UNGS 2030 – INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW: STUDY OF SELECTED ESSENTIALS________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 1

ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW (IWV) : GLIMPSES ON STUDIES AND DEFINITIONS

GLIMPSES ON THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE IWV STUDIES DEFINITION OF THE IWV AL- TAWHID AS A KEY ELEMENT IN THE DEFINITION AND CONCEPTUALIZATION OF

THE IWV DEFINITION AND CONCEPTUALIZATION A COLLECTIVE VISION OF LIFE AND VICEGERENCY A COMPREHENSIVE STRUCTURE OF INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE A VISION OF LIFE AND PERFECTION A MANIFESTATIONS OF RELIGION, STATE, SOCIETY AND CIVILISATION

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GLIMPSES ON THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE IWV STUDIES

The study made in the present is only devoted to deal with the development of the concept of worldview within the Islamic tradition and context due to:

1. There is a shortage of studies on the development of 'worldview' from both historical and conceptual perspectives within the Islamic context- no specific discipline and no specific branch of knowledge called ' worldview studies'

2. There is no specific branch of research that deals with the historical development of the concept of worldview in contemporary Islamic efforts

the major works did not discuss worldview historical development and conceptual construction but focus mainly on the issues and topics; eg: Islam, Iman , Ihsan, God,man, life, vicegerency, etc.

There were specific attempts under such a field called IWV studies after the appearance of certain specific works such as the work of Sayyid Qutb on the 'Characteristics of IWV'

Most of the scholars have provided many ideas and insights on IWV multifaceted aspects Another group of scholars dealt directly with the issues of IWV but not with its inception

and development as a concept and a separate field These have shown the extent and attention given by Muslim scholars to research on this

area but the works only dealt with worldview issues in general terms, rather than systematic and objective inquiry in worldview

*Thus, there is a need to develop more comprehensive approaches to the study of worldview in a well organized body of research.

DEFINITION OF THE IWV

AL- TAWHID AS A KEY ELEMENT IN THE DEFINITION AND CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE IWV

Unity of God as a vision of existence and vicegerency core of IWV, without; Islam loses its originality and dynamism al-Tawhid is a general overview of reality, of truth, of the world, of space and time of

human history and destiny any definition and conceptualization of the IWV should revolve around al-Tawhid and its

implications to belief and life IWV emanates from the belief based on life and existence came into being as a result of the

will, desire and design of the One and Only Creator

DEFINITION AND CONCEPTUALIZATIONPROF NAQUIB AL-ATTAS

inseparable link between the seen and unseen aspects and between the present world realities and the hereafter ones

i) the IWV deals mainly with existence in its totality which includes the seen and unseen worlds;ii) the IWV vision is a metaphysical survey and revealed knowledge that aspires towards clearing towards clearing the confusion and setting the truths about existence;iii) the non-dialectical nature of the IWV and non-historicity of its source which is revealed as complete and comprehensive text providing clear and profound interpretations about the truth of existence

firmly stresses on the metaphysical of IWV

PROF CHOUDHURY emphasizes both the divine sources ie Quran and the process-orientation of unified

knowledge which is derived from the divine source of IWV as well as the intellectual processes required in its construction in light of the revealed word of God

result of the Muslim's endeavour to construct his vision of reality in light of the revealed word of God

the IWV come as a result of the Muslim mind's interaction with the world realities in light of the teachings of the Quran and the practices of Prophet Muhammad

MURTAZA MUTAHHARI worldview is our vision of the world, but by its nature is not the product of our feelings and

emotions rather it is the result of our thoughts and speculations; relates to the well-known question of knowledge; exclusively human property as opposed

to feeling, which man shares with other animals; world knowledge is exclusive to man and is a function of his reflection and intellection

ALPARSLAN worldview is the mental framework is the totality of concepts and mental attitude

developed by the individual throughout his life; the ultimate foundation of all human conduct

PROF MOHD KAMAL HASSAN the IWV is a comprehensive conception of the universe and man's relation to it from the

Islamic perspective emphasizes on the Islamic perspective and one's philosophy or outlook of life Islam becomes the permanent reference and source from which the Muslim seeks

guidance and direct his intellectual efforts and ijtihad

MUHSIEN ABDULHAMID- IWV is the Islamic perception on issues pertaining to the Universe and Its Creator, Prophethood, society, man, hereafter as opposed to other worldviews that address the same issues but from their stand perspective

A VISION OF LIFE AND PERFECTIONCONCEPT OF IWV:

1. Collective Ummatic nature of IWV2. Posits and deals with exisstence in its totality: seen and unseen worlds3. Result of the Muslim interaction with life and reality in accordance with the teachings of

Islam4. IWV provides the necessary guidance for the Muslim to outrival in his objectives in this

world and in hereafter ie Khilafah

A COMPREHENSIVE STRUCTURE OF INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE IWV is a comprehensive integrated and consistent structure of knowledge pertaining to the realms of the seen and unseen; it is essential and vital for both man's understanding of himself and his surroundings as well as success in his mission as a vicegerent of God and conveyer of the revealed guidance to humankind

A VISION OF LIFE AND PERFECTIONASPECTS OF IWV:

i) tells man about the cosmos and cosmollogical truths and patterns;ii) explains the epistemological rules and principles that need to be considered while dealing with issues of existence and life;iii) explains theological matters pertaining to the belief system and matters of faith and worship;iv) explains the ethical system necessary for balance and stability in human life;v) provides legal and legislative injunctions for the running of human affairs and judging of human acts;vi) provides man with a civilisational vision so as to assist him to achieve excellent and perfection in his endeavours;vii) ''everything that happens in the world does so by His commands, by His action''

* IWV is a structure of integrated knowledge and a vision of life that offers man the necessary knowledge and orientation required in his endeavours as a vicegerent of God on Earth

A MANIFESTATIONS OF RELIGION, SOCIETY, STATE, AND CIVILISATION entails and systematically integrates the religious, social, state and civilisational aspects of

life

RELIGION Islam is a way of life which encompasses issues related to belief and social systematic Islam as a religion includes a perfect ethical and moral system

SOCIETY IWV as a society is meant to construct a balanced human society, which stands for equality

and justice among the differences races living therein

STATE the practices and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad including the constitution of Madinah

and his international relations activities and the practices of the 4 guided caliphs show the importance of state and government within the IWV context

CIVILISATION IWV also is considered as the cementing power behind the construction of the Islamic

civilisations by:I) constructing a good Muslim personalityii) contributing in scientific and intelllectual development

UNGS 2030 – INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW: STUDY OF SELECTED ESSENTIALS________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 3

WORLDVIEW: OBJECTIVES, KINDS AND APPROACHES

OBJECTIVES OF WORLDVIEW KINDS OF WORLDVIEW APPROACHES: SCIENTIFIC, PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS

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OBJECTIVES OF WORLDVIEW gives a basis, or a perspective, from which we can analyze, categorize, and synthesize data

enabling us to make sense of our existence help us to integrate the facts into a meaningful whole basis for making life's decisions enable man to possess:

I) a model of the worldii) ability to explain and answer the qustionsiii) ability to answer the questioniv) ability to see through good and bad values and answer the questionv) ability to know how to act properlyvi) ability to construct proper knowledge about existence and truthvii) ability to develop worldview

KINDS OF WORLDVIEW

- existence of many approaches and classifications of worldviews distinction between the revelation based worldview wherein the text is preserved and

man-made worldviews which have an inclination towards moral and ethical foundations there are also worldviews which incline to scientific basis, philosophically oriented, focus

on ideological, political, linguistic and other foundations the interpretations and answers provided by the followers of each worldview that distiguish

it from other worldviews a good worldview should provide logical, rational, and objective historical and civilisational

evidences for its abilities to offer man a more meaningful vision and instill in him a sense of purpose

APPROACHES: SCIENTIFIC, PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS

science and philosophy are more like methods and approaches to tackle problems and issues; also they more like tools and techniques of inquiry that assist in developing worldviews and answering its questions

some other schools of thought prefer to approach worldview from a more religious perspective following the methods and tools of religious analysis

Islam, because of its original, preserved and complete word of God that offers a cosmic and all-encompassing worldview, provides a real religious worldview and not only religious approach to worldview

SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO WORLDVIEW- reason and its rationalistic paradigm is the God of Scientific Inquiry

MAIN PRINCIPALS:1. empiricism in which all issues under discussion should undergo the test of experimental

and empirical requirements2. rationalism wherein reason and human intellect assumes he position and role of the

controller interpretation3. skepticism where one should assume that any knowledge, fact or belief is subject to

scientific questioning

METHOD OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY1. identifying the problem through observation and use of senses2. proposing hypotheses and assumptions that could explain the problem posed3. collecting the data and information 4. testing the hypotheses and identifying the correct one and the bias one5. providing interpretation with evidence6. generating interpretations7. developing scientifec theory8. establishing scientific laws and facts

* based on the principal of skepticism, the facts are questionable bacause of the advancement in science and technological discoveries

IMPORTANT ELEMENTS:1. exactitude and precise nature of the scientific approach2. confines it to physical realities that can be observed and subjected to empirical and experimental conditions

PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH TO WORDVIEW wider than scientific approach as it extends its coverage to the met-physical matters as well

as the physical ones focuses more on logical reasoning and speculative methods inquiry upon self-evident and self-proven premises and principals of logic and mind among the main tools are deduction, analogy, syllogism, logical induction, etc Mutahhari argues that despite it lacks the preciness of SWV, it enjoys an assurance and

none of the instability of SWV unlike science, philosophy is capable of giving man a worldview as the foundation of

ideology it perceives the universe as a whole and in a more comprehensive way

DIFFERENCES OF APPROACHES TO WV

SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS PHILOSOPHY

High EXACTITUDE AND PRECISENESS

Low for the very reason of the methods and tools used in each sphere of inquiry

Less changes due to the nature of scientific inquiry which is attached more to the physical realities, senses control and continuos advancement in the tools and techniques of inquiry

STABILITY More stable in terms of its conclusion and interpretation for the very reason of its reliance on the oremise of logic and laws of the mind

Revolves and concerns itself with the progressive advancement within the confines and limits of the physical world

NATURE AND INCEPTION

Bears heavily on the study of met-physical matters and horizon

Less acceptable MEANING AND PURPOSE

More acceptable

Looks for more human success and achievement in material and technological terms

INDICATOR Perceives it in term of happiness, wisdom, justice, and virtue terms

RELIGIOUS APPROACH TO WORLDVIEW

divided into two; revealed and man-made provides a more comprehensive vision more human in nature and emanates from the human mind's effort and interaction with

the physical and meta-physical phenomena entails most of the ultimate questions pertaining to the realms of seen and unseen characterized by its stability and generality insists on the need for strong evidences and proofs for its truth and teachings imparts meaning to life links the present human conditions with those of the future as well as with the realities of

hereafter in a more meaningful and strong away

Materialism: Example of an Extreme Western Worldview

referred to as naturalism or scientific materialism that denies the existence of any supra-natural being or supra-intelligent mind or creator

the only reality that is real and possible is this physical reality entire existence is confined and reduced to what one sees in this worldis

MAIN PRINCIPLES:1. matter/ energy is all there for eternity and no supernatural God exists in reality

2. the universe is a closed system which functions only by cause and effect3. man is a 'machine' whose personality and thinking are merely a result of matter's

properties4. human death is merely the ceasing of biological life, including the extinction of personality5. there are no terms like ethics, values, morality in dictionary of materialism6. history is an unrepeated line of events related by cause and effect, without a real purpose

and no goal to which it is heading