Quran Reflection Note: Human Thinking

"This worldly life is no more than play and amusement, but far better is the ˹eternal˺ Home of the Hereafter for those mindful ˹of Allah˺. Will you not then understand"

Say, [O Muḥammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?"

Say, "He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects1 and make you taste the violence of one another." Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand.

And his people argued with him. He said, "Do you argue with me concerning Allah while He has guided me? And I fear not what you associate with Him [and will not be harmed] unless my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge; then will you not remember?

Some ways that critical thinking can be seen in Islam is through the concepts of ijtihad, qiyas, tafakkur, from the verses of the Quran, and also from the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The brain is the most complex part of the human body. This three-pound organ is the seat of intelligence, interpreter of the senses, initiator of body movement, and controller of behavior. Lying in its bony shell and washed by protective fluid, the brain is the source of all the qualities that define our humanity.

Human beings are encouraged to think over the
things that Allah calls us to think about and to see the hidden purposes and the creation of miracles. Each subject on which we reflect help us to further understand and appreciate the omnipotence, wisdom, knowledge, art and other attributes of Allah (Yahya, 2000)

Al-Qur’an invites man to observe and reflect
upon the reason behind the creations of the universe. AlQur’an also stresses on the importance of knowledge content and prohibits man from making groundless assumptions and conjectures and practise blind imitation (Rosnani, 1996).

Yeddullah Kazmi is of the opinion that such a
thinking leads to an understanding that eventually
“enables a Muslim to be closer to Allah in order to grow spiritually and intellectually to realize his role in establishing social justice and freedom (Abu Elkheir, 2001).

Muslims are encouraged to think and make use
of creative and critical thinking in order to fulfil their
human needs as well as to cope with modernity. Islam urges Muslims to practice the teaching of Islam with knowledge, complete understanding and faith, rather than blind imitation (Golshani, 1997).

Ismail, A., Abdul Latiff, L., Mat Yacob, S. N. B., & Taky Eldin Kandil, H. M. (2016). The Islamic Perspective on Thinking and Innovative Culture as Exemplified by the Works of Renowned Muslim Scholars. Jurnal Sains Insani.

Slideshow Thinking styles in the quran, Prepared and presented by: Belayet Hossen Masters in Quran and Sunnah Studies

National Institutes of Health, retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Know-Your-Brain#:~:text=The%20brain%20is%20the%20most,qualities%20that%20define%20our%20humanity.

INQUISITIVE THINKING STYLE, asking questions is one of the most effective tools in teaching and learning since it leads to the development of new connections in the brain neural network which, in turn, leads to new ideas and concepts. Example: ( Am I not your Lord? They said: Yes we testify).( Al-A’raf:172)

OBJECTIVE THINKING STYLE, objectivity means to express the claims, and judgments based on proofs and evidences, based on certainty and not on doubt or conjecture to avoid bias, personal interest, or whims in forming opinion and giving judgments.  Example: Seeking evidence to prove a claim--- ‫قل ‬‫هاتوا‬‫ برهانكم ‬‫إن‬‫كنتم‬‫ صادقين‬ ( Produce your proof, if you are truthful .Al-Baqara:111)

POSITIVE THINKING STYLE, Islam has a lot to contribute towards positive thinking in the Quran. The style can be divided into the following aspects: Example: Not to lose hope in Allah’s mercy.‬ Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves; do not despair of God’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Verily, He is the most Forgiver, the most Merciful. Az-Zumar:53.

HYPOTHETICAL THINKING, this style of thinking aims at increasing human intellect by exposing it to Truth. Though the verse of the Quran, we will see how this style of thinking can improve human mind in order to become a good Muslim. Example: Or were they created out of nothing? Or are they the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? In fact, they are not certain. At-Tuur:35-36.

RATIONAL THINKING, rational can be literally defined as: having the faculty of reasoning, endowed with the reason, exercising one’s reason in a proper manner, and having sound judgment. It also means agreeable to reason , not foolish absurd or extravagant. For instance:‬ ( If there were in them gods other than God, they would have gone to ruin. Al-Anbiya’:22). 7

REFLECTIVE/CONTEMPLATIVE THINKING Reflective thinking can be directed to the following areas

VISUAL THINKING, visual thinking is the ability to think and communicate in images. In the Quran, visual thinking is used in the description of heaven (Paradise), Hell and different situations during the Day of judgment. In describing horrible moments of the Day of Judgment

METAPHORICAL THINKING, metaphor is described as : figure of speech using analogy or close comparison between two things that are not normally treated as if they had anything in common. Metaphor is a common means of extending the uses and references of words. Stressing and affirming the oneness of Allah. (Allah puts forth a parable- of a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master; are those equals in comparison? Praise be to Allah! But most of them have no knowledge. ). (Az-Zumar:29)

ANALOGICAL THINKING, this is another style of thinking used in the Quran. It uses similes in order to indicate similarity of characteristics common between the two things. Analogical thinking can upgrade our intellect and broaden our perception once it is used in proper manner.

EMOTIONAL THINKING, emotional thinking which is also known as empathetic thinking refers to care or mercy of Allah towards His ‘bad. This thinking style can be found in many places in the Quran where expression is used to touch the heart of the readers or listeners. For example. ( Allah wishes to accept your repentance, but those who follow their lusts, wish that you –believers- should deviate tremendously away (from the right path)An-Nisa: 27)

PERCEPTUAL THINKING, this style is related to the human perception about the world around him. The Quran was revealed to initiate and establish new perceptions about some matters, and to change the human perception already existing, regarding other matters. ( And live with them in kindness. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike something in which God has placed much good. An-Nisa:19)

CONCEPTUAL THINKING A. conceptual expansion: it refers to constructing, stretching, extending, modifying, and refining concepts to fit new situations and thus creating new meanings. B. conceptual combination: Conceptual combination refers to the combination of two concepts together to produce a new idea or meaning where a non-existent concept is brought into being.. ( And hold fast to the rope of God- Islam or Quran, altogether and do not become divided. Al-’Imran:103) 14

INTUITIVE THINKING, this style has to do with insight and inspiration that Allah bestows on the Muslims. It is only those who use their reason and intellect in the right manner, enlightened and inspired by Allah’s revelation that can have this insight, and inspiration. For instance: He answered: “I gained insight into something which they were unable to see, and so I took a handful of (dust) from the print of the messenger and threw it away, for thus has my mind prompted me to act. Ta’ha:96).

SCIENTIFIC THINKING, the term “scientific thinking style” in the light of the Quran connotes the style by which the Quran enhances the thinking ability of mankind in matters of natural sciences, as to enable him to realize and recognize the greatness of Allah as The Creator; and to utilize as well as develop the findings resulting from the exercise of such thinking, for the betterment of humanity as a whole. Example: ( Then He turned to the sky, and it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth, “Come willingly or unwillingly”.Fussilat: 11)

WISHFUL THINKING, wishful thinking is defined as holding wishes that are definitely impossible to come true. The Quran uses this style of thinking in many ways: ( On that Day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish that the earth were leveled over them. They will conceal nothing from God. An-Nisa:42)