Religion and human dignity

In his expansion to address the religious phenomenon, Al-Rifa’i touched upon the issue of human dignity in religion, skillfully addressing this thorny issue and making it a central focus of his ideas. He did so by raising a fundamental question that every believer needs to know: Does religion enhance human dignity, enrich it, and elevate its status, or does it strip it of it in favor of an abstract, heavenly belief, thus depriving a person of their individual self and worldly dignity? He provided a comprehensive answer to this complex question in his bold book, “Religion and Human Dignity,” which, although it appears to the reader to be smooth in style and delicate in expression, is profound in meaning, strong in structure, and solid in content, enticing the reader to delve into its interesting subject to discover the dividing line between a rich dignity bestowed by religion upon the believer and a degraded dignity that religious practice bestows upon them. This necessitates a comment from me on the subject: Faith is a form of profound understanding of a divine message whose aim is to change people's circumstances in this world for the better. It is positive to the extent that a person practices piety with dignity, preserving their identity. It becomes negative if it is forced upon them, if they submit to a narrow-minded interpretation of it, and if they relinquish their worldly identity for illusory temptations. True religion does not propose blind obedience to an obscure deity, nor does it see believers as a flock of followers. Rather, it requires an understanding of the content of its message and an openness to the historical context of the Abrahamic religions. A religious message that does not make human dignity its primary and ultimate goal is worthless. I believe that al-Rifa'i has put his finger on the profound meaning of piety, where the spectrum of spirit and intellect blends in a harmonious and devout way that brings the soul tranquility and security, yet also vigilance and vitality. Al-Rifai does not favor the legacy of jurisprudence, theology, and scholastic theology; rather, he liberates believers from its heavy burden and alleviates its harsh weight. His aim is truth and integrity, for human dignity is not, and should not be, a matter of favoritism, regardless of the pretexts. Dignity is strengthened when religion supports it, reinforces its noble values, and rejects violence and division.

Specifications:

- Author: Abdul-Jabbar Al-Rifai

- Translator: Munir Sulaiman

- Number of Pages: 341

- Cover: Softcover