Assalam-o-Alaikum to Spring 2008 Semester

Assalam-o-Alaikum to Spring 2008 Semester
Islamic Ideology Your Teacher: Muhammad Zahid Siddique Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Objectives, Focus and Pre-requisites
This is a one-semester introductory level course for under-graduate students. The course has been explicitly developed for the students of FAST BBA students in order to give them an orientation of the valid way of understanding Islam The course is meant to: explain Islamic conception of knowledge outline defining features of Islamic sources of knowledge transmit the valid orthodox method of understanding and interpreting Islam Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Objectives, Focus and Pre-requisites
Focus of this course is ‘Islamic Epistemology’ though a complete description about the ideology of a civilization entails discussion about Metaphysics: what reality is Epistemology: knowledge and its sources Morality: question of value—good and bad Theme will be to show that Islamic rules of jurisprudence are far more comprehensive than available in any other epistemological discourse Good understanding of this course presumes Muslim Intermediate level course on Islamic Studies Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Spring 2008 Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique
Course Outline Tentative Topics (Total Lectures 45) Introduction to the Sources of Islamic Ideology Islamic Conception of Reality Nature of Islamic epistemology Scheme of studying Islamic epistemology Ilm-ut-Tafseer Introduction to Quran Sources of Tafseer Instruments ofTafseer Ilm-ul-Hadith Basic Terminologies Authority of Hadith Overview of Principles to Understand Ahdith Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Course Outline Tentative Topics (Total Lectures 45) Usool-ul-Fiqh Introduction to Usool-e-Fiqh Sources of Deriving Ehkam (legal-value) Linguistic Rules to Derive Ehkam The Legal Value (Hukm-us-Shar’i) Sunnah Ijma, Qiyas and Ijtihad Embodiment of Islamic Ulooms Ilm-ul-Kalam Fiqh Tasawwuf Seerat-un-Nabi (SAAW) and History Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Course Outline Tentative Topics (Total Lectures 45) Contemporary Issues (will discuss any two or three current issues from the following ones, if time permits) Islamic Political Theory Criminal Law of Islam Islamic Society and Gender-Segregation Challenges of Islamic Economics Jihad A Study of the Struggle for Islamic Revival by Islamic Movements Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Assessment 80% attendance is compulsory [9 absences are allowed] Following marks distribution scheme will be applied Two Mid-Terms = Marks Assignments + Quizzes = Marks Final Exam = 50 Marks 30-60 minutes text reading and following weakly lectures guarantees you good grades in this course Concentrate on the theme of this course Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Text readings and Related
Photo-state of selected study material will be available at photo copy shop Off class contact Room # 17, NU-FAST (city campus) , Ext. 20 and any time during office hours Avoid disturbing on mobile allowed only in case of high emergency Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Lectures 1-7: Introduction to Islamic Epistemology
Islamic conception of reality Islamic theory of knowledge Scheme of studying Islamic epistemology

Questions we must ask…but never do
All civilizations (way of lives) are founded on the answer to the question ‘what is reality?’. This question entails answering following questions: Who am I? i.e. my role and status in this world? What is the nature of my life? i.e. objective and duration of my life What is the nature of this universe and my relation to it? i.e. perpetual or mortal How can I know reality? i.e. the source of knowledge What is good and what is bad? i.e. revealed or rational Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Islamic metaphysics Islam—the last and final message of God to human kind—gives definite answers to these questions Who am I? Man is A’bd—the created one, the servant What is the nature of my life? A test-case in order to worship my Lord—obeying his commandments by submitting my will to Him What is the nature of universe and my relation to it? Created for a specific duration and I am here as vicegerent, not its master How can I know reality? Revelation known through Prophet What is good and what is bad? Godly determined Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Philosophy Vs Religion
Two groups claim to make reply Philosophers Based on human faculties Have conflicting views Agree on the speculative nature of their views Keep changing their positions Have ultimately abandoned their efforts due to poverty of human faculties Prophets Based on revelation Cent percent agreement on basic claims throughout Sure about the truth and validity of their message Never change their views for any reasons Highly upright and selfless in character and men of wisdom How would reason evaluate the two groups? when reason itself can’t find exact answers! Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Rational justification for Prophetic reporting
How come to deny their reporting, especially when: they are so many in numbers, separated by the time and space differences all were highly regarded for their upright character their claim is not some ‘logical impossibility’ Mere fact of ‘beyond the realm of my reason’ is not enough to deny their message Non-existence can’t be derived from no-evidence impossible (خلاف عقل) and non-experienced (خلاف عادت) are different reported facts don’t necessarily require ‘logical evidence’ in their support (e.g. historical events) only report can do the job when other sources are lacking (e.g. being at some unknown place) Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

On THE Prophet: Back to the ‘Past’
World before 1400 years ago Limited information and means of communication Dearth of moral and social standards Arab was even more deprived of knowledge-base Individuality and society dominated by shirk No systematic state system—law of Jungle Moral deprivation at utmost level Within them a child is born deprived of paternal love and raring brought up among those Arab received no knowledge at all never traveled beyond a short visit to Syria Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

A star in the darkness Despite all that, he has extra ordinary personality totally abstains from Shirk and injustices never tells a lie nor betrays trust—regarded truthful and trustworthy placed at high levels of modesty (حیا), طهارة and morality proves to be an upright successful businessman after 40-years, detaches himself from his society in pursuit of truth On return to his nation, we observe a U-turn starts condemning Shirk, injustices and immorality calls toward Tauheed, Akhirah and Ibadah Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

A man like a rock ‘His owns’ become his bitter enemies put him into severe agonies ultimately drove him out of the city continued fighting against him even after then What was the bone of contention? any monetary benefit?—NO any power struggle?—No any family revenge?—NO Then why he stood fast against all troubles? Do you know of someone to bear up severe sort of torture for no worldly benefits? especially of the hand of his addressees? Have you ever seen such a bold liar or speculator? Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

A miraculous man More amazing is his message and its language despite being an ordinary Arab, starts speaking unmatchable Arabic despite not being exposed to any knowledge, turns out to be a great revolutionist, reformer, statesman, legislature, Journal and leader All was done not by deceit or force, but by heart-filling character and soul-inspiring nobleness never betrayed or revenged even his bitter enemies Interestingly, despite all this magical success, never behaved like kings had plain and simple living as earlier knotted himself with his fellow beings as earlier Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

A-historical and a-social revolutionist
Even more amazing is his legacy for this world as ‘revolutionist’ converted all aspects of human life to his desired form other humanly movements could not go beyond one or two aspects of life in a single life time span—something whole human history is unable to present was himself philosopher, preacher, leader and organizer, head of state and reformer!!! Mesmerizing is the fact that he can’t be shown an out-product of his society ‘material dialectic’ might have raised a ‘nationalist Arab reformer’—how come to explain his message? history could not turn him old—looked beyond time created his own ideology, resources and man-power Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Breathtaking truth If all of this was out of his own genius, THEN he was truly entitled to claim his divinity Never reserves even one-percent credit to himself always humbles himself as ordinary man and attributes all his success to His Almighty God Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Islamic metaphysics as a basis of civilization
Islamic metaphysics reflects itself at all levels of life Individual: creates a highly responsible, disciplined, self-annihilating individuality regards himself subject and trustworthy, not autonomous and master Social: makes love and صله رحمى the very fabric of relationships (e.g. Brotherhood of Medina) helps strengthen family institution (خاندان وبرادرى) structures social stratification around تقوى institution of خانقاہ assumes dominant position strictly maintains gender-segregation to preserve and flourish family system Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

State: introduces conceptions of امت and خلافت strictly rejects racial and national basis of state. A nation has many features. It: is based on hatred assumes centrality to determine good & bad lives for its own sake pursues ‘accumulation of capital’ as sole end can’t transcend geographical limits is always ‘imperialistic’ to subjugate others امت is based on the principle of brotherhood among اجابت امت, and preaching and اصلاح of دعوت امت barriers from دعوت امت against the spread of حق is the basis of our conflict and fight with it Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Islamic state is خلافت (vicegerency of Prophet) where Shariah is the basis of formulating structure of legitimate obediences strictly rejects democratic and secular conceptions of state More on the nature of Islamic society and state later in this course Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Islamic theory of knowledge
Studying epistemology involves covering three areas Nature of knowledge: content and objective of knowledge; knower-knowledge relation Sources of knowledge: ways of knowing, their validity and limit Areas of knowledge: embodiment of knowledge Areas of knowledge Often discussing about science, people debate in the outer frontier Ways of knowing Nature of knowledge Miss the point that real issue begins from the heart of knowledge Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Islamic theory of knowledge: Nature
Concept and objective of knowledge is derived from concept of reality Content of Islamic epistemology is to know the Will of God Objective is to help mankind gain Ma’rifah (معرفه)—called worship (عبادت)—of their Lord by practicing Prophetic teachings No other source to معرفه and salvation than Prophetic revelation is acceptable Objective of ‘submission of self’ is exactly opposite to scientific orientation of ‘dominance of self’ Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Scientific conception of knowledge is based upon Enlightenment beliefs of freedom: right to determine good and bad (denial of عبدیت) Equality: equality of all conceptions of good (denial of ھدایت) Progress: objective of satisfying infinite wants (denial of life-after death) Such a conception of reality equates knowledge with the dominance of human will over nature realized through scientific laws whereby human asserts his will over nature to satisfy his desires Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

This conception leads to evolutionary theory of truth or knowledge b/c of inability of human faculties to find it Uncertainty: truth and reality is uncertain Falsifiability: knowledge is what that can be proved wrong Doubt: always disbelieve and look for counter examples Progress: truth is unfolding itself to us as we have more experience Relativity: your truth may be different from mine Research: be creative to bring new ideas Evolution: explain existing phenomenon by evolutionary-interpretation Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Each conception of knowledge gives birth to a concption of morality Scientific conception of knowledge: Justifies the moral status of being without God separates religious-morality and authority from the meaning of knowledge reduces religious knowledge to private affairs by forcing it out of social expressions trivializes religious conception of reality Justifies the rationality of accumulation and competition (greed and envy) subordinates knowledge to the discipline of ‘buying and selling’ by subjecting it to accumulation—end in itself Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

The standard ethical-values resulting by the dominance of this knowledge are: Self-interest—sense of exchange based relationships makes society a ‘market’ or ‘civil society’ Greed (desire for more and more accumulation) and envy (competition for worldly riches) Devotion for worldly life—desire for longer and longer life (طول امل) Multiplication of wants—utility hunting attitude Trivialization of I’badah in individual, social and states spheres of life Wastage of time in useless & non-sense activities Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Religious knowledge on the other hand: does not support the rationality of ‘maximization of dominance over nature (تصرف في الارض)’ justifies the morality of ‘submission’ (اطاعت), not of ‘self-expression’ opposite to, e.g., Maslow’s conception of self gives a definite, absolute and universal conception of reality is narrative in essence which does not only include what to know (know-how), but also how to speak and how to listen combines law, morality and beauty into a single, inseparable entity Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Islamic theory of knowledge: Sources
Source of Islamic knowledge is revelation preserved in Primary sources The Quran The Sunnah of the Prophet (SAAW) interpreted in Secondary sources Ijma (consensus among experts) Qiyas (reasoning by analogy) Some other, but controversial, secondary sources are عرف ،مصالح مرسلہ،استحصان(social convention), teachings of earlier Ummah etc Takes reason as instrument to understand revelation, and not as source of truth itself establishes the priority of Naql over A’ql Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Arguments based on ‘reason’ and ‘report’ can presume four cases of conflict: Both are certain—an impossibility to take place Both are probable—Report will be prioritized Former is probable and letter is certain—letter is prioritized Former is certain and letter is probable—former prioritized while letter adjusted using appropriate interpretation (تاویل) The final authority of our fundamental beliefs is based upon Naql—on the authority of Prophet discussed earlier religion is based upon the centrality of Prophet Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Validity of injunctions (احكام) derived from Islamic sources depends upon the application of specific-methodology—not following that method disqualifies any effort on the part of researchers so b/c Islam is an epistemology, not merely an attitude this is the most ignored feature in modernist discourses Limit: Forms of derived احكام, and not merely their objectives, transcend time and space—i.e. are universal can’t be restricted to any specific person, time or space without having valid argument from valid sources of Shariah, and not merely out of reason, intuition or passion These issues are explored later in this course Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Islamic theory of knowledge: Areas
Islamic epistemology has assumed the form of three major areas to regulate three dimensions of our lives: Kalam deals with beliefs—at the level of mind Fiqh deals with actions and relations rendered by individuals—at the level of body Tasawwuf deals with morality—at the level of قلب Other important areas are Life History of Prophet (SAAW) and history Ulema have derived the above classification from the following saying: Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Islamic theory of knowledge: Areas
Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

How to study Islamic Epistemology?
The broader approaches of studying Shariah have already been discussed in IB as per following heads Orthodox: Islam from its own vintage point Revisionist: Islamization of west Modernist: Westernization of Islam Refresh it from your IB lecture slides This course is based upon Orthodox approach to Shariah as that is the only valid method for it Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Revisionism and Modernism are attitudes developed in response to the dominance of west and has taken dozens of forms right from Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to date Do have some common features prioritize reason over Naql encourage individual learning of Quran marginalize authority of Hadith to some degrees break out of Ijma seek state-protection for propagation of their views don’t set high practical-example by following Shariah at higher levels of عزیمت Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

From Orthodox approach, all areas of knowledge can be described into five categories Fundamental disciplines Quran, Hadith Instrumental disciplines Arabic, Fiqh, Usool, etc. Supporting disciplines Medical, industry Neutral disciplines Mathematics Destructive disciplines Magic, social sciences Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

Reading material Following articles are available at photo state shop Rational foundations of Tauheed (توحيد), Prophet hood of Muhammad (SAAW) and Life after Death Islam and Jahilya Capitalist Epistemology: an introduction Next Topic: ILM-UT-TAFSEER Spring Islamic Ideology Zahid Siddique

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