1. Title
Date
Lifetime Learning… Building Success… Towards Globalization
Islamic Thought and Culture
Chapter One
Lifetime Learning… Building Success… Towards Globalization 1EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

2. Culture Defined
• Culture includes knowledge, belief, art, morals,
customs and any other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as a member of society.
• Culture means the total body of tradition borne by a
society and transmitted from one generation to
another.
2EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

3. • Any nation’s culture shapes various aspects of
its life, belief, history, civilization, theories and
thoughts.
• Islam emphasizes on the importance of
culture interaction.
3EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

4. The Islamic Culture
• Culture in an Islamic society is necessarily Islamic due
to close links between religion, and society.
• Cultural development in Islam is based on solid
foundations of the Holy Quran and the sunnah of the
Prophet (saw)
4EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

5. The Islamic culture passed through the following
stages:
• Birth, growth and Innovation
• Development and Progress
• Weakness and Recession
5EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

6. First Stage
Birth, Growth and Innovation
• From the birth of the Prophet till two and half
centuries after hijra:
• Features:
• Descending of the Holy Quran
• Birth of Islamic sciences: (tafsir, hadith, Islamic
Jurisprudence, history was recorded)
EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture 6

7. • Second Stage: Development and Progress
– This stage begins from the middle of the third century
A.H. till the middle of the tenth century
– Great progress in all branches of knowledge, and arts
• Third Stage: Weakness and Recession:
– After eleventh century Muslim nation entered into a
phase of social and intellectual stagnation.
EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture 7

8. Reasons for this tremendous scholarly advancement
1. Islamic atmosphere for knowledge and scholars
2. Freedom of Intellect and Attaining Knowledge
8EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

9. Islamic atmosphere for knowledge and scholars
• Knowledge is one of Allah’s Attributes
• Knowledge is the greatest advantage of Adam over
the Angels
• Knowledge is the first thing revealed in the Quran
• Knowledge is the characteristic of most honorable
creatures
• Seeking Knowledge is a form of worship and highly-
evaluated righteous act
9EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

10. TheBasiccomponents oftheScholarlymethodologyofIslam
Divinity: Having absolute belief in Allah the Lord of
universe.
Comprehensive system: Islam relates affairs of the
world with the reward in the Hereafter (akhrah)
Comprehensive knowledge: Islam extends the
borders of knowledge to include religious ones,
Islamic law as well as biology, physics, etc.
Ijtihad: ( independent opinion or judgment) and
respect of the mind:
10EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

11. • Evidence-Based knowledge: Knowledge must be
built on evidence and not on mere claims
• Equality of opportunities for all (male and female)
• Acquiring knowledge is required from all: The whole
nation is requested to seek and acquire knowledge
11EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

12. Subjects of Islamic Culture
Belief Worship System
Ethics
Contemporary
Issues
EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture 12

13. • Belief: Pillars of faith, its impact on behaviour
• Worship: acts of worship and its effects on the
individual and society
• System: Islamic system and regulations that
cover all aspects of life.
• Contemporary Issues: Important
contemporary issues that Islamic thought and
culture needs to address and analyze.
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14. Media of Islamic Culture
Family
Masjid
EducationMediums
Society
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15. Media of Islamic Culture
1. The Family: The Holy Quran and Sunnah focus on
the aims of the family.
2. The Masjid plays a central role within the society.
3. Education: The aim of education:
4. Media: Internet, TV, newspapers may play
important role to progress Islamic culture and
maintain identity.
5. Society can play important role and responsibilities
15EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture

16. Review Questions
1. Write definition of culture.
2. What do you mean by Islamic culture?
3. Write different stages of Islamic culture.
4. What are features of birth and growth stage of Islamic
culture.
5. Write three reasons for tremendous scholarly advancement
of Islamic culture.
6. Write four components of scholarly methodology in Islam.
7. Write subjects of Islamic culture.
8. Write media of Islamic culture.
EIBFS/ Islamic Thought and Culture 16