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.

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

Understanding Quran session 1

https://youtu.be/cYeKZKm9GZg
1. Reading has to start from man. There is no knowledge, if we take out man from it.
2. Allah’s asmaae/names defines the direction for the reading
3. Use quranic intellect for reading, not the conventional intellect 

If reading was not begun from man, it would not have been feasible Muhammed (s) to accept it. This is according to some mufassir.