O-Bakar_classification of Knowledge in Islam

7/28/2019 O-Bakar_classification of Knowledge in Islam

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sman a ar,

Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Science, University of Malaya.

Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Civilization Dialogue.

Deputy CEO, IAIS Malaysia.


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Classification of Knowledge in Islam Items to be discussed

Welcome to the world of Islamic architecture of knowledge

Classification of knowledge as an landmark in Islamic intellectual history

Historical overview of classifications of knowledge in Islam

When and why did classification of knowledge stop as an intellectual activity in

Islamic civilization?

The relevance of the Islamic idea of classification of knowledge to the

contemporary world

The need to revive the Islamic tradition of classification of knowledge


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Islamic architecture of knowledge

Islam as a and the religion of knowledge Islam as the religion of truth (din al-haqq) Knowledge as the most fundamental criterion of human success and

salvation

The Muslim ummah as a knowledge-driven society Islam is interested in organizing, constructing, and advancing

- Different beliefs and approaches in human civilizations to the

organization, construction, and classification of knowledge Product of the Islamic (tawhidic) approach: Islamic

architecture of knowledge


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Classification of knowledge: A landmark of Islamic intellectual history

Many knowledge activities

Defining and describing knowledge

Cataloguing knowledge/sciences

Classifying knowledge

Constructing the foundation of each science

Applying knowledge

Explaining the ethics of knowledge Classification of knowledge as a landmark

The intellectual context (Allah-centric reality; hierarchy and unity of the universe;

hierarchy and unity of knowledge)

The societal context (a society governed by the Divine Law: maqasid al-shariah)

Classification of things: the Quranic model

Classification as a major factor in the progress of knowledge

Islamic classification of knowledge: universal as well as particular


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Historical overview of classifications of knowledge in Islam

Allusions in the Quran

Different types of knowledge (metaphysical, scientific, technological, etc)

Useful and harmful knowledge

Allusions in the hadith literature

Protection from useless knowledge: the dua of the Prophet s.a.w.

Classifications in Islamic history The active period: from the 3rd century AH/9th century CE till the 12th century

ASH/18th century CE

Major figures from al-Kindi to Shah Waliallah of Delhi and many in between

Systems of classifications: (1) fard ayn and fard kifayah; (2) transmitted sciences

(al-ulum al-naqliyah) and intellectual/rational sciences (al-ulum al-aqliyah); (3)

presential (huduri) and attained (husuli) knowledge


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Why is classification of knowledge important to the Islamic mind?

Muslim scholars interested in cataloguing, systematizing and dividing and

subdividing all the known sciences according to principles that would help

to protect and preserve the Islamic worldview and belief system

Muslim scholars wanted to uphold the unity of the sciences, an important

corollary of the principle of tawhid, the core teaching of Islam

Muslim scholars wanted to put in place an educational curriculum thatwould maintain a harmonious balance between the permanent needs of

man and society and their changing needs

Muslim scholars wanted to secure a good balance between generalization

and specialization in the human pursuit of knowledge


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Classification of knowledge in Islam: when and why did it stop?

When? Activity began to decline in 10th century AH/16th century CE and

came to a halt after the 12th century AH/18th century CE

Why? Yet to be studied in detail: there seems to be a correlation between

state of knowled e roduction and ro ress and activities of classification:

a natural correlation

The issue becomes: why did knowledge production and innovation in its

previous comprehensive scope began to decline after the 10th century

AH/16th century CE?


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The relevance of traditional Islamic classification of knowledge to the

contemporary world

The modern ocean of knowledge is vast and rich but disorganized, chaotic and

confusing, and directionless and purposeless

Tension and conflict between different types of knowledge

Lack of unity of knowledge and the sciences: modern knowledge in crisis

Modern educational systems and curricula not based on sound epistemologicalprinciples: no balance between the permanent and changing needs of man

Problematic architecture of knowledge in the colleges and universities

No balance and harmony between generalization and specialization in the pursuit

of knowledge

The solution? Islamic classification of knowledge can come to the rescue


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Conclusion

But we need to revive the Islamic tradition of classification of knowledge

and classification of the sciences. This is an important but neglected

as ect of Islamic intellectual tradition. I would encoura e the oun

generation of Muslim scholars, academics, and postgraduate students to

help revive this tradition in the contemporary world for the sake of both

the ummah and humanity at large. Knowledge disorganized is life

disorganized!


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Osman Bakar, PhD

WaLlah alam, wa bihi nastain

O-Bakar_classification of Knowledge in Islam

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