Understanding the Role of Religion: Analyzing Durkheim, Marx and Islamic Perspectives

Abstract

This study analyzes the role of religion in society through the perspectives of Émile Durkheim and Karl Marx, juxtaposing them with the Islamic viewpoint. Employing an analytical approach, it examines the theories of Durkheim and Marx while drawing on the Holy Quran, Hadith, and Seerah, to illustrate how Islam has contributed to improving the conditions of marginalized communities. Both Durkheim and Marx analyzed religion within the context of societal transformations, where profound social changes shaped people’s lives, and their theories laid the foundation for subsequent debates in social sciences and religious studies. The study concludes that the Islamic perspective on religion aligns neither fully with Durkheim’s functionalist view nor with Marx’s critique of religion as an opiate of the masses. Instead, it occupies an intermediate position, recognizing religion as both a means of social cohesion and a force for social change.

Keywords: Religion, Opiate of the Masses, Social Cohesion, Islam