ISLAM: KNOWLEDGE AND CIVILIZATION (UNGS 2040) STANDARD CONTENTS © Department of General Studies, 2008 ISLAM: KNOWLEDGE AND CIVILIZATION

Definition of Knowledge Al-‘ilm (العلم) /Knowledge

Al-‘ilm (العلم) The arrival (Husulحصول:) in the soul of the meaning of a thing or an object of knowledge and the arrival (wusul: (وصول of the soul at the meaning of a thing or object of knowledge ”حصول معنى أو صورة الشيء في النفس ووصول النفس إلى معنى الشيء“ (al-Jurjani:160-161)

….cont., Realization of the meanings of things (Al-Ghazzali) Realization of something in its true nature through different levels of understanding and in agreement with the facts or true to nature. (textbook, 4)

……cont., To know, to understand, to perceive, to be familiar and acquainted with things. A firm belief that accords with the reality of things (فاعلم أنه لا إله إلا الله) )47: 19(. Theology (عقيدة), Principles of Jurisprudence(أصول الفقه) etc.

Opposite of العلم الظن: Conjecture Uncertainty Not supported with decisive proofs It might accord with the reality and it might not

….cont., الشك : doubt الجهل : ignorance السفة : foolishness الضلال: misguidance

Degrees of Certainty العلم :knowledge Certainty, conviction (القين/القطع) Accords with the reality Certainty by observation عين اليقين certainty through knowledge علم اليقن Certainty through experience حق اليقين

Importance of Knowledge 1. Knowledge is a requirement for the fulfillment of man’s obligations as a khalifah on earth. Allah says:

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ (30) وَعَلَّمَ آَدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (31) قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ (32) قَالَ يَا آَدَمُ أَنْبِئْهُمْ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَنْبَأَهُمْ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ (33)

2. The first revelation to the Messenger of Allah is about seeking knowledge and revealing scientific knowledge: ”أقرأ باسم رَبِّكَ الذىخلق *خلق الانسان من علق *اقرا وربك الاكرم *الذى علم بالقلم *علم الانسان ما لم يعلم“ (العلق:1-5)

……Cont., Read! In the name of the Lord and Cherisher, who created- created man, out of a mere clot of congealed blood. Proclaim! And your Lord is most Bountiful- He who taught the use of the pen, taught man that which he knew not” (96:1-5) [“read, teach , pen”]

……cont., 3. Islam is a religion based upon knowledge. 4. The text of the Qur’an is full of verses inviting man to use his intellect, to ponder, to think and to learn. 5.The total number of verses in which ‘ilm or its derivatives and associated words are used is 704.

……cont., 6. The main miracle and sign of authenticity of prophethood of Mohammed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was a book of knowledge; The Qur’an.

……cont., 7.The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) made seeking knowledge obligatory on Muslims (men and women): ”طلب العلم فريضة على كل مسلم“ “Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim”.

……cont., 8. Knowledge is the way through which people can recognize Allah, fear him, and discover the truth. ”لَكِنِ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ مِنْهُمْ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ“ (النساء: 162) “But those among them who are well-grounded in knowledge, and the believers, believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you…”

……cont.,   ”وَيَرَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ هُوَ الْحَقَّ وَيَهْدِي إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ“ (سبأ :6( “And those who are knowledgeable see that the revelation sent down to you from the Lord is the Truth, and that it guides to the Path of Allah who is Exalted and Worthy of all praise.”

……cont., 9. Knowledge elevates the status and position of its bearer and makes difference between him and ignorant. ”يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ“ (المجادلة: 11) “Allah will raise up, to high ranks those of you who believe and who have been granted Knowledge…”

……cont., ”وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُدَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ عِلْمًا وَقَالا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ“ (:15النمل) We gave knowledge to David and Solomon: and they both said: "Praise be to Allah, Who has favoured us above many of His subjects who believe!"

……cont., ”وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُدَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا يَاجِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ(10) أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَابِغَاتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ(11)“ (سبأء)   “We bestowed grace on David … and We made the iron soft for him. Make coats of mail, balance well the rings of chain armour, and work righteousness; for be sure I see all that you do."

“ Say: “are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?” ……cont., ”قل هل يستوي الذين يعلمون والذين لا يعلمون“ (الزمر:9 ) “ Say: “are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?”

Purpose of knowledge Divinely Worldly To recognize God To benefit man Pleasure of God