What Is the Meaning of Fitrah?

Question: 2887

I am very thankful I have found this site to ask questions about Islam and know I am receiving authoritative answers! In question 2425 you quoted a passage: Five things are part of the fitrah: circumcision, removing the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails, and plucking the armpit hair. (Reported by al-Bukhari, 5441) My question is: What is 'fitrah'? I have never heard of this.

Summary of answer

Sunan al-Fitrah are five things which, if they are done, will be in accordance with the natural pattern on which Allah made mankind and urged them to follow, so that they will be better and more perfect. For more, see the detailed answer.

Answer

Table Of Contents

Meaning of fitrah
What are Sunan al-Fitrah ?

Meaning of fitrah

Al-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his Tafsir: Fitrah : the deen (way or religion) of Allah. Al-Tabaris tafsir (commentary) of the ayah (interpretation of the meaning): [Iblis said] and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allah. [al-Nisa 4:119]

Concerning the ayah (interpretation of the meaning), “So set your face steadily and truly to the Faith: (establish) Allah’s handiwork according to the pattern (fitrah) on which He has made mankind: no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind understand not. [al-Rum 30:30 Yusuf Ali’s translation], it was reported from some of the scholars of tafsir that the phrase the pattern (fitrah) on which He has made mankind means the design of Allah according to which He has created mankind.

What are Sunan al-Fitrah ?

This word (fitrah) was also mentioned in the hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Five things are part of the fitrah: removing the pubic hair, circumcision , trimming the moustache, plucking the armpit hairs, and trimming the nails. (Reported by al-jama'ah)

What is meant by these five things being part of the fitrah is that when they are done, this is in accordance with the natural pattern on which Allah made mankind and urged them to follow, so that they will be better and more perfect. This is the ancient sunnah (way) which was followed by all the prophets and which was enjoined by all the laws they brought. It is a natural and innate way. (Al-Shawkani, Nayl al-Awtar, Bab Sunan al-Fitrah)

And Allah knows best.

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Source:

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid