Understanding Quran 5

https://youtu.be/uWL7ImOxgbQ
Al Farabi‘s classification of knowledge based on ontological basis.

Aim for Allah - to meet/see Allah - intellectual see.
Classification of virtue
1. Rational
2. Ethical

Good is of 2 sorts.
1. Sort of which no evil at all in the opposite
2. Sort of which evils are opposite.

Good refers to that which brings about participation in the supreme good.

Hierarchy of virtues:
1. The excellence of the theoretical intellect - attain perfection
2. Knowledge (al-ilm)
3. Wisdom (al-hikmah)
(2) and (3) are the fruit of (1)

Theoretical intellect is better than practical intellect and thereby metaphysics better.

Political science is the way to actualize the ultimate goal of human existence to attain supreme happiness.

Al Farabi’s book’s Arabic language is beautiful, not that difficult.

Understanding Quran 4

https://youtu.be/BBPXVBIgxy0

Classification of knowledge in Islam by Osman Bakker
In this book, the author examines classification of knowledge by three great scholars in the past
- al Farabi
- al Ghazzali
- al Sheerazi

Deals with hierarchy of knowing
Ihsa-ul-uloom book of al-Farabi
Defined boundaries and limits of each branch of knowledge.
His main work was logic(manthik)
Proficient in music
Unity and hierarchy of knowledge at the same time.
Criteria for classification
1. Ontological basis: The merit of the subject
2. Depth of the evidence and proof
3. Ethical basis: quantity of end result

Natural philosophy/physics has lesser certainty
Ontological basis
- Metaphysics has highest in rank
- followed by mathematics

Celestial body treated as mathematics
The ultimate goal of human existence is to attain supreme happiness
The absolute good in God, first cause.
Objective of classification
Issue with his classification
- omission of medicine, interpretation of dreams, alchemy
Metaphysics has three parts

Understanding Quran 3

https://youtu.be/tsAQ_AFUUZk

Ma’arif and Islamization of knowledge
It has a different meaning in Sufi traditions
Knowledge can be recovered from our being
Angel cannot do that since it doesn’t have it in them
Cannot separate knowledge from a being
With the closeness with Allah, can recover knowledge
Rene Guenon - “The crisis of the modern world “
From Allah s knowledge to man s knowledge.
Hierarchy of knowledge- there is a rank for each knowledge

Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas

- Adab is the recognition and acknowledgement of the reality that knowledge and being ordered hierarchically.

Hierarchy of obligatory knowledge for a person

Book 1. THE BOOK OF WORSHIP

Part I. Knowledge 

Ch 2. PRAISEWORTHY AND BLAMEWORTHY

BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE

COMPULSORY LEARNING (FARZE AYIN)

Hierarchy of obligatory knowledge for a person

The Holy Prophet said: To seek learning is compulsory on every Muslim. He said: Seek knowledge even though in China. There is difference of opinion among the learned as to which branch of knowledge is obligatory on an individual. 

Abu Taleb Makki said that it is the knowledge about the five pillars of Islam.

Knowledge is of two kinds - knowledge of practical religion - ilmul mua’mala and knowledge of spiritual matters - ilmul mukashafa. The knowledge which Is compulsory appertains to practical religion which deal with three matter - beliefs, actions and prohibitions. For instance, when a sane man attains puberty, it becomes compulsory on him to learn the words of attestation.

Understanding Quran 2

https://youtu.be/lHTfMGxL1wk

Read in the name of Allah

Need to understand the names of Allah from where all knowledge is derived 

Categories of asma-el husna 

Ittisaf - imbibe his attributes 

Thakhalluq - cleanse the mirror of your heart and keep vigil over it (muraqaba - vigilance) 

Next: discussion on name of Allah and other names

Excellence of knowledge - PROOF OF REASON

Book 1. THE BOOK OF WORSHIP

Part I. Knowledge 

Ch 1. Knowledge, learning and teaching

Excellence of knowledge - PROOF OF REASON

All precious things fall into one of three groups - 1) what is sought for its own intrinsic value, 2) what is sought as a means to an end, 3) and what is sought for both. 

The affairs of this world do not become orderly except through activities, but the human activities are divided into three categories. 1) The first category includes four fundamental activities without which the world can not go on in order. (i) Agriculture for raising food stuffs for maintaining lives, weaving for manufacturing clothes, architecture for building houses and government for regulating human relations for living in peace and harmony. 2) The second category includes such activities as are helpful to the above mentioned activities, such as iron crafts or ploughs for cultivation, instruments for spinning and weaving clothes and other implements. 3) The third category includes such activities as are supplementary to the principal industries previously mentioned, such as eating, drinking, making dresses, sewing clothes.

Administration is divided into four classes. (1) The first class is the highest as it is the government of the prophets and their jurisdiction spread over the public and private mattes of the people. (2) Next is the administration of temporal rulers over the public matters of the people and not their private matters. (3) Next is the administration of the learned and the wise over the people in the matter of the religion of God as they are the heirs of the prophets. It involves thoughts of the privileged few. (4) Next is the administration of the preachers which involves the thoughts of the common men. After the administration of the prophets, the most noble is the diffusion of knowledge whereby the people are saved from evil and destructive habits and are led towards fortune and constructive virtues. This is the goal of knowledge and education.

Excellence of teaching

Book 1. THE BOOK OF WORSHIP

Part I. Knowledge 

Ch 1. Knowledge, learning and teaching

Excellence of teaching 

QURAN: God says: When they return to them, they warn their people, so that they may guard themselves - 9: 122. It means teaching and guidance. God says: Remember when God took a covenant from the People of the Book - you shall surely make it known to mankind and not conceal it - 3 : 187. It shows that teaching was binding on them. 

HADIS: The Holy Prophet said to Mu'az when he was about to start for Yemen: If God gives guidance to a man through your help, it is better than the world and its contents. 

SAYINGS OF SAGES

Hazrat Omar said: He who learns a Hadis and induces one to act up to it will get the rewards of one who translates it into action.