A

Presentation On

Islamic World
View
 Theme of the
Course

Reviving Islamic Spirit

among the Muslim
Youth
 Islamic World View
“Type a quote here.”

–Johnny Appleseed

This course
This course is
is designed
designed toto introduce
introduce the
the basic
basic
concepts of worldview as conceived from the
various perspectives;
various perspectives; sociological,
sociological, psychological,
psychological,
political as well as in the dialectical discourse
between secularism and religious living.
Course Summery
 Course Summery

• Participants will be exposed to several broad conceptions of what is the

Islamic worldview culminating in the assertion that the Islamic
worldview is an all-encompassing vision of Reality and Existence as
described and prescribed by Islam (Ru'yat al-Islam li al-Wujud).
• This course will also provide the participants with a strong understanding
of the core of Islam and its main characteristics such as it being Syumul
(Complete and comprehensive) and Rabbani (Divinely inspired).
• Participants will also learn the pre-requisite elements towards
understanding the Islamic worldview.
•
Course Objectives
1. Develop an awareness of the need for a deeper understanding of Islam
and its worldview.
2. Develop an awareness of the need to adopt the Islamic vision of Reality
or Existence thereby building the spiritual character of the person even in
the face of other WorldViews.
3. Acquainting and deepening participants' understanding of meanings,
objectives, foundations and essential characteristics and core concepts of
Islamic and non-Islamic worldViews.
4. Nurturing participants with understanding of the elements of Islamic
WorldView and its implications on knowledge, the self and roles and
responsibilities of the Muslims.
 WEEK 1

Worldview:
Definition, necessity, and a brief historical
development
 Meanings
Worldview is an English translation of the German
term Weltanschauung .
It is rendered in Arabic as Ru yat al-Islam lil- wujud ,
()‫)رؤ ة ا س م لل د‬
A set of beliefs about fundamental aspects of reality
that around us
One s perceiving, knowing and doing
Study of the world and its aspects
A view of life
A perception of the world
A particular philosophy of life
 In Fact:

• A worldview is a profile of
the way the people within a
specified culture live, act,
think, work and relate.
• It is a “map” or culture’s
social, religious, economic
 Definitions
A set of attitudes on a wide range of fundamental
matters
A comprehensive set of propositions about various
aspects of the world
A unified and comprehensive view of the world around
us and man place within it.
Basic assumptions and images toward understanding
all existing things and beings
A guide or a map toward realizing one religious,
social, political, economic and cultural views and
relationships
 What a worldview does

• A worldview encapsulates answers regarding broad questions of

"life understanding."
• These questions are lifetime concerns and sources of anxiety.
• They involve fundamental matters, expressed in the form of
queries. Here are some examples of ongoing human concerns:
•

• Worldview influences all aspects of life

 Some of the Fundamental Questions
addressed by worldview
How far out does the universe go? Did it
have a beginning and will it have an end?
How did humans come about here on
earth?
Does life have a purpose? If it does, what
is it that gives meaning to one’s life?
Does one’s daily conduct matter in the
long run?
What happens to a person at his/her
death?
Is there God? What are His
attributes?
What is good and what is bad? How
can one know the good and the bad?
How should one treat others?
How is knowledge obtained?
 Objectives of the Worldview
1. A model of the world
2. Ability to explain and answer the questions
3. Ability to see through good and bad values
and answer the questions
4. Ability to know how to act properly
5. Ability to construct people knowledge about
existence and truth
6. Ability to develop worldview
 IMPACT OF WORLDVIEW
1. Helps us to know peoples and their cultures.
2. Helps us to interact with nature, individuals,
nations, cultures and civilizations.
3. Helps us to correct our own values,
perspectives, attitudes and behaviours.
4. Helps us to formulate theories of politics,
sociology, culture, etc.
 The Definition of Islamic worldview
“Ru’yat al-Islam li al-wujud”
“ A metaphysical survey of the visible as well as the invisible
worlds including the perspective of life as a whole”. Al-Attas
in Islam and the Challenge of Modernity, p. 27.
Islamic worldview encompasses the issues of universe, creator,
prophethood, society, man, and hereafter.
It is not a worldview that is formed merely by amalgamation or
historical concoction of various cultural values. Rather, it is a
well established framework derived from the revelation and
interpreted by Muslim scholars throughout Islamic history
This frame of reference provides us with
correct and consistent answers to the ultimate
questions pertinent to the issues of God,
unseen, man, universe, and life. It also guides
man as a vicegerent of Allah to the correct
belief system, shari‘ah, and ethical values.
The worldview of Islam encompasses both al-
dunia ( ‫ ) الدنيا‬and al-akhirah ( ‫ ) ال)رة‬in which
the dunia aspect must be inextricably linked to
the akhirah aspect, and in which the akhirah
aspect has ultimate and final significance.
The Main Elements of Islamic worldview
God;
Revelation (i.e. the Qur’an) and
Prophethood;
God’s Creation;
Man and the psychology of human soul
Knowledge;
Religion
Freedom;
Values and virtues;
Hereafter
And happiness.
The Objectives of Islamic worldview
To provide the Muslims with the true knowledge
and explanation about the world, seen and unseen,
as they are explained in the Qura'n.
To teach people the way and method how to
achieve the main values of Islam in human life.
To establish the fundamental ethical precepts, such
as justice, freedom, trust, and dignity of human life
and existence.
worldview of Islam comprises both al-dunya and
al-Akhirah aspects, in which the dunya-aspect
must be related profoundly to the Akhirah-
aspect, and in which the Akhirah-aspect has
ultimate and final significance.
Islamic worldview is not a worldview that is
formed merely by the gathering together of
various cultural objects, values and phenomena
into artificial coherence.
nor is it one that is formed gradually through
a historical process of philosophical
speculation and scientific discovery, which
must of necessity be left vague and open-
ended for future change and alteration in line
with paradigms that change in
correspondence with changing
circumstances.
It is not a worldview that undergoes a
dialectical process of transformation repeated
through the ages, from thesis to anti-thesis
then synthesis
Western Perception of Worldview
Most of the western perceptions of
worldview rely more on our existing reality,
experience and life. They don’t give much
consideration to the issues related to the
unseen world and hereafter.
Most of the western perceptions of
worldview consider it as assumption, but
this is not true from an Islamic perspective
because in Islam, we consider it as a system
and truth derived from revelation.
Most of the western perceptions of
worldview consider it as a product of
culture and experience. According to
them, religion itself is produced by
people and culture.
In the Muslim perspective, Islamic
worldview is not a cultural product of
Arab, Indian, or Malay. It is rather
derived from the revealed word of God
without corruption and change. This
revelation is then understood by
Muslims through their different cultural
backgrounds and experiences.
 Classification of Worldview
Worldview

Religious Non-religious

Mythological Philosophical Scientific