5
4
3
2
1
6
NATURE AS A SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE
according to the patterns of nature.
object of human knowledge
in Islam.
Nature as Creation of God
Subservience.
Purposivenesspic
Orderliness
Createdness
Profanity
Science requires & indicates causality
for its certainty
THE REASON & THE SENSES
INTERNAL SENSES
imagination
retention-recollection
estimation
representation
common sense
AL-'AQL ( REASON )
as means to Knowledge
The Qur’an exhort people
to use their ‘Aql
discovers unknown realities
from the known ones.
basis of Iman/ faith
authority to examine the authenticity of prophets
and the revelation they claim to bring from God
the noblest part of man
basis of taklif
humans can distinguish between ‘good’ and
‘bad’, ‘right’ and ‘wrong’
Senses (Al-Hawwas)
Qur’an mentions some basic organs through which
reliable knowledge is obtained
Heart for understanding
Eyes for seeing
Ears for hearing
THE SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE
FIVE SENSES
REASON
REVELATION
THE SUNNAH
TYPE OF SUNNAH
The acts based on human experience
Normal physical acts of every human being
The specific Sunnah of the Prophet
Sunnah of binding law
The acts, sayings & approvals of the Messenger of Allah
THE QURAN
CHARACTERISTICS
Light
Spiritual/ social healer
An authentic book of Allah & the proof of prophethood
Guidance & mercy to
believers
DEFINITION
Book revealed from Allah to His Messenger Muhammad SAW as written in masahif & transmitted to us through an authentic continuous narration.
Nothing is
neglected
As guidance
and mercy
An exposition of
all things
The only revealed speech
of Allah to Muhammad
The pure speech
of Allah
INTUITION
NATURE/PHYSICAL WORLD
CLASSIFICATION OF KNOWLEDGE
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
LIMITED KNOWLEDGE
ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE
BLAMEWORTHY
By external
influence
By itself
PRAISEWORTHY
Fard Kifayah
Fard ‘Ain
GIFTED KNOWLEDGE
INSTINCT
SACRED
ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE
CLASSIFICATION OF AL-GHAZALI
Fard ‘ayn & Fard kifayah
Religious and intellectual
Presential and acquired
Theoretical and practical.
CLASSIFICATION OF IBN KHALDUN
Transmitted Knowledge
Linguistic sciences
Sufism
Theology
Jurisprudence (the sacred law)
Al-Hadith
Al-Quran
Intellectual Knowledge
Sciences dealing with quantity
Astronomy
Music
Arithmetic
Geometry
Sciences of beings beyond Nature/Metaphysics
Magic & talismans
Natural sciences or Physics
Agriculture
Medicine
Logic
KNOWLEDGE IN ISLAM
TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE
QUR’AN & THE SUNNAH
FUNCTION OF SUNNAH TO QUR'AN
May contain some unmentioned
rules in the Qur’an
The concrete implementation &
actual embodiment of the Qur’an
An elaboration & commentary
on the Qur’an
No Islam without the adoption
of the Sunnah
The second source after the Qur’an
SUNNAH
TYPES
Nation building and
social reformation
Da‘wah
Leadership
Manner of conduct
Laws
Halal and haram
Worship (‘ibadah)
IN AL-QUR'AN
History and Civilization
Wisdom
Political systems
Prophecies
Economic systems
Laws & commandments
Halal & haram
Human and
social relations
Physical and Natural
Sciences
Religious sciences
CONCEPT OF KNOWLEDGE
DEGREES OF KNOWLEDGE
Haqq al-Yaqin
Ayn al-Yaqin
Ilm al-Yaqin
ADAB & KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION
Master one knowledge before proceeding to the next
Start learning what most important.
Be humble towards the teachers
Minimize affairs of the world
blameworthy characteristics
Purify soul from impure traits
KNOWLEDGE VS INFORMATION
INFORMATION
Perceived differently
Can be shared, much more easily understood by everyone
General data expressed by numbers, words, images and sounds
KNOWLEDGE
Can be shared but might be perceived differently
made up of factors such as beliefs and experiences
Involves a personal experience
IT'S PURPOSE
To get Allah’s pleasure
To distinguish between right and wrong
To achieve the happiness of both worlds
To practice with it
THE IMPORTANCE
Knowledge is a prerequisite for authentic peace
Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.
The authenticity of prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ is the book of knowledge.
The Quran is inviting man to ponder, think & learn.
Islam is a religion based upon knowledge.
Parallel with the man’s obligation as a khalifah. (Al-Baqarah: 30-33).
first revelation to the Messenger of Allah (Al-’Alaq: 1- 5).
DEFINITIONS
WESTERN
means information about something, divine or corporeal.
TECHNICALLY
A firm belief that accords with the reality of things (47: 19(.
Realization of something in its true nature.
AL-ATTAS
obtainment of the ma‘na (meaning) of an object in the soul & its arrival at the meaning
AL-GHAZZALI
Realization of the meanings of things
'ILM
Tafakkur : Thought
Tazakkur : Remembrance
Basiran : Mental perception
Tadabbur : Observation
Al-Fiqh : Understanding
Al-Ma’rifah : knowing by experiment.
