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The concept of knowledge in Islam 2 - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief The concept of knowledge in Islam 2 2023-01-12 604 Views Islam , Knowledge , Fundamentals of Religion It is generally believed that in Islam, as far as belief is concerned, there is no place for doubting and questioning the existence of God, the prophethood of Hadrat Muhammad (PBUHH) and the Divine injunctions, that Islam requires unequivocal submission to its dictates.

This general belief is a misconception in the light of Islam’s emphasis on ‘aql. In the matter of the fundamentals of faith (usu-l al-Din), the believer is obliged to accept tawhid (i.e. Oneness of God), nubuwwah (Prophethood) and ma’d (i.e. Resurrection) and also adl (i.e. Divine Justice), and Imamah (according to Shia faith) on rational grounds or on the basis of one’s existential experience. This ensures that there is room for doubt and skepticism in Islam before reaching certainty in Iman .

The sufis have described iman as consisting of three stages: ‘ilm al-yaqin (knowledge by certainity), ‘ayn al-yaqin (knowledge by sight) and haqq al-yaqin (knowledge by the unity of subject and object). The last stage is attainable by a selected few. ‘Ilm is referred to in many Qur’anic verses as ‘light’ ( nur ), and Allah is also described as the ultimate light. It means that ‘ilm in the general sense is synonymous with the ‘light’ of Allah.

This light does not shine for ever for all the believers. It is hidden sometimes by the clouds of doubt arising from the human mind. Doubt is sometimes interpreted in the Qur’an as darkness, and ignorance also is depicted as darkness in a number of its verses. Allah is depicted as nur , and knowledge is also symbolized as nur . Ignorance is darkness and ma’rifah is light.

In the ayat al-Nur Allah says: Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth … Allah is the Master of the believers and He guides them out of the darkness into light. (Qur’an 24:35) Usually, darkness is interpreted as unbelief and light as faith in God. There are so many verses in the Qur’an as well as the traditions of the Prophet (PBUHH) that emphasize that light may be attained by those who struggle against darkness.

Among Muslim philosophers, particularly some Mu’tazilites, like Nazzam, al – Jahiz, Aba Hashim al-Jubbai and others, adopted the path of skepticism.