Osman Bakar, PhD

Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Science, University of Malaya. Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Civilization Dialogue. Deputy CEO, IAIS Malaysia.

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 Why is classification of knowledge important to the Islamic mind? 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

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 knowledge in accordance with its own tawhidic world-view 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

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

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

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 that would 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

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 knowledge production and progress 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?

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 epistemological principles: 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

Conclusion

But we need to revive the Islamic tradition of classification of knowledge and classification of the sciences. This is an important but neglected aspect of Islamic intellectual tradition. I would encourage the young 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!

Osman Bakar, PhD

WaLlah alam, wa bihi nastain