(UNGS 2040)

STANDARD CONTENTS

© Department of General Studies, 2008

ISLAM: KNOWLEDGE AND CIVILIZATION

Definition of Knowledge

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Al-‘ilm (العلم) /Knowledge

Al-‘ilm (العلم)

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• 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.,

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• 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.,

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• 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 ال إله إال الله) 47 :19(.

- Theology (عقيدة), Principles of Jurisprudence( صول الفقهأ ) etc.

Opposite of العلم

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لظنا : Conjecture•Uncertainty•Not supported with decisive proofs•It might accord with the reality and it might not

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• doubt : الشك• لجهلا : ignorance • foolishness : السفة• misguidance :الضالل

….cont.,

Degrees of Certainty

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knowledge: العلم•Certainty, conviction (القين/القطع)•Accords with the reality•Certainty by observation عيناليقين•certainty through knowledge

اليقن علم•Certainty through experience

اليقين حق

Importance of Knowledge

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

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• Iض KرM Kاأل فIي QلIاعMج Uي Iن إ IةM Iك ئ MالMمK Iل ل Mبك Mر MالMق KذI وMإفIيهMا eد IسKفe ي KنMم فIيهMا eلMعKجM Mت أ eوا قMال oةMيفI ل Mخ

eسUدMقe وMن MكIدKمMحI ب eحU ب Mسe ن eنKحM وMن MاءMمUالد eكIف KسM وMي( MونeمM MعKل ت Mال مMا eمM MعKل أ Uي Iن إ MالMق MكM MدMمM( 30ل آ Mم| وMعMل

MالMقMف IةM Iك ئ MالMمK ال عMلMى KمeهMض MرMع eم| ث |هMا eل ك MاءMم KسM Kاأل( MينIقIادMص Kمe Kت eن ك KنI إ Iء MالeؤMه IاءMم Kس

M Iأ ب Iي eون Iئ Kب نM ( 31أ

MتK Mن أ Mك| Iن إ Mا Mن |مKت عMل مMا Iال| إ Mا Mن ل MمK ل Iع Mال MكM ان MحK ب eس eوا قMال( eيمIكMحK ال eيمI KعMل KهeمK( 32ال Iئ Kب ن

M أ eمMدM آ Mا ي MالMق KلeقM أ KمM Mل أ MالMق KمIهI مMائ Kس

M Iأ ب KمeهM Mأ Kب Mن أ Mم|ا فMل KمIهI مMائ KسM Iأ ب

eمM MعKل وMأ IضKرM KاألMو IاتMاوMم الس| MبK غMي eمM MعKل أ Uي Iن إ Kمe Mك ل

( Mونeمe Kت Mك ت Kمe Kت eن ك وMمMا MونeدK eب ت (33مMا

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2. The first revelation to the Messenger of Allah is about seeking knowledge and revealing scientific knowledge:

UكM”أقرأ باسم ب Mالذىخلق *خلق االنسان من ر علق *اقرا وربك االكرم *الذى علم

بالقلم *علم االنسان ما لم يعلم“ )5-1(العلق:

……Cont.,

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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.,

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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.

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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.,

……cont.,

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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.,

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8. Knowledge is the way through which people can recognize Allah, fear him, and discover the truth.

Mونe KمeؤKمIن KهeمK وMال I مIن Kم KعIل اسIخeونM فIي ال MكIنI الر| ”ل “ MكIلK KزIلM مIنK قMب ن

e KكM وMمMا أ Mي Iل KزIلM إ نe IمMا أ eونM ب eؤKمIن ي

)162(النساء: “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…”

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 ” MلIزK نe |ذIي أ KمM ال KعIل eوا ال eوت |ذIينM أ ى ال MرM وMي

IلMى MهKدIي إ KحMق| وMي UكM هeوM ال ب Mر KنIم MكK Mي Iل إKحMمIيدI“ (سبأ : KعMزIيزI ال اطI ال MرI6ص)

“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.,

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9. Knowledge elevates the status and position of its bearer and makes difference between him and ignorant.

eوا eوت |ذIينM أ eمK وMال Kك eوا مIن |ذIينM ءMامMن |هe ال فMعI الل KرM ”ي“ (المجادلة: ªاتMج MرMد MمK KعIل )11ال

“Allah will raise up, to high ranks those of you who believe and who have been granted Knowledge…”

……cont.,

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Kمoا وMقMاال ل Iع MانMمK Mي ل eسMو MدeاوMا دM Kن Mي MقMدK ءMات ”وMل KنIم ªيرI Mث Mا عMلMى ك Mن |ذIي فMض|ل |هI ال Iل KحMمKدe ل ال

:) “ MينI KمeؤKمIن MادIهI ال ب Iالنمل)15ع

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.,

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Iي ” وUبM Mالe أ ب IاجM |ا فMضKالo ي Mا دMاوeدM مIن Kن Mي MقMدK ءMات وMل

)MيدIدMحK Mهe ال |ا ل Mن لM KرM وMأ نI 10مMعMهe وMالط|ي

M ) أeوا دI وMاعKمMل Kر IغMاتª وMقMدUرK فIي الس| اب Mس KلMمKاع

) QيرIصM MعKمMلeونM ب IمMا ت Uي ب Iن ا إ oحI )“ 11صMال(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."

……cont.,

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”قل هل يستوي الذين يعلمون والذين )9ال يعلمون“ (الزمر:

“ Say: “are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?”

……cont.,

Purpose of knowledge

Divinely Worldly

To recognize God To benefit man

Pleasure of God

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