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Differing Opinions In Islam Is A Manifestation Of Divine Mercy

Mohd Jamizal Zainol In February 2006, al-Qaeda, the Sunni extremist and terrorist group had bombed al-Askari Mosque in Iraq, a sacred sanctuary and place of worship for the Shiites. In 1979, Mohammad Abdus Salam won the Nobel Prize in Physics. Unfortunately, this achievement of his was disregarded by his own motherland as he was accused of adhering to the Ahmadiyya, which had been declared heretical by the Pakistani government. As a result of this fatwa, he was constantly pressured by the Pakistani government, eventually leading him to permanently move to England. The events aforementioned are the ugly consequences of Muslims being demarcated due to the political conflicts escalating over the years, going back to hundreds of years before, that eventually leading to the occurrence of violence. Similarly, political power has been used to suppress those with differing ideas and views. We have been told of the facts that the conflict between Sunnis and Shias was rooted in the occurrence of Jamal Battle between Aisha RA, the Wife of the Prophet and Ali RA owing to the dissatisfaction with Ali RA’s indifference as Caliph in not taking firm action regarding the murder of Caliph Uthman RA. This conflict escalated, leading to a confrontation between Muawiyah RA (the governor of Syria at the time) and Ali RA. Muawiyah, through the Battle of Siffin, opposed Ali R.A in seeking justice for the death of Uthman R.A. This great conflict in the history of the Muslim ummah is tragically chronicled by Lesley Hazleton through his work, ‘After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split’. According to him, this great conflict further demarcated the Muslim ummah into two opposing factions, the Sunnis who were firmly standing with Uthman RA, Aishah RA, and Muawiyah RA and the group who stood side by side with Ali RA and other Households of the Prophet such as Fatimah the beloved daughter of the Prophet and Hassan and Hussein the grandsons of His Holiness. The root of this conflict can be traced back to the dissatisfaction towards the tragic killing of Uthman RA. Unfortunately, it gradually escalated, from mere political conflicts seeping into the discourse of Islamic theology. Such an instance can be seen where debates arose over Ali’s decision to make peace with Muawiyah was whether it is in line with Islamic principles. This gave rise to the Khawarij, a faction that opposed Ali RA because they disagreed with the peace process with Muawiyah. To them, both Ali RA and Muawiyah RA had deviated from Islam, hence their blood was deemed lawful, making it permissible to wage war against them. From these events, we can infer that the root of the demarcation of the Muslim Ummah stemmed from two reasons. The first can be said that there was a never-ending political divisions between the Sunnis, Shiites, and Khawarijites that have been continously occurring for hundred of years until today. Secondly, there is the excessive pressure from authorities or the government in sidelining differing views, to the extent of neglecting greater priorities, as seen in the case of Mohammad Abdus Salam. This is not to suggest that Ahmadiyya teachings are true, but instead illustrated to draw a lesson on how authorities can oppress certain factions or groups simply because of disagreement over an issue. The same instance can be seen occurring in Malaysia today, where the discussion concerning Rang Undang-undang Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan (RUU Mufti) had been a debated polemic. Various parties have expressed their views, with some agreeing while the others not. RUU Mufti became controversial as it concerns the qualifications required to become a Mufti of the Federal Territories, mandating that the individual must adhere to the creed of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Sunni), specifically referring to the Asyairah and Maturidiyah school of thoughts in Theology, the Shafi’i school of thought in Jurisprudence, and the teachings of Imam Junaid in Mysticism. RUU Mufti has undoubtedly become controversial due to the attempt to utilize legislation to narrow the selection criteria for the Mufti of the Federal Territories to those who adhere to certain beliefs and methodologies only. To a certain extent, it is true that Muslims in the Malay Peninsula tend to follow these schools of thought in their religious tradition. However, restricting the selection criteria through legal means can have different implications and effects. It almost gives the impression that other schools of thought and methodologies are not accepted in the Federal Territories. In reality, the definition of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah is quite broad, encompassing the Maliki, Hanbali, Hanafi, and Shafi’i schools of thought.             Any law that concerns matters regarding Islam must be legislated and enacted on the basis of knowledge rather than certain political intention or to oppress certain parties. We do not want RUU Mufti to be a demarcation to the vastness and richness of knowledge, methodologies, and diversity of views in Islam. Let us hope that the implicit purpose of passing the RUU Mufti by the Parliament is not to reject any ideas merely basing itself upon labels or the firqah which is the source of that certain ideas. Particular instance can be seen as outrightly dismissing a well-established opinion (rajih) simply because the idea is from Wahhabi. I do feel pity for Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, a Muslim thinker, sometimes, because he has been constantly blamed for the arousal of such issues which we can categorized it as minor. Instead, we must learn to be open-minded and accept the fact that it is permissible to differ on minor issues. It is up to the individuals whether to practice any ideas after examining the most well-established argument (rajih) and thus satisfied with it. It is indeed saddening that we are still trapped with these issues for so long. If we are unable to properly manage our differences with prudence, then it will lead to more serious divisions in our country. One’s practice is established with one’s evidence thus there is no need for a certain disagreeing party or faction to

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Perbezaan Pandangan dalam Agama Islam Suatu Rahmat

Mohd Jamizal Zainol Pada Februari 2006, terjadi pengeboman ke atas Masjid Al-Askari di Iraq oleh puak ekstremis sunni Al-Qaeda ke atas tempat suci Shiah di Iraq. Pada 1979 Mohammad Abdus Salam memenangi hadiah Nobel dalam bidang Fizik. Namun malangnya, pencapaian itu dipandang sepi oleh negara kelahirannya sendiri kerana beliau dituduhn menganut fahaman Ahmadi yang difatwakan sesat oleh Kerajaan Pakistan. Akibat fatwa tersebut, beliau sentiasa mendapat tekanan Kerajaan Pakistan sehingga membawa diri ke England. Dua peristiwa di atas ialah peristiwa hodoh akibat daripada perpecahan umat Islam akibat pertentangan politik yang melarat ratusan tahun sehingga menimbulkan keganasan. Begitu juga penggunaan kekuasaan politik bagi menekan pihak yang bertentangan idea dan pandangan. Kita sudah maklum pertentangan Sunni dan Shiah bermula dengan perang Jamal antara Aisha R.A isteri Nabi dan Ali R.A kerana tidak berpuas hati dengan sikap acuh tidak acuh Ali R.A sebagai Khalifah yang tidak mengambil tindakan tegas atas peristiwa pembunuhan Khalifah Uthman R.A. Pertentangan ini melarat sehingga membawa kepada pertentangan antara Muawiyah (Gabenor di Syria pada masa itu) dan  Ali R.A. Muawiyah melalui Perang Siffin menentang Ali R.A kerana menuntut bela atas kematian Uthman R.A.  Konflik hebat dalam sejarah umat Islam ini dinukilkan dengan penuh tragis dalam karya Lesley Hazleton iaitu After the Prophet: the Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split. Konflik hebat ini menurut Lesley telah membahagikan umat Islam kepada dua kelompok iaitu golongan Sunni mereka yang pro Uthman R.A, Aishah R.A dan Muawiyah dan kelompok pro Ali R.A dan keluarga Nabi yang lain seperti Fatimah anak Nabi, Hassan dan Hussein cucu Nabi. Semuanya berpunca dari satu asbab iaitu ketidakpuasan hati atas pembunuhan Uthman R.A tetapi meleret-leret sehingga meresap ke dalam perbincangan teologi Islam. Misalnya perbahasan samaada sikap Ali R.A untuk berdamai dengan Muawiyah adalah selari dengan Islam atau tidak. Lalu timbullah golongan Khawarij yang menentang Ali R.A kerana tidak bersetuju dengan proses perdamaian dengan Muawiyah.  Bagi mereka Ali R.A dan Muawiyah telah terkeluar daripada Islam yang mesti diperangi dan darah mereka halal. Dari peristiwa ini kelihatannya, perpecahan umat Islam berlaku atas dua asbab: Pertama, ialah perpecahan politik antara Sunni, Shiah dan Khawarij yang berterusan ratusan tahun sehingga ke hari ini. Kedua, ialah tekanan penguasa atau kerajaan yang keterlaluan dalam mengenepikan pandangan yang berbeda sehingga mengabaikan keutamaan yang lebih besar seperti apa yang terjadi kepada Mohammad Abdus Salam. Bukan ingin mengatakan ajaran Ahmadi itu benar tetapi kita mengambil pengajaran bagaimana penguasa boleh menekan setengah pihak kerana tidak bersetuju dalam suatu perkara. Dalam hal yang sama di Malaysia sekarang, perbincangan perihal Rang Undang-Undang Mufti (RUU Mufti)  menjadi polemik panas.Pelbagai pihak telah menyatakan pandangan masing-masing, ada yang bersetuju dan ada yang tidak. RUU Mufti menjadi kontroversi kerana menyentuh kelayakan menjadi mufti Wilayah Persekutuan iaitu mewajibkan individu terbabit berakidah Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Sunni) yang merujuk kepada pegangan bersumberkan aliran al-Asyairah dan al-Maturidiyah dalam akidah, bermazhab Syafie dan Imam Junaid dalam tasauf.             Sudah tentu RUU Mufti menjadi kontroversi kerana cubaan menggunakan perundangan untuk menyempitkan kriteria pemilhan Mufti Wilayah kepada mereka yang mempunyai pegangan dan manhaj tertentu sahaja. Memang benar secara tradisi di Tanah Melayu umat Islam cenderung bermazhab sedemikan, namun menyempitkan secara perundangan memberikan implikasi dan kesan yang berbeda. Ianya seolah-seolah menggambarkan bahawa mazhab dan manhaj lain adalah tidak diterima di Wilayah Persekutuan. Walhal definisi Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaah itu sangat luas merangkumi mazhab Maliki, Hanbali, Hanafi dan Syafie. Undang-undang yang bersangkut paut dengan Islam mesti dibuat atas dasar ilmu bukan kerana atas niat politik atau menekan mana-mana pihak. Kita tidak mahu RUU Mufti menjadi penghalang kepada keluasan dan kekayaan ilmu, manhaj dan kepelbagaian pandangan dalam Islam. RUU Mufti jika diluluskan Parlimen diharapkan tidak secara tersirat bertujuan menolak suatu pandangan berdasarkan label atau dari firqah mana pandangan itu dilontarkan, misalnya terus menolak mentah-mentah suatu pandangan yang rajih (diyakini) atas alasan pandangan itu daripada kelompok Wahabi (kadang-kadang saya kasihan melihat nasib Muhammad Ibnu Wahab salah seorang pemikir Islam dipersalahkan apabila timbul soal begini) atas perkara-perkara ranting. Sebaliknya kita harus berlapang dada dan menerima hakikat isu-isu ranting ini boleh berbeza pandangan dan terpulang kepada setiap individu untuk beramal atau tidak selepas meneliti dan berpuas hati dengan hujah yang paling rajih (diyakini). Sungguh menyedihkan, kita terperangkap dengan isu-isu sebegini sekian lama, yang jika tidak diuruskan dengan bijaksana menyebabkan perpecahan serius dalam negara. Isu-isu sedemikian tertegak dengan hujah masing-masing tanpa perlu pihak tertentu menuduh pihak yang tidak bersetuju sebagai kafir atau murtad. Sebenarnya, mereka yang mudah mengkafir dan melabel inilah yang sebenarnya ekstrem yang jika tidak dikawal boleh menggugat keselamatan awam. Dalam hal yang sama apa peranan Kerajaan? Kerajaan hanya perlu memantau supaya idea-idea ini tidak menggangu-gugat ketenteraman awam dan sensitiviti perkauman dan pastikan tiada elemen ekstrem seperti menghukum kafir bagi mereka yang berbeza pendapat. Ini mengingatkan kita tentang sejarah hitam (mihnah) apabila ilmuwan Islam Imam Ahmad Ibnu Hanbal yang hidup pada zaman pemerintahan Khalifah Al-Ma’mun di bawah kerajaan Abbasiyah diseksa dan dipenjarakan gara-gara tidak bersetuju dan tidak mahu mengakui fahaman Muktazilah yang mengatakan al-Quran itu makhluk. Sudah tentu kita tidak mahu peristiwa tragis itu berulang kembali. Pendek kata, kita tidak mahu melihat RUU Mufti ini nanti menambahkan lagi ketegangan dan perpecahan umat Islam. Cadangan saya, supaya prinsip-prinsip ini dapat dimuafakat dan dipersetujui dalam menangani isu RUU Mufti ini. Pertama, mengakui keluasan korpus falsafah dan ilmu Islam dengan menghargai para cendekiawan yang diiktiraf oleh dunia Islam selama berabad-abad, termasuk tokoh-tokoh seperti Imam Al-Ghazali, Fakhruddin Al-Razi, Ibn Taimiyah, Ibn Arabi, Ibn Sina, Al-Farabi, Al-Kindi, Mulla Sadra, dan Ibn Rushd. Walaupun mereka memiliki pandangan yang berbeza antara satu sama lain kerana berhadapan dengan situasi, konteks, dan cabaran yang berbeza pada zaman masing-masing, perbezaan ini tidak menafikan keunggulan mereka sebagai cendekiawan besar dalam bidang Falsafah, Kalam, dan Tasawuf. Tidak sepatutnya kita menjatuhkan hukum kafir atau bersikap ekstrem terhadap mana-mana tokoh ini, walaupun terdapat ketidaksepakatan terhadap pandangan mereka, dan kita perlu mengakui bahawa perbezaan tajam dalam kalangan umat Islam selama ratusan tahun sebenarnya berpunca daripada perbezaan pandangan terhadap isu-isu khilaf. Jika prinsip-prinsip ini dipegang, perselisihan dalam kalangan umat Islam dapat dikurangkan, perpaduan diperkukuhkan, dan umat Islam tidak lagi akan menjadi mangsa buli dan penindasan, seperti yang berlaku di Palestin hari

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Special Lecture: “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝” Like the West, the Islamic world inherited the philosophical traditions of Graeco-Roman antiquity. Through an unparalleled event in global history called the “Translation Movement,” the majority of Greek treatises were translated into Arabic, including works on philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and engineering. This led to the flowering of Islamic science and philosophy, Like the West, the Islamic world inherited the philosophical traditions of Graeco-Roman antiquity. Through an unparalleled event in global history called the “Translation Movement,” the majority of Greek treatises were translated into Arabic, including works on philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and engineering. This led to the flowering of Islamic science and philosophy, which also had a great influence on the West. But today the Islamic world faces major challenges not only in terms of various ideologies such as liberalism, secularism, and capitalism, but also in terms of indigenous issues such as freedom of expression, Salafism, and epistemic colonialism. This talk argues that the challenges of the Islamic world can be boiled down to the decline of philosophy and the rise of shallow thinking that has little patience for constructive and open dialogue. The talk then suggests possible pathways to address the crises of the Muslim mind.also had a great influence on the West. But today the Islamic world faces major challenges not only in terms of various ideologies such as liberalism, secularism, and capitalism, but also in terms of indigenous issues such as freedom of expression, Salafism, and epistemic colonialism. This talk argues that the challenges of the Islamic world can be boiled down to the decline of philosophy and the rise of shallow thinking that has little patience for constructive and open dialogue. The talk then suggests possible pathways to address the crises of the Muslim mind.

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Islamic Philosophy and Sufism

Tusi’s Mysticism: Texts and Analyses This section, first clarifies Tusi’s position in light of both conceptual categories of mysticism and comparative studies with works of other celebrated philosophers. Second, it focuses on the actual doctrine of Tusi in his major text on mysticism, AA, as well as in the mystical dimensions of his other works. Suhrawardi’s Educational Thought: Texts and Analyses Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi, a pivotal figure in Islamic intellectual history and the founder of the Illuminationist school of thought. Employing a blend of qualitative textual analysis and historical investigation, this research primarily focuses on Suhrawardi’s major works to extract and understand his views on knowledge, learning, and pedagogy. Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism This course is an introduction to contemporary visions and scholarship of Islamic philosophy and mysticism emphasis on major figures and themes. Topics covered include: (i) Iranian, Greek, and early theological background;(ii) Classical age of Islamic philosophy with an emphasis on ibn Sina’s philosophical system; (iii) the philosophy-religion-mysticism controversy; (iv) development of later Islamic philosophy in Iran with an emphasis on Tusi and Mulla Sadra; (v)  basics of Rumi’s mysticism and brief remarks on mysticisms of ibn Arabi, Tusi, Shabestrari; Logic and Scientific Reasoning This course begins by clarification of different senses of ‘logic’ and logic as in context of theory of semiotics (syntax, semantics, and pragmatics), and the nature of artificial languages (signs and rules). Then the course studies different types of logical languages, sentential and predicate logic, including formal proofs of validity and invalidity of arguments. Next the discussion attends to the basics of scientific reasoning as well as sketches of advanced logic, such as set theory and philosophical issues such as problems of existence, truth, and intentionality. Reading (Texts, handouts, and on-line courses) Metaphysica Avicenna, P. Morewedge. Columbia University Press, 1970. Metaphysics of Tusi, tr. P. Morewedge. SUNY Oneonta, 1999. Parviz Morewedge, from Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam, ed. John Espoisto. Oxford University Press, 2009. “Islamic Theology,” “Illumination,” “ Jallal ad-Din Rumi,” “Mirdamad, ” “Mulla Sadra,” and “N. Tusi”; from Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy “the school of Qum”;from McMillan Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Tusi”  

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Special Lecture (ONLINE)

Speaker: Tahir Uluc   Professor of Islamic Philosophy   Necmeddin Erbakan University in Konya, Turkey.       5 August 2023, Saturday   9.00 PM (Malaysia)  4.00 PM (Turkey)       Zoom:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84751617580?pwd=MXZuVUNDcGc3ZnkzMG9mOXRETHRXZz09   Meeting ID: 847 5161 7580  Passcode: 439137       The relationship between philosophy and mysticism has been a topic of debate for centuries. Some scholars argue that they are two distinct paths to knowledge, while others argue that they are complementary approaches. This topic will explore from what epistemological point of view Suhrawardī finds the Peripatetic philosophy inadequate and on which principles he criticizes it. It will also present an in-depth analysis of how Suhrawardī, who considers himself a philosopher and his work to be philosophical, transforms the Peripatetic philosophy into an instrument and prelude that would serve the Illuminative philosophy. 

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Special Lecture: Avicenna’s Philosophy

Speaker: Peter Adamson Professor of Late Ancient and Arabic PhilosophyLudwig Maximilian University of MunichProfessor of ancient and medieval philosophyKing’s College London 14 JULY 2023, Friday4.00 PM (Malaysia)10.00 AM (Germany) Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna, d. 1037 CE) was the most influential philosopher of the classical period in Islam. His impact on philosophy in Europe is well known, and there is plenty of research on the use of Avicennan ideas in figures like Aquinas. What is less commonly appreciated is that Ibn Sīnā had a massive and long-running impact on philosophy in the Islamic East. This talk will focus on the initial stages of that tradition, discussing reactions to Ibn Sīnā’s ideas beginning around the time of al-Ghazāli (d. 1111) and following the story up through the end of the 13th century. Event Registration: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSc…/viewform…

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