Can you please tell me what the Islamic belief system is with respect to who they believe they are in the grand scheme of the world? What are the nature, tasks and purpose of human beings? I guess I would like to know about the Islamic views on anthropology.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The position of the Muslims in this world, in the past, present, and the future, is based on their holding fast to Allah's religion; i.e., Islam, about which Allah, The Exalted, Says: {And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.} [Quran 3:85]

Allah, The Almighty, has promised His righteous Muslims to dominate the world as long as they cling to Islam. Allah Says (what means): {Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that he will certainly grant them succession to (present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surly give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me.} [Quran 24:55]

Whoever studies the Islamic history will find that this is an irrefutable fact. When Muslims adhered to Allah's religion, they conquered the East and the West, and their armies reached the borders of China in the east and Morocco in the west within less than half a century.

They spread justice, mercy and monotheism among those people who used to live in complete darkness of disbelief, persecution, and ignorance. They turned them from helpless worshippers of other people into worshippers of Allah alone, and saved them from the persecution of religions and offered them the justice of Islam and took them out of the narrowness of the secular world to the vastness of the Hereafter.

But when, alas, later Muslims diverted and went away from Allah's Religion by perpetrating prohibited deeds, their status has been changed. They descended to the bottom after being on the peak. The Prophet rightly said: “If you (Muslims) engage in trade by "Eenah" (this is when one sells a certain goods to someone else for a certain price and for a certain period of time (in installments), then, before the buyer pays back the whole price, the seller buys back the goods for a lesser price- thus combining two sales within one), become obsessed with animal rearing and agriculture (i.e. resort to worldly life, and abandon Jihaad, then Allah will punish you with a humiliation that will never be eradicated until you return to your religion (Islam).” [Abu Daawood from the Hadeeth of ‘Umar]

This is the reality that is happening to the Muslims now.

As for the future, Allah Says (what means): {And the good end (i.e. Paradise) is for the Muttaqun (the pious).} [Quran 7-128] So, the future will be in the favor of the Muslims, Allah willing.

As for the question about the doctrinal orientations of the Islamic system, then the Islamic system is wholly based on the doctrine of Monotheism, which is taking Allah as the sole Deity worth of worship. This principle which was the call of all the prophets and messengers, starting from Noah and ending with Prophet Muhammad .

Allah, The Almighty Says in the Quran (what means): {And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities; i.e., do not worship Taghut besides Allah).} [Quran 16:36]

This doctrine (Belief) is the main reason why Allah has created people; i.e., to worship Him Alone, associating nothing in worship besides Him. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).} [Quran 51:56]

So this is the job of mankind for which they were created.

As for the objectives of people in this life, they are different. Some have their objectives that do not exceed their bellies and sex organs, while others have the Gardens of Bliss which are above the seventh heaven and safety from the Hellfire as their ambitions and objectives are high.

Allah, the Exalted, has made only one way leading to this last objective (Paradise), which is Islam. He Says (what means): {And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.} [Quran 6:153]

As for the question about the Islamic view on anthropology, first, the phrase “Islamic view” is somehow not complete, for a view could be either right or wrong. Islam does not contain any wrong, for it tells the truth and there is no place for view. Thus, it is better to use other words, such as “Islamic ruling” instead of “view”.

Concerning the origin of man, his religions, and social relations, they were all conveyed to us by Allah Almighty through His Book (the Quran) and His Messenger through his Sunnah (Tradition). The first man was Adam, the father of all mankind, whom Allah, the Exalted, created from clay:

Allah Says (what means): {…and began the creation of man from clay. Then He made his offspring from semen of despised water (male and female sexual discharge). Then He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him the soul (created by Allah for that person); and He gave you hearing (ears), sight (eyes) and hearts. Little is the thanks you give.} [Quran 32:7- 9]

As for man's religion, then Islam is the religion of all Prophets and Messengers starting from Adam and ending with Muhammad . Any religion other than Islam will not be accepted from anybody as Allah Says (what means):

• {And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter, he will be one of the losers.} [Quran 3:85]

• {Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.} [Quran 3:19]

As for man's social relations, Islam has organized his relationship with his society in the best way. It (Islam) prohibited persecution in all its kinds, fornication, robbery, treating parents badly, and severing blood relations. It enjoined justice, respecting other's honor, caring for parents, maintaining blood relations, and dealing with other people in a good manner. Allah Says (what means): {… and speak good to people…} [Quran 2:183]

You will never find a system that regulates social relations as Allah does through His religion (Islam) which He has chosen for mankind: He, the Exalted, Says: {This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.} [Quran 5:3]

If anthropology studies things in the light of Allah's revealed Book (the Quran) and the Sunnah of the Prophet who does not speak out of his desire and imagination, then such study will be useful and sound. But if this science is approached according to man's mere speculations and thoughts, such as the "Theory of Evolution and Development" - that claims that Adam, may Allah exalt his mention, and the first generations of mankind did not recognize Allah, the Exalted, etc, - then it will lead to corruption and disbelief.

For more benefit on the merits of Islam, please refer to Fataawa 85456 and 102075.

For more benefit that Islam is from Allah, please refer to Fataawa 88176 and 85234.

For more benefit on the comprehensiveness of the religion of Islam, please refer to Fataawa 81929, 86091 and 82057.

For more benefit that Islam is the religion of all the Prophets, please refer to Fataawa 81979, 88906 and 88051.

For more benefit that everything in the universe testifies that Islam is the true religion, please refer to Fatwa 111063.

Allah knows best.