Teoriden gündelik mekâna zimmet mefhumu

Social sciences have been preoccupied with the study of the "self" and "agency." Since the Enlightenment, theories continue to explain the self and agency based on the absoluteness of human reason, power, and knowledge through the scientific and empirical methods and/or based on moral standards defined by humans. However, with the criticism of the Enlightenment, these secular perspectives have fallen short of explaining the human self. This study offers the notion of dhimma which presents an illuminating perspective in understanding the human self. Dhimma has the meanings of covenant, assurance, security, safety, sanctity, and right and responsibility. In addition to these meanings, dhimma is also defined as the self and an attribute of the self. This study explores these meanings of dhimma throughout the Qur'an, hadith and Islamic Jurisprudence and brings them together. According to this thesis, dhimma indicates the self of human being, with regard to the privilege of tasarruf (power and authority to act on and make use of the creatures) on earth, and to the responsibility shouldered upon man as a result of this privilege. In other words, man becomes competent / eligible to have a right over the creation and bear its responsibility by virtue of his dhimma. This aspect of the self contributes to explaining the position of the human in the world and his moral responsibility towards the creation.