Deen

 Many people think, that deen simply means religion

Allah ta'ala says

The “deen” (religion) before Allah (accepted by Allah) is Islam. (Al-i Imran 3:19)

The word ‘Deen’ has the following dictionary meanings:

Obedience; a state of abasement and submissiveness; Deen Allah means ‘obedience to God’; a religion, implying obedience and submission to law; a particular law, statute or ordinance; a system of usages, rites, ceremonies; custom or habit; a way, coarse, mode or manner of acting or conduct; management, conduct or regulation of affairs; state, condition or case; repayment, requital, compensation or recompense; retaliation; reckoning.

In comprehensive terms, the term ‘Deen’ refers to ‘a way of life based upon obedience to laws of some authority, and a system of rewards and punishments according to those laws’.

The Quranic Use of the Term

1. ‘Deen’ as a Law of an Authority

The term ‘Deen’ has been used in the Quran in the phrase ‘deen-il-malik’, which means ‘King’s Law’.

He could not have taken his brother within the deen of the king except that Allah willed. [Al-Quran Surah 12: Verse 76]

The term ‘Deen’ has also been used in the phrase Deenillah, which means ‘Allah’s Law’.

The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the deen of Allah, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. [Al-Quran Surah 24: Verse 2]

2. ‘Deen’ as Obedience to (the Law of) an Authority

The Arabic phrase dane leh means ‘He was, or became, obedient to him’. When the preposition ‘la’ or laam’ is used with the word Deen, it mostly refers to ‘obedience’ to (the law of) an authority. It has been described at various places in the Quran that the ultimate obedience is only to Allah.

Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord has ordered justice and that you maintain yourselves [in worship of Him] at every place [or time] of prostration, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in deen." Al-Quran Surah 7: Verse 29

Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book, [O Muhammad], in truth. So worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in deen. Al-Quran Surah 39: Verse 2

Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in deen. Al-Quran Surah 39: Verse 11

Allah ta'ala says in the Qur'an that Allah alone deserves the sincere and pure obedience.

Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure deen. [Al-Quran Surah 39: Verse 3]

Allah has enjoined upon the believers to call upon Him, being sincere to Him in obedience.

Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord has ordered justice and that you maintain yourselves [in worship of Him] at every place [or time] of prostration, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in deen." Al-Quran Surah 7: Verse 29

So invoke Allah, [being] sincere to Him in deen, although the disbelievers dislike it. [Al-Quran Surah 40: Verse 14]

He is the Ever-Living; there is no deity except Him, so call upon Him, [being] sincere to Him in religion. [Al-Quran Surah 40: Verse 65]

3. ‘Deen’ as Requital (according to a Law)

The Quran has used the nominative plural passive participle form ‘madeenun’ of the root of the word ‘Deen’ to refer to ‘requital’ or ‘reward & punishment’.

That when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed (lemedeenun)? [Al-Quran Surah 37: Verse 53]

The day of requital, judgment or accountability ‘yaum-i-deen’ has also been referred to in the Quran.

Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. [Al-Quran Surah 1: Verse 4]

They will say, "O woe to us! This is the Day of Deen (Recompense)." [Al-Quran Surah 37: Verse 20]

4. ‘Deen’ as a Way of Life

The term ‘Deen’ has also been used in the Quran to refer to a way of life (according to some customs & traditions or according to a law).

For you is your deen, and for me is my deen. [Al-Quran Surah 109: Verse 6]

5. ‘Deen’ as a Complete Code of Life or System of Governance

Allah ta'ala says in the Qur'an that the (true) way of life or system of governance (Ad-Deen) in the sight of Allah is Al-Islam (i.e. Submission to His Laws). The particle al is the definite article and changes the common noun ‘deen’ into proper noun ‘ad-deen’, referring to the way of life or system of governance based on Allah’s law.

The “deen” (religion) before Allah (accepted by Allah) is Islam. (Al-i Imran 3:19)

Allah ta'ala says in the Qur'an that the upright way of life or system of governance is the one in which the Ultimate Authority (Al-Hukm) belongs to Allah alone; He has ordained that one should render ‘ibadah to Him alone.

You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Legislation is not but for Allah . He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct deen, but most of the people do not know. [Al-Quran Surah 12: Verse 40]

The guidance, success in this life and in the Hereafter depends on two things: Understanding the meaning of these two words (deen and Islam), and applying their meanings in our life.

Allah ta'ala says:

Today, I have completed your “deen”, and have completed my bliss upon you and accepted for you Islam as a “deen”. (Maidah 5:3)

And He ta'ala also says:

Whosoever seeks, other than Islam, a deen, it will not be accepted from him and he, in the Hereafter, is among the losers. (Al-i Imran 3:85)

Based on this definition of “deen”, we can conclude that it is a submission, and worship by man for the Creator, the Ruler, the Subjugator in a comprehensive system of life with all its belief, intellectual, moral and practical aspects.

After understanding this definition of the Arabic word “deen”, we realize that it is not correct to translate it into English using the word “religion".