The change and continuity in the realm of existence have always occupied the minds of humans. How does the continuity occur despite the change or change in continuity?
To understand change and continuity, we must first understand their ground, i.e. the universe. The universe: everything created except Allah? Time, space, facts, and events form the universe. Time and space represent continuity, while facts and events represent change. We perceive time-space and facts-events as if they are two separate elements that are independent and opposed to each other. However, time and space are mental constructs rather than concrete reality. That is why we can possibly divide time and space into various categories in the mind or ignore these categories. Indeed, many thinkers regard time and space as relative. They think they are shaped and evaluated by the subject. From another point of view, it is the sum of time and space, facts and events. We could say that even time and space themselves are subject to change. So, the one that maintains continuity and the one that changes appear to move parallel to each other. This reveals a balanced continuity and change in the universe.
As for people, what changes and remains the same in a person over the years?
Humans change, humanity doesn’t change. In Islamic thought, the human is defined as the body, which is pointed as ‘I’, which can be grasped by the five senses and supported by the soul. However, as the human body constantly changes, it is imperative to find an unchanging aspect for it. Otherwise, the changes in the body over time lead a person to become another being. This unchanging and constant part of the human being is called humanity. It has also been accepted that this humanity will not change, so it will be permanent. So, the person who says ‘I’ is actually pointing to the humanity that is represented by one’s body. This is because the body has a certain shape and volume, and it changes over time as it is renewed by moment. However, humanity never changes according to time and place and maintains the same perception in everyone’s mind throughout their lives. That is why a person’s unchanging humanity is taken as a basis when making judgments about a person, not their changing bodies. However, treating a person according to their changing body is inevitable.
How about belief systems, is there continuity and change in it?
Belief is to realize that there is a Creator and Ruler of the universe in the first place. Secondly, it means to know that we are His servants as part of the universe. So, belief is to be aware of one’s own existence and, based on this, knowing the Creator. Therefore, there can be no talk of a change and transformation in belief. This is because there can be no change in the positions of God, the universe, and human beings concerning each other. Allah is the Creator, and the universe and the people in it are the created ones. That is why there is no change in human humanity either. However, there may be some differences in wording and expression in understanding and explaining belief, depending on time and place.
Could you elaborate on this a bit?
The divine knowledge is the main source of Islamic belief. This source determines the basic principles that form the main frame of the belief. However, there may be differences when explaining these principles. This difference is inevitable when both the explaining person and the recipient are humans. “Speak to people only according to their level of knowledge”, the hadith says. Therefore, it is necessary to change and adjust the way we address people depending on the recipient. Indeed, when Muslims came to the lands of Iraq, they met people from many nationalities, beliefs, and thoughts. These people were different from the people of the Hijaz region and they had to be addressed accordingly. They were composed of Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, and various philosophical groups. So it was necessary to develop a new style of explanation and expression for these people. There was no change in the basic principles of belief, but there was a change in their expression and explanation for the people who were receiving them.
So, how did Islam respond to the change in society?
As needs change, a change is inevitable for both the individual and social life. This change was addressed with a dynamic understanding of fiqh. Religion is a system with a social dimension, not just an individual experience. In the social dimension, people are faced with two things: conflict and solidarity. This conflict and solidarity result from the change in the flow of time and space. People are always in search of order, as it is a requirement of their nature. The establishment and preservation of this order are only possible when conflict and solidarity are balanced. To achieve this, fixed, sustainable, and agreed rules are needed. Allah the Almighty revealed some rules through prophets to meet this need. The final rules came with the Qur’an and the practice of the Prophet of Mercy was put into action. This is referred to as the evidence of the Book and sunnah in fiqh books. The purpose of these rules is to provide a balance of change and continuity. In fact, if the balance between change and continuity deteriorates, it leads to the emergence of an unfair and unjust environment. The mechanism that will provide this balance in practice is the science of fiqh, which represents the practical dimension of religion or its equivalent in daily life. Therefore, the science of fiqh must be dynamic, as life itself is in constant change.
