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Showing posts with label Fundamentals 1997. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fundamentals 1997. Show all posts

970726L - TAUHID: IMPLICATIONS FOR DAILY LIFE

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Lecture delivered to 1st year medical students at Kuantan, Pahang on July 26th 1997 by Prof Dr Omar Hasan Kasule, Sr. Deputy Dean for Research and Post-graduate Affairs, Kulliyah of Medicine IIUM


OUTLINE
1.0 TAUHID: THE ISLAMIC WORLD-VIEW
World-view
Culture & Civilization
Intellectual and abstract
Basis for physical laws (sunan Allah fi al kawn)
Empirical evidence for tauhid

2.0 TAUHID AL RUBUBIYYAT
Existence of a creator is a logical necessity
The creation indicates only one creator (tauhid al rububiyyat)
Creation as a continuous process

3.0 TAUHID AL ULUHIYYAT
3.1 Worship of only one God (wahdaniyat al ibadat)
Association of others with Allah in worship (shirk)
3.3 Religious anarchy in the absence of tauhid al uluhiyyat

4.0 TAUHID: NAMES OF ALLAH AND ALLAH’S ATTRIBUTES
The 99 names of Allah
Description of the attributes: contrast with humans
Shirk: human appropriation of divine attributes

5.0 TAUHID: IMPLICATIONS FOR DAILY LIFE
Civilization
Brotherhood and equality
Science and technology
Social organization
Economic organization
Political organization




1.0 TAUHID: THE ISLAMIC WORLD-VIEW
The concept of tauhid encapsulates the Islamic world-view. It is the basis of Islamic culture and civilization. Knowledge, social action and social organizations in Islam are based on the world-view defined by tauhid. Tauhid defines the relation between the human and the creator as well the relationships among the various creations in the universe.

Tauhid is the highest level of the development of the human mind. It is an intellectual and abstract reality. Normally many people do not want to go through the rigors of dealing with an abstract reality and they find easy recourse to one or several material gods they can see and interact with directly.

Tauhid is the most powerful and integrating concept for the universe. All other concepts and empirical phenomena derive from and are explainable by tauhid.

All creation and all phenomena of the universe derive from the one and same source. If the source is one, then there are relationships among all objects and phenomena in the universe. These relationships are the basis for physical and social laws (sunan Allah fi al kawn)

There is evidence in the universe (p 692 s:21… 71:15-20) and in humans (p 698 2:28…9:8-10) for oneness of Allah. Oneness of Allah (wahdaniyyat) can be proved philosophically or empirically. Prior belief in the unseen is indispensable for appreciating the empirical evidence for oneness of Allah. Starting from a basis of belief the philosophical and empirical evidence becomes more powerful and reinforces the underlying belief. Those without the smallest grain of belief in the unseen will not be able to fully appreciate the empirical or philosophical evidence however obvious it may be. In essence they have an inherent bias since belief in the unseen is innate in humans (fitrat).


2.0 TAUHID AL RUBUBIYYAT
The concept of rububiyyat is the assertion that there is a creator for the universe and all its contents (7:54, 32:7-9, 87:2, 54:49). This concept can be appreciated as a logical imperative since all the universe could not create itself.

The essence of tauhid is the oneness of Allah (112:1-4, 23:9, 6:100). Belief in the oneness of Allah is inborn (p 699 6:63…41:5). The assertion that there is only one creator for the whole universe (tauhid al rububiyyat) is also a logical imperative. It is impossible for the harmonious and well-coordinated universe to have more than creator. No 2 creators could agree so perfectly without any contradictions (p705-706 s:21…80:17-19; p708 2:139…73:9). No harmony can exist in situations of contradictions.

Related to rububiyat is the concept of sustenance (rizq) (p 702-703 6:44…67:21), Allah not only created all creatures but provides for and sustains them. Thus rububiyyat is a continuous process. It covers human and non-human creation of Allah. It extends into the future until Allah decides to terminate the universe as we know it today.


3.0 TAUHID AL ULUHIYYAT
The concept of uluhiyyat implies worship of Allah and the acknowledgement that He is the sustainer and sovereign and of the world (mulk) (p 708 23:84-89…67:1). Many people easily accept the assertion that the sole creator of the whole universe deserves to be worshipped. Some however find it difficult to understand that nothing else can be associated with that creator in worship (tauhid al uluhiyyat). They also find it difficult to understand that worship is for the only one creator (wahdaniyat al ibadat/wahdaniyat al ‘ibadat) (p 709-710 1:5…109:1-6).

Messengers and revelations were sent to emphasize that there is one creator to be worshipped and that there are no associates. Associating Allah with anything else in worship is the greatest of sins and is unforgivable. Many problems that afflict individuals and communities arise out of rejection of tauhid al uluhiyyat. Rejection of uluhiyat opens the door to anarchy in religion. This anarchy leads humans to appropriate attributes of the creator wrongly and some go to the extent of misusing this to justify exploitation of others.

Knowledge and understanding of rububuyyat and uluhiyyat lead logically to the conclusion that the human must worship the creator. It is not possible that the whole complex universe was created with no purpose behind the creation. This purpose we learn from the revelations is the worship of Allah. Worship is a way of expressing gratitude for the creation and the bounties of Allah in the universe. Every other creature worships Allah and never disobeys. It is only humans who sometimes disobey. The human was given a special status and specific competences like a high intellect and limited free-will. Misuse of these competences may result in disobedience. Kufr, denial of the existence of the creator or refusal to worship Him, is a great crime. It is ungratefulness for the great gift of creation and sustenance that humans have.


4.0 TAUHID: NAMES (ASMAU) & ATTRIBUTES (SIFAAT)
Allah has the most beautiful of names. They all testify to His majesty and power. These names are for Allah only and no creature can have any of them (tauhid al asma). A Muslim must believe in all the names. Denial of any one name nullifies iman. All the 99 names of Allah are mentioned in the Qur’an (p 107-126). The names of Allah are of great significance. They reflect the nature and power of the creator. They remind humans of their humble status in front of Allah. They help humans strengthen their understanding of uluhiyyat and rububiyyat.

Allah has attributes (sifaat) (p 708-709 2:163….112:4). The Qur’an has mentioned all of Allah’s attributes that a human needs to know (2:115, 2:255, 4:164, 6:133, 6:59, 7:143, 19:52, 31:26, 31:34, 42:11, 42:49-50).

Some of the attributes are just for resemblance (sifaat al tashbiih) such as leg (p 689 68:42), eye, ‘ayn (p 690 11:37…54:14), coming, majiu (p 690 2:210…89:22), face, wajh (p 690 2:115…92:20), hand, yad (p 690 13:26…67:1), sight basar, p 772 2:144…96:14), hearing sam’u p. 678 3:181…58:1), speaking, kalaam p 682-683 2:37…66:12).  Attributes with names similar to the above are also found in humans and other creatures but are different from Allah’s because nothing can be like Him. The use of terms such as the hand, the face, hearing etc was more for easing human understanding than making statements about the nature of Allah. The nature of Allah is beyond human understanding. 

Some attributes are states of being such as being above, fawqiyyat (p 690 6:18… 92:20), Eternity (al baqau p. 688 19:40…57:3), life (al hayat, p. 687-688 2:255…40:65), being the first (al qidam p 682 57:3), and self-reliance (al qiyam bi nafsihi p 682 2:255…112:2). Some attributes relate to actions such as will (iraadat p 676 2:26…74:31), knowledge (ilm p. 678-681 3:30…100:11), ability (al qudrat p. 681-682 2:20….85:13), and being unique i.e. different from the creations (mukhalafat al hawadith p 683-684 2:116….112:3).

Shirk in essence is associating the creator with human attributes. Some human attributes like hunger, thirst, and sleep reflect human weakness and should not be associated with the creator. Shirk also occurs when divine attributes are appropriated by humans.

Names and attributes are an aid for humans to understand the creator’s omnipotence. The attributes of Allah are beyond human comprehension and it is useless or even dangerous to engage in too much debate about them. It is enough to believe in them and not try to seek to explain them. Humans get confused in discussions of the nature of Allah when they do not acknowledge that there are limitations to human intellect and knowledge. Some concepts cannot be reached by the human intellect and recourse must be made to revelation. The Qur’an provides enough guidance on the nature of Allah leaving no room for human confusion (2:115, 2:255, 6:103).

Looking at the expanse and complexity of the universe shows that the creator must be very powerful, omnipresent and omnipotent. The creator must be different in all ways from what he created. It does not make sense to associate any human attributes to Him. The creator must be perfect because the creation is perfect.


5.0 TAUHID: IMPLICATIONS IN DAILY LIFE
Tauhid and civilization: the concept of tauhid, by emphasizing belief in one creator and sustainer of the whole universe, gives human civilization a beginning and an end. It gives it purpose, an objective and a sense of direction. It is an integrating concept without which an ever-lasting and successful civilization cannot be built. Many human civilizations that history has recorded could not sustain themselves beyond a few centuries because of lack of a central integrating vision like tauhid. They soon run into contradictions and collapsed.

Human brotherhood and equality: tauhid explains the unity of mankind because of a common origin (2:213, 10:19). The differences of nations and tribes have a purpose and do not negate the common human brotherhood (49:13).

Science and technology: Tauhid presents the vista of a wide expansive universe which motivates search for knowledge far and wide. Acknowledging existence of one creator, implies that there are fixed physical laws in the universe (sunan Allah fi al kawn). These are the basis for predictable causal relations. The purpose of science is to identify and define these causal relations. Technology exploits or manipulates the causal relations to create benefits (sometimes harm) for humans.

Social organization: Tauhid, by emphasizing a common creator for everything, implies that there must exist social laws needed for smooth functioning of the universe especially human society. Under tauhid the need for a community and family is obvious (7:189-190, 25:54). Both are structured organizations that ensure integrated harmonious human existence.

Economic organization: The basic economic teaching under tauhid is that sustenance is from Allah (29:60-62). The wealth that an individual gets should not be a cause of arrogance because it is essentially not his or hers. Human economic activities are undertaken with a sense of responsibility knowing that economic resources are in the hands of Allah and that the human is just a vicegerent. The human will therefore undertake economic activity within a moral context defined by Allah. This context requires that economic activity shall promote moral well-being, social and human justice.

Political organization: Tauhid implies that ultimate political sovereignty is with Allah. Those who wield political power are vicegerents and are thus accountable. They cannot behave as if they have absolute authority because that is the prerogative of Allah alone


971004L - SUPERIORITY OF THE HUMAN (Tafdhil Al Insan)

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Lecture delivered to 1st year medical students at Kuantan, Pahang on October 4th 1997 by Prof Dr Omar Hasan Kasule, Sr. Deputy Dean for Research and Post-graduate Affairs, Kulliyah of Medicine IIUM


OUTLINE
CRITERIA OF SUPERIORITY (Mi’iyaar Al Afdhaliyyat)
INTELLECT & KNOWLEDGE (‘Aql And ‘Ilm)
FREE WILL (Iraadat)
RESPONSIBILITY & TRUST (Amanat)
MORALITY (Akhlaq)


CRITERIA OF SUPERIORITY (Ma ‘Ayiir Al Afdhaliyyat)
Human creation is special from that of other creations: The human is superior to every other living and non-living thing that Allah created. Allah honored the human above all other creation (karamat al insan, tafdhil al insan) 17:70, p. 257 36:27…89:15).

Human superiority is not a right. It is a potential that can be developed or can be neglected. Not every single human individual can claim this superiority. The superiority is achieved by a human by fulfilling certain conditions. Humans can fall to be the lowest of the low (asfal safiliin) and could be worse off than animals if they do not fulfill those conditions.

Human history started with Allah honoring Adam by ordering angels to bow before him. (p 161 2:34… 38:71-72). This indicated human superiority above angels. The superiority has continued all through human history because of special attributes and capacities that Allah endowed the human with.

Human superiority is not based on body size or physical strength because there are other living things bigger in size and with stronger muscles. Neither is it any special anatomical or physiological function because there are many animals that are superior to humans in smelling, seeing, running, resistance to infection and other diseases.

The superiority of the human is based on 4 attributes: (a) a superior intellect (b) a free will (c) responsibility (d) morality. Intellect is the most important criterion of human superiority and the other criteria depend on it either directly or indirectly. In the absence of the intellect, the rest of the criteria of superiority lose their significance.

The superior human intellect is due to a better developed and sophisticated cerebral cortex. The human cerebral surface area or mass is proportionately the biggest for the body size. The limited free will enables the human to choose to do good or to do bad. The intellect and the will in a context of responsibility, accountability and morality enable the human to build a social order and a civilization that no other creations are capable of developing. The basic potentials are the intellect and the will. The sense of responsibility and morality determine the quality of the civilization that is developed; it could be good or bad depending on how well or badly the intellect and the will are used.


INTELLECT AND KNOWLEDGE (‘AQL and ‘ILM)
Allah gave the human an intellect (‘aql) that other creations do not have. The intellect enables humans to analyze, understand and learn; knowledge is the basis for human action. Transmission and growth of knowledge from one generation to the next is the essence of human civilizational growth. 

Intellect (‘Aql) can enable the human to get knowledge. Adam’s claim to superiority such that angels submitted to was the based on the extra knowledge that Allah gave him. His vicegerency on earth was based on this knowledge (161 2:30-34… 35:38).

The human can use the intellect well by thinking and deliberating on Allah’s creation. Careful observation and analysis will reveal to him that the creation is perfect, majestic and that there are many signs of the creator’s power and majesty (2:164, 3:190-191, 6:99, 7:54, 10:67, 10:101, 13:2-4, 16:10-16, 16:65-70, 21:30-33, 23:80-89, 26:24-28, 27:59-64, 28:71-73, 29:19-20, 30:20-25, 31:10-11, 41:53, 42:28-29, 45:3-5, 51:20-21, 79:27-33, 80:24-32, 86:5-7, 88:17-20). Good use of the intellect also includes study of the physical laws (sunan Allah) to establish causal relations that are the basis for exploitation and use of the resources of the universe.

The intellect can also be misused by a human who becomes misguided and misguides others. Those who deny the creator (kufr) or associating others with Allah (shirk) are misusing their intellect. The intellect can also be misused to cause harm to self, the society, and the eco-system.

Humans are able to extend their intellect in many ways by invention of machines that carry out intellectual functions sometimes better and faster than humans. The new field of artificial intelligence is a very exciting adventure.

Humans are on top of the food chain mainly because of their superior intellect. The human can use the more sophisticated brain to manufacture weapons and tools that neutralize or even overcome the superior physical strength of bigger and stronger living things.

Humans are able to manipulate the environment for their own benefit. They are the only living thing that can deliberately change their ecosystem in a drastic way to suit their interests. That is why humans are able to live in all types of climes.

Humans can misuse their abilities to an extent that no other creation can. Humans are for example the only living thing that can undertake deliberate and consistent destruction of its own kind (genocide).

Closely related to intellect is the power of speech and communication that enables humans to carry out social intercourse and thus succeed in living in families and communities. The Qur’an and empirical observations tell us that other living things can communicate; some even have languages for the Prophet Sulaiman (PBUH) could talk with animals. However their language and communication do not reach the sophistication of human language. A sophisticated language enhances the advantages of a superior intellect by enabling humans to pool, extend, and exchange ideas and experiences.


FREE WILL (Al-Iradat)
The human has a will that is defined and is limited. This will is subservient to Allah’s authority (p 86 5:37… 61:8). The human is personally accountable for actions done within this limited free will. Other creations of Allah have no will at all and are therefore not accountable.

Having a free will is an indicator of maturity. The human is the most developed in the order of creation and therefore is honored with a free will though it is limited.

The secret behind Allah’s endowing humans with a free will was to test humans on how well they can use that will. Passing the test would vindicate the superiority of humans. Angels despite their high position in the order of creation were not given a free will. The fact that angels cannot make a mistake and humans do yet humans were given the free will indicates the magnitude of honor as well as responsibility that humans have to bear.  

Human will can be used positively in working and preparing for the life hereafter (akhirat) (p 86 3:145…42:20), going good (ihsan) (p 86 4:62….9:107), reforming (islah) (p 86-87 4:35….1:88), giving nasihat (p 88 11:34), guidance (p 88 4:88…35:10), and effort (p 87 17:10).

Human will can also be used negatively for pursuit of earthly pleasures (duniyat) (p 86 3:145…53:29), deception (khid’at) (p 87 8:62), treachery (khiyanat) (p 87 8:71), doing bad (p 87 11:79….20:86), misguidance (dhalal) (p 87-88 4:27…48:15), transgression (dhulm) (p 88 22:25), corruption (fujuur) (p 88 75:5) & fasad (p 88 28:83) or just making tricks (kaid) (p 88 21:70… 52:42).

In the experience of humans as individuals and as communities we see examples of good and bad use of human will. The bad alternates with the good such that there is never an extended time when the bad predominates all the time and at all place.


RESPONSIBILITY (Amanat)
The human is entrusted with trust for which he is responsible. The term trust is comprehensive and covers ‘ibadat, iman, the self, the family, the society, and the whole eco-system. It also extends in time to generations not yet seen.  

The human unlike other creations of Allah has many responsibilities (mas’uliyyat) (p 1116 2:16) and trust (amanat) (p 148 12:11…12:64). These responsibilities and trusts are not just honors; they are obligations that confer honor and dignity if carried out well. They lead to shame and failure if not discharged properly.

Other creations of Allah, living and non-living, refused the challenge of bearing the trust and only humans accepted it (    ).

Humans are responsible before Allah (mas’uliyyat amama Allah) (p 1117 17:24…37:24). They will be asked on the responsibility in the hereafter on how well they discharged it (su’al al hisab). (p 608 2:119…102:8). Responsibility is meaningless without accountability.

Humans must fulfill their trusts (ada al amanat) (p 148 2:283…4:58) in order to claim their full humanity. Some humans succeed in carrying the trust with honesty (haml al amanat) (p 149 33:72). Some others fail in their trusts (khiyanat al amanat) (p 149 8:27…12:64). It is part of Allah’s grace that failure does not affect all humans all the time and in all places. At any one time there is someone somewhere where someone is carrying one of the trusts responsibly.


MORALITY (Akhlaq)
Humans are superior to many other creatures of Allah in that they are capable of choosing on their own free will to live a moral life. The human ability to choose what is moral and good confers even more honor and dignity when we consider that humans have a great potential for evil. Their superior intellect alone enables them to undertake a range of actions that no other creation can even dream of.

Only humans can live according to a consistent moral order. They can live in societies regulated by a moral code. The sense of right and wrong, good and bad, is innate in the human and is constantly reinforced by messages of prophets and revelations.

Other creations do not even have a concept of morality. Their concept of what is good and what is bad is governed by the simple instincts of the need to survive and self-gratification.

Humans have attributes that derive from their sense of morality and are not found in other creations: love, loyalty, kindness, and compassion. Human emotions unlike those of animals are moderated by the sense of morality that humans have.

Some individual humans have exemplified very high levels of morality by seeking to do good even in the most difficult conditions. They are able to put the interests of others before their own interests (ithaar). The highest level of this morality is to seek the ultimate pleasure of Allah (ridha al llaah)


KEY WORDS
ARABIC: FADHL: fadhl llah ala al insan - Karamat al insan
ENGLISH: Superiority of the Human


DISCUSSION
What do you understand by racism? What are its manifestations and causes?
What is your opinion about tribal, ethnic, or national pride? Is it uniformly good or bad?
In what ways does a human use his intellect correctly.
In what ways does a human misuse his intellect?
Explain how the limited free-will that humans have confers superiority over other creations.
What is the great amanat that Allah gave humans?
What is the moral responsibility of humans?


971011L - MISSION OF THE HUMAN ON EARTH (Risalat Al Insan)

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Lecture delivered to 1st year medical students at Kuantan, Pahang on October 11th 1997 by Prof Dr Omar Hasan Kasule, Sr. Deputy Dean for Research and Post-graduate Affairs, Kulliyah of Medicine IIUM


OUTLINE
DEFINITION OF THE MISSION
SCOPE OF THE MISSION
DURATION OF THE MISSION
SUCCESS
FAILURE


DEFINITION OF THE MISSION
Allah (SWT) could not have created humans, gave them all the bounties that make them a special creation without a purpose. That purpose must be a great one since the human is a great creation. It also must be comprehensive to explain the wide range of human potential and actions. The purpose must also have pre-dated human creation such that human nature and faculties must conform to it. The purpose in turn defines the mission of humans on earth.

A human unaided cannot identify and define the purpose of creation. The Qur’an has informed us that the purpose of human creation was worship of Allah (‘ibadat). The mission of the human is therefore to undertake ‘ibadat. A human who establishes ‘ibadat is successful in the mission; the one who fails is not successful.

The concept of ‘ibadat in Islam is very wide. It includes virtually all human endeavor and all human activities as explained in a previous chapter. Closely related to ‘ibadat are the concepts of istikhlaf and isti’mar that have been explained before. Istikhlaf is vicegerency of the human on earth. Isti’imar is the building of a material civilization on earth. Both istikhlaf and isti’mar are part of the mission of humans on earth.


SCOPE OF THE MISSION
The scope of the human mission is as wide as the scope of ‘ibadat. Human responsibility is wide-ranging. As an individual he is obliged to worship Allah while at the same time undertaking those functions needed to maintain life like working to earn a living. He has a role in building and maintaining a family and a community. This involves putting group interests before individual interests. He has responsibilities to the eco-system to leave the earth a better place or at least not worse that what he found it.

‘Ibadat is the purpose of creation. ‘Ibadat in Islam is a comprehensive concept that embraces all human endeavors. Whatever humans do in sincerity and without disobeying any of Allah’s commands is a form of worship and they will be rewarded for it. Thus ‘ibadat is the practical expression of taqwa. ‘Ibadat can be structured or non-structured. Structured ‘ibadat can be obligatory or non-obligatory.

‘Ibadat must be constant and in all circumstances and is not confined to certain places, times, or occasions. The whole purpose of human creation is the worship of Allah. Only Allah is worthy of worship (4:36. P 776 19:93…44:18). ‘Ibadat is Allah’s right and He punishes those who do not fulfill it. Humans were given a free will to choose what to do and not what not to do within the limited human capacity. Life is therefore a test for them whether they will choose the right path of ‘ibadat or they will choose otherwise. 

All human activities can be ‘ibadat. There must be a balance between these various activities for a harmonious life. No one act should be done to excess to the detriment of others. For example prayer at night is ‘ibadat. It should not be done to such an excess that the ‘ibadat of looking for a livelihood the next morning is not possible. Although every human endeavor can be ‘ibadat, only those undertaken with the correct intention (niyyat) are rewarded as ‘ibadat. An act of ‘ibadat can therefore not be accidental. It must be a consequence of a deliberate choice and intention.


DURATION OF THE MISSION
The duration of human responsibility covers today and the future. It does not include the past, no human can be held accountable for actions that he was not a party to. While humans undertake work to build and maintain a civilization today they must have a sense of responsibility for generations to come. The benefits of today must be balanced against the harm of tomorrow.


SUCCESS (FALAH)
The Qur’an has provided a clear definition of the success of human endeavors. The Qur’an has used the word falah to refer to the success of humans in their mission (p 906 4:73….58:22). Success can be on earth or in the hereafter (p 906 73:185…85:11). Falah can be achieved by having a strong iman (p 908 2:3-5…31:3-5), self-purification (tazkiyat) (p 908 2:189….5:100), consciousness of Allah (taqwat) ( of Allah), obedience (ta’at) (p 908 24:51), remembrance of Allah (dhikr Allah) (7:69, 8:45, 62:10), avoiding shaitan (p 907 5:90), doing good (p 908 22:77), enjoining the good and forbidding the bad (p 907 3:104), giving (infaq)  (p 907 30:38…64:16), seeking forgiveness (tawbat) (p 908 24:31), struggle in the path of Allah (jihad) (5:35).

Falah includes material success on the earth and spiritual success in the hereafter. Both types of success depend on human effort on earth. It is perhaps a unique feature of Islam that all human endeavors that are good contribute to both types of success at the same time.


FAILURE
Failure at the individual level is not worshipping Allah as was enjoined. A civilization can fail if it does not follow and uphold the laws of Allah (sunan al Laah fi al kawn) that are needed to guide human action. The failure of the human in his mission manifests as transgression (dhulm) (p 907 6:21…28:37), lying (kadhb) (p 907 10:69, 16:116), disbelief (kufr) (p 907 23:117, 28:82), crime (p 107 10:17), and disappointment (khaibat) (p 408 3:127….91:10).


KEY WORDS
ARABIC: risalat al insan ‘ala al ardh - falah
ENGLISH:  Mission of human on earth


DISCUSSION
Why is ‘ibadat considered the purpose of creation?
What are the auxiliary purposes of human creation?
Describe the amanat that humans accepted and other creations did not.


970104p - VALUES AND ATTITUDES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY*

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Paper presented at The Malaysian Institutions Program Seminar on Islamization of Knowledge Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Johor Bahru January 4-5, 1997 by Dr Omar Hasan Kasule, Sr.; MB ChB, MPH, DrPH (Harvard) Professor of Medicine, International Islamic University, Malaysia. PO Box 70 Jln Sultan Petaling Jaya Selangor DE Malaysia Fax 60 3 757 7970


Abstract

Science and technology based on empirical research are accepted and are encouraged by Islam. The basic elements of the empirical method are valid; the objections of Muslims center on attitudes and values associated with S&T as developed and used today using a Eurocentric philosophical frame. The problems due to a Euro-centric world-view are (1) unstated and stated a priori biases in the formulation of hypotheses, selection of hypotheses for testing, interpretation, and use of scientific knowledge (II) the assertion that only empirical knowledge is valid (III) arrogance in not acknowledging limitations to human observation and interpretation of physical phenomena (IV) dealing with the parts and missing the whole.  The following Qur’anic concepts can contribute to the formulation of values and attitudes in science and technology: (a) acknowledging wide but finite frontiers of human knowledge (b) appreciating tauhid as an integrating holistic universal intellectual paradigm for all processes of empirical research (c) accepting natural laws (sunan al llaah) as a basis for an orderly universe with stable causal relations (d) study of physical phenomena (tadabbur aayat llaah) as basis for empirical observations and interpretation (e) uprightness (Istiqamat) as protection from methodological biases (d) vicegerency of the human on earth (Istikhlaf), placing the universe at the service of humans (taskhiir), and building civilization (isti’imaar) are bases for responsible technology.

*   This is an adaptation of a paper entitled: ‘The Empirical Scientific Method: An Islamic Reformulation’ delivered by the at the International Conference on Values and Attitudes in Science, Kuala Lumpur September 1996




1.0 INTRODUCTION
The paper analyzes the empirical methodology and discusses an Islamic approach to the formulation of values and attitudes in science and technology. The paper concludes that the basic postulates and elements of the scientific method are valid and acceptable. The problems are external to the method and manifest in the way it is framed and is used. The paper proposes using Qur’anic concepts in the formulation of the values and attitudes mentioned above.

The European use of the empirical method has the following established characteristics: (a) It is pragmatic and basically atheistic (a) only observation is the source of valid knowledge; other sources of knowledge such as istinbat, tarikh, naql are rejected.

The following characteristics of the empirical method are alleged  and may not always hold in practice (a) It is open-ended, theories are abandoned if no longer sustained by facts (b)  It is methodological (systematic, repeatable, and consistent) (c)  It is accurate, precise, and objective.

The empirical methodology is innately good but the manner and context of its use lead to the following problems: (a) biases due to a priori assumptions (b) limitations of observation by human senses (c) limitations of human intellect (d) lack of an integrating paradigm


2.0 PROBLEMS OF THE EMPIRICAL SCIENTIFIC METHOD
2.1 A Priori Assumptions
A priori assertions or non-assertions (assertions by default) bias the selection of fields/issues of investigation, formulation of hypotheses, selection of hypotheses for testing, reporting of data, interpretation of data, and use of information.

The source of frustration with European empiricism is that some assertions are understood but are not stated explicitly so that the uninitiated may not recognize their existence.

European thought is basically materialist. It has several manifestations as positivism, empiricism, pragmatism, and semanticism.

A materialistic view of the universe contradicts the Islamic view of duality of matter and spirit, mind and body, soul and intellect, philosophy and religion, here and the hereafter.

The theory of evolution that evolved in 19th century England and coincidentally provided ‘scientific’ justification for industrial exploitation for the less fit in Europe and the colonies by the fittest who alone had the right of survival, has a lot of influence in the thinking of many natural and social scientists. Scientific hypotheses, scientific language, choice of what to study reflect an underlying assumption of the innate superiority of the most ‘evolved’ human species in Europe.

Psychological leanings cause bias. Personal or group selfish interests can unconsciously lead to bias because of the European dichotomy between science and morality.

The life of the scientist is not put in the equation. A scientist is a prisoner of his culture. Only the aqida of tauhid that is based on universality can rescue him from such a prison. Many of the leading scientists were morally corrupt even psychologically sick yet their theories and discoveries were not suspected. There is an implied unscientific assumption that a person who tells lies in his ordinary life will not do so about his laboratory research. The character and moral worth of the investigator is not taken into account when judging the validity of the data on the assertion that science is morally / ethically neutral (hiyaad akhlaqi). This is the cause of so much scientific fraud most of which is undetectable. The Islamic approach will involve checking the moral worth of the researcher in the assessment of any research data to void the possibility of scientific fraud.

Regarding natural laws as final and accepting the laws of evolution that explain the start and progress of life as chance or accidental events make the European scientist consider the existence of a creator superfluous. No empirical experiment can be set up to test the proposition yet there are indications especially in empirical behavior of humans that there is a super-natural power.

Tauhidi science start with the following prior assumptions: tauhid (Allah, His attributes, uluhiyyat, rububiyyat), limitations of human knowledge, causality (sababiyyat) is the relation between the cause and effect. The causes are creatable by Allah and he could change them. Thus causal relations are not always what humans expect. The creator can disregard the so-called natural laws. A Muslim believes that miracles are associated with causal relations that are in the realm of ghaib but also recognizes that in practical terms he need not delve into this field.

2.2 Sources of Knowledge
Both European empiricists (experience is source of knowledge) and rationalists (reason is source of knowledge) agree that there is no source of knowledge outside the human.

The assertion that the empirical is the only source of valid knowledge excludes 2 major fields of study: (a) the ultimate questions about the universe that can not be proved rationally: its start, its future, its end, purpose of human life, life, death and after-death and (b) human behavior: motivation and spiritual experiences). There are ultimates of religion that can not prove rationally.

The European paradigm that does not recognize existence of limits to human senses and intellect can not accept that some matters can not be investigated empirically and that other sources of knowledge such as wahy (knowledge of ghaib) must be used. They are just ignored as if they do not exist. A proper approach would have been a declaration by the empiricist and rationalist that they lie outside the bounds of unaided human investigation.

Islam recognizes three sources of knowledge, 2 being primary and the third dependent on the other two. Wahy and empirical observation are independent. They however both need reason ‘aql for understanding. Muslim thinkers have mentioned other sources of knowledge such as intuition (hadas), ilhaam, and wijdaan. These either have wahy or an empirical basis that may not be obvious to the uninitiated.

Wahy remains the absolute source since human senses and reason are known by ordinary human experience to be fallible. Al Ghazali doubted the authority of sense and reason. Human illusions and hallucinations are possible and do occur.

2.3 Investigation of the Past and the Future
The empirical method performs well in investigation of the present but is awfully incompetent in its historicity and futuristicity. Investigation of the past and the future requires ‘ilm al ghaib that comes only from wahy. Ghaib can be absolute or relative. Empirical investigations continually roll back the frontiers of relative ghaib but can not even start looking into absolute ghaib. The problem is that the European use of the empirical method just assumes that uninvestigatable matters just do not exist or are irrelevant. Untestable assertions are classified as unscientific.

2.4 Investigation of the Human
European empiricism, by looking at the human as only matter, does not have the tools to understand human duality. It fails in understanding causal relations in situations in which humans change the ecosystem. Humans can create new facts that accord with their inner biases such that an investigator coming later is confused.

2.5 Integration and Specialization
Too narrow specialization in science has resulted in a situation of knowing the parts and failing to put them together. Knowing the whole picture makes the study of the parts more meaningful. European empiricism as used does not acknowledge the basic assertions of tauhid that there is one creator for the universe and that therefore there must be an integrating paradigm for all human research and actions. A practical consequence of this is that one advance in one area is a catastrophe in another to the extent that many insightful scientists fear the ultimate destruction of the ecosystem.

2.6 Objectivity and Universality
The claim of universality and objectivity is not true. It would have been more honest to accept the minimum that European science reflects a Euro-centric view of the world.

2.7 Limitations of Human Senses
Empirical knowledge is relativistic and probabilistic. European science is too arrogant in stating its conclusions as established facts when the observations on which they are based may be wrong.

Empiricism depends on human senses. Human senses are limited in their observation and can be deceived; this failure is not cured by use of instruments because they are aids and extensions of the basic human senses.

Diseases of the heart can lead to biased empirical observations. Among these diseases are: hiqd, kibr, kadhb,

Existence (al wujuud) is at 5 levels: dhaati, hissi, khiyaali, ‘aqli, and shibhi. The empirical method can only observe the hissi, the rest have to be inferred.

2.8 Limitations of Human Intellect
The human intellect is necessary to interpret and understand empirical observations. This intellect has limitations and there are matters like the human himself that lie outside its reach. A human can not understand himself fully. Rationalism has a basis in the Qur’an and reason is needed to understand the Qur’an and Sunnah. However there are transgressions in the use of reason that lead to false results. This occurs when reason is employed in areas that are exclusive for wahy. The Ummah like the Europeans has had excesses by rationalists like the mu’tazilites. Ibn Taymiyyat, al Ghazzali, and other scholars of the same caliber came to bring the ummah back to the original methodology after the excesses of the rationalists.

2.9 Lack of Balance
A very noticeable feature of the development of science and technology in the past 2 centuries has been a lack of equilibrium and balance in the field of applications. What are today’s achievements become tomorrow’s problems. Industrial production has been associated with environmental pollution. New medical treatments and procedures turn out to be causes of new diseases after a decade or so. Much economic prosperity has been achieved at a great sacrifice of personal happiness and family break-down. The cause of this is that there is no clear concept of wasatiyyah, equilibrium or taking the middle path and avoiding extremes. This concept is found in the Qur’an and Muslims can be pioneers in introducing this concept in S&T.


3.0 QUR’ANIC CONCEPTS IN VALUES AND ATTITUDES IN S&T
3.1 Qur’an and Knowledge, ‘Ilm
Previous civilizations were condemned for reading and not understanding their revelations (2:78). This is a situation of intellectual blindness. For Muslims the revelation is the start of understanding and knowledge.  Some of the contemporary Muslim weaknesses are attributable to defects in understanding and using the Qur’an. Many Muslim communities today have abandoned the Qur’an (hijr al Qur’an) in that they do not use it as the sole guide of their affairs. Muslim scientific and technological renaissance will require a return to the Qur’an as an inspiration and a methodological guidance.

The learning, collection, study, and interpretation of the Qur’an was the start of the methodological and knowledge revolution ushered in by Islam.  This revolution was mainly the liberation of human intellect and will from the clutches of superstition and blind following.

Qur’anic verses deal with basically 4 concentric themes: (a) the self, nafs; (b) relation with other humans; (c) relation with the ecosystem; (d) relation with the creator. In the temporal dimension the Qur’an deals with the past, the present, and the future. The future is generally subsumed under the concept of the unseen, al ghaib.

The Qur’an is a book of general and basic guidance and not a textbook for any discipline. It is a methodological guideline for the development of science and technology as well as other areas of human knowledge.

The Qur’an and Sunnah have their wisdom, hikmat, in the scientific tarbiyat of Muslims. There is a hikmat in the Qur’an and Sunnah being in generalities and not details and why the companions did not ask many questions. There is also hikmat in verses of the Qur’an being validly interpretable in more than one way. There is hikmat in the revelation of the Qur’an in bits and pieces. The hikmat is to develop a spirit of inquiry and reflection as the way to scientific facts.

Scientific facts in the Qur’an are there for purposes of guidance to aqida and not a substitute for empirical research. It encourages humans to study the universe in order to get empirical knowledge. This is achieved by indicating that the universe is large, knowledge is wide in scope, and human knowledge is limited.

The field of human endeavor is the seen and not the unseen. It will be a transgression for a human to try to research or deal with the unseen. All knowledge of the unseen needed for methodological guidance of empirical study of the world is provided by the Qur’an. The Qur’an also provides information to understand uluhiyyat and rububiyyat and their implications in daily practical life.

3.2 The Tauhidi Paradigm from the Qur’an
The tauhidi paradigm has the following concepts: unity of Allah, unity of creation, unity of truth, unity of knowledge, unity of life, unity of humanity. The concept of unity is the bedrock for causal relations and a rational predictable universe. Science shows that the complex universe is actually a simple made up of a few fairly identical building blocks called atoms, sub-atomic particles and molecules. The natural laws that govern the interactions among these particles are simple and are usually written as simple mathematical equations.

Under the tauhidi paradigm, wahy and aql are complementary. Since knowledge and truth are a unity, both wahy and aql are searching for the same goal.

The tauhidi paradigm also implies an all-embracing aspect (shumuuliyyat). Since everything has the same creator and one source, there must be order and harmony (nidhaam) since that creator knows all His creation (ihaatat).

Tauhid liberates the human intellect from stagnation (jumuud), dependency (tab’iyat), blind following (taqlid a’ama). It frees the human from being a slave of his own whims and fancies.

Tauhid encourages innovation (ibda) by emphasizing the unity of the universe and its wide expanse.

Tauhid makes us understand why the Qur’an addresses the whole person and not parts

Tauhid is the final guarantor against methodological biases because the human observing and interpreting natural phenomena is in the same tauhidi frame of reference as the events being studied. The Qur’an is comprehensive (shumuliyyat). It has to be accepted as a whole (2:85). The reader must understand the changing time-space dimensions in the Qur’an.

3.3 Sunan Llah Fi Al Kawn
The Qur’an calls for empirical observation of the environment and its interpretation in many verses. Human senses were given their responsibility in this matter with warning against transgression. The Qur’an calls for use of the human intellect. It provides actual examples of scientific research.

The principal of causality, i.e. a physical phenomenon must have a preceding humanly-understandable cause, is very clear in many verses of the Qur’an. The exceptions when the principle is suspended are described; they involve intervention of divine will beyond human understanding or are in the realm of the unseen (‘ilm al ghaib). Humans can ignore the principle of causality with the consequence of lack of creativity, innovation, and activity and they lapse into a stuporous state of tawaakul.

Sunan Allah is of two types: those known by Allah alone and those knowable by humans. The sunan in ‘aalam al ghaib are different from those in a’alam al shahadat. Ghaib is of two types: haqiiqi, knowable only by Allah, and idhaafi, knowable by some humans.

The Qur’an clearly refers to methodology in Maida: 48, An’am:155 and many other chapters.

The Qur’anic methodology is induction. It was most unfortunate that Muslim scholars, under Greek influence, turned to deductive and neglected inductive reasoning.

As part of the intellectual stagnation, the fuqaha concentrated on ayaat al ahkaam and neglected ayaat al kawn.

3.4 Basis for Empirical Observation and Interpretation

The Qur’an calls for the inductive method by ordaining looking at nature.

Ayat kawniyyat relate directly to human intellect because Allah gave humans the power of intellect and put at their disposal what is in the earths and heavens (taskhiir) and called upon humans to look and investigate

The Qur’an trains the human to observe nature by use of terms such as nadhar, tabassur. Interpretation is emphasized by terms such as: tadabbur, tafakkur, i’itibaar. tafaquhu. Use of evidential knowledge is emphasized by terms such as: bayyinat, burhan. Terms used to condemn tendencies to biased observations are: taqliid, dhann.

The Qur’anic story about Ibrahim’s search for the truth by observing natural phenomena like the moon and the sun is a good example of formulating and testing a hypothesis by empirical observation.

3.5 Istiqamat

The concept of istiqimat promotes valid and un-biased research. It is defined by the following measures of central tendency to the golden mean or equilibrium:’adl, wasatiyyat, tawazun, hikmat, i’itidaal, ma’ayiir, mawdhu’iyyat. The concept of wasatiyyat can be the basis for statistical measures of central tendency (mean, mode) that are the basis of much scientific inference

Istiqamat can also be defined negatively as rejection of what leads to bias: hiwa al nafs, al dhann.

The Qur’an came to fight false knowledge that manifests as: usturat, khurafat, kadhb, lahw, wahm. It condemned intellectual stagnation that manifests as taqlid. It warned against mistakes (khata) and forgetting (nisyaan). It warned against diseases of the heart that can color and distort objective observation and interpretation resulting in bias. It teaches practical measures for avoiding mistakes such as insisting on a written record and calling witnesses.

It called for use of evidence by use of the following terms: burhan, daliil, bayyinat, shahid, tathabbut, sidq, iltimas al shawaahid, tathabut fi al umuur (Nisa: 83, Hujraat: 18).


3.6 Characteristics of Islamic Methodology As Presented By Dr Abdulhamid Abusulayman
3.6.1 Scope:
The Islamic methodology has a very wide scope that encompasses and harmonizes both the seen and the unseen (takaamul al ghaib wa al shahadat). Empirical research is in the province of the seen and can not trespass into the unseen. Guidance from the unseen helps encourage empirical research and guide it away from potential bias

3.6.2 Sources:
There are three main sources of knowledge and methodology: Revelation (wahy), Intellect (aql), and Empirical observation (kawn). These sources are complementary and are never contradictory. Full knowledge requires use of all the sources.

3.6.3 Basic principles:
Islamic methodology has 3 main principles: wahdaniyyat, al khilafat, al masuliyyat al akhlaqiyyat

3.6.4 Basic concepts:
The Islamic methodology relies on the following basic concepts: ghaiyyat al khalq wa al wujuud, mawdhu’iyyat al haqiiqat wa nisbiyyat al mawqiu minha, hurriyat al qaraar wa al iradat al insaniyyat wa masuliyyatuha, al tawakkul, al sababiyyat fi adaa al fi’ilu al insaani

3.6.5 Peculiarities:
A distinguishing characteristic of the Islamic methodology is its comprehensiveness, shumuliyyat.


4.0 CONCLUSIONS

The above analyzes have shown that the actual processes of the empirical methodology (hypothesis, testing, conclusion) are not the problem but the context and manner in which the method is used. What is therefore needed is to define the Islamic values and attitudes in S&T.

The education of a Muslim scientist should encourage development of a culture involving attitudes and values that can be learned from the Islamic methodological sciences. Studying the methodological Islamic sciences of usul al fiqh, hadith, and tafsir will help mold the personality and intellectual preparation of the future researcher within an Islamic context. Studying the history and achievements of the early Muslim scientists will be an inspiration for the young generation.


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Three approaches to revival today
Dr Abdulhamid Abusulayman in discussing solutions to the ummah’s present weaknesses considers 3 alternatives: (a) al hall al tariikhi al taqliidi (b) al hall al mustawrad (c) al hall al Islami al muasir. He concluded that that the only viable alternative is al nahdhat min al asaalat al islamiyyat al muasirat.