Universalizing the Concept of identity through Islamic Theological Perspectives (PDF)

Academic Paper from the year 2022 in the subject Theology - Islamic theology, grade: 9.0, , course: ARABIC AND ISLAMIC STUDIES, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses the universality of the concept of identity from the perspective of Islam. This perspective of Islam was deemed necessary as a gap to be filled at ensuring that identity completes its course of universality as a concept. Therefore, the study subjects identity in its types to a Qur'¿nic critique with a view to identifying those that are in tandem with the tenets of Islam and those that are at variance with them. The contributions of Islam were critically discussed from four major schools of identity around the Muslim world. These schools with different formational motives and objectives were identified as the traditionalist, the reactionary, the non-conformist and the modernist.

The paper argues that the four schools of identity, in spite of their differences, were formed towards the achievement of the same goal of preserving the sanctity of Islam but using different theological mechanisms. With the perspective of Islam, identity as a concept was adjudged to have completed its cycle of universality. Conclusively, it was advanced that the primary basis in the formation of the four schools of identity is the Qur'¿n.