Subjects
E-Books
Towards the Construction of a Contemporary Islamic Educational Theory
Fathi Malkawi
Islamization of Knowledge: Conceptual Background, Vision and Tasks
Salisu Shehu
Economic Guidelines in the Qur'an
S.M. Hasanuz Zaman
Contribution of Islamic Thought to Modern Economics
Misbah Oreibi
An Introduction to Islamic Economics
Muhammad Akram Khan
Islamic Thought and Culture
Isma'il R. al Faruqi
Islamization of Knowledge: Background, Models and the Way Forward
Malam Sa'idu Sulaiman
| The Crisis of Thought and Ijtihad |
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Taha Jabir al Alwani The Muslim mind experienced a crisis of thought when, during the early centuries of the Islamic era ijtihad began to be viewed as limited to legal matters rather than as a methodology for dealing with all aspects of life. This limited understanding engendered a malaise that allowed taqlid to attain such prominence and respectability that its cancerous, constricting, and irrelevant fiqh spread throughout Muslim life. Had ijtihad retained more of its lexical meaning and creativity, and had fiqh been considered only one of its uses, perhaps Muslims would have overcome many of the problems that confronted them. However, this particularization of ijtihad confined the Muslim mind, and taqlid eventually led to the paralysis of its creative abilities.Had ijtihad remained a way of life for Muslims as Allah commanded, they would not have fallen behind in establishing the Islamic sciences necessary for their society and civilization. They also would not have had to watch the reins of leadership fall pass to the West, whose most important qualification was its ability to engage in creative and scientific reasoning. Although its intellectual tradition was tainted with pagan Greek influences, the West achieved world leadership. Had Muslims taken up those sciences and laid the foundations of society on the basis of tawhid (unity), the face of the earth would be different today and the state of civilization itself would be far more felicitous than it is at present. Before ijtihad was confined to the purely legalistic framework of fiqh, the Muslim mind was enlightened, eager to deal with all manner of thought, and able to meet challenges, generate solutions, and achieve its goals. Had it not been for taqlid and its subduing of the Muslim mind, that mind would have achieved great things. Certainly, a mind with its beginnings in the verse, "Read! in the name of your Lord Who created . . ." should be more than able to renew the ummah's mentality, to continually adjust to changing circumstances, and to initiate the sciences of civilization at a time when the West was over run by wild forest tribes.
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Upcoming Events
Summer Students Program - 2012
June 11 – July 18, 2012
Application Form
The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) is pleased to announce its Summer Students Program for 2012, which will run for five and a half weeks between Monday, June 11 and Wednesday, July 18, 2012. The program is designed for senior undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in the humanities or social science disciplines and who have a particular interest in developing their knowledge and research skills in the core areas of Islamic studies such as Qur’an, Hadith, Fiqh or Islamic Jurisprudence, Islamic History and Civilization, Contemporary Islamic Thought and Muslim World Affairs. The program also provides in-depth analysis and discussions – in seminar format – on subjects related to contemporary Islamic reform movements, Islamic banking and finance and faith-based entrepreneurship.
During the course of the program, students would complete a total of 200 hours of direct research, instruction and administrative work at IIIT and would receive a certificate of completion from IIIT. Shenandoah University has agreed to offer four credit hours to students who are interested. Those interested in getting credit for the program need to discuss arrangements with their respective institutions and with the Program Director at IIIT. Top performing students may qualify for a one-year, non-resident research fellowship at IIIT that would allow them to continue doing research at IIIT, take online and other courses and present papers at academic conferences throughout the year.
Accommodation for out-of-area students will be provided by IIIT, if needed. In addition, IIIT will pay each student a scholarship of $1,000 to cover their living and other expenses, to be paid in two installments. Students should have their own health insurance coverage. IIIT does not provide health – or any other form – of insurance to students.
Those interested should fill in the online application form and submit it with their updated C.V .and a recent transcript no later than April 30, 2012. Official transcripts should be sent to the following address:
Director of Summer Students Program
International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)
500 Grove St., Herndon, VA 20170
Tel 703 471 1133 Ext 101
Email: abubaker@iiit.org
Links
Int. Inst. of Islamic Thought (IIIT)
Int. Inst. of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC)
Int. Inst. of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS)
