When concepts are formed as a result of linking actuality with information, it is obvious that this formation takes shape according to the rule or rules which measure actuality and information, thus, a person begins to possess a mentality which understands utterances and sentences in order to perceive meanings in their embodied actuality.

Mentality is therefore the manner in which actuality is linked with information according to one or more definite rules. Thus, we have different mentalities: Islamic, communist, capitalist, chaotic, monotonous, and so on.

Psyche Set-up is the manner in which instincts and organic needs are satisfied. In other words, it is the manner in which the motivating forces of satisfaction are linked concepts. Hence, it is a fusion of the unavoidable association which naturally occurs within man between his motivating forces and concepts about satisfaction on the one hand, intervened with his concepts about life on the other.

Personality

From this mentality and psyche set-up personality is formed. The mind, even though inborn and its existence inevitable, is nevertheless formed by the act of man. Likewise, the inclinations to satisfy instincts and organic needs, though inborn in man and their existence inevitable, do not negate that psyche set-up takes its shape by man. And if the rule or rules upon which mentality is formed is the same rule or rules upon which the formation of psyche set-up is based, man will have a distinct personality with specific traits; but if the rule or rules upon which the formation of psyche set-up is based is different from the rule or rules upon which mentality is built, man’s mentality is different from his psyche set-up, because in that case he measures his tendencies according to a rule or rules present in his deep self, and so links his motivating forces with concepts different from those which formed his mentality. This is because he understands utterances and sentences and perceives actualities in a way which differs from his tendency towards things.

The Islamic Personality

Islam has dealt with man’s act which originate from his organic needs and instincts through Islamic rulings which emerge from Islam’s doctrine itself, the treatment organized instincts but does not frustrate them, coordinates them but does not set them free. So Islam forms the Islamic personality by means of the Islamic doctrine. By it his mentality is formed; by it also, his psyche set-up is formed. If man makes Islam the measure of all ideas practically and actually, he is said to possess an Islamic mentality and an Islamic psyche set-up, and these control the individual’s tendencies in terms of Islam.

The individual will then be an Islamic personality, whether he is scholarly or illiterate, because anyone who thinks in the light of Islam and directs his desires according to Islamic rulings is an Islamic personality. And Islam commands that one should strive for the pursuit of Islamic culture, so that his mentality will develop and be able to measure and evaluate every notion. Islam also permits some action and forbids others in order that this psyche set-up will be capable of deterring every tendency which violates Islam. From here comes the dissimilarity of Islamic personalities and Islamic psyche set-up. For this reason those who think that the Islamic personality is a divine entity, run into error, for they search for the Lord among men and don’t find Him at all, not ever in themselves, so they go into a state of despair and break with the Muslims. These imaginative Muslims prove by their imaginativeness, that Islam is utopia and its application impossible. Although it came to the world in order to be put into practice and it is itself realistic since it deals with all human problems it can be understood and applied by every man, however feeble his mind is or strong instincts, and organic needs are, when a Muslim applies Islam to himself he becomes an Islamic personality who is qualified for military service and leadership at one time. He combines pleasure, he understands life soundly and so he enjoys it in this world and in the other world.

For this reason, unlike others a Muslim is not dominated by one trait. He is never taken away by religious rapture or by Indian asceticism. When he is rich he is humble. As a scholar he gathers power, commerce, and politics and his noblest trait is that he is a slave of Allah, his Creator.