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Al-Faruqi's Views on Selected Topics of Ilm Al-Kalam

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Al-Faruqi's Views on Selected Topics of Ilm Al-Kalam e-ISSN 2289-6023 International Journal of Islamic Thought ISSN 2232-1314 Vol. 13: (June) 2018 Al-Faruqi’s Views on Selected Topics of Ilm al-Kalam ADIBAH ABDUL RAHIM*, ZURAIDAH KAMARUDDIN & AMILAH AWANG ABDUL RAHMAN1 Accepted: 25 2018 April 16 2018 Received: March ABSTRACT The study of Ilm al-kalam is still relevant and meaningful in the modern period of time. It is not outdated rather it has gone through various developments throughout the history in order to cope up with the needs of the age. This paper studies a contemporary approach to ilm al-kalam by a contemporary theologian, Ismail Raji al-Faruqi. It examines al-Faruqi’s distinct approach in comparison to a classical position of ilm al-kalam. In doing so, the study focuses on selected theological issues, namely, the relationship between reason and revelation, the principle of causality, and freewill of choice. After examining those theological issues, the study found that al-Faruqi revitalized the classical position of ilm al- kalam in some respects, thus, presented it in a new dimension. It is observed that al-Faruqi’s approach to Ilm al-Kalam is very intelligible to the modern mind and to a modern age. Therefore, this study acknowledged his vital contributions in the development of ilm al-kalam. Keywords: al-Faruqi, Ilm al-Kalam, freewill, Islamic theology, reason and revelation Ilm al-Kalam has gone through many developments since it first emerged as a discipline during the first half of the 2nd century A.H or 8th A.C (Wensinck 1965). The important development of ilm al-kalam occurred during 11th century when al- Ghazali introduced Aristotelian logic into it. It continued to develop during the late of 19th century in which many Muslim thinkers believed that ilm al-kalam needed a substantial methodological change in order to cope with the rapid development of sciences and philosophy posed by the West. Hence, a great number of Muslim thinkers of the late 19th and 20th centuries have made attempts at revitalizing ilm al-kalam in their various works with different approaches. As a speculative discipline and a religious science, ilm al-kalam applied the methodology of reasoning to acquire the knowledge of faith. The use of rational evidence to understand matters in religious faith has influenced the contemporary theologians including Ismail Raji al-Faruqi. Al-Faruqi articulated his theological views by fortifying them with rational and scientific arguments. This study will focus on selected theological issues highlighted by al-Faruqi, namely, the relationship between reason and revelation, the principle of causality, and the freewill of choice. The emphasis will be placed 1 Adibah Abdul Rahim*(Corresponding author), Ph.D., associate professor at the Department of Usul al- Din and Comparative Religion, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, 53100 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, email: [email protected]; Zuraidah Kamaruddin, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, 53100 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, email: [email protected]; Amilah Awang Abdul Rahman, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Department of Usul al-Din and Comparative Religion, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, 53100 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, email: [email protected]. https://doi.org/10.24035/ijit.13.2018.002 15 Al-Faruqi’s Views on Selected Topics of Ilm al-Kalam Adibah, Zuraidah & Amilah on how al-Faruqi developed those issues in the pursuit of his modern approach, and to what extent his pattern of approach is divergent or convergent from the classical method of ilm al- kalam. The Relationship between Reason and Revelation This section highlights the views of al-Faruqi on the relationship between reason and revelation, and how he approached and developed the issue in distinct way from the classical discussion of ilm al-kalam. The position of the reason and revelation has become one of the major discussions in ilm al-kalam, and the outlook of its school of thought on this issue varies from one to another. Al- Asha’ari in his al-Ibanah was seen as a traditionalist and a follower of the literalist views of Ahmad ibn Hanbal. He was undermined by Goldziher (1981) and Weinsinck (1965) for his negative attitude towards rationalism in al-Ibanah. However, his affirmation of the legitimacy of reasoning in religious faith can be seen clearly in his work, al-Istihsan and al-Luma’. In his work al-Istihsan he reflected himself as opposed to the traditionalist, for example, he described the traditionalist as being ignorant, unable to rationalize or inquire into religious matters, and inclined to blind imitation of authority. In this work also, al-Ash’ari defended kalam and mutakallimun, which means he gave strong recommendation on reason. To him, the basic principles, the objectives, and the method of kalam were generally present in the Quran and traditions. Al-Ash’ari emphasized that Quran and hadith never neglect the role of reason and allow speculative thinking (nazar) and rational inference (istidlal al-Naql) to be implemented. In order to understand the revelation and to support it, we must apply reason. In reconciling the position of revelation and reason, al-Ash’ari gave priority to revelation. He acknowledged the competence of reason in defending the doctrines of faith, but he did not overlook the real sources of these doctrines. According to al-Ash’ari, in a situation where revelation and reason are in conflict, revelation must be given a priority. Al-Ash’ari held that revelation is a more fundamental source of ultimate truth and reality, and reason merely confirms what is given in revelation due to its insufficiency. Knowledge, such as the nature of God, which cannot be comprehended by reason, is available to us through revelation. Therefore, al-Ash’ari as a sunni scholar was expected to prioritize revelation over reason upon the conflict between the two. Al-Ash’ari was opposed to Mu’tazilah who claimed for priority of reason over revelation, and observed good and evil can be determined by reason and confirmed by revelation. For al-Ash’ari, the need for rationalizing faith does not necessarily mean to affirm reason as the basis of Islam. In response to the issue of reason and revelation, al-Faruqi argued that reason and revelation cannot be separated and in conflict to each other. He assumed the dichotomy of reason and revelation as the most tragic development in the intellectual history of the ummah. For him, such dichotomy is totally intolerable and it is contrary to the whole spirit of Islam. The separation of reason and revelation is opposed to the Quranic appeal to human beings to use their intelligence, to reason, to weight rationally all matters, and to favor the more reasonable course (Al-Faruqi 1982a). Al-Faruqi’s emphasis on the role of reason can be related to his approach to da’wah in which he employed the method of rationality. For him, Islamic da’wah encourages people to think rationally and it opens for rational argumentation. The decision to accept the truth is based on man’s reflective thinking. He will take into consideration all alternatives then compares and contrasts with one another objectively before making any judgement. The call for Islam is, therefore, a critical process of intellection. In this sense, al-Faruqi strongly emphasized that Islam was rational and critical. It invited men to use their intelligence, to apply their critical faculties to all claims, and to consider the alternatives. Such commands are practically found on many Quranic verses. Without reason, the truths of revelation cannot be appreciated. When acceptance of revelation is not based on reason, it is subjective, arbitrary, and whimsical. https://doi.org/10.24035/ijit.13.2018.002 16 e-ISSN 2289-6023 International Journal of Islamic Thought ISSN 2232-1314 Vol. 13: (June) 2018 For al-Faruqi, the Muslim’s exaggerated emphasis on the intuitive at the cost of reason opened the gates to corruptions of the faith. By not distinguishing it rationally from the absurd, superstition will be accepted as truth and penetrate the faith. On the other hand, the overemphasis of reason at the cost of intuitive would lead it to materialism, utilitarianism, mechanism and meaningless (Al-Faruqi 1982a). This idea is parallel to al-Ash`ari school of thought which claims that if pure reason is to be made the sole foundation of truth of Islamic fundamental principles, it would be a pure rational theology in general rather than a doctrinal theology. It at this juncture, al-Faruqi reminded about the balance use of reason and revelation. Al-Faruqi strongly believed that reason and revelation cannot be diametrical opposites, and they cannot logically contradict each other. Revelation is by Allah and reason is created by Allah to act stimulant for man. Both share inherent qualities but they are not exactly the same. The claim that reason and revelation are opposite each other and man has to choose between the two is un-Islamic. Al-Faruqi related this to the theory of knowledge in Islam which is described as the unity of truth. He explained that the truth (al-Haq) is the name of God, thus, it does not represent many. God reveals the truths through His revelation and through the natural laws that He created, and that can be observed by man. What God reveals in the revelation will not be contradict with the truths as objects of reason since He is the Creator of all truths.
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