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This is the complete lecture note for ISS 106 Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation. You can read it online below, open it in the full viewer, or download the PDF for offline study. It pairs with the course's video lectures, so you can read and watch together.
ISS 106 SERIES 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT | Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation
ISS 106 SERIES 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT | Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation Course code: ISS 106 Course title: Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation Course credit load: 2 Units List of Series: • Series 1: Foundations of Islamic Thought • Series 2: Philosophy and Civilisation in Islam • Series 3: Contributions of Philosophy to Islamic Civilisation • Series 4: Philosophies in Other Civilisations • Series 5: Contemporary Parallels of Civilisations Series 1: Foundations of Islamic Thought Parts and Sub-Parts 1.1 Meaning and Scope of Islamic Thought • 1.1.1 Meaning of Islamic Thought • 1.1.2 Sources and Foundations of Islamic Thought • 1.1.3 Characteristics of Islamic Thought 1.2 The Qurʾān and Sunnah as Foundations • 1.2.1 The Qurʾān and the Formation of Islamic Thought • 1.2.2 The Sunnah and Prophetic Guidance • 1.2.3 Reason, Reflection and Knowledge 1.3 Development of Islamic Thought • 1.3.1 Early Muslim Intellectual Development
ISS 106 SERIES 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT | Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation • 1.3.2 Scholars and the Preservation of Knowledge • 1.3.3 Diversity within Islamic Intellectual Traditions 1.4 Islamic Thought and Human Civilisation • 1.4.1 Knowledge and Intellectual Responsibility • 1.4.2 Ethics, Society and Human Conduct • 1.4.3 Islamic Thought and Civilisational Development Introduction Islamic thought refers to the intellectual reflection, interpretation and discussion that have developed around the teachings, values and worldview of Islam. It is rooted in revelation while also involving human efforts to understand, explain and apply Islamic teachings to different circumstances. This Series introduces the foundations from which Islamic thought develops. It examines the meaning and scope of Islamic thought, the central place of the Qurʾān and Sunnah, the role of reason and reflection, and the development of intellectual traditions among Muslims. The study of Islamic thought is important for understanding the history and civilisation of Islam. It also helps the student appreciate how scholars and other categories of people contributed to the preservation, interpretation and development of knowledge. The Series therefore provides a foundation for later discussions of philosophy, civilisation and their contemporary parallels. Series Learning Outcomes Upon completing this Series, you should be able to: • SLO 1.1 explain the meaning, scope and major foundations of Islamic thought, • SLO 1.2 describe the roles of the Qurʾān, Sunnah, reason and reflection in the development of Islamic thought,
ISS 106 SERIES 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT | Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation • SLO 1.3 discuss major features of the historical development of Islamic thought and the role of scholars in preserving knowledge, • SLO 1.4 relate Islamic thought to knowledge, ethics and the development of human civilisation. 1.1 Meaning and Scope of Islamic Thought 1.1.1 Meaning of Islamic Thought Islamic thought may be understood as the intellectual engagement of Muslims with the teachings, worldview and values of Islam. It includes reflection on questions concerning God, humanity, knowledge, morality, society and the purpose of life. Islamic thought is therefore broader than a single academic discipline; it encompasses different forms of intellectual inquiry developed within the Islamic tradition. Fill in the blank: Islamic thought involves intellectual engagement with Islamic teachings, values and __________. 1.1.2 Sources and Foundations of Islamic Thought The foundation of Islamic thought is the revelation conveyed through the Qurʾān and the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad preserved in the Sunnah. Muslim scholars have also employed reason, reflection and systematic inquiry in understanding revealed guidance and responding to new questions. These intellectual activities operate within the broader framework established by Islam. Fill in the blank: The Qurʾān and __________ are central foundations of Islamic thought. 1.1.3 Characteristics of Islamic Thought Islamic thought is characterised by its relationship with revelation, its concern with knowledge and its attention to ethical responsibility. It seeks to connect intellectual understanding with human conduct. Although different scholars and intellectual traditions have approached
ISS 106 SERIES 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT | Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation questions differently, the Islamic intellectual tradition has maintained a strong interest in knowledge, moral responsibility and the relationship between human beings and the Creator. Fill in the blank: Islamic thought connects intellectual understanding with ethical __________. Pilot questions 1.1 1. Define Islamic thought in your own words. 2. Identify three areas of human inquiry that Islamic thought addresses. 3. What are the two central revealed foundations of Islamic thought? 4. Why is Islamic thought broader than a single academic discipline? 5. How are knowledge and ethical responsibility connected in Islamic thought?
ISS 106 SERIES 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT | Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation 1.2 The Qurʾān and Sunnah as Foundations 1.2.1 The Qurʾān and the Formation of Islamic Thought The Qurʾān provides the central revealed framework for Islamic belief, values and guidance. Its teachings address belief in Allah, human responsibility, morality, social relations and the pursuit of knowledge. Muslim intellectual activity has therefore continually engaged with Qurʾānic teachings in order to understand their meanings and implications for human life. Fill in the blank: The Qurʾān provides the central revealed framework for Islamic belief, values and __________. 1.2.2 The Sunnah and Prophetic Guidance The Sunnah refers to the teachings, practices and approved guidance associated with the Prophet Muhammad. It explains and exemplifies aspects of Qurʾānic guidance and provides a model for Muslim conduct. The Sunnah has consequently played an important role in the development of Islamic legal, ethical and intellectual traditions. Fill in the blank: The Sunnah provides an important model for Muslim belief and __________. 1.2.3 Reason, Reflection and Knowledge Islamic intellectual development has included the use of reason and reflection. Muslims have historically reflected on revelation, nature, human society and knowledge. Reason does not replace revelation; rather, intellectual inquiry is undertaken within the religious and ethical framework of Islam. This encouraged the development of learning and scholarly investigation in different fields. Fill in the blank: Reason and reflection are used to deepen understanding of revelation and the __________. Pilot questions 1.2
ISS 106 SERIES 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT | Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation 1. How does the Qurʾān shape Islamic thought? 2. What is meant by the Sunnah? 3. Why is the Sunnah important to Islamic intellectual development? 4. Does reason replace revelation in Islamic thought? 5. Name three areas on which Muslims have historically reflected. 1.3 Development of Islamic Thought 1.3.1 Early Muslim Intellectual Development As Islam expanded beyond its original Arabian setting, Muslims encountered new peoples, languages, cultures and intellectual questions. These encounters contributed to the development of systematic scholarship. Muslim scholars engaged with questions of belief, law, language, ethics, history and other fields while seeking to preserve and understand the Islamic tradition. Fill in the blank: The expansion of Islam brought Muslims into contact with new peoples, languages, cultures and intellectual __________. 1.3.2 Scholars and the Preservation of Knowledge Scholars played an important role in collecting, transmitting, interpreting and organising knowledge. Their activities included teaching, writing, compiling texts, travelling in search of knowledge and developing methods for evaluating information. Through these activities, knowledge was preserved and passed between generations. Fill in the blank: Scholars helped preserve knowledge through teaching, writing, transmission and __________.
ISS 106 SERIES 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT | Basis of Islamic Thought and Civilisation 1.3.3 Diversity within Islamic Intellectual Traditions Islamic intellectual history contains different approaches and schools of thought. Differences developed in areas such as jurisprudence, theology, philosophy, language and interpretation. Studying this diversity helps students appreciate the breadth of Islamic intellectual history without assuming that every historical position was identical. Fill in the blank: Islamic intellectual history contains different approaches and schools of __________. Pilot questions 1.3 1. What factors contributed to the development of Muslim intellectual scholarship? 2. State four activities through which scholars preserved knowledge. 3. Why is the study of intellectual diversity important? 4. Name three areas in which different Islamic intellectual traditions developed.
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