughout history regarding himself, the world around him, and the origin of creation: “Who am I?”, “Where did I come from?”, “Where am I going?”, and “What is the purpose of this life?” These questions represent the oldest and deepest intellectual concerns of humanity and testify to the existence of a metaphysical and inquisitive dimension within human nature. This inherent quest indicates the presence of a set of deep needs and voids in human existence that go beyond mere material or instinctive requirements. In other words, humans are always “in need”; but the key question is: What exactly are these needs, what is their origin, and how can they be addressed in an authentic and liberating way?
This question leads us to the central concept of religious needs assessment. Religious needs assessment is the process of identifying, categorizing, and prioritizing human (innate, spiritual, and existential) needs, the fulfillment of which constitutes the primary mission of divine religions. This process is not merely a sociological or psychological study; rather, it is a theological-anthropological approach, in which the true nature of man and the purpose of his creation must first be correctly understood, so that his genuine needs can be properly identified.
If we define man merely as a biological-social being, our assessment of needs would be limited to food, security, and temporary happiness. However, if we consider man as a being with a divine nature, an eternal soul, and a higher purpose, naturally his needs will assume entirely different and deeper dimensions.
Islam, claiming to provide the most complete and final guidance for humanity, asserts that it has conducted the most precise and comprehensive assessment of human needs and offered practical, holistic solutions accordingly. To understand human religious needs from the perspective of Islam, one must first correctly comprehend Islam’s view of man.
In the Islamic perspective, man is a dual-dimensional being: the material dimension (body) and the immaterial, spiritual dimension (soul or self). Numerous Qur’anic verses emphasize this truth, including: “And I breathed into him of My spirit” [1] and “Then We made him another creation” [2]. This unique combination gives rise to a set of characteristics and, consequently, higher human needs.
One of the most important of these characteristics is Fitrah—the innate, original, and God-seeking nature of man, which all humans possess equally. The Qur’an states: “So set your face upright for religion, inclining to truth; [this is] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created mankind—there is no change in the creation of Allah” [3]. This verse equates religiosity with human nature. Therefore, the need for religion and worship is an innate and essential need, not an acquired one, similar to the need to love and be loved.
Additionally, human rationality and free will are other prominent traits. This gift generates a need for guidance and knowledge. Humans cannot live in darkness and confusion; they are always seekers of light and certainty. Aspiration for perfection and immortality, as well as the need to seek refuge in a higher power, are other inherent human traits.
These intrinsic characteristics create a set of authentic human needs, the fulfillment of which is a prerequisite for achieving true peace and happiness.
Based on these principles, human religious needs in light of Islamic teachings can be categorized into several main groups:
-
The need for meaning and purpose in life: Humans cannot continue life believing it is meaningless and random. They need to know why they were created. Islam addresses this need explicitly: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me” [4]. The purpose of life—worship and servitude to Allah—encompasses the broadest concepts of knowledge, obedience, and drawing near to God. This gives human life meaning and direction.
-
The need for worship and connection with the transcendent: This need stems from the God-seeking nature of humans. Islam provides a structured program of worship (prayer, fasting, supplication, and devotion) to meet this innate need. These acts of worship nourish the spirit of the God-inclined human.
-
The need for ethics and stable values: Humans require a stable and universal moral framework in social life to ensure individual and collective well-being. Moral relativism leads to confusion and anxiety. Islam, with its comprehensive ethical system based on Tawhid, Resurrection, and human dignity, promotes enduring values such as justice, honesty, benevolence, and forgiveness, addressing humanity’s need for a virtue-centered society.
-
The need for inner peace: Anxiety, fear, and regret are among the greatest human sufferings. The Qur’an teaches that true peace is found in the remembrance of Allah: “Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Indeed, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured” [5]. Faith in Allah, reliance upon Him, and belief in His wisdom are the greatest sources of tranquility amid life’s adversities.
-
The need for justice and elimination of discrimination: Humans naturally seek justice and detest oppression. Islam, through social, economic, and legal ordinances, seeks to establish a just society where the rights of all individuals are respected. The concept of enjoining good and forbidding evil serves as an institution to maintain societal justice.
-
The need for hope and salvation from nonexistence: Fear of death and annihilation is among the deepest human anxieties. Islam, with the doctrine of Resurrection and afterlife, gives humans a limitless perspective on life, portraying death not as an end but as a gateway to eternal and superior life. This belief instills hope and motivation.
Research on human religious needs in light of Islamic teachings requires preliminary stages, as each stage contributes to the completeness of the answer. These stages are:
-
The concept of religion: What is religion and how did it emerge on earth?
-
The truth about humans: Who is man, the inhabitant and beneficiary of the world’s motion and stillness, and what is the purpose of his existence?
-
Life after death: Does a life exist beyond this worldly life?
-
Human need for religion: Why does man need religion to obtain essential tools for life?
-
The nature and objectives of Islam: What is Islam, and what are its goals?
-
The reason for the coming of Islam: Or why humans need Islam.
These stages are interconnected, and following them sequentially leads to understanding the essence of Islam and its place in life. This clarifies the statement that human need for this religion is stronger than the need for food and water.
Following this framework, the researcher intends to gradually and logically demonstrate why Islam is the only true religion for humanity. The study is presented in three parts:
-
Part One: Humans and religiosity
-
Part Two: Issues essential for human success
-
Part Three: Why Islam?
Finally, key points are summarized and emphasized so that the religious needs assessment of humans in the light of Islamic teachings is fully clear to the reader.
Continues…
Next Part
References:
[1]. Surah Al-Hijr: 29.
[2]. Surah Al-Mu’minun: 14.
[3]. Surah Ar-Rum: 30.
[4]. Surah Adh-Dhariyat: 56.
[5]. Surah Ar-Ra‘d: 28.
