Islamization of Knowledge

We had a session on Islamization of Knowledge by Dr. Mahmudul Hasan on Friday 15th of December. The topic was introduced by him beforehand to make sure the term ‘Islamization’ is clear for the students.

Dr. Mahmud stated that Islamization of knowledge can be implemented at many levels and various communities. He provided the example of his neighbourhood to the students to give further insight into the topic. The masjid in his neighbourhood is committed to play Qur’anic verses between Maghrib and Fajr prayer and it shows the Islamization in local communities. In International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) however, he pointed out that the Islamization here should be higher than in the local.  This is because it is one of the intellectual communities and the expectation towards our community is obviously higher. 

Other than that, Dr. Mahmudul Hasan highlighted on the misuse of blessings that are given to us. He mentioned that blessings that are misused can be a curse to human beings. For example, cars or transportation is a blessing to us as it accommodates us in traveling or going from one place to another. A car, however, can be a curse to us if we drive recklessly and lead to accidents. This is very much the same with the issue of technology. Technology has now been used widely all around the world and it provides us with many benefits such as interacting with people on the other countries and also can offer us various information at our fingertips. Despite that, if we use technology in a wrong way it may cause destruction even though not physically but mentally and spiritually. Therefore, we should follow the ethics in using all the blessings in our life including technology itself. 

Furthermore, he stressed that there are three areas of knowledge formation which are knowledge production, knowledge management, and knowledge sharing. He explained on each area and how we should be producing knowledge for Islam’s sake. He clarified that among 8billions of Muslim around the world and there is no reliable material can be found on great scholars like Rumi. There is lack of Muslim writers to research and write on the great scholars of Islam, on the other hand, West scholars such as Kohlberg are conducting research on Rumi and misinterpret his works. Dr highly encouraged us on writing and be among the Muslim writers to write good Islamic-based materials on our great Muslim scholars.

As the blog’s name suggests, we are attempting to look at Error and Contrastive Analysis from a whole different angle. How can Islamic points of view be closely related to this particular subject? Before we go deeper into the Islamization of Error and Contrastive Analysis - what this blog is all about, let us explain to you the gist of the subject.

Error and Contrastive Analysis is a subject that deals with culture and interference, error and mistakes, and some hypotheses made by some scholars.

1. How to compare two cultures

In this topic, we are to compare two cultures based on the language used. Apparently, how and where we are raised affect how the language we use. The cultures are divided into two parts - high context culture and low context culture. Low context culture is always related to how the Westerners speak and on the other hand, high context culture is often associated with Asian cultures. We acknowledge the fact that basically the Westerners are more outspoken and the Asians are more reserved.

For example : When negotiating a business deal, “yes” to an American and “yes” to a Japanese have two different meanings. To the Americans, “yes” means acceptance and agreement, but to the Japanese, it means continue and go on.

This example clearly shows how culture influences the way we use words in the same language. We may be speaking the same language, but sometimes, the message that each culture wants to convey is different. In conclusion of this topic, we can clearly say that culture does give impact to us especially the choice of words we use and so on. In addition, sometimes, without knowing the background of the speaker, we can know what his or her origin is just by looking at how he or she uses the language.

Islamization : In Islam, there is nothing wrong in following any culture provided with it does not go against Islam. We can clearly see that how influential a culture can be that it can affect how people speak. And we think, it is still appropriate to say that culture is an identity of a person. There is a drawback with this issue, however. People often confuse culture with religion.

Take, for example, the situation in Malaysia itself. Other races think that Malay is Islam and Islam is Malay. This can be misleading as Malay is not a religion. It is a culture that is often associated with Islam. However, not all the customs of Malay can be considered as Islamic. Thus, to other races, it can be confusing.

Sometimes, we are too obsessed with our culture that we forget what our religion holds all this while. As Allah has mentioned in Al-Quran :

“And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.” Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?” (2:170)

What is the use of following things that sometimes are not in line with Islam. Let the culture influence the language, but not our religion, Islam.

"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted." (49:13)

We must remember that no matter what and who we are, the best person in the eyes of Allah is the one with taqwa. Indeed, Allah knows best.

2. Errors and mistakes

Error is something that we unintentionally deviate from what is correct. Errors can be committed when we are too comfortable with the language. For example, the usage of subject-verb agreement in English can be quite problematic for a Malay native speaker. Malay often has a subject-verb agreement mistake. For instance, the sentence “one of the worries are”, this sentence is supposed to be “one of the worries is”. The subject and verb in this sentence does not tally with one another because it does not exist in the Malay language.

On the other hand, mistake refers to a performance of error that is either a random guess or a “slip”, in that it is a failure to utilize a known system correctly.

Islamization : When we commit error we need to find ways to get back on the right track.We have to learn in order to avoid doing the same mistake again. In Islamic perspective, when we committed a mistake, we need to repent and find guidance to the right path.

“And those (pagans) who have no knowledge say: ‘Why does not Allah speak to us or a sign come to us?’ Even thus said those before them, the like of what they say; their hearts are alike; We have indeed made clear the signs to people who are certainly sure.” (2:118)

The Arab Jahiliyyah people were ignorant. They questioned why Allah did not give them guidance while in fact, there was clearly guidance for them. Allah has clearly sent down the Prophet to give revelation to the people.

“Read! In the name of your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) Who created— created man, out of a leech-like clot: Read!  And your Rabb is Most Bountiful Who has taught (the use of) pen.  He has taught man that which he knew not.” (96:1-5)

Allah asks us to read. Read in this sense means seeking for knowledge. So, when we make error, that is when knowledge is needed so that we can correct the errors we made. Knowledge is power. With knowledge we can improve ourselves to the better.

All people make mistakes. The making of a mistake is a natural result of being human. Mistakes are a result of some sort of temporary breakdown or imperfection of a person. Allah mention in the Qur’an:

“Except for those who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they concealed]. Those - I will accept their repentance, and I am the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.” (2:160)

From this verse, Allah has clearly stated that whoever makes mistake should repent and correct them. Mistakes show that we, human are imperfect, only Allah is perfect. So, when we make mistake, we should repent and ask for Allah’s forgiveness immediately before it is too late. Allah is the most merciful.

May all of us benefit from any field of knowledge that we learn.  InsyaAllah. :)