MUSLIM THOUGHT AFTER MUSA BIGIYEV: SEARCHING FOR A SYNTHESIS OF THE QUR’ANIC REVELATION AND MODERN TRENDS

Abstract

The author develops the idea of a well-known Tatar theologian Musa Bigiyev that Islam is a religion of a reasonable faith. The article considers Qur’anic calls for rational knowledge of the world, the past Muslim thought and philosophy. Proceeding from the fact that the contemporary Muslim thought is in crisis, outlining of the ways to overcome the crisis is attempted. The articles also outlines a program to comprehend the modernity from the standpoint of the Qur’anic revelation. The following topics of primary importance are accentuated: the relevance of Islamic philosophy, the classical problem of metaphysics and anthropology, the unity and diversity of humanity, religious diversity, tolerance and mancipation. Benchmarks for each topic are delineated which enable to bring together the Qur’anic revelation and modern trends. It is inferred that the negligence of the abovementioned problems can imply the ignoring of the Qur’anic call for a reasonable faith, i.e. the ignoring of God’s call to all people.