KNOWLEDGE & CIVILIZATION IN ISLAM

(UNGS 2290)

SEMESTER 2, SESSION 2021/2022

TAKE HOME CLASSWORK

GROUP 1. NUR ALEEFF YAASEEN BIN NOR ZAPATA (2113891)

MEMBERS 2. MUHAMMAD ANIQ BIN HELMI RAIS (2111207)
3. MUHAMMAD AIMAN BIN MOHD RUSHDI (2113049)
4. UMAIRAH AISHAH BINTI AZAR (2115016)
5. IMAN HAZIRAH BINTI AZMY (2116700)

SECTION 830

COORDINATOR Dr. Abdurezak Abdulahi Hashi

DATE 22 APRIL 2022

Question (1)
Explain the concept of the knowledge in the Qur’an. Support your discussion with the
Qur’anic verses and Ahadith of the Prophet [5 Marks].

In the Qur’an, knowledge is defined by several concepts. Firstly, knowledge in the

sense of “reading” or understanding as mentioned in the first verse of Surah Al-‘Alaq, where
Allah S.W.T. commanded the prophet Muhammad S.A.W. to read. This concept explains that
knowledge can be in the form of verbal recitation, and that understanding and reasoning
conjured by the mind is also considered as knowledge. Next, it is cited in Surah Al-Baqarah
verse 31 that Allah S.W.T. taught the prophet Adam A.S. all 99 of His names, which brings
about the concept of knowledge in the sense of knowing the name of things. The concept of
knowledge in the Qur’an also includes knowledge in the sense of heavenly descended
knowledge, which elucidates that knowledge comes from Allah S.W.T. and is taught to His
servants. This concept is supported by verse 65 in Surah Al-Kahf which talks about a servant
who Allah S.W.T. has enlightened with His knowledge. Additionally, the concept of
knowledge is also recognized in the sense of revelation. Verse 113 in Surah An-Nisa
solidifies the previous statement as it recounts how Allah S.W.T. revealed to His prophet
Muhammad S.A.W. the Book (Qur’an) and wisdom and taught him things that he previously
did not know. The use of the word revealed suggests that knowledge is a revelation brought
down to us from Allah S.W.T. and is a blessing to us humans.

The Qur’an also encourages acquiring knowledge through observation of the natural
world, history and social life. In surah Al-Hajj verse 46 Allah said, “Have they not travelled
throughout the land so their hearts may reason, and their ears may listen? Indeed, it is not the
eyes that are blind, but it is the hearts in the chests that grow blind.” In this verse, Allah told
us to travel and take lessons from what we can observe. In Surah Al-An’am verse 6 Allah
said “Have they not seen how many ˹disbelieving˺ peoples We destroyed before them? We
had made them more established in the land than you. We sent down abundant rain for them
and made rivers flow at their feet. Then We destroyed them for their sins and replaced them
with other peoples.” In this verse, we are told to take lessons from the previous nation
destroyed by Allah due to their stubbornness. The Qur’an also encourages us to be friends
with other races or other nationalities or gender so that we acknowledge the differences and
we can learn from others, the evidence is in Surah Al-Hujurat verse 13, “O humanity! Indeed,
We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you
may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most
righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware”

The concept of knowledge in the Qur’an also includes in the sense of understanding
the revelation thinking, as Allah revealed the Qur’an for us as a guidance and to understand
religion. Without proper guidance we will be lost like the nations before us who did not
follow the prophets’ guidance. As in Surah At-Taubah verse 122, “And it is not for the
believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of
them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people when
they return to them that they might be cautious.” In Surah Al-Maidah verse 3 Allah also
revealed that Islam is the most perfect religion, “…This day I have perfected for you your
religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But
whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is
Forgiving and Merciful.”

Next, the concept of knowledge in the Qur’an also includes knowledge and morality.
There is proper guidance in the Qur’an that tells us what to do and what not to do because
they are just the right thing. Allah will not ask us to do immoral things because Allah is The
Most Just. In Surah Al-An’am verse 132 Allah told us not to use the wealth of the orphan,
because it is rightfully theirs, “And do not come near the wealth of the orphan—unless
intending to enhance it—until they attain maturity. Give full measure and weigh with justice.
We never require any soul more than what it can afford. Whenever you speak,1 maintain
justice—even regarding a close relative. And fulfil your covenant with Allah. This is what He
has commanded you, so perhaps you will be mindful.”

Lastly, the concept of acquiring knowledge in the Qur’an also includes applied and
beneficial knowledge. This just proves that Islam as a religion is universal, as it covers
economics, marriage life, human law, leadership and everything. In the Qur’an, Surah
Al-Baqarah verse 229 Allah said, “Divorce is twice. Then [after that], either keep [her] in an
acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment. And it is not lawful for you to take
anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep
[within] the limits of Allah. But if you fear that they will not keep [within] the limits of Allah,
then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself.
These are the limits of Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits
of Allah - it is those who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].” This verse talks about
marriage life, about divorce and the wife’s rights after divorce.

Question (2)
According to Imam al-Ghazali, the process of forming the knowledge goes through
four (4) stages. Explain these stages and its functions and roles in forming the mind
[5 Marks].

The mind is the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and
their experiences. It is formed from multiple abilities which enables an individual to
understand a topic or situation, produce ideas or knowledge, and make decisions. Imam Abi
Hamid al-Ghazali has divided these abilities into four (4) abilities, which are the ability of
the senses, the ability of imagination, the ability of thinking, and the ability of abstracting or
reasoning. The first stage of forming knowledge is by using the ability of the sense, the five
(5) senses. The five senses,which are seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling, help us
to form the physiological methods of perception. It is through our five senses that we learn
about the world. The senses can be classified as a system that consists of a group of sensory
cell types that will show responses to a specific physical phenomenon, which corresponds to
a particular group of regions within the brain in which the signals are received and
interpreted. The five senses help us to develop our thoughts and ideas by interacting with
objects that exist in the physical and measurable world directly. It also helps to expand our
cognition or knowledge as long as our senses are in good shape and the objects can be
experienced by our senses.

Next, the second stage in forming knowledge is by using the ability of imagination.
Imagination is the ability of forming new ideas, either by using images or concepts, of
external objects that cannot be perceived by our senses. After using the ability of the senses
and losing the visual contact, imagination helps to preserve the images or impressions of the
sensed objects. It acts as a storage or saving place for images or impressions extracted from
given physical and material objects and realities. By forming new ideas with imagination,
multiple theories, dreams and inventions in any profession either academic related or not can
be developed. Imagination basically influences everything we do, think about and create
regardless of our profession, thus is known as the key to innovation. The ability of
imagination and the ability of the senses can also be found in animals as well.

Furthermore, the third stage in the process of forming the knowledge according to
Imam Al- Ghazali is the ability of thinking. Ability of thinking can be described as when our
brain uses the inventive impressions saved in the capacity of creative mind that were obtained
from the faculties in one of two ways. First by reproducing such impressions to shape new
impressions and thoughts, or another one by renaming and separating them to understand the
distinctions and likenesses between them. This is the start in the development of human
qualities that set us apart from the rest of the animals. It marks the beginning of humanity's
intellectual faculties, which enable man and woman to generate concepts and thoughts that
animals cannot. This ability permits people to be creative and come up with fresh ideas and
concepts. This ability also allows mankind to govern life and construct civilizations, software
systems, architectural designs, cities, highways, high-rise buildings, machinery, and
aeroplanes, among other things.

Finally, according to Imam Ghazali, the capacity to abstract/reason ((‫ )القوة المتعقلة‬is also a
necessary component of the process of knowledge creation (i.e. Questions are asked in order
to ascertain the result of the knowledge or information that has been provided in this ability.
Rather of dealing with sights and happenings, our brains are able to deal with abstract
concepts. When our minds do this, they retreat or leave from tangible things in order to dwell
on abstract thoughts. It is also a mental process in which the mind produces concepts in order
to separate the measurable world from the immeasurable world. Considering the attributes of
something is an activity done without reference to actual things and realities. In this process,
which is also referred to as non-presentational thinking or abstract thinking, the mind
formulates generalizable ideas or concepts by extracting common properties from individual
instances. The mind moves beyond sensory perception and interacts with abstract ideas and
conceptions, moving beyond particular instances and into the realm of generalizable ideals
and concepts. There is a development of the intellectual ability for logical, reasonable, and
analytic thinking. These thoughts include understanding, analysing and drawing conclusions
from abstract concepts and thoughts, as well as generalising from particular instances. It is
the highest level of the human mind because, with this ability, mankind can draw logical
conclusions, evaluations, analogies, inferences, reflections, and so on, as well as establish
proofs and evidence of given thoughts, claims, and arguments, thereby establishing facts that
are more accurate and acceptably presented to the public.