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The concept of knowledge in Islam 1 - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief The concept of knowledge in Islam 1 2023-01-12 1360 Views Islam , Status of Knowledge , Wisdom , Intellect The Meaning of ‘Ilm Today attempts are being made to understand the basic epistemological issues in terms of that orientation. This is a valuable effort that deserves our interest and encouragement.

📌However, it can be fruitful only if the practice of rigorous analysis is kept up, with close attention to the precise definitions of the various concepts involved. Contents The Meaning of ‘Ilm Significant of Knowledge in Islam Islam and Intellect Knowledge and Wisdom With this view, an attempt is made in this paper to delineate the different shades and connotations of the term ‘ilm , i.e., knowledge, in the Islamic context.

It is hoped that this brief attempt will serve as a step for future groundwork for the construction of a framework for an Islamic theory of knowledge. In the Islamic theory of knowledge, the term used for knowledge in Arabic is ‘ilm , which, as Rosenthal has justifiably pointed out, has a much wider connotation than its synonyms in English and other Western languages. The English term ‘Knowledge’ falls short of expressing all the aspects of ‘ilm .

Knowledge in the Western world means information about something, divine or corporeal, while ‘ilm is an all-embracing term covering theory, action and education. Rosenthal, highlighting the importance of this term in Muslim civilization and Islam, says that it gives them a distinctive shape. In fact, there is no concept that has been operative as a determinant of the Muslim civilization in all its aspects to the same extent as ‘ilm .

This holds good even for the most powerful among the terms of Muslim religious life such as, for instance, tawhid “i.e. the oneness of God,” ad-din “i.e., the true religion,” and many other terms that are used constantly and emphatically. But none of them equals ilm in depth of meaning and wide incidence of use.

There is no branch of Muslim intellectual life, religious and political life, and the daily life of the average Muslim that remains untouched by the all-pervasive attitude towards “knowledge” as something of supreme value for the Muslims. ‘ilm is Islam, even if the theologians have been hesitant to accept the technical correctness of this claim. The very fact of their passionate discussion of the concept attests to its fundamental importance for Islam.

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