The Functions of Religion from the Perspective of the Encyclopedic Approach

The encyclopedic approach to religion maintains that religion has a maximal function across all dimensions of the lives of believers. This approach rests on several important premises and components, including the truth of Islam; the philosophy of Prophethood and the necessity of securing human felicity in both this world and the hereafter; the comprehensiveness and perpetuity of Islam; the existence of Qur’anic verses that address the totality of human life; the diverse applications of Qur’anic teachings to human life; the role of time and place in the formulation of practical religious rulings; and the authority of the Qur’an, Sunnah, consensus (ijmāʿ), and reason. According to this view, every dimension of human life has a religious aspect, and this world and the hereafter are not merely interconnected but stand in a hierarchical relationship with one another. Consequently, no dimension of human life lies beyond the maximal sphere of influence of religion and its teachings. Characterizing these dimensions and domains as “Islamic” means not only that they develop within an Islamic worldview but also that they draw maximally upon the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah.