Islamic thought: Difference between revisions
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'''Islamic thought''' encompasses the diverse intellectual, theological, philosophical, legal, and mystical traditions that have developed within the religion of [[Islam]] since its inception in the 7th century. It is rooted in the foundational sources of [[Quran|the Quran]] and the [[Sunnah]] (the practice of the Prophet Muhammad), and has engaged with a wide array of human knowledge, including Greek philosophy, Persian wisdom, and Indian sciences (Nasr, 2013).<ref>Nasr, S. H. (2013). Islamic Philosophy from Its Origin to the Present: Philosophy in the Land of Prophecy. State University of New York Press.</ref> The evolution of Islamic thought has been central to the formation of Islamic civilization and continues to influence contemporary Muslim societies. | '''Islamic thought''' encompasses the diverse intellectual, theological, philosophical, legal, and mystical traditions that have developed within the religion of [[Islam]] since its inception in the 7th century. It is rooted in the foundational sources of [[Quran|the Quran]] and the [[Sunnah]] (the practice of the Prophet Muhammad), and has engaged with a wide array of human knowledge, including Greek philosophy, Persian wisdom, and Indian sciences (Nasr, 2013).<ref>Nasr, S. H. (2013). Islamic Philosophy from Its Origin to the Present: Philosophy in the Land of Prophecy. State University of New York Press.</ref> The evolution of Islamic thought has been central to the formation of Islamic civilization and continues to influence contemporary Muslim societies. | ||
Latest revision as of 10:26, 17 December 2025
Islamic thought encompasses the diverse intellectual, theological, philosophical, legal, and mystical traditions that have developed within the religion of Islam since its inception in the 7th century. It is rooted in the foundational sources of the Quran and the Sunnah (the practice of the Prophet Muhammad), and has engaged with a wide array of human knowledge, including Greek philosophy, Persian wisdom, and Indian sciences (Nasr, 2013).[1] The evolution of Islamic thought has been central to the formation of Islamic civilization and continues to influence contemporary Muslim societies.
Foundational sources
The Quran Muslims believe the Quran is the literal, uncreated word of God (Allah), revealed to Muhammad. It is the ultimate source of guidance and the primary reference for all Islamic disciplines, from law and ethics to cosmology and metaphysics (Ayoub, 2005).[2]
The Sunnah and Hadith The Sunnah, comprising the sayings, actions, and approvals of Muhammad as recorded in collections of Hadith, provides the practical embodiment of Quranic principles. The science of Hadith criticism (‘ilm al-ḥadīth) developed to authenticate reports, forming a critical basis for Islamic law and theology (Brown, 2009).[3]
Major intellectual disciplines Islamic theology (Kalam) ‘Ilm al-Kalām (the science of discourse) is the discipline of Islamic scholastic theology, concerned with defending and articulating Islamic doctrine through rational argumentation. Major schools include:
Ashʿarism: Emphasized divine omnipotence and occasionalism, becoming the dominant school in Sunni Islam after the 11th century.
Maturidism: A related Sunni school, more accepting of reason in theology.
Muʿtazila: An early rationalist school that emphasized divine justice and unity, and the createdness of the Quran.
Shia theology: Developed distinct doctrines around the Imamate, justice (‘adl), and the esoteric interpretation (ta'wil) of scripture (Winter, 2008).[4]
Islamic philosophy (Falsafah) Islamic philosophy (Falsafah) engaged deeply with Greek (especially Aristotelian and Neoplatonic) philosophy to address metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions. Key figures include:
Al-Kindi (c. 801–873): The first major Islamic philosopher.
Al-Farabi (c. 872–950): Known for his political philosophy and theory of the "Virtuous City."
Avicenna (Ibn Sina) (c. 980–1037): Developed a comprehensive philosophical system that profoundly influenced both Islamic and European scholastic thought.
Averroes (Ibn Rushd) (1126–1198): A rigorous commentator on Aristotle whose works were central to medieval European philosophy (Adamson, 2016).[5]
Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) is the human understanding and derivation of legal rulings from the primary sources. It is organized into schools of law (madhāhib):
Sunni schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali.
Shia schools: Primarily Ja‘fari (Twelver), along with Zaydi and Isma‘ili schools. Fiqh covers all aspects of life, including ritual worship, transactions, family law, and criminal law (Hallaq, 2009).[6]
Sufism (Islamic mysticism) Sufism (taṣawwuf) is the inward, mystical dimension of Islam, focusing on the purification of the heart and direct personal experience of the Divine. It developed doctrines of spiritual progression, divine love, and the metaphysical concept of the "Perfect Man" (al-Insān al-Kāmil). Major orders (ṭuruq) include the Qadiriyya, Naqshbandi, and Mevlevi. Thinkers like Al-Ghazali (1058–1111) and Ibn Arabi (1165–1240) synthesized Sufism with orthodox theology and philosophy (Knysh, 2017).[7]
Historical development and movements Classical period (8th–13th centuries) This "Golden Age" was characterized by translation movements, intellectual synthesis, and the flourishing of theology, philosophy, science, and law within the Abbasid Caliphate and other Islamic empires.
Consolidation and revival (13th–18th centuries) The post-Mongol period saw a trend toward the harmonization of philosophy, theology, and mysticism, epitomized by the work of Al-Ghazali and later scholars like Ibn Taymiyya (1263–1328), who called for a return to the Quran and Sunnah while critiquing philosophical and mystical innovations.
Modern and contemporary thought (19th century–present) Encounter with Western colonialism and modernity provoked diverse intellectual responses:
Islamic Modernism: Figures like Jamal al-Din al-Afghani (1838–1897), Muhammad Abduh (1849–1905), and Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938) advocated for reinterpretation (ijtihād) to reconcile Islam with modern science, reason, and political reform (Esposito & Voll, 2001).[8]
Islamism/Political Islam: Thinkers like Sayyid Qutb (1906–1966) and Ruhollah Khomeini (1902–1989) emphasized the establishment of an Islamic state and the comprehensive application of Sharia as a political and social system.
Liberal and Progressive Islam: Contemporary thinkers advocate for reforms in Islamic law, human rights, gender equality, and pluralism through critical re-engagement with the tradition.
Salafism: A revivalist movement calling for a return to the practices of the "pious predecessors" (al-salaf al-ṣāliḥ), often rejecting later scholarly traditions and rational theology.
Key concepts in Islamic thought Tawhid: The absolute oneness of God, the central principle of Islam.
Revelation and Reason: The relationship between divine revelation (wahy) and human intellect (‘‘aql) has been a major theme of debate.
Sharia and Fiqh: The distinction between the divine law (Sharia) and its human interpretation (fiqh).
Ijtihad and Taqlid: Independent legal reasoning versus adherence to established legal precedent.
Reform (Islah) and Renewal (Tajdid) : Concepts central to modern Islamic discourse.
Influence and legacy Islamic thought preserved and expanded upon the knowledge of ancient civilizations during the European Middle Ages, transmitting it to the Latin West and influencing the Renaissance. Its philosophical, scientific, and legal contributions form a significant part of world intellectual history (Huff, 2003).[9] Internally, it provides the framework for faith, law, ethics, and identity for over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide.
See also
Aqidah (creed)
Madhhab (school of thought)
References
- ↑ Nasr, S. H. (2013). Islamic Philosophy from Its Origin to the Present: Philosophy in the Land of Prophecy. State University of New York Press.
- ↑ Ayoub, M. M. (2005). The Qur'an and Its Interpreters, Volume 1. State University of New York Press.
- ↑ Brown, J. A. C. (2009). Hadith: Muhammad's Legacy in the Medieval and Modern World. Oneworld Publications.
- ↑ Winter, T. J. (Ed.). (2008). The Cambridge Companion to Classical Islamic Theology. Cambridge University Press.
- ↑ Adamson, P. (2016). Philosophy in the Islamic World: A History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps, Volume 3. Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Hallaq, W. B. (2009). An Introduction to Islamic Law. Cambridge University Press.
- ↑ Knysh, A. (2017). Sufism: A New History of Islamic Mysticism. Princeton University Press.
- ↑ Esposito, J. L., & Voll, J. O. (2001). Makers of Contemporary Islam. Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Huff, T. E. (2003). The Rise of Early Modern Science: Islam, China, and the West (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
External links
Arabic and Islamic Philosophy – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Oxford Bibliographies – Islamic Studies
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