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What is religion (dīn) according to the Qur'an?

In the Qur'an the word dīn carries both submission/obedience and judgement/reckoning ("Master of the Day of dīn" = of judgement).

Religion with God: Islam (submission)

  • "Indeed, the religion with God is Islam." (3:19)
  • "Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him." (3:85)
  • Islam = submission to God. The Qur'an names all the prophets in this line of submission.

The innate (fiṭra) religion

  • "Set your face… to the natural disposition (fiṭra) on which God created people. That is the upright religion." (30:30)

No compulsion in religion

  • "There is no compulsion in religion; right has become distinct from wrong." (2:256)
  • "Your religion is yours, and mine is mine." (109:6)

Saying "I'm Muslim" is not the same as faith

  • "The bedouins say 'we believe.' Say: you do not yet believe; rather say 'we have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts." (49:14)

So the Qur'an distinguishes Islam (outward submission) from faith (īmān) settling in the heart.

Source: Qur'anic verses (M. Okuyan meal). Presented with a text/interpretation distinction; it defines a concept, not a verdict on persons.

Related verses