Abu Zayd Research Articles

Abu Zayd Ahmed ibn Sahl Al-Balkhi (850-934): A Pioneer in the Field of Psychotherapy and Mental Health.

Abu Zayd Ahmed ibn Sahl Al-Balkhi (850-934) was a versatile scholar during the Islamic Golden Age, who made significant contributions in mental health, psychology, medicine, geography, and philosophy.Al-Balkhidelved into the intricate connection between psychological and physical health, contributing to the early understanding of psychosomatic medicine. His innovative understanding of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression established the foundation for the subsequent development of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Al-Balkhi's multidisciplinary approach, shaped by the guidance of his instructor Al-Kindi and the intellectually vibrant atmosphere of Baghdad, enabled him to assimilate knowledge from other traditions. His enduring legacy is acknowledged for its tremendous influence on historical and contemporary scientific thinking, establishing his position as a trailblazing figure in mental health and psychology.This narrative reviewcombines historical and contemporary views to assess Al-Balkhi's lasting legacy in the field of psychotherapy and mental health.

Construction of an Islamically-Integrated Psychological Well-Being Model

Psychological well-being is defined as an individual’s overall functioning that includes fulfillment in various aspects of life, such as having positive relationships with others, personal mastery, autonomy, purpose and meaning in life, and personal growth. Despite the abundance of literature on psychological well-being, contemporary research has focused almost entirely on Western conceptualizations while often neglecting the cultural and religious factors that play a crucial role in defining it. The overall objective of this study is to conceptualize psychological well-being from an Islamic perspective, conducting a qualitative content analysis on two classical Islamic works, Abu Zayd al-Balkhi’s 9th century work entitled Sustenance of Body and Soul and Imam al-Birgivi’s 16th century work on The Path of Muhammad. The results of the analysis of these sources lead to the construction of a model consisting of three main themes and eleven subthemes. The results of the study are considered in relation to the existing literature, with a focus on the study’s contributions, limitations, and implications for future practice and research.

Early Muslim Scholars’ Conceptions of Character Development and Contemporary Applications in Mental Health and Well-being

Well-being, as a comprehensive phenomenon related to an individual’s emotional response and life satisfaction, has a vital importance for human beings today. Contemporary perspectives, such as the domain of positive psychology, have shifted from a pathology-oriented perception of well-being and have made efforts to include psychological and spiritual aspects in the picture. The aim of these modern approaches is to activate mechanisms of change and build positive qualities within a person. Similarly, the Islamic tradition has long emphasized the importance of physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being, with the spiritual dimension at the center of the purpose of personal development. Both modern psychological and Islamic theological perspectives consider character development as essential for increasing well-being. While modern psychology uses character development only as a tool to achieve self-actualization, an Islamic perspective includes, within the concept of self-actualization, the notions and objectives of purification from the evils of the world and the self and attaining the pleasure of God. Islamic scholars in the classical period emphasized the importance of keeping a balance between good and bad character traits within the conception of human well-being. This chapter will discuss the mechanisms and approaches to character development suggested by early Muslim scholars, such as Abu Zayd al-Balkhi (9th century), Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (112th1th century), Al-Razi (13th9th century), and Birgivi (16th16th century), as well as discuss possible contemporary applications in the light of modern psychological studies. It will put forth strategies for Islamically informed character development and their potential for implementation within Islamically-integrated psychotherapy and well-being counseling within contemporary contexts.

QIRÂAH FÎ KHIȚÂB AL-MAR'AH: A STUDY OF GENDER ISSUES IN THE BOOK DAWÂIR AL-KHAWF

This article examines gender issues in the thoughts of Naṣr Ḥāmid Abu Zayd as stated in his book entitled Dawâir Al-Khawf Qirâah Fî Khițâb Al-Mar'ah. Naṣr Ḥāmid was originally a follower of Al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun, who later turned into a liberal intellectual figure from Egypt who was known for his controversial and controversial thoughts. This study uses a literature study which refers to several main books of his works and is added to secondary sources in the form of several writings resulting from research on the thoughts of Naṣr Ḥāmid Abu Zayd. The results of this research show that Naṣr Ḥāmid criticizes the interpretations that have developed over time, especially regarding qiwâmah, inheritance, talak, polygyny and women's private parts (hijab). According to him, women are part of the substance that is rooted in human social existence in certain historical realities. These conditions of social relations determine the position of men and women equally in the social, cultural and intellectual framework. Both are equal as complete human beings. This thinking places him at the level of progressive thought and attracts many groups, which is sometimes in harmony with the ideas of early Egyptian Muslim feminists, namely Muhammad Abduh.

نصر حامدابو زید کے قرآن اور وحی سے متعلق افکار کا تنقیدی جائزہ

Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd was an Egyptian author. He is known for his mission of Quran’s hermeneutic, which challenged mainstream views. His views about Quran and revelation are new. He believes that Quran is the outcome of prophet’s (PBUH) discourse with the contemporary people. He says Quran is the collection of narrations interpreted by its narrator. Abu Zayd further states that Quran consists of contradictory orders and sharia laws and to solve them we need to describe Quran as the collection of dialogues. On the basis of such views, Quran no more consists everlasting teaching for all human beings. His serious objections on Quran need to express one by one. In this research paper, we will criticize Abu Zayd’s views after dealing with his theories along with arguments.

Relevansi Ilmu Ushul Fiqh di Era Kontemporer

Islamic law is used as a guide for Muslims in carrying out life, because Islam becomes a whole religion (kaffah) that regulates all aspects of life from small problems to big problems that exist according to the Qur'an and Sunnah. Shafi'iyah scholars explain that ushul fiqh is to look at the general legal basis by looking at its use as well as the person who performs ijtihad. This type of research uses literature research that takes data through information by obtaining library materials, data collection techniques for this research using documentation. data that has been obtained by reviewing and analyzing, both in the form of books, journals, research results. As well as by using descriptive analysis techniques. One of the uses of ushul fiqh is to provide legal basis capital by using the method carried out by mujtahid in providing new problem solutions in accordance with syar'i. The science of ushul fiqh continues to undergo renewal in the contemporary era because the problems are increasingly numerous and diverse, various theories are used to express opinions or laws to be determined, such as Fazlur Rahman through the theory of the Double Movement, Other thoughts related to the relevance of ushul fiqh science in the contemporary era are that there is a method formed by Abu Zayd with Ta'wil theory. In the book mafhum by Abu Zayd, in describing the invisible meaning in the text. In the sense that both implied and express meanings in the content of the law are discussed in the method from Abu Zayd.

From Textuality To Discursity; The Hermeneutics of Quran Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd

The agenda of Islamic renewal has declined due to the stagnation of the Al-Qur'an reading model that has occurred for thousands of years. Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd, an Egyptian intellectual, sees this happening because of the overlap between text and meaning as a consequence of the sanctification of the verses of the Qur'an as the word of God which contains absolute truth and creates the impossibility of interpretation beyond the literal meaning of the text. Responding to these conditions, Abu Zayd presents a thesis regarding the textuality of the Qur'an or that the Muslim holy book is a cultural product that contains objective meaning which must be revealed through an understanding of horizontal interactions with the socio-historical world. The implication is that the Qur'an is a textus receptus (received text/mushaf) which must be approached by borrowing various methodologies such as hermeneutics, semiotics and language. Only then, according to Abu Zayd, can the objective meaning of the text free from ideology and subjectivism be achieved. This paper will elaborate on the phenomenon of impasse in the meaning of the Qur'an along with Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd's methodological-hermeneutical proposal regarding both the textuality and the discoursiveness of the Qur'an. Next, some application of Abu Zayd's hermeneutics in usury, polygamy and hakimiyat will be elaborated.

PSYCHOTHERAPY: A COMPARISON OF ABU ZAYD AL-BALKHI AND CBT

Mental health problems are still prominent topics among countries in the last few decades, and Indonesia is no exception. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a healthy mental state entails individuals realizing and maximizing their potentials, effectively managing life's pressures, excelling in their studies and work, and making meaningful contributions to society. Promotion of the importance of mental health and its treatment has been abundant, but psychotherapy with a religious approach has not received much attention. This study reviews the thoughts of Abu Zayd Al-Balkhi as a pioneer in cognitive therapy, positive psychology, and its relation to the development of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which was first developed by Aaron T. Beck and further developed in the era of modern psychology. There are several similarities in Al-Balkhi's thoughts and the concept of CBT, including views on depression, its symptoms and treatment, as well as the importance of cultivating positive and rational thoughts in treating patients with psychological disorders. The difference between the two lies in the perspective of religiosity instilled by Al-Balkhi, that faith is important in observing worldly problems, and the awareness that true happiness lies in the hereafter. In addition, CBT has undergone significant development both in terms of the disciplinary aspects of psychology and its application in people's lives. The results of this qualitative study are expected to provide an alternative psychotherapy in dealing with mental health problems for Muslim communities.

Seeing Islam as a Social Fact: Hermeneutic Approach to the Quran in Abu Zayd's Thought

This study aims to discuss Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd's thoughts on the Quran as scripture. Using the type of literature study research, this article explains Abu Zayd's thoughts as contained in several of his writings. This study's findings state that Abu Zayd's argument that the Quran as a cultural product and cultural producer (muntaj tsaqafi and muntij tsaqafi) departs from Abu Zayd's approach, which sees Islam as a social fact. There is a big difference between Islam, studied as a social fact, and Islam, seen as a religious doctrine. Islam as a social fact demands objective and positive scientific work. Abu Zayd took a new approach to the Quran by shifting the direction of study from a vertical dimension to a horizontal dimension. The horizontal dimension referred to by Abu Zayd is the canonization in which the teachings of the Quran were spread gradually by the Prophet Muhammad. This article also concludes that Abu Zayd sees it as a text for studying the Quran. It is at this point that Abu Zayd uses a hermeneutic approach. It is at these two points that Abu Zayd said that his study of the Quran is based on the human aspect. What Abu Zayd means by studying the Qur'an, which departs from the human aspect with a horizontal dimension is also what is meant by Islam as a social fact in this article. In the order of writing, the article sequentially discusses the following points. The first part of this article reviews a brief biography of Abu Zayd, along with the social and political conditions that influenced his thinking. The second part explains the Quran as a text. And in the last section describes the Quran as a product as well as a cultural producer

Abu Zayd Al-Balkhi's Perspective on Depression: Countering Sadness with Cognitive Theory in the Book of Mashalih al Abdan wa al Anfus

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses today. Due to the considerable influence of depression in daily activities, sufferers experience deep sadness and grief and even take solutions by suicide. Although some doctors and psychologists have presented many solutions, depression is still a rampant mental illness at any time. In this case, a Muslim psychologist of Afghanistan origin named Abu Zayd Al-Balkhi, explained the various causes of depression followed by its symptoms and factors. Not spared from symptoms and factors, Al Balkhi also explained the steps and solutions for people with depression. The method used by Al-Balkhi that has never been done by Muslim psychologists before is with cognitive theory. Regarding depression, Al Balkhi's discussion was supported by earlier Islamic scholars who also wrote in his work on the prevention of grief (depression). This study used a literature study by collecting data and information on the importance of depression prevention and how to treat people with depression. The results of this study explain how important a person is in enduring feelings of sadness and loss that will result in depression.

Ilkhanid Wood Carvings in the Mountain Villages between Kashan and Natanz

AbstractThis paper surveys some wood carvings belonging to four mosques in the villages of Firizhand, Quhrud, Abyana, and Barzuk. Carved between the years 700/1300-1 and 705/1305–6, they consist of architectural elements such as doors, columns, and capitals. The recently found woodwork evidence from the demolished Jamiʿ mosque of Barzuk reveals that this building and its decorations were executed by a multiskilled artist, who was most likely a descendant of Abu Zayd. Moreover, the newly discovered columns from the Masjid-i ʿAli in Quhrud show that, in contrast to what was previously thought, the current building is not contemporary with its dated door and was erected in later centuries. Interestingly, these wooden mosques were built during the last years of Ghazan Khan's rule and witness his order to construct mosques in all the villages of the country. This woodwork offers significant insight into the artistic and cultural situation of the early fourteenth century.

Rereading Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s method of interpreting religious texts

The contemporary Qur’anic studies have been marked by amazing development. Various methods and approaches to understand the Qur’an are offered by the scholars. One of the prominent figures in this field is Nashr Hamid Abu Zayd. Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (1943–2010 M) is a highly controversial contemporary thinker. He is an Egyptian scholar who is accused of being apostate, because of his theory of qur’anic hermeneutic (the textual of Qur’an). This is reflected in his stances towards contemporary religious discourse and the approach to reading religious texts, especially the Quran, which requires reading according to a hermeneutic mechanism. His books ‘Naqd al-Khitab al-Dini (Criticism of Religious Discourse)’ and ‘Al-Takfir fi Zaman al-Takfir (Thinking in the Time of Atonement)’ caused a great uproar in the early nineties of the last century. Abu Zayd was accused of criticising atheists because of their stances on the text. Therefore, this study aimed to discuss Abu Zayd’s position on contemporary religious discourse and his new approach to reading religious texts, and also aims to discuss why Abu Zayd’s theory has been string up Islamic world and ending by his expulsive from his native country. To deal with this problem, this article discusses Abd Zayd’s biography and some cultural framework of his people. The methodology of Qur’anic hermeneutic is the least his. Having examined the topic, the author finds that Abu Zayd believes that modem literary theory and criticism denote the way to understand and interpret the Qur’an ‘objectively’. The contribution of this research is discussing Abu Zayd’s contemporary religious discourse and his new approach to reading religious texts.Contribution: The contribution of this research is discussing Abu Zayd’s contemporary religious discourse and his new approach to reading religious texts.

Syntax By Abi Zaid Al-Ansari And Its Impact On Teaching The Arabic Language/ الإعراب لأبي زيد الأنصاري و أثره في تعليم اللغة العربية

Abu Zayd al-Ansari is one of the oldest and most reliable linguists, who transmitted and narrated it by hearing from the Arabs, and mentioned in his anecdotes strange words, which he was the source of, and exalted it and revered it, and a group of great imams participated in its explanation. Because of the importance of grammar in the Arabic language, many grammatical issues occurred in the book, which are considered assets of Arabic grammar, and something related to syntax occurred in it ,And the importance of expression in the science of grammar, and the fact that the expression is strongly adopted in understanding the meanings, and perhaps one movement changed the meaning to another meaning. The purposes of this research are 1. Test the extent of Abu Zayd's grammatical involvement 2. Was the Book of Anecdotes home to the usual grammatical dispute 3. Are there radical differences in the expression between grammarians. The methodology by collect those issues that related to the expression, and then analyze them. The results were summarized in 1. The importance of expression in understanding the meanings 2. Abu Zayd was like all grammarians 3 Commentators did not go too far into the exact characteristics of the expression4- They did not go outside the general framework of a linguistic book.

A Critique of the Concept of Ḥākimiyya: Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s Approach

This article seeks to demonstrate how the Egyptian scholar Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (d. 2010) challenges the concept of divine sovereignty (ḥākimiyya), or the rule of God, developed during the twentieth century, primarily by Sayyid Qutb and Abul Ala Mawdudi—a concept that has inspired many Sunni Islamist movements. The article first explores key aspects of the concept of ḥākimiyya as presented by these two thinkers. Then, key components of Abu Zayd’s humanistic hermeneutics are explained briefly. The article argues that Abu Zayd uses this hermeneutic to challenge the concept of ḥākimiyya and the three main ideas associated with it: (1) the notion of divine sovereignty; (2) the associations between divine sovereignty, the Prophet, and the Qurʾān; and (3) the necessity of implementing Sharia. The article concludes that while challenging the concept of divine sovereignty, Abu Zayd argues for a political theory which seeks to de-politicize Islam—a theory which emphasizes that the state should take a neutral position toward the religious orientation of its citizens and the state law should not necessarily be derived from religious principles.

THE ROLE OF THE SCHOLARS OF MAWARANNAHR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF USUL AL-FIQH

The purpose of the article is to study the contribution of scholars of Mawarannahr to the formation and development of the theory of Islamic law – Usul al-Fiqh. The study examines the factors that led to the emergence of Usul al-Fiqh in Iraq and its subsequent spread in the East. The article analyzes the scientific activity of the scholars of Mawarannahr and the influence of their works on the development of Usul al-Fiqh. We have studied written sources on Usul al-Fiqh in the region and their features. New concepts and methods were introduced into the science of Usul al-Fiqh through the books of Mahasin ash-Shari’a by Qaffal Shashi, Taqwim al-Adilla of Abu Zayd Dabusi, and Usul al-Bazdawi of Fakhr al-Islam Ali Bazdawi. We researched the scientific activity and works of such faqihs as Shams al-A’imma Muhammad Sarakhsi, Fakhr al-Islam Ali Bazdawi, Alauddin Samarkandi, Abu Hafs Umar Nasafi, Hisamuddin Akhsikati, Nizamuddin Shashi, Abul Barakat Nasafi, Sadr ash-Shaheed Ubaidullah ibn Mas’ud Bukhari. The article provides valuable information about such works as Taqvim al-Adilla, Usul al-Bazdawi, Usul as-Sarakhsi, Mizan al-Usul, Manar, at-Talwih, and sharhs and hashiyas on them. In conclusion, we explained the importance of works on the science of Usul al-Fiqh for understanding the theoretical foundations, goals, and essence of Islam

Polygamy in Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s Perpective

Polygamy is still a debatable topic. It is founded on QS An- Nisa's which permits having more than one wife under fair conditions. Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd was one of the mufassir figures who attempted to revise the previous mufassir figures' beliefs or interpretations. He tries to elaborate the polygamy verse's implicit meaning using his hermeneutic method. Abu Zayd's technique is divided into two parts; importance and maghza. The significance meaning things can be determined by recalling the time. Maghza is a word that does not appear in the stanza. Hence, the underlying meaning of the text is that monogamy exists because a husband's justice is unachievable.

MORDVA - SUPRA-ETHNOS; MOKSHA, ERZYA - SUB-ETHNOSES? (Experience of interdisciplinary dialogue)

The prominent Mordovian historian-ethnologist N.F. Mokshin chronologically and consistently presented information about Mordovians, Moksha and Erzya in the mass-political publication "Mordovia through the eyes of foreign and Russian travelers". This information was taken from Iordan, Konstantin Bagryanorodnyj, Rubruk, Joseph, Strabo, Ptolemy Claudius, Abu Ishaq al'-Farisi al' Istakhri, Abu Zayd al-Balkhi, Ibn-Haukal', Julian, H. Fren, P.S. Savel'ev, A.Ya. Garkavi; “The Tale of Bygone Years” (Povest Vremennykh let), V.N. Tatishchev, P.I. Rychkov, P.S. Pallas, Johann-Gottlieb Georgi and others recent and modern historians and ethnologists. In the proposed publication, a comparativist, a specialist in comparative historical linguistics, gives consistent comments to those presented by N.F. Mokshin's views, assumptions and conclusions of travelers, geographers, historians, ethnologists, among whom there was not a single professional linguist. In particular, there are doubts about the rapprochement of the modern ethnonym Erzya with exoethnonyms: Aors (Strabo), Arsiites (Ptolemy Claudius), Aris (Joseph), which are offered other explanations. It is clarified that Artania, as one of the three names of the Eastern Slavs (Rus, Slavia, Artania) mentioned by K. Bagryanorodnyj, should be read [Art̠āniya] in the Latin transliteration of the Arabic original. [Arsaija / Ersanija] readings are distorted; therefore, the archetype of the modern ethnonym Erzya is erroneous. The idea is that the urbanonym ‘Art(a)’ and the name of the country Artania both have a Turkic-Bulgarian origin and the real basis ‘Art’ (“back”; “backside”; “north”, etc.), being the equivalent of the ancient name of northeastern Russia - Zales’e, which had not only a geographical, but political dimension.

Ideological Apparatuses of Shari’ a and Reproduction of Domination: A Critique on the Book “ The Circles of Fear”

In this manuscript, we try to examine the connection between the interpretation of the sacred text, the ideology of language, and the apparatuses of domination in Abu Zayd`s “Circles of Fear: Reading the Discourse about Women” with a focus on the issue of women. “Circles of Fear” is based on the text-based historical hermeneutics and Abu Zayd has a post-secular humanistic approach. In “Circles of Fear” he has used critical approaches such as subaltern theory and critique of ideological apparatuses within the framework of historical structuralism, and in addition to his Qur'anic views, he has also developed a kind of critical political sociology. In Abu Zayd’s critical theory, the abstractedness of the situation arises from the intertwined relations of Shari'a, political economy, and ruling power. In his analysis, we can see a net of power that overshadows the exploitative financial and economic relations and the interpretation of Sharia and with its repressive mechanisms, prevents critical awareness in the social space. This refusal of awareness in the Egyptian space is more severe and worse for women. This article reviews Abu Zaid’s views critically in five parts: Abu Zaid and critical theory of society; reconstruction of reawakening discourse and the history of Etzali belief; women in crisis discourse, the ideology of language and the production of domination; the defeat and historical decline and critique of anti-woman practices and discourses on the eve of the transition to the information age; and the critique of the commodification of women.

THE BEGINNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCIENCE “USUL AL-FIQH” IN MAWARANNAHR

The purpose of the article is to study the contribution of scientists of Mawarannahr to the formation and development of the theory of Islamic law – usulu-l-fiqh. The study examines the factors that led to the emergence of usulu-l-fiqh in Iraq and its subsequent spread in the East. The article analyzes the scientific activity of the scientists of Mawarannahr and the influence of their works on the development of the al-fiqh method. We have studied written sources on usulu-l-fiqh in the region and their features. New concepts and methods introduced into the science of usulu-lfiqh through the books of Kaffal Shashi Mahasinu-sh-shari’a, Takvimu-l-adilla of Abu Zayd Dabusi, and Usulu-l-Pazdawi of Fakhru-l-Islam Ali Pazdawi. We researched the scientific activity and scientific works of such faqihs as Shamsu-la’imma Muhammad Sarakhsi, Fakhru-l-Islam Ali Pazdawi, Alau-d-din Samarkandi, Abu Hafs Umar Nasafi, Hisamiddin Akhsikati, Nizamiddin Shashi, Abul Barakat Nasafi, Sadrush-shaheed Ubaidullah ibn Mas’ud Bukhari. The article provides valuable information about such works as Takvimul-adilla, Usulu-l-Pazdawi, Usulu-s-Sarakhsi, Mizanu-l-usul, Manar, at-Talvih and comments and annotations to them. In conclusion, the importance of works on the science of usulul-fiqh for understanding the theoretical foundations, goals, and essence of Islam is explained

Pendekatan Kognitif dalam Teori Kesehatan Mental Al-Balkhi: Psikologi Positif di Abad Keemasan Islam

This research is to present a ninth-century Muslim polymath, Abu Zayd Al-Balkhi,and his theoretical contribution on the formation of the epistemological equilibrium betweenmental disorder and mental health which tends to be separated in the history of Westernpsychology. In his phenomenal treatise, The Sustenance of Body and Soul, Al-Balkhi made abridge between ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ psychology in the common clinical approaches. Thisstudy also reveals the cognitive therapy approach as Al-Balkhi’s authentic finding in the Islamicworld, an approach well known long before modern psychology developed. Particular attentionis paid to Al-Balkhi’s emphasizes in positioning his theory of mental health, especially in apositive approach, in such as a pioneer of the Western psychological one.