Prominent Muslim Scholars Research Articles

Islamic Socialism and Communist Socialism: A Review of Comparative Analytical Studies

The paper reviews studies that compare Communist Socialism and Islamic Socialism to explore how Islamic Socialism is a viable alternative to both Communism and Capitalism. It investigates the shortcomings of Capitalism, which caused the emergence of the idea of socialism. The paper also discusses the strong endorsement of Islamic Socialism by prominent Muslim scholars to inspire confidence in its legitimacy. The analysis reveals that Islamic revival movements that arose during the era of Western political domination emphasized values shared by Islam and the rest of the world and initiated the concept of Islamic Socialism. The principles of Socialism, such as the government’s ownership of productive units and the establishment of social welfare programs, align with Islamic teachings on social justice. In Islam, Zakat serves as a form of funding for welfare programs and social services, reflecting the religion's compassion and concern for the poor.

Sheikh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani’s Contribution to the 20th Century Nusantara-Haramain Ulama Intellectual Network in Manuscript Al-'Iqdu al-Farid min Jawahir al-Asanid

This study examines the intellectual network of Nusantara ulama (Muslim scholars) through the chain of transmission (sanad) found in Sheikh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani’s al-Iqdu al-Farid min Jawahir al-Asanid. Sheikh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani was a prominent Muslim scholar in Mecca and of Minangkabau descent. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of the intellectual networks of Muslim scholars worldwide in the 20th century. Hence, this study investigates Sheikh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani’s contributions to the intellectual network of Nusantara scholars with the scholars of Haramain, focusing on the manuscript al-Iqdu al-Farid min Jawahir al-Asanid. This study utilized a literature review to analyze Sheikh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani’s contributions and his manuscript. The findings of this research explain that Sheikh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani’s al-Iqdu al-Farid min Jawahir al-Asanid provides crucial information regarding the intellectual network of Nusantara ulama with those in Haramain and the Middle East in the 20th century. It successfully revealed their expertise in various Islamic studies disciplines and their contributions to scholarly development.

TAWHID AND ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY

This paper aims to delve into the realm of Islamic logic by conducting a comprehensive analysis of epistemology and reasoning regarding the concept of tawhid within the context of Islamic thought. Drawing from a wide range of primary and secondary sources, this study explores the distinctive features and foundations of Islamic logic, highlighting tawhid and its significance in understanding knowledge acquisition and rational inquiry in the Islamic tradition. It explores the contributions of prominent Muslim scholars, such as Al-Kindi, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, and Ibn Rushd, who made significant advancements in the field of logic. And it was found that tawhid serves as a foundational principle in Islamic logic, shaping the understanding of knowledge acquisition and rational inquiry within the Islamic tradition. The contributions of these scholars exemplify the compatibility between reason and revelation, providing a comprehensive framework for logical reasoning grounded in the principles of tawhid. Their ideas continue to inspire and shape contemporary discussions on Islamic logic, reflecting the enduring legacy of their intellectual contributions.

Shaykh Jalāl al-Dīn bin Kamāl al-Dīn al-Āshī and His Asrār al‐Sulūk ilā Malik al-Mulūk

During its heyday, Acheh was not only a commercial, but also an Islamic intellectual center in the Malay archipelago that produced several prominent Muslim scholars or ‛ulamā’ who enriched Islamic literary works. The most illustrious among the native sons of Acheh were Ḥamzah al-Fansūrī, Shams al-Dīn b. ‘Abd Allāh al-Sumatrānī , and ‘Abd al-Ra’ūf al-Fanṣūrī al-Sinkilī. Hitherto, the study on native Achehnese ‛ulamā’ of the seventeenth century has largely focused on these illustrious figures while little attention has been paid to another native Achehnese ‛ālim, namely Shaykh Fāqih Jalāl al-Dīn b. Kamāl al-Dīn b. Qadhi Baginda Khatīb at-Tarusanī al-Āshī despite the fact that he held a very prominent position of Qāḍī Malik al-‘Adil, equivalent to Supreme Court Judge during the reigns of Sulṭān ‘Alā´ al-Dīn Maharaja Lela Ahmad Shah (r. 1727-1735 CE) and Sulṭān ‘Alā´ al-Dīn Johan Shah (r. 1735-1760 CE). Furthermore, the study of his literary works has mainly centered around his works on jurisprudence (fiqh), thus neglecting his literary contribution in taṣawwuf. This article therefore wishes to bring to light his valuable contributions in the field of taṣawwuf through his work Asrār al‐Sulūk Ilā Maliki al-Mulūk rendered into Malay by the author himself as Rahsia Menjalani Jalan kepada Raja Segala Raja so that he is properly recognized not only as a fāqih, but also a ṣūfī.

Sīrah Philosophy: A Modern Trajectory for Sīrah Studies

Prophet Muhammad is a central figure in Islam. Systematic exploration of his life and biography as a central discourse for sīrah studies remains timeless and relevant. This has made his life a focal point for study among Muslim and Western scholars for centuries, resulting in the emergence of fresh approaches in modern times. This paper delves into the concept of “sīrah philosophy,” which is vigorously advocated by Fethullah Gülen, a prominent Muslim scholar, as a novel and essential perspective for sīrah studies in modern times. Gülen’s amalgamation of the Prophet’s life and contemporary challenges underscores the enduring significance of sīrah in guiding modern discourse. Sīrah philosophy, at its core, provides a framework rooted in the Prophet’s life to draw inspiration for addressing contemporary issues. The article unpacks the practical application of sīrah philosophy through the Hudaybiya incident, a pivotal moment in the Prophet’s life during his time in Medina. From conflict resolution and peacebuilding to interfaith dialogue, Gülen’s approach leverages sīrah to propose solutions for complex contemporary problems, offering a dynamic way to engage with present-day predicaments. In essence, this article emphasises how sīrah, as envisioned by Muslim scholars like Gülen, transcends historical and contextual boundaries, enriching present-day discourse. As sīrah studies evolve, this pioneering exploration of a modern trajectory fosters a deeper appreciation of the Prophet’s legacy, facilitating comprehensive understanding for diverse audiences. This article argues that this approach is groundbreaking and innovative, paving the way for new perspectives to read and interpret sīrah in a contemporary world for a modern audience.

KHILAFAH STATE VERSUS NATION-STATE

This article aims to discuss the discourses and debates on Khilafah system in Muslim countries and how it transforms into a nation-state system, specifically in Indonesia. These dicourses and debates include the contestation and trends in the connection between Islam as a religion and Indonesia as a nation-state, which reemerged after the ban of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) in 2017 and The Front of Islamic Defenders (Front Pembela Islam/FPI) in 2020 accordingly under President Jokowi’s administration. This article employs descriptive qualitative analysis to investigate the historical sequences of the discourses and debates on the genealogy, contestation, and relation between the Khilafah system and the nation-state system in Indonesia to uncover the fundamental ideology which underlines the conflicting interests in the debate. It operates the historical-sociological approaches to examine the data collected from books, articles, journals, and newspapers which contain the opinions of the prominent Muslim scholars gearing the dynamic discourses and debates on the nation-state system and Khilafah system. This article, therefore, attempts to demonstrate how Khilafah system idea emerged after the death of the prophet Muhammad and how this idea was contested by Muslim scholars and leaders today. This article suggests that in the struggle of ideology, thought, and movement inside the Muslim countries including Indonesia, the Khilafah system and the system of nation-state came into conflict. Further, the two forms of engagement between Islam and the nation-state are driven by nationalism.

RETHINKING RELIGIOUS MODERATION THROUGH THE STUDY OF INDONESIAN EXEGESIS: A STUDY OF TAFSIR AL-AZHAR BY HAMKA

Realizing religious moderation has become a medium-term program of the President for the 2020-2024 period. This program has been entrusted to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Through a moderation team, the Ministry of Religion has formulated indicators of religious moderation, one of which is tolerance. According to the Ministry of Religion, tolerance is defined as having an open, broad-minded, voluntary, and gentle attitude towards accepting differences. Tolerance is always accompanied by respect, accepting those who are different as part of ourselves, and thinking positively. This tolerance is further divided into two categories: inter-religious and intra-religious. The hope of inter-religious tolerance is the emergence of an attitude towards followers of other religions that involves willingness to engage in dialogue, cooperation, support for the establishment of places of worship, and interacting with followers of other religions. On the other hand, Hamka is one of the prominent Muslim scholars in Indonesia known for his remarkable exegesis work that is widely studied in Asia, particularly in Indonesia. Hamka, who lived during a period of political upheaval both domestically and internationally, had a significant impact on his thinking concepts, which were later reflected in his works. This article aims to explore Hamka's views on other religions, particularly Judaism, delve deeper into the existence or absence of Jewish/Zionist conspiracies, and analyze Hamka's acceptance of other religions. The research methodology employed is literature review with a descriptive-analytic analysis as a guide in this article. The findings show that Hamka's exegesis contradicts the concept of religious moderation presented by the Ministry of Religion. In Hamka's exegesis, there are many suspicions towards Jews, although discussions on the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, according to observers, are considered conspiracies, fictional, and lack valid evidence. Additionally, Hamka falls into the category of exclusive Islam that does not accept any religion other than Muhammadanism.

ISLAMIC PARENTING PERSPEKTIF IMAM AL-GHAZALI

This article discusses parenting from the perspective of Al Ghazali, a prominent Muslim scholar. The purpose of this article is to explain the principles emphasized by Al Ghazali in raising children wisely and based on Islamic values. Al Ghazali views the importance of raising children with compassion, wisdom, and religious values. Al Ghazali stressed that children are a gift and a mandate from Allah SWT which must be respected and taken care of properly. One of the principles emphasized is the importance of instilling religious and moral values in children from an early age, including ethics and noble character. In addition, Al Ghazali emphasized the importance of being exemplary in upbringing. Parents must set a good example for their children by showing behavior that is in accordance with religious values and morality. Children tend to imitate what they see from their parents, therefore it is the responsibility of parents to set a good role model in all aspects of life. Good communication between parents and children is also very important. Parents should listen attentively and empathetically and provide needed support and guidance. Good listening helps understand children's feelings and needs and gives them a sense of security and understanding. This article also underscores the importance of avoiding emotional neglect of children. Parents must provide attention, affection, and acknowledgment of their children's feelings and needs. They must be sensitive to children's emotions, provide the necessary emotional support and help them manage their emotions wisely. Ghazali's parenting approach emphasizes the importance of providing holistic education to children. Al Ghazali's perspective on parenting emphasizes the importance of raising children with love, example, good communication, and holistic education. These principles help form children who have noble and quality morals. This article provides valuable insights for parents in carrying out their duties in raising children according to Al Ghazali's perspective.
 

الفوائد الـحِسَانُ في مصطلح الحديث للشَّيخ محمَّدِ بن عبد العالي الـجَعْفَريِّ البُوْتِيْجيِّ من علماء القرن الحاديَ عشَرَ دراسةً وتحقيقًا


 This article aims to edit and study a manuscript “ written by Sheikh Moḥammad ibn ʻAbdil-ʻĀlī Al-Jaʻfarī Al-Būtījī in the discipline of Hadith and its sciences, which existed in the sulīmānīaẗ Library in Istanbul. The science of hadith is the precise criterion for distinguishing the authentic and stable from the Prophet - peace be upon him - from the weak traditions which do not prove it, so the scholars took great care to achieve and edit it, and classified it many works, varied in their purposes and methods. The author of this Manuscript was a prominent Muslim scholar of the Eleventh century and his academic work has been acknowledged and highly appreciated by later scholars, unfortunately, this booklet has remained unpublishable, which is why I made this book a research topic so it can be brought in public view, scholars, and students can benefit from it.
 

A ‘Sufi’ epistle on spiritual poverty, and its authors: authenticity, authority, and genre in textual reproduction

Abstract A range of widely copied Arabic works on asceticism and spiritual poverty attributed to prominent Muslim scholars, Najm al-Dīn al-Kubrā, ʿUmar al-Suhrawardī, Yaḥyā al-Suhrawardī, Athīr al-Dīn al-Abharī, and Aḥmad Zarrūq, are either identical, or contain significant overlaps. This paper analyses the content and reception of this work, and the 36 manuscripts of it available, in order to clarify the issues around its authenticity, authorship, and genre. It makes four key arguments. First, it argues that Minhāj al-sālikīn widely attributed to al-Kubrā is not an authentic work. It is a recent ascription that invents this title and changes the creedal content of an originally longer work. Second, a shorter version of this work can be ascribed to ʿUmar al-Suhrawardī in a particular sense of pre-modern authorship. He compiled a selection from the longer work that was penned by someone else––in the same way his Irshād al-murīdīn is mostly selections from al-Qushayrī’s Risāla. Third, different versions of the treatise are mistakenly attributed to Zarrūq, Athīr al-Dīn al-Abharī, and Yaḥyā al-Suhrawardī in various publications and manuscripts. Finally, the original version was penned by one of the less-known teachers of Ibn al-ʿArabī, Abū ʿAmr ʿUthmān al-Abharī, and soon attributed to more celebrated figures. Through these later agents and their attributions, reproductions, redactions, and publications, the text came to be situated within a Sufi framework and genre. Thus, the epistle on poverty exemplifies not only the construction of ‘Sufism’ as a genre beyond the authorial intention, but also the dispersal of the author-function typical for this genre.

The impact of oriental studies on the methods of writing the biography of the Prophet

هدفت الدراسة إلى الوقوف على أبرز الشُّبه التي يثيرها المستشرقون ضد السيرة النبوية، وتسليط الضوء على أبرز من قام بالرد على هذه الشبهات من علماء المسلمين، كما هدفت إلى التعرف على مداخل الاستشراق للطعن في السيرة النبوية، وتبصير أبناء الأمة الإسلامية الذين ينخدعون بكتابات المستشرقين، واستخدمت الدراسة المنهج الاستقرائي التام النقدي، وتوصلت الدراسة إلى العديد من النتائج أبرزها: أن التعصب والتحامل كانا يطغيان على كتابات المستشرقين القدامى نظرًا لتأثرهم بروح التعصب الديني الذي كان مسيطرًا ومتبلورًا بتأثير الحروب الصليبية، ونظرًا لضعف معرفتهم باللغة العربية، وقلة المصادر المتوفرة لديهم، غير أنه لم يخل الغرب منذ أوائل العصور الحديثة من مفكرين معتدلين امتدحوا الإسلام، ولكن منذ القرن التاسع عشر بدأ الاهتمام بدراسة المخطوطات العربية وطبعها، وأخذ المستشرقون يدرسون تاريخ الشرق لذاته متّبعين الطريقة العلمية التي كانت قد قطعت شوطًا كبيرًا من التقدم في الغرب.

The Revelation and Compilation of Torah: A Critical Review of a Few Prominent Muslim Scholars

Muslim scholars have generally assumed that the Torah was all revealed at once to Prophet Musa [Moses], peace be on him, which is why the Muslim discourse on the Torah generally lacks discussion on its codification. However, some of the Muslim scholars took the position that, like the Qur’an, the Torah was revealed gradually. The present paper examines the views of four eminent scholars – ‘Ubaydullah Sindhi, Abu ’l-A‘la Mawdudi, Amin Ahsan Islahi and Javed Ahmad Ghamidi – and tries to build a comprehensive theory about the revelation and codification of the Torah as well as about critical analysis of the content of the Pentateuch. It concludes that the principles which Muslim tradition has developed for ascertaining authenticity of traditions and for interpretation of the Qur’anic verses and Prophetic traditions as well as for reconciliation of apparently conflicting texts can be very beneficial in developing a coherent Muslim theory for Biblical criticism.

The Relation between Islam and The State from Islamic Education Perspective:Al-Banna, Haikal and Raziq Thought

This research discusses the relation between Islam and the State among Muslim scholars. Many discuss the relation between Islam and the State from Sharia and historical viewpoints. However, this study examines the relation from education standpoint. The literature research looks at academic publications from prominent Muslim scholars around the world. This research asserts that the study on relation between Islam dan the State can be divided into three main categories: integrative, substantive and secular. In relation to education, those studies reveal that educational institutions attempt to align their teaching ideology with the ideology of its founder or stakeholders. Despite their significant differences, all Muslim scholars derive their thought and discussion from thelogical foundation of Al-Qur’an and Hadith. They also seem to show a common ground in defining Islamic Education. Nevertheless, Islamic education institutions present various views on teaching the ideology in relation between Islam and the State, from moderate teaching to radical teaching or understanding.

Epistemology in Islam: A Philosophical Study

This work attempts to expose Quranic epistemology and the views of prominent Muslim scholars (Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd) is been discussed. The impact of Ghazzali was profound on Sufism, jurisprudence, Muslim theology, philosophy, and almost all other disciplines and a lot of research has been done on these aspects of Ghazzali. But so far as the epistemology of Ghazzali is concerned, very little is known about it. Same as Ibn Rushd who is also a Muslim scholar of repute; widely known in the field of epistemology. Works of literature existing on both Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd focused on the individual contribution of each of these scholars on religion and other areas of endeavour, except Islamic epistemology. Furthermore, there is no study available on the comparison of the epistemology of Ghazzali with that of Ibn Rushd and vice-versa. Thus, a detailed study of the epistemological theories of these two stalwart thinkers of Islamic history is of great significance whose impact was epoch-making and clandestine on east and west respectively. The attempt to find out and explore whether there is any room for reconciliation between these two scholars is also of great relevance.

E-6 Islamic Concept of Zakat and Tax: Similarities and differences

Islam is a complete code of conduct. Per the obligation of physical prayers, there are other aspects in the form of pillars. All the pillars have been clarified in the light of Quran and Sunnah. As we viewed the fact, that zakat is a financial prayer for fulfilling the economic needs of the poor people. Equally, we can perceive that the Muslim countries including Pakistan have their directions for the gathering of taxes from the Muslims. This study has been carried out to elaborate the concept of zakat and tax in Islam. Furthermore it has found similarities and differences of zakat and tax, and to discover the Islamic concept of tax from muslins in comparison of zakat. Therefore, for this purpose all the available online documents Quran verses and A hady is including articles, blogs, journals’ website, e-books and thesis were brought under consideration. Moreover, interviews were conducted. Responses were got from five prominent Muslim scholars regarding the concept of zakat and tax. Four main questions were asked with some sub questions and relevant critical responses were found. However discourse analyses were followed for finding out whether the terms are similar or different and then themes were drawn for describing the Islamic concept of zakat and tax. Data were analyzed based on the themes. It was recommended that tax money may be utilized only for the welfare of citizens and development of country otherwise it is unlawful in Muslim country to take tax from Muslims.

Islamic Economic Thoughts of Prominent Muslim Scholars in the Abbasid Era

Islamic Economic Thoughts of Prominent Muslim Scholars in the Abbasid Era

An Analysis of Sisters in Islam’s (SIS) Misinterpretation of the Gender Equality in the Quran

The main agenda of feminism movements is to fight for gender equality between women and men. This agenda is advocated both by the Western as well as by some Muslim feminists. In Malaysia, a Muslim activist group who aggressively fight for gender equality is known as Sisters in Islam (SIS). This group has challenged and questioned the validity and reliability of the interpretation of some Quranic verses related to women, as it is felt that some of the verses were misinterpreted. To the group, the misinterpretation of the verses has led to misunderstanding regarding the positions and rights of women, which resulted into gender inequality. This paper aims to discuss the standpoint of SIS concerning gender equality by focusing on several issues; the superiority of men (qawwamah), the credibility of women as witness and the rights of women to be an imam. An analytical technique is used to analyse the SIS group’s viewpoint on the issues by referring several printed sources and articles published. These views will be compared with prominent Muslim scholars’ interpretation on related verses that has been used to find any contradiction or misinterpretation. The study concluded that SIS holds a misleading understanding on the interpretation of certain Quranic verses led by misrepresented claims on the unfounded contradiction between the verses of the Quran.

“PETITION OF NAIMANOV QUBA” OF 1816 AS A NEW SOURCE ON BIOGRAPHY OF THE DAGESTAN SCHOLAR OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY
 MUHAMMAD IBN ALI AL-DAGISTANI (KAZAKAY-KADI ALIEV)

The article elaborates the biography of a prominent Muslim scholar of the second half of the 18th century Muhammad ibn Ali al-Dagistani. The scholar contributed greatly to the renaissance of traditions of Muslim education, especially to the teaching of the Arabic language in Volga region and Ural. Based on the written source “Petition of Naimanov quba”, introduced by the authors into the scientific community for the first time, it became possible to clarify the information already available about this historical figure. Particularly, analysis of the said document allowed us to identify that the real name of Muhammad ibn Ali al-Dagistani was Kazakay-kadi, the son of Ali (Aliev), and the fact of him owning a son – Magomatjan (Muhammadjan), who also was both a teacher in madrasa and a qadi. The article provides an original version of the reasons for the distortion of the scholar’s name. The scholar’s belonging to the Karanogai quba (kin) Naiman, as well as previously unknown information about the return of his son to his father’s homeland have been revealed. The biography of Kazakay-kadi Aliev is verified by the authors based on a critical comparison of the facts provided in the text, and on fragmentary information contained in the works of Shihab ad-Din Marjani, Rizaitdin Fakhretdinov and Nazir ad-Dorgeli, which allowed to specify the circumstances of his appearance in the Orenburg province and his subsequent relocation to the Kazakh steppe, as well as his role in Russian-Kazakh relations.The reconstruction of the biography of the scholar is supplemented by a list of his most outstanding students. The newly discovered source is of not only historical, but also linguistic interest as a written monument of the North Caucasian Turkic language. The content of the source text is analyzed based on the textological, paleographic and historical-comparative methods of analysis. The document under study contains extensive anthroponymic material that can significantly expand the previously accumulated fund of ancient Nogai proper names.

Qur'ānic Exegesis of Muhammad Asad

This article critically investigates the Qur’ānic exegesis and the methodology of Leopold Weiss aka Muhammad Asad (d. 1992), a prominent Muslim scholar of the last century. The exegesis addressing the Western intellectual audience is considered by many to be among the best in the English Language. The work inculcates traditional exegesis as well as traditional hermeneutics producing a contemporary interpretation. His work is controversial – well received by the academia attributed to ingenious scholarship, criticised by conservative Muslims for alleged neo-rationalistic tendencies. The work was labelled ‘unorthodox’ by neo-conservatives while banned by the Saudi Government as ‘heretical’, which led the work to become unpopular. The article examines the criticisms and his produce against mainstream sources. It argues that the exegesis in examination is able to withstand its criticisms, and further, rank among the best of its kind.

A Literature Discourse on the Development of Islamisation of Knowledge Models: Strategising New Project Based Implementation Approach to Benefit Human Sciences

The movement of Islamisation of Human Knowledge is no more a new issue among the Muslims. This intellectual movement involves a desecularisation of knowledge in order to show the Muslim Ummah the true path of leading life. A major objective of this article is to identify the problems and prospects in the implementation of Islamisation of Knowledge on human sciences. This article first highlights the proposed methodologies of Islamisation of Knowledge suggested by different prominent Muslim scholars. Then a critical evaluation of all these models is presented. The study concludes that though many scholars suggested many models of Islamisation of Knowledge, implementation of these models is still passing through an early stage with some irregularities to consolidate between Islamic component and human sciences. The article proposes a time bound project based approach for the implementation of Islamisation of Knowledge at educational institutions.