ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Philosophical Tradition of Muslim Thinkers [History of Muslim Philosophers] History of Islamic philosophy begins from the time of the advent of Islam in 622 C.E. Revelation of Qur'anic injunctions, appealing to philosophical interests like, "My Lord! Increase me in knowledge,"1 inviting to God's mathematical ways, "...

and He has enumerated everything in numbers,"2 and emphasizing philosophically, "Call [the mankind] onto the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason [argue] with them in the better way,"3 incited intellectual cognition, leading to philosophical discussions and scientific investigations, which soon got involved with religion in Islamic tradition.

According to Islam, the faculty of reason in human beings is an innate ability, so that they may direct their instincts in subordination to it. Islam maintains that reason is the voice of God and submission to His voice is submission to reason. The famous Muslim philosopher of the twentieth century M. M. Sharif in A History of Muslim Philosophy argues in the light of the traditions of the Prophet of Islam, "God has given man the will to choose, decide, and resolve to do good and evil.

He has endowed him with reason and various impulses so that by his own efforts he may strive and explore possibilities."4 Many sayings of the Prophet of Islam, started playing an important role in inspiring intrigue discussions and complex intellectual cognition by the scholars of different descent, and thinkers of other faiths and races who had entered into the mainstream of Islam.

Muslim thinkers finding no contradiction between Islamic faith and the philosophical quest, considered philosophy as a legitimate approach to understand and practice the way of Islam. Therefore, soon after the advent of Islam in the seventh century, many philosophers, scientists, and literary scholars appeared in the world of Islam between eighth and thirteenth centuries, which is known the "Golden Period" of Islamic history.

One key factor which initially played a vital role in facilitating the introduction of philosophical knowledge to Muslim believers whose knowledge was based on revealed theology, was the perfection of Arabic language. The Qur'an, which was collected around 633 C.E., is the first book in Arabic prose form through which the beginning of literary composition in Arabic language can be traced back.