deen

Deen is an Arabic term used in Islamic thought to denote a comprehensive worldview that encompasses belief, worship, moral conduct, and law as a divinely prescribed way of life. In Islamic usage, it refers not only to personal faith but to the structure of society, including ritual obligations, ethical norms, and legal rules.

Etymology and usage: The root d-n means "judgment" or "debt," and in Islam dīn is commonly translated as "religion" or "way of life." The Qur'an frequently uses deen to mean the system of submission to God. For example, Surah Al-Imran 3:19 states that the religion with Allah is Islam.

Relation to Islam: While Islam is often equated with the religion of Muslims, many scholars describe deen as a broader concept that includes tawhid (the oneness of God), prophethood, accountability, and the legal-ethical framework that governs individual and communal life. The term is also used in classical Islamic discourse to emphasize sincerity, justice, and obedience as dimensions of the religious life (as in Ad-deenu an-nasihah, "Religion is sincerity").

Components: Deen covers belief (aqa'id), worship and ritual practice (ibadat), moral conduct, social obligations, and, in many traditions, jurisprudence (fiqh) and constitutional or political order. It invites a holistic approach to living in accordance with divine guidance, integrating creed, worship, character, and law.

Cross-cultural usage: In Persian, Urdu, and several South Asian languages, deen is used to render "religion" and appears in compound terms such as deen-e-Islam. The concept has been central in theological discourse, reform movements, and interfaith dialogue, where it is contrasted with secular or atheistic worldviews.