THE ISLAMC WORLDVIEW

(UNGS 2030)
STANDARD CONTENTS
Department of Fundamental and
Interdisciplinary Studies, 2016

WEEK 1
Worldview:
Definition, necessity, and a brief
historical development

Meanings
Worldview is an English translation of the
German term Weltanschauung.
It is rendered in Arabic as Ruyat al-Islam lilwujud, ())
A set of beliefs about fundamental aspects of
reality that around us
Ones perceiving, knowing and doing
Study of the world and its aspects
A view of life
A perception of the world
A particular philosophy of life

Meanings
A concept of the world held by
individuals and groups
A philosophy of life
A mind-set and outlook on life
A formula for life
An ideology for faith

Definitions
A set of attitudes on a wide range of
fundamental matters
A comprehensive set of propositions about
various aspects of the world
A unified and comprehensive view of the world
around us and mans place within it.
Basic
assumptions
and
images
toward
understanding all existing things and beings
A guide or a map toward realizing ones
religious, social, political, economic and cultural
views and relationships

Other worldviews defined by

western scholars
The concepts developed by human intellect
on the basis of assumptions pertaining to
human cultures deal with the nature of
reality, the organization of the universe, the
ends and purposes of human life (Paul
Herbert)
A set of presuppositions and assumptions
which may be true, partially true or entirely
false that provides a basic constitution of
reality and the foundation on which we live,
move and have our being (James Sire)

Other worldviews defined by

western scholars
An individual oriented accomplishment as
a sort of personal religious belief in
construction,
internationalization
and
implementation of worldview, which
differentiate between traditional dogma
and faith (Edmund Husserl)

A self-realized, productive as well as

conscious way of apprehending and
interpreting the universe of beings
(Martin)

 A set of beliefs about fundamental

aspects of reality that ground and
influence
all
ones
perceiving,
thinking, knowing and doing or ones
philosophy,
philosophy
of
life,
mindset, outlook on life, formula for
life, ideology, faith, or religion (Ken
Funk)

Worldview Structures &

Development
Human
intellect

Revelation
Technology
Man-Structure

Conception
of society

Political
Dealings

Science

Scientific
conceptual
scheme
KnowledgeStructure

Worldview-Structures
Development

Value-Structure
Morality

Life-Structure
Legal Dealings

.
9

Necessity of Understanding
Worldviews
1. Human life:
Knowing about the worlds different people,
cultures and civilization
2. Human behavior:
assisting
us in interacting with nature,
individuals, peoples, nations, cultures and
civilizations
Guiding us to correct our perceptions, ideas,
values, perspectives, attitudes and behavior
Formulating theories of politics, society, culture,
and civilization

Fundamental matters and queries

(James Seri) How far out does the universe go? Did it
have a beginning and will it have an end?
How was it that we humans came about here on earth?
Does life have a purpose? If it does, what can give
meaning to my life?
Does my daily conduct matter in the long run?
What happens to me at my death?
Existing and Conception of God?
What is good and what is bad? How can I know the good
and the bad?
How should I be treating others?
How can I know?

Objectives of the Worldview

1. A model of the world
2. Ability to explain and answer the
questions
3. Ability to see through good and bad
values and answer the questions
4. Ability to know how to act properly
5. Ability to construct people knowledge
about existence and truth
6. Ability to develop worldview

Understanding worldviews
NATURALISM:

The great majority of contemporary philosophers

accepts naturalism, characterized by both rejecting
supernatural entities, and allow that science is a
possible route (if not necessarily the only one) to
important truths about the human spirit

arguing that the reality is exhausted by nature,

containing nothing supernatural, and the scientific
method should be used to investigate all areas of reality,
including the human spirit (Krikorian 1944, Kim 2003)

The self-proclaimed naturalists from that period

included John Dewey, Ernest Nagel, Sidney Hook and Roy
13
Wood Sellars.

Understanding worldviews
SECULAR HUMANISM:
viewed as a system of values and beliefs that are opposed to
the values and beliefs of traditional religions
Relating to worldly things as distinguished from things
relating to church and religion; not sacred or religious;
temporal; worldly
Humanism as any system of thought or action based on the
nature, interests and ideals of man; specifically, a modern,
nontheistic, rationalist movement that holds that man is
capable of self-fulfillment, ethical conduct, etc. without
recourse to supernaturalism
In the 1930s, "humanism" was generally used in a religious
sense by the Ethical movement in the United States, and not
14
much favored among the non-religious in Britain.

Understanding worldviews
POST-MODERNISM:

A set of critical, strategic and rhetorical practices

employing concepts such as difference, repetition, the
trace, the simulacrum, and hyper reality to destabilize
other concepts such as presence, identity, historical
progress, epistemic certainty, and the univocity of
meaning

The

term

postmodernism

first

entered

the

philosophical lexicon in 1979, with the publication of The

Postmodern Condition by Jean-Franois Lyotard
15

Classification of Worldview
Worldview

Religious

Revealed and
preserved

Atheism

Revealed but
Interpolated

Non-religious

Not revealed but

Based ob human
wisdom

Materialism

Positivism

Rationalism

16

scientism

Another classification
Worldview

Philosophical
worldview

Religious
worldview

Scientific
worldview

17

Week 2

Naturalism:
Concept, development, and characteristics.

Concept of Naturalism
Naturalism derives from the word nature, means;
self-contained or self-explanatory
A theory of life and universe
An atheistic and materialistic
A mechanical view of the world of nature
All beings and events in the universe (whatever their
inherent character may be) are natural
Universe has been evolved by itself
Denies the existence of truly supernatural realities
Denies the existence of the creator
A form of realism that particularly focuses on how
technology and science affect society as a whole, as
well as how society and genetics affect individuals

Development
In 5th/6th centuries B.C., Greek
thinkers
and
philosophers
i.e.
sophists who are paid intellectuals in
Ancient Greece and Roman Empire
specialized in using empirical method
or tools of philosophy to develop
naturalism or religion of nature
In Europe, in the late 19th and 20th
centuries, first advocated explicitly
by mile Zola (1840-1902) in his
1880 essay entitled Naturalism on

 In early 1900 century, Darwin Charles

wrote in his book The Origin of
Species about naturalism, theorized
that only the fittest of any natural
species would survive to pass on its
genetic material
The movement of naturalism in
Europe between 18th to 19th centuries
Henrick Ibsen (1828-1906), Maxim
Gorky (1868-1936), Anton Chekhov
(1860-1904), Nikolai Gogol (18081852)
21

Naturalism defined
A theory that relates scientific method to
philosophy by affirming that all beings
and events in the universe (whatever
their inherent character may be) are
natural
Denying
the
existence
of
truly
supernatural realities, it makes allowance
for the supernatural, provided that
knowledge of it can be had indirectly
22

Naturalism defined
An approach to philosophical problems
that interprets them as tractable through
the methods of the empirical sciences
Showing the philosophical problems
as traditionally conceived are illformulated and can be solved or
displaced
by
appropriately
naturalistic methods

23

Characteristics of Naturalism
The debate about naturalism ranges across many
areas of philosophy, including metaphysics,
epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of mind, just to
mention areas where it is especially prominent
Two basic dimensions in which the debate takes
place; one is concerned , what there is and the
second is the methods of acquiring belief and
knowledge
There are several affiliated issues (supervenience,
objectivity, various realism/antirealism debates, the
character of norms of epistemic justification, the
theory of meaning, and so forth) but they are all
connected through those two main concerns
24

As a very loose characterization, it may suffice to

say that nature is the order of things accessible to
us through observation and the methods of the
empirical sciences. If some other method, such as
a priori theorizing, is needed to have access to the
alleged entity or to the truth in question, then it is
not a real entity or a genuine truth. According to the
naturalist, there is only the natural order. If
something is postulated or claimed to exist, but is
not described in the vocabulary that describes
natural phenomena, and not studied by the
inquiries that study natural phenomena, it is not
25
something we should recognize as real.

Week 3

Secular Humanism:
Concept, development, and
characteristics

Secular Humanism
What is Secular Humanism?
Secular: Of or relating to worldly things as distinguished
from things relating to church and religion; not sacred or
religious; temporal; worldly.
Humanism: Any system of thought or action based on
the nature, interests and ideals of man; specifically, a
modern, nontheistic, rationalist movement that holds
that man is capable of self- fulfillment, ethical conduct,
etc. without recourse to supernaturalism

Secular Humanism
Secular Humanism is a secular
ethical philosophy that emphasizes a
world view based upon naturalism:
the belief that the physical world or
nature is all that exists or is real
It emphasizes scientific inquiry and
rejects revealed knowledge as well as
theistic morality.

Development

In the 1930s, "humanism" was generally used in religious

sense by the Ethical movement in the United States, and
not much favored among the non-religious in Britain. Yet
"it was from the Ethical movement that the non-religious
philosophical sense of Humanism gradually emerged in
Britain, and it was from the convergence of the Ethical
and Rationalist movement that this sense of Humanism
eventually prevailed throughout the Free thought
movement.

Free thought is a philosophical viewpoint which holds

that positions regarding truth should be formed on the
basis of logic, reason, and empiricism, rather than

Development

As an organized movement, Humanism itself is quite recent

born at the University of Chicago in the 1920s, and made public
in 1933 with the publication of the first Humanist Manifesto. The
American Humanist Association was incorporated as an Illinois
non-profit organization in 1943.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union was founded in

1952, when a gathering of world Humanists met under the
leadership of Sir Julian Huxley. The British Humanist Association
took that name in 1967, but had developed from the Union of
Ethical Societies which had been founded by Stanton Coit in
1896.

Characteristics of
Secular Humanism

Religion: followers of Secular Humanism generally consider

themselves as atheists or agnostics. They do not believe in
revealed religions and hence, do not accept as true the scriptures
derived from them. They reject the beliefs in God, prophecy, creed
and rituals. Secular Humanists totally oppose any influences on the
free thinking human mind by any religious authority including those
political ideologies which attempt to curb free thought.

One World: Secular Humanists are against the division of

humankind on the basis of nationalistic borders. Their goal is to
achieve a world community with a common system of law
organized by a trans-national federal government since they
believe this is the best option for present society at this point in
human history.

Characteristics of
Secular Humanism

Evolution: Secular Humanists are not creationists. They

believe the universe is self-existing and has not been
created. Humankind is a part of nature and has emerged
as a result of continuous, natural evolutionary forces. They
hold Darwins theory of evolution to be true and impose it
on many dimensions of human life, and not just biological.

Sexual expression: Secular Humanists do not consider

the many varieties of sexual expression as evil. They do
not agree in limiting either by law or social customs sexual
behavior between consenting adults. In line with their
views of an open sexual expression, society should
therefore recognize the right to birth control, abortion, and
divorce.

Characteristics of
Secular Humanism

Morality/ Ethics: Secular Humanists do not uphold an absolute

system of ethics or morals. They recognize that the values human
beings hold are rooted in their human experiences and in their
culture.

Five aspects of secular humanist morality that are widely accepted

today are:
1. The pursuit of happiness is a basic goal of ethical life
2. The recognition that each person has equal dignity and value.
3. The ideal of moral freedom
4. Tolerance towards the diversity of values and principles in different
individuals and groups in society
5. The focus on human reason as the basis of ethical choice.

Characteristics of
Secular Humanism

Education: Secular Humanists encourage moral

awareness, the capacity for free choice, and an
understanding of the consequences of choices.
For them, education is the essential method of
building humane, free, and democratic societies.
They state that although the study of the history
of religious and moral practices is appropriate
for education however, they are against the
indoctrination of children in a belief system
before they are mature enough to evaluate it.

Components of secularism
1. Disenchantment of nature

Freeing of nature from its religious overtones.

Nature is not a divine entity.

This provides an absolute condition for the

development of natural science. However highly
developed a cultures powers of observation,
however refined its equipment for measuring, no
real scientific breakthrough is possible until man can
face the natural world unafraid.

components
3. De-sacralization of politics

No one rules by divine right.

Significant political and social change is

almost impossible in societies in which the
ruling regime is directly legitimated by
religious symbols.

components

2. De-consecration (relativization) of values

The disappearance of securely grounded values

There are no longer the direct expression of the

divine will.

They have ceased to be values and have

become valuations

Week 4
Postmodernism;
Concept, development,
characteristics and principles

Concept of postmodernism

Literally, the word Post means a sequence or behind, and

the word modernism is a practice, usage, or expression
peculiar to modern times, a tendency in theology to
accommodate traditional religious teaching to contemporary
thought and especially to devalue supernatural elements

But when these two words combined, it gives new meanings.

Moreover, some writers view to differentiate two sense of the
word by how its written.

First is post-modern (with hyphen). This shows the

continuation of modernism, it might be in new perspectives.

Second is postmodern (without hyphen), it indicates

something fresh and new, nothing similar with modernism at
all.

Concept
In fact, postmodernism is a reaction towards
dominance culture of modernism. This is the real
problem which was faced by people in the early of
21st century until the present day
Nevertheless, postmodernism is not limited to art
and architecture alone, yet it is an universal
concept for every field of knowledge and human
affairs as well, eventually topples the roots of
modernism, as can be considered as the end of
modernism.

Concept

Historically speaking, the term Postmodernism has been

coined as early as 1870 by John Watkins Chapman when
he proposed an idea of a postmodern style of painting
as a reaction towards French impressionism.

Later, it was used to attack the change and attitude as

critique to social sciences, art, architecture, media, music,
movies, etc.

To sum up, postmodernism is a new concept or ideology

that is completely distinguished from modernism, it comes
to abolish the basic principles of modernism which were
lies beneath every single aspect of humans life.

Concept

The promoters and supporters of this ideology began

from Western thinkers, so it is important to know the few
propagators of this concept. Firstly, Jean Francois Lyotard
(1924-1998), a prominent French philosopher and
Sociologist popularised the term postmodernism after he
wrote the book The Postmodern condition: A Report on
Knowledge in English in1984. The essential point of this
book is to promote the universal skeptic for reviewing
universal theories.

Concept

Secondly, Jacques Derrida (1930-2004), a French

thinker, proposed a theory of deconstruction
which means a process of reconstructing literal
and philosophy texts, in the end comes out with
reformulate the revelation texts.

Thirdly is Michel Foucault (1926-1984)6, also a

French philosopher and historian who doubts
about the writing of history. He clearly stated
about the importance to be critical in history of
modernity as he argued about the dishonesty and
bias in writing the history in modern periods.

Development

It began with the age of Premodernism (before 1600s)

when people in the West commonly believed that God,
transcendent or supernatural realm are the source of moral
absolutes, rationality, human dignity and truth.

Indeed, it was supported by the prominent Christian

theologian St. Anselm who plainly stated that faith seeking
understanding. In other words, St. Anselm tries to imply by
believing God, people would attain the truth and reality of
this life.

No way for people to comprehend the world unless he or

she puts their faith in God persistently. Thus, in this stage
people are bound with blind imitation, the room of reason
and wisdom are not really welcomed.

Development

In the early of 17th century, the situation in the West is

slowly to change due to the emergence of modernism.
There are Christian philosophers such as Rene Descartes
who brings the idea of skepticism about the existence
of worldly life and the pursuit of absolute knowledge.

This idea has been developed due to Protestant

Reformation which was led by Martin Luther. This event
gives a massive impact to the skeptical foundation of
Descartes. His famous quote I think therefore I am is
reflected about self-consciousness of rationalism to
overcome doubt. In simple words, by process of thinking
people would come to believe the reality of this life.

Characteristics of
Postmodernism
i. Skepticism
-as the essence and innate nature of the structure of Postmodernism
-Truth as a subjective matter
-All worldviews are needed to be deconstructed and reevaluate in
order to trace the lies and bias imbued within the worldviews
ii. Anti-dualistic
-appreciations of various perspectives rather than conflicts
-pluralistic co-existence rather than dualistic approach

Characteristics
iii. Questioning texts
-no inherent authority or objectivity of the texts
either historical or literal or otherwise in revealing the
author's intent
-information provided by text might be partly true to a
particular group but not to others
-happening as uncertain, no authority knows what really
happened
-reevaluate text has to happen otherwise the text is not
relevant.

Characteristics

iv. The linguistic turn

-Postmodernists argues that language shapes
peoples thinking and that there can be no
thought without language. To them, language
literally creates truth.

Characteristics

Truth is a perspective matter. Truth is a

matter of context rather than being something
universal. Men only has access to reality the
way it appears to us. Man must acknowledge
that their thinking is shaped by forces beyond
their control. In order to diminish bias in
judgment, men cannot claim that truth
exclusively belong to them, that is a false
statement. Hence, truth just a mere reflection
based on ones belief or perception.

REFERENCES:

Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 2004, Accessed March 26,

2015, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postmodern.

Paul Newall, Postmodernism, Jun 12, 2005, Accessed March 27,

http://www.galileanlibrary.org/site/index.php/page/index.html/_/essays/introducingphilos
ophy/12-postmodernism-r28.

Hassan Ihab, The Postmodern Turn, Essays in Postmodern Theory and

Culture, (Ohio: Ohio University Press, 1987), 12.

Clinton Bennet, Muslim and Modernity (London: MPG Books Ltd,

Bodwin, Cornwall, 2005), 29.

Hans Bartens and Joseph Natoli, trans. Postmodernism: The Key

Figures (Oxford: Blackwell Publisher Ltd, 2002), 111-119.

Bertens and Natoli, Key Figures, 136-140.

Bertrand Russell, History

Routledge, 2000), 410-12.

of

Western

Philosophy

(New

York:

Principles of post-modernism
No

absolute truth, truth is relative, contingency is

everything

No

reality

Simulacrum:

Imagination and speculation

Meaningless

and valueless

Total

Doubt

Multiplicities

of truth, ethnicities, diversities, and

cultures
Equal

representation for class gender sexual

orientation

WEEK 5
the Islamic worldview
Definition by selected Muslim scholars

Definitions

A set of beliefs about fundamental aspects of Reality such as

God, man, universe, life after death and their relations that
influence all ones perceiving, thinking, knowing and doing

A theistic and ethical worldview that contrasts with

secularistic, materialistic, naturalistic and post-modernistic
worldviews

A study of the world, perception of the universe, a philosophy

of life, outlook on life, and formula for life, ideology and faith

A set of beliefs that life and existence came into being

as a result of the will, desire and design of the Creator.

A comprehensive conception of the universe and mans

relation to it, the vision of the reality and truth that
appears before one minds eye revealing what
existence all about

Understanding
the
fundamental
questions
pertaining to the issues of God, the existence of
the seen and unseen, universe, man, life, belief,
khilafah, ethical values and standard norms,
history and Shari`ah

A guidance of a balance approach between both

worldly life ( ) and al-akhirah ( ) in which
the dunia aspect must be inextricably linked to the
akhirah aspect, and in which the akhirah aspect
has ultimate and final significance

Defined by selected Muslim

scholars

A perception or an idea on issues pertaining to the Creator, universe

and its purposes, functions, Prophethood, man, society, and hereafter
as opposed by other worldviews (Abdul Hamid Abu Sulayman)

A comprehensive conception of the Allah (swt), universe and man

and their relations from Islamic perspective (sources: the revelation,
intellect and senses).(Kamal Hassan)

The vision of reality and truth that appears before our mind's eye
revealing the world of existence in its totality (Al-Attas)

A metaphysical survey of the visible and invisible worlds including the

perspective of life as a whole derived from the Divine source. (AlAttas)

Defined by selected Muslim

scholars

A mental framework, mental attitude, a totality

of concepts, ultimate foundation of all human
conduct,
scientific,
philosophical
and
technological activities developed by the
individual throughout his/her life (Alparslan)

A comprehensive Islamic design of reality

relating to human life, the epistemology of the
Divine Unity, the world reality and the world
system derived from divine source (Choudhury)

WEEK SIX
Characteristics of the Islamic
worldview

Al-Rabbaniyyah

(Divine

origin)
Al-Thabut

(The Permanent

Realities)
Al-Suhumul

(Comprehensive)

Al-Tawazun/Al-Wasatiyyah

(balance)
Al-Waqiyyah
Al-Ijabiyyah
Al-Tawhid

Allah)

(Realism)

(Dynamism)

(the Oneness of

Divine Origin (Al-Rabbaniyyah)

Divinely-revealed guidance originated from divine source and

ordained by Allah with all its constituents and characteristics
(Q.6:151)

Rabb

means Lord for all creatures, (no proper equivalent

meaning in English for Rabb), its Creator, Owner, Originator,
sustainer, Cherisher, Planner, and the Giver of security.

Rabbaniyyah

means Lordship (Q. 3:76), Cherishing, sustaining

and bringing to maturity, and Godliness (Q. 10.57, 1:1)

Understanding the term Rabb :

One

who brings up, rear, fosters or nourishes, or is

responsible for doing all or one or more than one of
these

Guardian,

patron; one who supervises or is responsible

for carrying out improvements

One

who occupies a central or focal position, who

himself gathers people round himself of his own or
round whom people gather out themselves

Leader,

head, chief, or lord; one whose word is obeyed,

and whose supremacy or over- lordship acknowledged,
and who has authority to dispose of men or things

Owner

or Master

Comprehensiveness (Shumul)

Islam: message of all time

Message of whole humanity

Message for all aspects of life

Comprehensive aqidah

Comprehensive ibadah

Comprehensive shari`ah.

Moderation/ Balance
(Tawazun)
Balanced

creation of nature/universe and

humans
Blanced

in Religion

Balanced
Balanced

Aqidah/belief/thought
Ibadah(worship)

Balanced

in actions

Balanced

Akhlaq (ethical values)

Balanced

Shari`ah

AlWaqi`iyyah(Realism/practicality)

Stand of various ideologies

Practical Aqidah

Practical Ibadah

Practical Akhlaq or Morality

Practical Shari`ah

 Stand

of various ideologies :

This concept contains certain unchangeable realities, so all

development and changes in the Islamic society must be
within the framework of these permanent realities
Communism:

Christianity s asceticism :

Buddhism and Confucianism:

Hinduism

Practical `Aqidah

18-( 110)

Practical `Ibadah

2- ( 286)-.

Islamic ibadah maintains variety in its kinds.

Physical endeavor such as prayer

Financial sacrifice such as zakah

The combination between two such as Hajj and

Umrah

Some ibadat are made daily, weekly, yearly,

and once in a whole lifetime

Practical Morality:

(
133
)

)(134

) (135 3-



-.

) (40 42-
-.
















) (126 16-
-.

Practical Shar`iah

Provided laws and guidance to lead every aspect of

human life in order to achieve the success of the
worldly life and the success of life after death such


as ( 32)







17--

Al-Ijabiyyah (Dynamism)

It is expressed in the active and ongoing

relationship of Allah with His creations, the
universe, life, and man. It also reflects on
Mans activities in his own sphere

Al-Tawhid (the Oneness of Allah)

The Oneness of Allah or known as Tawhd, is

the most paramount constituent of the Islamic
concept. It is the fundamental Truth of the
faith and chief characteristic of the Islamic
concept

Week 7
Allah ; Essence, Attributes and
Worship

The Essence of Allah

Believing

in Allah and His attributes as the part of Iman to be a

Muslim
His

essence is the One(wahid), Eternal (Ajaliyyun), Endless

(Abadiyyun), and unseen (ghaib), Creator, Judge, Omnipotent,
Merciful, Gracious, Cherisher of the Worlds, and the authority of
the Day of Judgement

His

existence in every where and nothing is like unto Him

Every
All

thing will perish but He (28:88)

attributes of perfection exist in His Essence

Climates,

command

joys, sadness and happiness happened by His

His essence

Allah as the cause of all causes

Verily, when He intends a thing, His command

is Be and It is (28:28)

His essence is as absolute, eternal and infinite

His Attributes

99 attributes of Him most beautiful names (al-asm al-usn) of Allh

These names have become objects of devoted recitation and meditation.

Among the names of Allh are:

a. Al-Hayyu (the attribute of being alive)
b. Al-Murid (the attribute of willing)
c. Al-khaliq (the attribute of being the Creator)
d. Al-Alim (the attribute of knowledge)
e. Al-Sami (the attribute of hearing)

Al-Bashir (the attribute of seeing)

Al-Qadir (the attribute of being the possessor of power

the Real Truth (al-aqq),

al-akm (the Wise)

al-Azz (the Omnipotent)

al-Alm (the Omniscient)
al-Ramn (the Benefactor)

al-Ram (the Merciful)

al-Ghafr, al-Ghaffr (the Constant Forgiver)

Al-Ilah
The connotation of the word ilah includes the
following:

The capacities:

to fulfill the needs of others

to give them shelter and protection

to relieve their minds of distress and agitation, superiority,

and the requisite authority and power to do all these

to be mysterious in some way or hidden from men's eyes,

and the turning of men eagerly to him

The Pre-Arabian concept of Ilah

Arab of ignorance regarded as ilahs were their

patrons and lords who would come to rescue them
during their danger time or difficulty time

rendered themselves safe from fear, molestation or

harm

They also believed that they could invoked their

idols/ilahs in times of distress or for fulfilment of any
of their needs

They included as ilahs, Jinns, angels, and gods, but

dead humans too

Quranic approach to Ilah

And He alone is the Ilah in the heavens and the Ilah in the
earth; and He alone is the all-Wise, the
all-Knowing (that is, He alone possesses the wisdom and the
knowledge required for governing such
a Domain. (43:84)

And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship]
except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially
Merciful.(2:163)

Allh! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever
Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. (3:2)

[All] praise is [due] to Allh, Lord of the worlds - (1:2)

Al-Khliq

Allah as the originator or creator of every thing

O Mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and

those before you, that you may become righteous (2:21)
The terms such as khalaqa, bada`, fatarah j`a`ala,
sawwa and bara` are used for the creation of things

That is Allh, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the

Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer
of all things. (6:102)

al-Mlik

Al-Malik means: The real authority and the Real King, Who is SelfSufficient in Himself and His attributes and needs nothing but all
things in existence need Him for everything

Say! O Allah , Lord of Power and Rule, you give power to whom you
want, and you stripes off from whom you want(3:26)

The term mulk has been mentioned 206 times in the Quran such
as malakat (possess) and mulku (dominion)

Linguistically Malik refers to the attribute of mulk; which points to

power and ability: They do not possess ability (13:16) , Mulk
also means possession and ownership The authority of the
heavens and earth ( 2:107)

Al-Hakim

Al-Hakeem means The All-Wise' 'The Judicious. 33 times are

mentioned in the Quran

His wisdom is ultimate who did not create and legislate anything in
vain

His divine will is His perfect wisdom who is just judge

His scientific creation is the symbol for people of understanding

His decrees, inflicts, and relieves are in the most rightful way,
place, and time

His All-wise is in His creating and perfecting, in His commanding,

His sayings and actions

O Musa! Verily, it is I, Allh, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise."(27:9)

Alif Lam Ra: A Book, the Verses thereof are perfected and then
elaborated from the Him, Who is All Wise, Well-Acquainted (with all

Week 8
Tawhid and
Mans Life

Its

Effects

on

Tawhid defined
The

word al-Tawhid derives from the word or , which

means unity or the One ( ( the One) is the oneness of
Allah (swt) which implies the essence of all reality premises

It

is as the central theme of Islam, which enables men to

understand everything that exists in the universe

The

oneness of His existence and words, which are identical

and infinite

Absolutely
As

no being worthy to be worshiped but Allah

the wider, the greatest and richest meanings in the whole

of Islam. Such as a whole belief, a whole value and morality,
a whole spirit and matter, a whole culture, a whole
civilization, a whole society, a whole politics and a whole
economy

Tawhid defined

Mans submission and adoration must be bowed

only to Him

He is the Eternal, absolute and no limited by time

and space and circumstances

Divine knowledge through which man may

understand the whole perception of tawhid

As a central theme, core belief, bedrock and

beautiful of Islam, which promote spiritual and
moral imporovements

Why do we need to believe in

Tawhid ?
Tawhid

as the backbone of Islam, which has two aspects:

nafi (rejection) and ithbat (affirmation)

As

the wider, the greatest and richest meanings in the

whole of Islam. Such as a whole belief, a whole value and
morality, a whole spirit and matter, a whole culture, a
whole civilization, a whole society, a whole politics and a
whole economy

As

the symbol of unity between human life and manifested

laws of other creations

Signifying

the relationship between Allah (swt), man and

universe. Man is His vicegerent, entrusted His power and
the universe is subservient to man

The

fundamental teaching of all prophets

Why do we need to believe in Tawhid?

As

mans innate or inborn natural quality

Man

is indebted to Allh for his existence

and sustenance

As

the essence of Islam

Freeing

a man from mental,

psychological, political, social, economic,
cultural and civilizational slaveries

Effects of Tawhid on Mans Life

1. Wider Outlook (17:44)
2.

Self Respect (7:194)

3.

Modesty(25:63)

4.

Virtuous Character (49:13)

5.

Optimistic Attitude (39:53)

6.

Determination And Perseverence ( 9:51)

7.

Bravery ( 62:8)

8.

Content Heart (3:73)

9.

Total Submission To Gods Commands ( 50:18)

Week 9
Universe

Concept and purpose of the

universe in Islam

The Quran contains a tantalizing allusion to this sign of

Cosmic Wonder:

Or were they created by nothing, or were they the

creators [of themselves]? Or did they create the heavens
and the earth? Rather, they are not certain. [Quran,
52:35-36]

Allah (swt) has made this universe in the most perfect

way. Everything has a balance, everything has a fixed
role to play in the workings of this universe. Even the
tiniest of ants has its place

Universe as Allahs creation

And the earth We have spread it and cast therein firmly set
mountains and caused to grow therein [something] of every wellbalanced thing. [15:19]

The sun and the moon [move] by precise calculation, and the stars
and trees prostrate. And the heaven He raised and imposed the
balance, that you not transgress within the balance. [55:5-8]

Also, It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the
night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming. [36:3840]

Allah (swt) clearly says in the Quran about the purpose of the
creation of mankind:

The ultimate purpose of creation: And I did not create the jinn and
mankind except to worship Me.(Surah Ad-Dhariyat 51:56)

Universe as Allahs creation

He (God) is the Originator of the heavens and the

earth (Quran 6:101)

Is not He who created the heavens and the earth

Able to create the likes of them? Yes; and He is
the Knowing Creator. His command is only when
He intends a thing that He says to it, Be, and it
is. (Quran 36:81-82)

Have those who disbelieved not considered that

the heavens and the earth were a joined entity,
then We separated them, and made from water
every living thing? Then will they not believe?
(Quran 21:30)

The concept of
ayat kawniyyah

The socalled cosmological verses or ayat kawniyyah

are frequently quoted as one of the many miracles
included in the Quran.

Do they not look into the realm of the heavens and

the earth and everything that Allah has created and
[think] that perhaps their appointed time has come
near? So in what statement hereafter will they
believe? (7:185)

Then do they not look at the camels - how they are

created? - And at the sky - how it is raised? - And
at the mountains - how they are erected? - And at
the earth - how it is spread out? (88:17-20)

The concept of Taqdeer

Qadeer derives from qdr , which has four meanings:

i. To have the power to accomplish, or to be capable to do

something
ii. To measure, to distribute something, or to make manifest.
iii. To decree or ordain
iv. To prevail the truth

This root appears 132 times in the Quran in 11 derived forms.

Examples of these forms are yaqdiru (he has power),
qaddarnaa (we have decreed), al-qadr (of power) and
qaadirun (is Able).

Taqdeer

The belief that everything that happened, is happening and

will happen is according to the knowledge, will and
command of Allah.

Linguistically it demonstrates that power is established as

an attribute of Allah and that He has absolute Power. He is
the One who is capable of doing everything, who has
perfect power over the creation, who measures everything
with perfection.

His ability combined with His infinite Knowledge makes Him

Al-Qadeer and He is in control of His creations destiny.

"God is the Knower of the future; He does not permit

anyone to unveil such knowledge. Only through the
messenger that He chooses does He reveal future and past
events" 72:27

Taqdeer

The Prophet, May Allah's peace and blessings be

upon him said, Verily a man is deprived of a
provision (that was written for him) because of a
sin that he commits; only supplication changes
destiny; and only righteousness can increase the
life span.

Allah states in the Holy Quran, Verily we created

man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try
him: so we gave him (the gifts), of hearing and
sight. We showed him the way: whether he be
grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will). (76:2-3)

Taqdir

Each of the objects that constitute nature has

been a purpose and its measure, destiny, and
role (25:2, 87:3)

Every thing is Qadaran maqdura (specific and

precise) (33:38)

Taskhir (subjugation) the

universe

In modern cosmological terms, taskhir refers to the high degree of

fine-tuning of the design-parameters of the universe for the support
of life on earth, and ultimately, conscious and intelligent human life

Taskhir is everything exists in the universe has been subjected to

serve man and for human utilization

And He has made subservient to you the sun and the moon pursuing
their courses, and He has made subservient to you the night and the
day. (14:34), 45:13, (16: 5,10-11, 68), (4:1)

The creation of the universe should be utilized to understand the

concept of tawhid and the significance of human relations(7:15)

Man are well-equipped to interact with the universe in a way that

actualizes the duties of being khalifah on earth and is responsible of
creating harmony between human beings and the universe

Taskhir (subjugation) the

universe

His creation is uncountable such as

He gives you of all that you ask for, but if you

count the favor of Allah, never will you be able to
number them (14:34)

This universe is as a place of settlement of

mankind and all facilities are provided for
utilization according to His rule (2:164, 7:15,
13:2)

Tasbih of nature

Tasbeeh means glorifying Allahs glory, power and signs, which

reflect the uniformity of tawhid such as

The seven heavens and the Earth and all they contain glorify
Him, and there is not a thing but extols His glory; but you do not
understand how they glorify Him. (17:44)

Everything in the heavens and on Earth glorifies Allah. [Srah

al-Jumu`ah: 1]

These verses speak about is the glorification of Allah that all

creation participates in by its very nature. This includes every
inanimate object in the heavens and the Earth, as well as every
living thing. We also participate in this glorification. Each limb of
our physical bodies extols Allahs praises, as does every cell and
atom from which they are composed. This glorification is inherent
in the very nature of created things.

The end of the universe

Allah is al-Aakhir, mean the One who is last the ultimate. He is the
One who remains after creations perish and He is the One beyond
whom there is nothing. (See 57:3)

We learn from the Quran that this world will come to an end: We
have adorned everything on earth, in order to test them, and thus
distinguish those among them who work righteousness.
Inevitably, We will wipe out everything on it, leaving it completely
barren" (18:7-8)

In Surah Ar-Rahmaan (26 and 27) Allah says that all the residents
of earth will perish and die. Even the residents of the heavens will
die, except whomever Allah wills. He is the One who remains.

O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and

indeed, the Hereafter that is the home of [permanent]
settlement. (40:39)

Week 10
Man: Origin and Fitrah

Mans origin and his fitrah

Origin of man:
Man is a multidimensional creature in Islam who stands
between the material and spiritual worlds and partakes the
nature of both
Man is created being originated by the command of Allah
from clay who needs resources of the material world for his
personal growth and social fulfillments
Spiritually, God breathed His own spirit into him that reflects
in mans fitrah and that constitutes the relationship to his Lord

Two crucial dimensions of man mentioned in

the Qur`an.
First dimension:
Man is addressed in his ultimate nature: his
essential characteristics and behaviors;
hence taking several integral features and
attributes, such as Insan (human being),
Bashar (mankind), Bani Adam (children of
Adam)
102

The Second dimension:

Man is as a moral being
oHis attributes mentioned in the qur`an such
as Khilafah (vice-gerency), Taqwa (piety),
Iman (belief), Islam (total submission to God),
and Ihsan (benevolence)
o His shortcomings/weaknesses such as Fujur
(immorality), al Kufur (disbelieving), Nifaq
(hypocrite), Zulm (injustice), fisq (evil act),
anger, and so on
103

Creation of man in Islam

Two shapes of mans creation:
i. creation of Adam ii. creation of his children
i. Creation of Adam
God fashioned Adam out of baked clay, which, when
organized into a human being, produces an extract,
sulalah (reproductive semen). When injected into the
womb, this semen undergoes a creative process, as has
been described the Quran.
God breathed His own spirit in to him so that from one
side the spiritual world is reflected in him, the part that
constitutes the relationship to his Lord.

ii. Creation of Adams children

"


And certainly We created man of an extract of clay;
Then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest,
firmly fixed; Then We made the sperm into a clot of
congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus)
lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the
bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another
creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!
(Quran 23:12-14.)

Mans position and his role on earth

1) Man is honorable creature above all

"

We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided
them with transport on land and sea; given them
for sustenance things good and pure; and
conferred on them special favours, above a great
part of our creation. (Quran 17: 70).

106

2) Man as Gods vicegerent on earth

"

"





It is He Who has made you (His) agents,
inheritors of the earth: He has raised you in
ranks, some above others: that He may try you
in the gifts He has given you: for your Lord is
quick in punishment: yet He is indeed Oftforgiving, Most Merciful. (Al-Anam, 6: 165)

107

Meaning of khalifah
Khalifah is the one who exercises delegated power
on behalf of the Supreme Authority. He is not the
master but the deputy of the One who has
entrusted him with power

Meaning of khalifah
Entrusted with certain powers to govern the world
Given freedom of action, choose right over wrong
Has duties and responsibilities to His Creator; to
himself, to his fellow men and to other creatures of
Allah.
Equipped with knowledge to establish justice.
Held responsible and accountable for all his
actions on the Day of Judgment.
Promised Paradise if he succeeds in fulfilling his
responsibilities and hell-fire if he fails to do so.
Allah sent Messengers to guide mankind [al-Araf (7):
35].
109

Functions of khalifah
To defend and maintain the religion
To protect the territory of Islam
To safeguard the citizen of the country
To head the political institution and guide the subordinates
To punish the evildoers and protect the society from
aggression
To maintain the public fund
To remember Allah (swt)
To obey completely the guidance of Allah

3) Man as supreme in creation

1) As a creature honored and honorable (17:70)
2) As an appointment of khilafah(2:30)
3) Acknowledging mans superiority over angles
(2:34)
4) As all creatures have been subjected to men
(2:29)
5) As a created being (21:67)
6) As a purposive being and an evolutionary being.
(23: 115-116)
7) As a moral being (Man has been created with
the purpose of pursuing moral struggle has been
affirmed thus).(11:7)

4) Man as worshipping being

a. Man is weak and susceptible to error (4:28).
b. Man is given to impatience (21:37)
c. Man suffers from sentimentalism (11:9-10)
d. Man is a contentious creature in order to provide true
arbitration and the consequent harmony and peace in
human relations. (8:29).

5. Man as physical and social

beings
a. Protect his life from harmful thing (2:195)
b. All things which harm physical health, prohibited
(2:168).
c. Abusing or damaging any limb of ones body is
prohibited (8:27).
d. Committing suicide is prohibited (4:29).
e. Physical cleanliness and development (8:60, 9:1080.

6. Man as a rational being

a. Balanced and healthy development of human knowledge in
all dimensions
b. Service to humanity in terms of correct and comprehensive
guidance
c. Spiritual and material achievements through knowledge,
especially empirical reality (35:28)
d. Improving knowledge through observation, experiment and
research in order to achieve the success of this world and the
success of life after death (34:46).

7. As a spiritual being
. Maintaining a constant attitude of respect and love
towards Allah (swt) for acquiring the blessing of Divine
pleasure and Divine love (5:57) Whom He will love and
they will love Him.
b. Faith in the unity of Allah (swt) perfects monotheism
and it implies loyalty to Him. (6:102)
c. Trust in Allah (swt) cultivates His goodness, mercy and
help. (39:9).
d. Submission to Him and improving relationship with
Him (5:26).
e. Seeking guidance from Him as the possessor and the
source of knowledge (1:5).
f. Showing respect to Him by believing in all His prophets
(3:179).
g. Disobedience and arrogance in respect of Him is
prohibited (32:15).
a

8.Man is born with the essential goodness or good innate

quality
9.Man as a weak creature and has a conflict in his nature
(3:14)
10.Man has limited freedom for realizing morality, the
moral ideas and what right and what is wrong (3:72-73).
11. Man is mortal and his final destiny is life after death
(2:2-5).
12. Man is an accountable and responsible to Allah (swt),
not to any one else on earth.

Mans innate characteristics

1. Man is a multifaceted being(not satisfied
with what he has..)
2. Mans sense of wanting
3. Mans morality
4. Mans sense of eternity
5. Mans sense of responsibility
6. Man is an impotent and weak being
7. Man is a being with conscience
8. Man has a nafs
9. Man has an intellect
10. Man has quality of love and affection

Mans innate characteristics

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Man is the slave of His sustenance

Self-centered
God-centered, fortunate man.
Rebellious, capricious man.
Needy being.
Unhappy and unfortunate man.
Fond of his stomach
Arrogant
The type given to drink
Lazy man

The Concept of Nuwuwwah and its

relevance to human life

Meaning of Nubuwwah
God has created no community of beings in the world
without a guide or leader.
God has created everything with a purpose and left
humanity with Prophets to guide them to spiritual,
intellectual and material perfection.
Prophethood is translated into Arabic as nubuwwah
(). Nabi refers to prophet who gives news from God
Prophetic experience has been described by Muslim
theologians as something out of ordinary experience

Nabi and Rasul

The two words are used interchangeably in the Qur'an,
the same person sometimes being called nabi and
sometimes rasul; while occasionally both names are
combined
The prophet has two capacities: he receives
information from God, and he imparts his message to
mankind. he is called nabi in the first, and rasul in the
second capacity, but there is one difference

Nabi and Rasul

Rasul is higher than nabi, because the rasul
brings a divine legislation with him, whereas
the nabi follows the legislation of the previous
rasul. Thus, rasul is also nabi, but a nabi may
not necessarily be a rasul.

Functions of the prophets

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

To be role model to humankind

To convey divine message to the people;
To explain the divine to the people;
To act as a role model-qudwatun hasnah.
To correct peoples wrong doings.

Relevance to mans life

1) It is the second primary source of Islam
The Prophet (SAW) said, I have left you with two
things. You will never get astray so long as you remain
attached to them; i.e. the Holy Quran and my Sunnah
2. It is an explanation of the Holy Quran

3.














)(33:21

4. Following the Sunnah of the Prophet is an

obligation upon every Muslim



"











(4:65)













5. Severe Punishment will inflicted upon those who
do not follow the Sunnah of the prophet. Allah (swt)
says in the Holy Quran,

"

"

6. The Prophet never told any lies. Whatever he
said is revelation from Allah (swt).
"



"



Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is
no less than inspiration sent down to him. [al-Najm
(53): 3-4].

Relevance to mans life

7) Obedience to the Prophet is obedience to Allah and
disobedience to him is considered disobedience to Allah
(SWT). Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran,

"

"
He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah; but if any
turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over their
(evil deeds). [al-Nisa (4): 80].

The termination of Nubuwwah

When the Quran says that the institution of Nubuwwah
( Prophethood) has been terminated

"
Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but
(he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the
Prophets (33:40), it means that the institution of Risalah
( Messengerhood) has also been terminated since
the closure of a general cadre automatically means that
the upper ones have also been terminated.
127

Week 11
Life: al-Dunya and al-Akhirah

Concept:
In Islam, there is not only the life of this
world but also life in the world to come.
This world is like a field in which our
actions are sown like seeds and they
grow into plants which are then
harvested in the next world, much like
the Prophet (p.b.u.h) saying: this world is
the growing field or the planting field for
the next world.

Al-Akhirah (the End, Hereafter)

Belief in al-Akhirah is a basic article of Islamic faith,
along with belief in God, His angels, His Books, and
His Messengers, Divine Decree and Predestination.
After the doctrine of tawhid and Revelation
All of the teachings of Islam would crumble if the
afterlife or the eternal life were to be denied.
It is therefore incomplete and indeed impossible to
discuss the teachings of Islam without referring to
the great significance that al-Akhirah possesses, not
only for mans final end but also for his life in this
world.

130

Al-Akhirah literally translates into English as the

last or the end as it deals with the ultimate destiny
of mankind and the world
Often enclosed within a Greek term eschatology,
means the science or teachings concerning the last
things
Al-Akhirah, in Islamic belief system, specifically
refers to the Hereafter
It signifies both the other and ultimate state of
existence in the world to come and the life of
everlasting duration, and the good or blessing of
the ultimate state of the other world. In both
senses, it is opposed to al-Duny, which means the
here-and-now of life and immediate and transient
values.
131

Names of al-Akhirah
The Day of Resurrection (Yawm al-Qiymah/alBath) when all the dead bodies will be brought back
to life and then assembled
The Day of Assembly Yawm al-Jam to stand trial
The Day of Judgment Yawm al-Dn and account
for individual deeds of commission and omission
The Day of Reckoning Yawm al-isb
It is also named in more than 40 ways in the
Quran such as al-Qriah, al-qqah, and Yawm alKhuld).

132

The Unbelievers and al-Akhirah

"

They say: "What! when we are reduced to bones and

dust, should we really be raised up (to be) a new
creation?" Say: Become stones or iron. Or created matter
which, in your minds, is hardest (to be raised up),- (Yet
shall ye be raised up)!" then will they say: "Who will cause
us to return?" Say: "He who created you first!" Then will
they wag their heads towards thee, and say, "When will
that be?" Say, "May be it will be quite soon! (17:49-51)
133

Why do we need to believe in alAkhirah ?

A manifestation of divine justice. Some criminals and
oppressed rulers may enjoy opulence and luxury until
the end of their life. On the other hand, other people
might be righteous and lead a virtuous life but did not
survive to reap the fruits of their labors. Instead, they
had been made a scapegoat for all sorts of crimes.




"

"
We shall set up scales of justice for the Day of
Resurrection, so that not a soul will be dealt with
unjustly in the least, and if there be (no more than) the
weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it (to account):
and enough are We to take account.(21:47; see also
10:61; 31:16)
134

The ends of the life must be clarified beyond

any doubt, so that men may see what they have
been striving for and what the true purposes of life
are...
The life indeed is incomplete if considered from
the perspective of this world alone, where values
are grounded in the transitory rather than the
immutable.











"But the Hereafter is better [in quality of life] and
more enduring [in duration]. (87:16-17).

135

Disputes, dissensions, and conflicts

orientations must be finally resolved.

of

human

"

"






Say: "You shall not be questioned as to our sins, nor
shall we be questioned as to what you do Say: "Our
Lord will gather us together and will in the end decide
the matter between us [and you] in truth and justice:
and He is the one to decide, the One Who knows all."
(34:25-26)
136

The Benefits of belief in al-Akhirah

Individual Benefits
Gives man a unique and valuable advantage with
a greater choice that has an eternal implication.
Prevents young people from wasting their lives in
transitory and trivial things.
Helps to endure the death of the loved ones.
Encourages people to live a responsible life, a life
of peace and tranquility
Prevents man from fearing the passing difficulties
of life
137

Social Benefits
Belief in al-Akhirah has the primary place in
preserving social security and preventing the spread
of corruption, crime and violation of law. It is a force
capable of taming the rebellious desires of the soul.
Its of the teleological implication of ones conduct
within ones society that will produce good citizens.
Anyone seriously concerned with his eternal abode,
will accustom himself with good behaviours and the
society will thus be protected from the crimes or
immoralities that he might otherwise have
committed
138

Civilizational benefits
Belief in al-Akhirah when everyone will be
accountable for his deeds and misdeeds will imbue
one with the sense of responsibility, which is a
condition of sustainable development. Man will
consequently choose the right course of action.
To conclude, we may ask is there anything to lose if
one believes in al-Akhirah and works for it? The
answer is one will lose nothing.

139

Week 12
Globalization: Definition,
advantages and disadvantages

Globalization defined
A process of integration and democratization of
the worlds culture, economy, and infrastructure
through transnational investment, rapid production
of communication and information technologies,
and the impacts of free-market forces on local,
regional and national economies

Globalization defined
-A global village and the expansion of global

linkage, which established a global consciousness

for the consolidation of world society
-A historical process and the result of human
innovation, which breaks down geographical and
geopolitical boundaries in order to make the world
into a single global village
-A borderless world and transparent in order to
have interconnection between societys cultures,
institutions and individuals worldwide Ulrich Beck
(2000)

Globalization defined
-A process by which capital, goods, services and labor

cross national borders and acquire a transnational

character, ideas, values and tastes across boundaries
which help to reshape local political institutions, social
relationships and cultural patterns
-The transfer of taste means shoes, drinks, and dress and
behaviors, the transfer of values means cartoons, comics,
films, languages, videos, and musicals and toys, and the
transfer of ideas means secularism, postmodernism, and
materialism into the mind of people(Muzaffar)
-The roots of the current globalization process are based on
the western colonial domination and imperial mentality;
major centers of economic, technological, political and
cultural power are under the control of the West, the
pattern and the pace are directed and determined by them

Advantages of globalization
Help reduce poverty by creating jobs and improving
incomes.
Information technology have helped disseminate
knowledge in many fields of study and disciplines.
Communication is cheaper and easier. Costs of
telephone calls as well as travel have fallen.
Communities although heterogeneous, can be more
cooperative now that are more means of
understanding each other.
Possible for humanity to have compassion for each
other when calamities natural or man-made
affect others.
Issues such as human rights and public
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accountability are brought to the fore.

Disadvantages of globalization
Environmental degradation due to unrestrained
logging activities of transnational corporations
whose sole aim is to multiply profits.
Economic disparities have been created. There are
stark regional disparities in poverty.
Basic necessities in life are set aside in favor of
profits. Many countries in the South have been
occupied with facilitating foreign investment in
industries that are lucrative to foreign markets and
forsaking the most fundamental needs of the
people.
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Disadvantages of globalization
Globalization aids the removal of national controls
over cross-border financial flows. Dramatic outflows
of capital from one country to another have caused
havoc in some currencies, particularly in Southeast
Asia.
Advances in technology aggravated by the outflow
of capital to low cost production sites in the South
has caused growing unemployment in the North,
which is an affront to human dignity.
Globalization has popularized the consumer culture.
Consumerism has given birth to materialism where
people are more interested in what they have rather
than the essential aspects of humanity.
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 Global consumerism is now forming a homogeneous

global culture where indigenous cultures of the South
are being replaced by Western cultures.
The global entertainment industry is propagating a
superficial American pop culture, which titillates the
senses and impairs the spirit.
Formal education systems are emphasizing technical
and managerial skills responding to market demands
and leaving aside traditional academic subjects. This
means that education is nothing more than acquiring
specific skills and techniques and less emphasis on
moral education.
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challenges of globalizaton

environmental crisis
the global order
post-modernism
the secularization of life
the crisis of science and technology
penetration of non-islamic values
the image of islam
the attitudes to other civilization
internal challenges
violation of human rights
feminism

Week 13
Liberalism: definition and
challenges

Liberalism defined
Liberal means:
a. a free mind from prejudice or discrimination
b. to reform a new idea of progress, tolerant of idea
and behavior
c. The way of thinking which is broad minded
liberal tradition in politics, for instance, should
have a religious tolerance, government by consent,
personal liberty, economic freedom and social
freedom etc

Liberalism defined
Liberalism a political philosophy based on belief
in progress, the essential goodness of the human
race, and the autonomy of the individual and
standing for the protection of political and civil
liberties;
Liberal means: broad-mindedness; especially not
bound
by
authoritarianism,
orthodoxy,
or
traditional forms.

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liberalism defined
Liberalism means:
* The primacy of individual freedom and
choice to believe in and to do according to his
will.
Religious law should be brought into open fully
dressed in reason and argument towards
exercising Islamic teachings in all aspects of
human life

Development
In 1904 a reformist Abdul Aziz al-Tasaalabi
wrote a book on Liberal spirit in the Quran in
Tunisia and Morocco, translated into Arabic
Ruhut Taharrur fil Quran
Issues: revitalizing womens role, tolerance,
rejecting fanaticism, reinterpretation of jihad
verses etc.
It also includes freedom of thinking, faith, and
action

Development
Hassan Hanafi (Egypt, born 1935) wrote: "There is no
one interpretation of a text, but there are many
interpretations given the difference in understanding
between various interpreters. An interpretation of a text
is essentially pluralistic. The text is only a vehicle for
human interests and even passions. ... The conflict of
interpretation is essentially a socio-political conflict, not
a theoretical one. Theory indeed is only an
epistemological cover-up. Each interpretation expresses
the socio-political commitment of the interpreter."

Developemet
Abdullahi An-Na`im (Sudan, born 1946) said: "there
is no such thing as the only possible or valid
understanding of the Qur'an, or conception of Islam,
since each is informed by the individual and
collective orientation of Muslims...."

Challenges
Liberal Muslims object to the implementation of
the Shariah on several grounds:
Against theocracy
For democracy
Rights of women
Right of non-Muslims
Freedom of thought
They call for the re-interpretation of the Shariah;
they argue that the revelation is divine, but
interpretation is human and fallible and inevitably
plural. Emphasize on reason and condemn Taqlid
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Challenges
Liberal Islam opposes the idea of theocracy- a
system of government comprised of priests, in
which laws of the state are believed to be the
laws of God. Liberal Islamists, like Ali Abd alRaziq and Khalaf Allah argue that the silence of
sharia regarding the form of government has
left it for human construction, so it depends on
their choice

Challenges
Liberal Islamists re-examine the tradition and
statements of Prophet(pbuh) and find them less
hostile to womens right that is conceived for
long generation after generation. They try to
reform the traditional society to extirpate the
gap between the fallen historical reality and the
desired model of Islam

Challenges
Liberal Islam has been denounced by many Muslims.
Hassan Hanafi (Egypt), Amina Wadud-Muhsin (United
States), Abdullahi An-Na`im (Sudan) are the
examples of Liberal Muslims
The proponents of Liberal Islam has been called by
so many names including Secularists and
Apostates.

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Week 14
Extremism: Definition, development,
manifestations, causes and remedies

Extremism defined

In Arabic, Ghulu means excessiveness and tashdid

bigotry

"

Say: O People of the Book! Exceed not in your religion the
bounds [of what is proper] (5:77)
In hadith, beware of excessiveness in religion before you
have perished as a result of excessiveness
Extremism means:
being situated at the farthest possible point from the
center going to great or exaggerated lengths
exceeding the ordinary, usual, or expected limit
Figuratively, a similar remoteness in religion,
politics
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and ethnicity

Extremism defined

Excessiveness as a strategic threat against the

security, stability and well-being
Excessiveness as a psychological disturbance
such as the difficulty of coping with depression
or mental disorder

Development
Extremism as an old phenomena found in
all religions such as Judaism, Christianity and
Islam
Religious extremism:
-In the early period, there were many sects
with different thoughts and beliefs such as
Al-Khawaarij, Mu`tazilah, and Al-Murjiah
and so on
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Misconception of Al-Khawaarij
A person who commits a major sin will remain in
the Hellfire forever
People against them are disbelievers and heaping
curses upon the companions of the prophet and
Ansar
Not to believe in the torment of the tomb ['adhab alqabr], nor in the Basin [Hawd], nor in the right of
intercession [shafa'a]

164

Misconception of Al-Murjiah
Actions are deferred from Iman (Al-Irjaa),
part of it

are not

Imaan is simply the complying of the heart. Thus the

sinner is a believer with complete Imaan, even if he
does what he does from the disobedient acts or he
abandons what he abandons from the obedient
acts.
If someone that abandons one of the commandments
of the Religion is a disbeliever, then that would be
due to the absence of the complying in his heart
not due to his abandonment of that deed
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Manifestations of Extremism
1. Bigotry and intolerance
2. Commitment to excessiveness and forcing
others to do so
3. Obsolete religious excessiveness and
overburdening toward others
4. Harshness in the treatment of people and
crudeness in calling people to Islam
5. Suspicion: O believers! Avoid suspicion as
much as for suspicion in some cases is sin
(49:12)
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Causes of extremism
1. Lack of knowledge of the Shari`ah
2. Lack of insight into reality and history as
well as Allahs Sunan
3. Laxity or indifference to Islamic values and
corruption
4. Fanned by political oppression practiced by
rulers or regimes
5. Hatred and aggression factors

Causes of extremism

Remedies for extremism

1.

2.

3.

4.
5.

6.

Acknowledging and confirming its genuine commitment by

practical adherence to Islamic principles in the conduct of
public affairs
Showing a greater understanding by scholars/older people
towards our youth and having frequent and open
discussions with them
Taking seriously effective steps to increase the young
peoples in-depth understanding of how to interpret the
Quran and hadith in order to achieve a true insight into the
Shariah
Increasing knowledge and in-corporeting values in practices
Sympathetic understanding of abilities, limitations and
circumstances of others

Having a dialogue with extremists to know the real

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causes