مقدمة في الفقه الإسلامي

Introduction to Islamic Jurisprudence

• Worldview (Concept): A worldview is a framework for interpreting the world. It acts as a reference point in studying everything, offering a way of looking at the world.
• Worldview (Meaning): A global perspective on how a person views the world. This perspective is independent of any specific culture or religion, relying only the viewer's perspective.
• Ninian Smart's Definition: A worldview is a combination of beliefs, emotions, and thoughts that drive social and ethical change. A worldview encompasses all mental elements driving life's various aspects. Its core value is the individual’s motivation to respond, accept, and apply potentialities. It doesn't emphasize metaphysical elements, instead leaning toward humanist elements.

Islamic Worldview

• Islamic Worldview (Meaning): A unique perspective on life rooted in Islamic principles, concepts, or beliefs. It signifies an Islamic way of life and worldview, encompassing an understanding of life and reality. This includes both visible (material) and invisible (metaphysical) aspects, where the Western perspective is limited to human and material aspects.
  • Modern secular-Western definitions of happiness differ from the Islamic perspective, focusing on this life solely, omitting the hereafter.
• The Islamic worldview: The framework of the Muslim mind, from an Islamic perspective. It's an Islamic approach to understanding both the inner and outer worlds, covering both visible material and unseen metaphysical realities; unlike the Western worldview, which is limited to what is human and material.
• The Islamic Approach (Al-Maududi): Regards Islam as a comprehensive way of life, centered on the oneness of God (Tawhid) and the declaration of faith (Shahada), influencing all aspects of human activity. It encompasses social relations, transactions, punishments, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Islamic Epistemology (Knowledge Theory):

• The Holistic Perspective: Islam presents a holistic and integrative comprehension of humanity. It is a comprehensive interpretation of the universe and its contents.
• Revelation and Reason: The Quran provides comprehensive knowledge about the universe and humanity. It highlights the interconnectedness of natural phenomena and their relationship with humanity. Islam recognizes both revelation and reason as reliable sources of knowledge.
• Unity of Knowledge Sources: Emphasizes the integration of revelation (Quran and Sunnah) and reason in shaping knowledge. This approach sees no contradiction between faith and reason. It recognizes that the Quran describes the connection between natural phenomena and humanity, establishing faith's harmony with the universe.
• Quran & Reason: The Quran directs people to discover knowledge through observation (of the world both seen & unseen) and intellectual effort. Reasoning is a crucial instrument for understanding revealed knowledge.
• Knowledge Gaps: Revelation fills knowledge gaps beyond human understanding (e.g., the unseen). Revelation and reason, combined, provide a complete picture of knowledge, including the unseen and visible realms.

Challenges Between Revelation and Reason

• Conflict Resolution: Islam asserts that perceived contradictions aren't fundamental, suggesting three options:
  • Reevaluate understanding of revelation
  • Reevaluate reasoning's findings
  • Combine reconsideration of revelation and reason.
• Faith & Reason: Revelation provides structure for human understanding; reason explores reality and provides its interpretation of revelation. Neither is redundant, but work together in a complementary fashion to provide a holistic understanding of existence.

Islamic Heritage & Tradition

• Definition of Heritage/Tradition: Islamic tradition encompassing all cultural and civilizational aspects produced by Muslims across history, regardless of language or time.
• Quran & Sunnah as Heritage: This includes the Quran and Sunnah (prophetic teachings).
• Difference between Islamic heritage & Western heritage: Western tradition typically does not separate religious heritage from other aspects of culture, whereas Islamic tradition maintains a distinct categorization.
• Heritage in Islam: Muslim scholars have differing perspectives on the inclusion of divine revelation as part of Islamic heritage.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge Acquisition: Gain an understanding of Islamic heritage and tradition.
• Perspective Differentiation: Differentiate between Islamic and Western perspectives on heritage.
• Scriptural Understanding: Comprehend the Quran and Sunnah's views on heritage.