Fourteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

This paper presents a framework to examine the five pillars of Islam to identify solidarity forms as a discourse and devise strategies for social cohesion. This study adopted a multidisciplinary methodology to examine Islamic solidarity discourse across spacetime dimensions, including Durkheim’s forms of solidarity and the interplay of actions in interactions as embodied practices. This study reveals that Islam, through its fundamental pillars, cultivates two forms of solidarity: Ummah, or macro-transnational solidarity, and brotherhood, or micro-solidarity. Ummah constitutes a global community of Muslims that transcends geographical limitations and connects individuals through shared beliefs, values, and customs, while brotherhood exists in the present and extends beyond spatial boundaries, allowing Muslims from all over the world to view themselves as brothers. Both forms of solidarity coexist in a non-competitive, complementary manner, intersecting and occupying different levels and dimensions that are currently experienced in the present time.