Developing Human Conscience on the Basis of Faith (Iman) : Sayyid Qutb’s (1906–1966) Approaches for Social Solidarity

In the context of modern day, issues of social solidarity and wealth redistribution become matters of great concern to the world due to lack of moral conducts within human society in which lead to injustice to happen. Thus co-operation of individuals and their society towards achieving peace and harmony is part of social justice realization. While Islam laid down certain rules and responsibilities on individual and society of mutual social care, Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966) has detailed out the Islamic conception together with his views and approaches towards establishing the basis of social solidarity among members of society including role of inner dimension or faith (iman) as the most important element in establishing feelings of love and mercy in the human conscience towards other members of the community. This paper discusses Qutb's views on social solidarity and its pre requisites as manifested in his writings, Fi Zilal al-Quran and other works. Using content analysis technique and secondary data analysis, the study works and analyses Qutb's ideas and thought in regards to social solidarity that appear in his writings particularly his Fi Zilal al-Quran. Other secondary data related to Qutb's thought are also taken into account in order to have a clear worldview about the latter arguments. Result of the study shows that Qutb's conception of social solidarity was in parallel with Islamic teachings. His emphasis on faith (iman) as the most important element in establishing feelings of love and mercy in the human conscience was in line with some other classical scholar's perspectives believing that the establishment of social solidarity became one of the solutions in solving Muslim social, political and economic disparities facing Muslims