From: othman@ntrc25.ntrc.ntu.ac.sg (othman (EEE/Div 4))
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Knowledge in Islam
Date: 12 Dec 1992 13:35:16 GMT
Organization: Nanyang Technological University - Singapore
Reply-To: othman@ntrc25.ntrc.ntu.ac.sg (othman (EEE/Div 4))
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Nabeel Ghuzlaan (nabeel@sce.carleton.ca) wrote:
: In <722385590@flounder.cs.duke.edu> azhar@duke.cs.duke.edu (D. Salman [Quintessential] Azhar) writes:
: 
: "    The message of Islam, my friends, is clearly that both men and
: " women should seek understanding of the material and spritual world.
: " Why, then, do we discourage muslim women from this pursuit. After all
: " women constitute (the more important) half of our population (since
: " their influence in raising the progeny exceeds that of men).
: 
:    I (almost) completely agree with this opinion, but I want to add that
: it is high time too to start utilising the first half of Muslim population 
: at all.
: 
:    Also, the emphasis in Islam is on the spiritual knowledge. Material
                                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Forgive me if I'm wrong. Spritual knowledge is usually regarded as the
knowledge about islamic rituals and philosophy. However the most
common interpretation is religious knowledge and application of it.
zikir is among the most sought after.
	However I recall a long time ago that Islam is simple. Why should we
need a university degree to be good in Islamic knowledge? Zikir or praises to
god, and knowing about the nature of god, is best done by angels. However
it is clearly stated in the quran that angels is inferior to man. Why?
Because god teaches us names, which he does not teach angels, even though man
will certainly cause destruction on earth.

002:The Cow

30. And when your Lord said to the angels, I am going to place in 
the earth a khalif, they said: What! wilt Thou place in it such 
as shall make mischief in it and shed blood, and we celebrate Thy 
praise and extol Thy holiness? He said: Surely I know what you do 
not know.

31. And He taught Adam all the names, then presented them to the
angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are 
right.

Names or symbols, is the ultimate knowledge. 

: knowledge has no significance in Islam unless it serves the spiritual
: aspect and the cause of our existance. For example, knowledge to play

It depends on what you mean by spiritual aspect. Is it religous aspect?

004.Women:

162. But the firm in knowledge among them and the believers
believe in what has been revealed to. you and what was revealed
before you, and those who keep up prayers and those who give the
poor-rate and the believers in Allah and the last day, these it is 
whom We will give a mighty reward.

This verse distinguishes believers(in some translations, it is religous),
from knowledge. In fact, I actually recall reading in hadith Buhari or Muslim,
that the difference between knowledgeable man and religious man is like
moon and star.

: poker has no significance.

Who knows that knowledge is of significance? Just like the knowledge to kill,
which is useful in self-preservation.

: 
:    The quality of knowledge must be emphasised. Collecting university
: degrees can hardly imply good level of useful knowledge or the use
: thereof. Now Muslims with university degrees are much more than they
: were say 1000 years ago, but so what?
	But then a university is the best place to get knowledge because of
the guidance. Look at the success of the western world. Of course they have
quality universities there.
	Muslims may have more graduates than 1000 years ago, but nothing 
compared to the western civilization. Who say we have not increased our 
knowledge compared to 1000 years ago, the problem is only in the insufficient
increase compared to others. Or could it be due to the wrong knowledge,
religous compared to materialistic knowledge.

My materialistic knowledge here is knowledge about the functions of ourselves,
so that we can be fed, clothed, sheltered, relaxed, communicate(travel and
read for more knowledge), which is what the muslims lack the most.

: 
: ** The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it,
:    to confess your ignorance.
:                               --Confucius


--
Othman bin Ahmad, School of EEE,
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 2263.
Internet Email: eoahmad@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg


Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam