Islamic Philosophy Research Articles

“All knowledge is either conception or assent”. On the history and significance of a fundamental distinction in Islamic philosophy

ABSTRACT Following Aristotle, classical Islamic philosophers distinguished between two types of knowledge: conception and assent. This paper argues that the discussions elicited by this distinction are an essential feature of postclassical Islamic philosophy (ca. 1200–1800). The early postclassical philosophers made the distinction central to logic and thereby to epistemology and scientific inquiry at large. As the distinction came to be perceived as problematic, it sparked philosophical arguments about a range of issues in logic and epistemology. One particularly pertinent problem was the nature of the distinction itself: it was understood as an exclusive disjunction, but it seemed impossible to define one notion without recourse to the other. In the fourteenth century this led to the emergence of a new genre of philosophical writings exclusively dedicated to discussing the precise nature of the distinction. This paper discusses some of the central arguments of these writings, showing how philosophers grappling with that problem devised new theories of judgement and new forms of the proposition as they were continuously developing their theory of knowledge.

Pemikiran Pendidikan Islam dalam Perspektif Az-Zarnuji

Focusing on its comprehensive approach to character formation and individual growth, through analysis of the educational thought of Az-Zarnuji, a famous Islamic thinker from the 12th century. The purpose of this article is to examine Az-Zarnuji's writings about education in order to understand his beliefs in educational ideals, pedagogical approaches, and the importance of character education. This study analyzes Az-Zarnuji's main points by utilizing a text analysis and literature review approach. Based on his findings, Az-Zarnuji concluded that educating people to be happy and successful both in this world and the afterlife is the main goal of education. An emphasis on active learning, conversation, and reflection characterizes his pedagogical approach, which integrates theoretical understanding with real-world experience. Az-Zarnuji continued, character education is very important to create ethical and responsible humans. This article examines an educational initiative spearheaded by Az-Zarnuji to spread core ethical principles, including compassion, humility, perseverance, and honesty. The ideas put forward by Az-Zarnuji are very relevant considering modern educational practices. In this essay, we see how Az-Zarnuji's educational philosophy can influence the creation of a character-based curriculum and how teachers can provide the best service to their students by being an inspiration and role model. Teachers can do their part to instill strong moral character and commendable traits in the next generation by familiarizing themselves with Az-Zarnuji's educational philosophy and practicing its teachings.

ВЕЛИКАТА МУЗИКАЛНА КНИГА ОТ АЛ ФАРАБИ – СРЕДНОВЕКОВЕН ОБРАЗЕЦ ЗА МУЗИКАЛНОТЕОРЕТИЧНО ИЗСЛЕДВАНЕ

The Great Book of Music (Kitab al-Musiqa al-Kabir), by the Golden Age Islamic philosopher al-Farabi, is a X th. century treatise on music in Arabic. It consists of two parts, the first being an introduction in which the definition of melody and its subdivisions, the origin of music, and some acoustic problems are discussed. The second part is devoted to the specifics of musical instruments popular among Arabs, the variety of rhythms, and the composition of melodies. Influenced by Pythagoras' theory of harmonic relationships, Farabi gives us a detailed definition of music, reveals its categories, and describes the elements from which a musical work is formed. The author systematically and subversively explains the importance of induction, and supports his theory emphatically by evidence, asserting that many of the principles he derives are acquired through sense experience, as in astronomy, optics, medicine, and other sciences.

Nosiruddin Tusi’s Gnoseological and Logical Views as Well as the Author on these Issues Examples from his Works

This article analyzes the attitude of the famous representative of Arab-Muslim social thought, Nasiruddin Tusi, to the issue of epistemological and logical science. Abu Ja'far Muhammad Nasiruddin Tusi wrote works of great importance in Islamic philosophy and ethics. Philosophical views of the thinker continued the traditions of the ideas of Mashshoyiuna direction.

From ''Dependent Translation" to "Creative Translation'' by Taha Abdurrahman

This paper undertakes a critical and analytical examination of the transformative dimensions of translation as conceptualized by the Moroccan philosopher Taha Abdurrahman. Central to Abdurrahman’s intellectual project is the call to transcend the pervasive Eurocentrism that characterizes contemporary translation theories. Abdurrahman offers a nuanced critique of the translation methodologies employed during the Abbasid period, particularly the uncontextualized appropriation of Greek philosophy. He contends that this approach led to the marginalization of Islamic philosophy, reducing it to a mode of mere transmission and dependency, initially on ancient Greece and subsequently on the modern West. To address these historical inadequacies, Abdurrahman advocates for an innovative translation strategy termed taʾṣīliyya, which translates literally to “authenticating.” This strategy emphasizes a transformative process whereby the source text is integrated into the receiving culture, aligning with its specific epistemic and cultural needs, irrespective of the original context. Abdurrahman posits that this method is essential for fostering an autonomous Arab/Islamic philosophical tradition, one that is not subsumed under external theoretical paradigms, even if this necessitates deviating from conventional criteria of accuracy and faithfulness. This paper critically engages with the theoretical foundations and proposes practical applications of Abdurrahman’s translation paradigm. It situates his framework within the broader historical trajectory of translation in the Arabic intellectual tradition and contemporary translation studies. Furthermore, it interrogates the theoretical and methodological ramifications of eschewing conventional norms of fidelity and accuracy, notwithstanding their entrenched and restrictive nature.

Employment of Zakat Funds in Islam: A Jurisprudential Study

Zakat is mandatory contribution in Islam. It is the command (Pherman) of Allah revealed in holy interaction/discourse of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) with Allah. Islam stands for social and economic solidarity among the followers of Islam. It seeks to provide the basic needs of the individual out of the Zakat contribution pool. For this study, the aim is to discuss the noble and holy idea of employing zakat funds. The employment of Zakat funds are permissible in certain forms and prohibited in some. This distinction is made from the perspective of Islamic jurisprudence. The study proceeded with this aim and reached the following results: (i) the employment of zakat funds is undoubtedly meant for helping the poor, disabled, destitute, and sick or orphaned individuals. (ii) Zakat has five forms in which Zakat funds are deployed/dispensed; (iii) Zakat funds take the form of investment; (iv) Zakat funds are meant to be spent in public interests; (v) Zakat funds are converted into endowments. The forms of spending (iii) and (v) are prohibited by some jurists. They contend that the permissible forms of fund-employment are: (a) providing a vocational tool (felicitation giving equipment such as tools, instruments or other things) to the needy; (b) establishing projects that benefit the poor as a privileged group/class. The study makes recommendation that Zakat controlling institutions should take care of employment of Zakat resources-pool/reservoir in providing jobs to the unemployed poor and others eligible as per Islamic philosophy and the provision of vocational tools, instruments or equipment so that the eligible poor skilled individuals are able to work more efficiently to earn their livelihood.

Размышление о понятии совести: сравнительный анализ подходов в арабо-тюркской исламской философии

The concept of conscience is one of the main unsolved problems of moral philosophy. It is of great importance to reveal the discussions about this con­cept until today collectively on the philosophical level, in terms of clarifica­tion the questions related to the source of morality and moral propositions and the subjectivity or objectivity of ethical values. We can evaluate the ex­planations related to the concept of conscience in two categories as etymolo­gical and terminological. While explanations on the etymology of the con­cept are naturally based on classical dictionaries, conceptual explanations are based on classical, medieval and modern Western and Islamic moral philo­sophy texts. The main purpose of the study is to discuss the moral content of the concept of conscience in the light of Islamic philosophies compara­tively, based on the basic works related to the concept in Islamic thought. The main thesis of the study is that conscience is a deeply appealing power that has metaphysical, psychological and epistemological aspects. Conse­quently, we can define conscience as a spiritual force with cognitive, emo­tional, and voluntary aspects

Testimonial Knowledge in Classical Kalām and Islamic Law

Abstract Many social epistemologists suggest that testimonies may be considered a valid source of knowledge, no less than, for instance, direct observation. In this article, I will focus on the accounts of testimonial knowledge in classical kalām and Islamic law. I will present the arguments for why Islamic philosophers and jurists believe that testimonies convey knowledge. I will address the main disagreement in Islamic philosophy regarding the nature of testimonial knowledge, whether we can apply an internalist model of epistemic justification to testimonial knowledge or not. I will suggest that the best way to understand the traditional view on testimonial knowledge in Islamic philosophy and law is as “weak testimonial reliabilism”: testimonial knowledge typically results from the occurrence of certain external conditions (of which we might be unaware), even though they hold only insofar as our experience of this world tells us so, and may not hold in another possible world.

The Late Medieval Debate about the Nature of Phenomenal Reality in Franciscan Theology and Islamic Thought and its Greek Sources

The tendency to question the accuracy of sensory perception is found in various medieval theological traditions, including Franciscan and Islamic. In both these traditions, the source of the idea that we cannot trust our sensory perception seems to have been the Greek commentaries on Aristotle. However, both traditions go beyond ideas contained in Greek Aristotelian literature and independently develop similar arguments and come to similar conclusions about the reliability of sensory perception.

Risk Management in Islamic Thought: A Bibliometric Review of Key Concepts and Trends

Risk Management in Islamic Thought: A Bibliometric Review of Key Concepts and Trends

Practicing Islamic-Based Leadership

Although the literature offers various frameworks related to Islamic-based leadership, we argue that these frameworks have not fully encompassed all the preparations that Muslims must undertake for the afterlife. Al-Kaylani (1973–2015) is one of the Islamic philosophers who developed a relational model that connects individuals with the Creator, the universe, fellow human beings, life, and the afterlife. This qualitative study aims to explore the perspectives of Arab school leaders on the extent to which they apply Islamic-based leadership based on Al-Kaylani's relational model, as well as the factors influencing their practices. In this study, 13 school principals shared their perspectives and practices concerning what they refer to as Islamic schools and Islamic education within the Arab context. The findings reveal that the school leaders' understanding of Islamic education varies significantly based on their assumptions, influencing their practices and priorities in school planning and goals. Only one school leader attempted to align their practices with the afterlife. This study encourages researchers and practitioners to explore Al-Kaylani's model further and reimagine Islamic education's meaning in Muslim schools.

Reclaiming Narratives - Muslim Women Navigating Activism in Educational Research Implications and Recommendations for Educators

This chapter delves into the intricate dynamics of activism within educational research within the context of resistance and justice within settler-colonial states from Turtle Island and beyond. Drawing inspiration from Eve Tuck's (2010) concept of shifting from damage-centered research to desire-based research and Sara Ahmed's (2010) work on embodying what it means to be a killjoy, we endeavour to confront and address prevailing tensions we face as visibly identified Muslim women researchers and educators. We position ourselves to navigate the complexities of our lived experiences and advocate for justice in the current climate. We come together from Pakistani and Palestinian familial lineages to share our lived experiences and specific testimonies of ‘othering’ in educational research and activism. Using an anti-colonial and desire-based framework, we explore the framing and tensions of Orientalism and the struggle against it. We also contemplate our identities, positionalities and stances within educational research. Drawing strength from Indigenous cultures and Islamic philosophies, we seek to advocate for disruption, refusal and subversion, essential to activist research. We conclude with implications for educators, universities, researchers, schools, communities, and beyond. We aim to illuminate the paths we navigate as activist researchers, harnessing our collective experiences and reframing the research approach through a desire-based approach.

SEJARAH INTELEKTUAL ISLAM: KONTRIBUSI DAN PENGARUH PEMIKIRAN Al-GHAZALI TERHADAP DUNIA ISLAM ABAD KE 11 M

This research discusses al-Ghazali's contribution and thoughts to the Islamic world in the 11th century M. The focus of the study includes al-Ghazali's success in integrating the teachings of Sufism into the mainstream of Islamic thought, reforming Islamic education, and providing criticism of philosophy that enriches Islamic theological discourse. The aim of this research is to explore the contribution and influence of al-Ghazali's thought on the development of the Islamic world, in three main aspects, namely, Islamic spirituality, the Islamic education curriculum, and the development of Islamic philosophy. Researchers use historical research methods which consist of four stages, namely, heuristics, criticism, interpretation, and historiography with a literature review approach by collecting data in the form of books, journals, documents, as well as sources of data and information relevant to the study. This research found that al-Ghazali's main contributions, such as reforms in Islamic theology, criticism of philosophy, and his influence on education and religious thought. In addition, al-Ghazali's intellectual legacy not only enriches Islamic traditions but also offers relevant perspectives in facing contemporary challenges, making his work an important reference in modern Islamic studies today.

Kesadaran Historis (Empat Dasar Pemikiran) Teologi Islam dalam Pandangan Hassan Hanafi

The science of monotheism is the most fundamental thing for all Muslims. This is because monotheism plays an important role in human life. However, at this time monotheism, which was once strongly believed by all the people of the prophet Muhammad, has brought stagnation to Islamic thought influenced by scholars who still base their beliefs on classical Islamic theology. The purpose of this study is to discuss the formulation of the concept of monotheism initiated by Hassan Hanafi. The method used is the character study method with a qualitative type by raising one of the Islamic thinkers. In making this journal, researchers used the first method used to analyze the thoughts of figures who aims to explain the results of his thoughts objectively. The second method is used as a tool or medium to analyze the data he has obtained, Hassan Hanafi also tries to formulate his concept of monotheism so as not to exclude monotheism from the problems of life. The Qur'an as the basis of awareness must first ensure the purity of the text. Which can be seen through historical stories from the time of the previous prophets to the present. A person who compiles books on the Qur'an must be responsible for the originality of writing the words of Revelation as the story was revealed directly to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.

Exploring Students' Sense of School Belonging Among Adolescents Across Muslim Countries

Abstract: The need for school belonging is crucial for adolescents and affects academic performance (Goodenow, 1993). School belonging refers to the extent to which students feel accepted, valued, and included in their school environment. It encompasses a sense of connectedness to peers, teachers, and the broader school community, contributing to students' emotional and social well-being (Allen et al., 2021). Using selected data from the International Institute of Islamic Thought (2019–2020) and Item Response Theory (IRT), we derived a measure for school sense of belonging across Muslim countries/regions. Three main discriminative items were identified: pride in school, respect from teachers, and community integration. Additionally, the scores of school belonging revealed that students in Tatarstan showed higher levels of belonging, while those in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Sudan, and Tanzania reported lower levels. We conducted a regression analysis to gain insight into the relationship between school belonging and the country's GDP. The results showed a significant association between school belonging and GDP per capita, indicating that students in wealthier countries tend to have a stronger sense of belonging. These findings have practical implications for educators, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders in the field of education and social well-being. They underscore the need for schools to focus on pride, teacher respect, and being part of a school community to foster belonging to make a positive impact on students' well-being and academic performance.

Mengenal Etika dalam Perspektif Filsafat Islam

The purpose of this paper is to recognize ethics in the perspective of Islamic philosophy. This research uses qualitative techniques based on a literature search. The research concludes that the formulation of ethics in Islam was done by various thinkers from various branches of knowledge, including theologians, mystics, and philosophers. The contributions of these multiple disciplines show how rich and complex the tradition of ethics in Islam is, with each branch of thought offering a unique perspective on developing a framework in Islamic ethics. The shortcoming of this study is that it discusses ethics in the perspective of Islamic philosophy in outline. In future research, this study suggests going deeper into the literature of Islamic ethics specifically on the thought of Muslim philosophers so that future studies of Islamic philosophy are not limited to topics such as the metaphysics of divinity, the creation of nature, and logic. Furthermore, by giving more attention to the study of ethics in Islam, the study of Islamic philosophy has the potential to open a space for dialogue with contemporary moral issues.

The Existence of Auxiliary State Organs in Indonesia and Their Relevance to Islamic Thought

The Existence of Auxiliary State Organs in Indonesia and Their Relevance to Islamic Thought

The association between self-knowledge from Islamic perspective and mental health among Iranian female students

This study aimed to relate self-knowledge to mental health (from Islamic perspective), and compare it among the female students. Using the Morgan table, we selected 379 students from four universities, namely alzahra University, a single-sex university, the University of Tehran, Shahid Beheshti University, and Kharazmi University. The samples were selected randomly by applying a stratified sampling method. We utilized two instruments: Islamic self-knowledge and general mental health questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient, independent samples t-test, and linear regression analysis using SPSS version 25. The results showed that there were significant association between self-knowledge and mental health. However, there were no significant differences between the female students of humanities and sciences, whether from the point of self-knowledge or mental health. The results also showed no significant differences between the students of alzahra University and the female students of the other three universities in self-knowledge and mental health. In each case, the results are compared to Islamic viewpoints (Quran, Hadith, and Quotations from various Islamic thinkers) as well as the psychological viewpoints of Maslow and Rogers. Our findings underline the importance of enhancing self-knowledge among female university students as a protective factor against mental health outcomes (substance abuse, depression, and anxiety) Moreover, Faith based strategies are known to be effective, more accessible than mental health professional services and will carry less stigma in the target community.

Three Interpretations of the Moral Good and Bad in Islamic Philosophy and Theology and Their Impact on Legal Hermeneutics

Three Interpretations of the Moral Good and Bad in Islamic Philosophy and Theology and Their Impact on Legal Hermeneutics

MUSLIM INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT IN THE SOCIAL SPHERE: THE CONCEPT OF THE STATE IN POLITICAL THOUGHT AL-FARABI, AL-MAWARDI, IBN KHALDUN

This article discusses the concept and urgency of the State for human life and the characteristics of heads of State based on the political thoughts of Al-Farabi, Al-Mawardi, and Ibn Khaldun. Islam, being a religion sprung from Allah, does not limit itself to discussing issues of faith and morality but also delves into all aspects of life, including the government. But it is believed that there is clearly no concept of government or kingship in Islam, nor is there a concept of nation-state in the concept of Islam. Understanding the concept of nation will be easier when we use various angles and viewpoints. Since the verses of the Holy Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad do not mention a nation that does not have a ruler. However, we rush to the AlQuran and Hadist when we want to know the organs of that country. Islam is a comprehensive religion that addresses all issues, both external and internal. Issues of ketatanegaraan, including issues of national concept according to Islam, are likely to be addressed in this duniawi. This kind of study is known as library research using a descriptive-qualitative approach. Researchers Al-Farabi, Al-Mawardi, and Ibnu Khaldun set out to fill a gap in our knowledge by analysing the political theories of the three major Islamic thinkers