Identification, analysis and evaluation of fitrah hadiths within the framework of Kutub-i Sitte

Fitrah is Islam in its highest meaning and in its most perfect form. Islam is the religion of Fitrah. Similarly, Allah (J.J) calls upon His servants to adhere to the Fitrah (natural disposition) and commands them to engage in every Fitri act rooted in human creation. Human beings, with their inherent nature, are inclined towards seeking perfection both in their physical and moral attributes. Allah (J.J) has created man with a sound Fitrah, inclined towards desiring perfection and beauty. However, as man is born into specific social environments, the primary influence on his innate sound Fitrah comes from that environment. This is exemplified in a hadith narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) wherein the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) states: "Every new-born is born upon the Fitrah. It is subsequently his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian…". The Fitrah of Allah (J.J) is in accordance with His Sunnah (way) and does not accept cancellation or alternative. The concepts of influence (external factors) and Taghyir (change) can be mentioned. Allah (J.J) states the following in the ayah (verse): "So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the Fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion...". This Fitrah is conscience and it is about the heart and purifies the soul through Ma'rifah (recognition) of Allah (J.J), Mahabbah (love) of Allah (J.J) and Ithar (selflessness) by preferring Allah (J.J) over everything. Moreover, this Fitrah is manifested through actions and purifies the body. Both aspects are in harmony, mutually supportive, and reinforce each other. The Sunnah Saniyya directed this sound Fitrah towards specific matters and considered it as one of the established principles, aiming to adorn the Muslim individual. The number of non-repeating narrations about Fitrah is approximately 400, and when it is taken into account with different variants and sources, the total number of repetitive narrations reaches 920. In order to safeguard the soundness of this Fitrah, it is necessary for an individual to train his Fitrah in every aspect of life and to protect it from various influences and destructive factors. This is precisely why the Islamic Sharia and the Sunnah of the Prophet were sent to discipline people both externally (Zahiren) and internally (Batinen). What the sound Fitrah accepts is also pleasing to the human soul, and hearts perceive it as beautiful, falling under the category of "Maruf". Conversely, the things that sound souls reject and detest fall into the category of "Munkar". As a matter of fact, Allah (J.J) states the following in the ayah: "But Allah has endeared faith to you, making it appealing in your hearts. And He has made disbelief, rebelliousness, and disobedience detestable to you...". This point confirms that Islam is the only religion in complete harmony with Fitrah. Since human nature is subject to issues such as forgetting and greed, Allah (J.J) sent prophets to be bringers of good tidings and warnings, and to fulfil their duties of restoring the Selamah (safety) of Fitrah. People have different degrees in terms of maintaining the Selamah of this sound Fitrah. The Malakah (superiority of mind), which Allah (J.J) has bestowed upon man as a faculty, and which man strengthens with knowledge, and ingenuity and nourishes with experience, plays a major role in the Selamah of Fitrah. This enables correct thinking and righteous actions. This study focuses on the concept of Fitrah, its sunnahs, its evidence in the Quran and Sunnah, and the Takhrij of related hadiths. Furthermore, this study explores the factors that lead to the defilement of the Fitrah and how it can be treated in a period marked by the dominance of Western or Eastern imitations, deviation of Fitrah from the sound Manhaj (path) and the tendency to follow things that should not be followed. Undoubtedly, rectifying these deviations is only possible by returning to the sound Fitrah of creation. Keywords: Hadith, Fitrat, Religion, Istiqamah, Inhiraf.