With the rapid development in the areas of science and technology, many things and ideas come to see the light of the day. Not all that come in the name of progress and development are acceptable to the Muslims who have a unique metaphysical framework (Aqaid) of their own. Nevertheless, without the proper understanding of their Islamic worldview, Muslims are bound to face a lot of challenges from contending ideologies like Secularism, Post-modernism, Liberalism, Humanism, etc. Sad to say, in modern times a small portion from the Muslim community, particularly those who are not well grounded in their understanding of their worldview have gone astray in believing all is well in modern science which mainly comes from the West. This presentation is an endeavor by the research team to highlight what can be adopted and should be discarded in dealing with modern science. This presentation has also highlighted the fact and driven home the message to the Muslim community that a total rejection of modern science is not an ideal thing to do. As such, they have to be meticulously selective in choosing the goodness that comes from modern science.

1. Presented to: Students of Kulliyyah of Medicine
Indera Mahkota Campus, Kuantan
International Islamic University Malaysia
Venue: Lecture Hall 6
Date: 22nd March, 2018
Understanding the Islamic Worldview
Presented By:
RESEARCH TEAM
Dr.Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak
(Dept. of Fundamental & Inter-Disciplinary Studies)
Prof.Dr. Sayed Sikandar Shah Haneef
(Dept. of Fiqh & Usul-Fiqh)
KIRKHS, IIUM

2. The Meaning of Worldview
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 ‘Worldview’ is an English translation of the German term
“Weltanschauung”.
 It is rendered inArabic as “Ru’yatu li al-wujud orTasawur li
al-wujud”, (‫للوجود‬ ‫تصور‬ ‫أو‬ ‫للوجود‬ ‫)رؤية‬
 According to HAMKA: pandangan/falsafah hidup Islam

3. Cont.
 A philosophical way of looking at life and the purpose of
the human existence
 Analogically explained:
A worldview is like a lens through which we look at the
world and our position (as human beings) in the
hierarchy of God’s creations

4. What a worldview does?
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 A worldview encapsulates answers regarding
broad questions of "life understanding." These
questions are lifetime concerns and sources of
anxiety. They involve fundamental matters,
expressed in the form of queries. Here are some
examples of ongoing human concerns/curiosity:

5. 5
 Worldview influences all aspects of life
 Some worldviews such as Islam cover all aspects of life
including the personal, social, economic, political, cultural,
civilization besides dealing with spiritual, moral, and Aqidah
issues.
 But there are other worldviews which focus only on
spiritual, material, social, or economic aspects of human life.
 Any worldview should be able to answer the ultimate
questions not necessary correct answers but at least
consistent

6. Discussion within a Worldview
It answers many fundamental human questions which are
lifetime concern and a source of anxiety; like:
 How big is the universe?
 Does it have a beginning and an end?
 When and how humanity came into exist on this planet?
 Does God exist?What are His attributes?
 What happens to man when he dies?
 What is good and evil? How to know them?, etc.

7. God
God is like the central piece of the jigsaw-
puzzle of life.Without Him life becomes less
romantic and meaningless
(Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak)
IIUM

8. Classification of Worldview
Worldview
Religious Non-religious
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Religious
Revealed and
preserved
Revealed but
Interpolated
Not revealed but
Based on human
wisdom
Mythological Philosophical Scientific

9. The Definition of Islamic worldview
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 “Ru’yat al-Islam li al-wujud” is about:
 “ A metaphysical survey of the visible as well as the
invisible worlds including the perspective of life as a
whole”. Al-Attas in “Islam and the Challenge of
Modernity, p. 27.
 Islamic worldview encompasses the issues of
universe, creator, prophethood, society, man, and
hereafter

10. Source of Islamic Worldview
 Al-Qur’an
 The Sunnah
 Interpretation of the Muslim scholars
 It is not the cultural product of the Muslims
 Unlike the philosophical and scientific worldviews
which go through paradigm shifts, the IWV does
not change with the passing of time.

11. Islamic Worldview
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It is not a worldview that is formed
merely by amalgamation or historical
concoction of various cultural values.
Rather, it is a well established
framework derived from the revelation
and interpreted by Muslim scholars
throughout Islamic history

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This frame of reference provides us with
correct and consistent answers to the
ultimate questions pertinent to the issues
of God, unseen, man, universe, and life. It
also guides man as a vicegerent of Allah to
the correct belief system, shari‘ah, and
ethical values.
Islamic Worldview….Cont.

13. Islamic Worldview…. Cont.
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The worldview of Islam encompasses both
al-dunia ( ‫الدنيا‬ ) and al-akhirah ( ‫اآلخرة‬ ) in
which the dunia aspect must be inextricably
linked to the akhirah aspect, and in which
the akhirah aspect has the ultimate and final
significance.

14. 14
 Islamic worldview is not a worldview that is formed
merely by the gathering together of various cultural
objects, values and phenomena into artificial
coherence.
Islamic Worldview…. Cont.

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 nor is it one that is formed gradually through a historical
process of philosophical speculation and scientific discovery,
which must of necessity be left vague and open-ended for
future change and alteration in line with paradigms that
change in correspondence with changing circumstances.
 It is not a worldview that undergoes a dialectical process of
transformation repeated through the ages, from thesis to
anti-thesis then synthesis
Islamic Worldview…. Cont.

16. The Objectives of Islamic worldview
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 To provide the Muslims with the true knowledge and explanation
about the world, seen and unseen, as they are explained in the
Qur`an.
 To teach people the way and method how to achieve the
main values of Islam in life
 To establish the fundamental ethical precepts, such as justice,
freedom, trust, and dignity of human life and existence

17. IMPACT OF WORLDVIEW
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1. Helps us to know peoples and their cultures
2. Helps us to interact with nature, individuals,
nations, cultures and civilizations
3. Helps us to correct our own values, perspectives,
attitudes and behaviours.
4. Helps us to formulate theories of politics,
sociology, culture, etc.

18. The Main Elements
of Islamic worldview
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 God
 Revelation
 Prophethood
 God’s Creation
 Man and the psychology of human soul
 Kknowledge
 Religion
 Freedom
 Values and virtues
 Hereafter
 And happiness.

19. Hereafter
Vicegerency
(History/ Culture/
Civilization)
Truth
Prophet Hood
Man
Life
Universe
God
Existence
of Seen & Unseen
Worlds
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The Seen and the Unseen Worlds

20. 1. Jannah
(Adam& Hawwa)
2. Alam Al-Arwah
(Realm of the Souls)
3. Alam
Al-Arham
(9+ months)
4. Alam Al-
Dunya (60-70
yrs)
5. Alam Al-
Barzakh
6.
Qiyamah
(end of
time)
7. Yaumul
Hisab
(Judg-
ment)
8. Al-Mizan
(The Balance)
9. Sirat
(the Bridge)
The Spiritual
Journey of Man:
An Islamic
Perspective
Jahan-
nam
(Hell)
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21.  The scientific maxim says “if a thing cannot
be measured, that thing doesn’t exist”
 As such, the scientific worldview is based on
calculation and measurement
 It is only concerned with man’s “here and
now”
 It doesn’t cater to answer what was the
condition of man before he came into
existence in this planet and what will happen
to him upon his death
 It has no interest in man’s metaphysical world
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22.  As such, it does not entertain discussion on
God, angels, man’s pre-existence and life
beyond this world
 It has no grounded values
 It is devoid of moral and ethical principles
 Modern science is value-free
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23.  Modern science has made life easy for the
human survival
 It has increased the rate of life expectancy
 Science has improved our mode of
transportation and communication
 It has provided us with new ways of
identifying diseases and in prescribing potent
remedy for them
 It has provided us with modern surgical tools
and scanning machines
 It has brought new ways of looking at stars
and planets that are millions of miles away
from us,etc. 23

24. Science without religion is lame,
Religion without science is blind
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25. Science is a beautiful gift to humanity;
We should no distort it
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27.  A total rejection of science is not a good idea
for the Muslim Ummah
 The Qur’an not only speaks about spirituality,
but also about science & scientific theories
 Take all that are beneficial for our survival as
Muslims
 We must use science for the betterment of
humanity
 Leave out all the atheistic and un-Islamic
aspects of modern science
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 Your claim will be: I have learnt it all the way
from pre-school. Do I have to learn it again?
 Ans: At the tertiary level you put all the bits and
pieces you have learnt and look at them from a
philosophical perspective
 This will help you strengthen your spiritual
dimension as the Khalifah of Allah

29.  Ignorance/Negligence
 Stuck at the theoretical level
 Vested Interest
 Failed in the Implementation
 Challenges posed by contending
Ideologies

30.  Poverty
 Illiteracy
 Disunity
 Sectarian Violence & War
 Foreign Occupation
 Materialism, Secularism, Liberalism, etc.
 Terrorism & Extremism
 Substance Usage
 Mismanagement at all level
 Environmental Degradation, etc.

31.  IWV should be taught at all levels of education
 We don’t need ‘Reformation of Islam’, but
definitely ‘Reformation of the Muslim Mind’
 Muslims have to reevaluate their thoughts and
actions, and align them in the true spirit of the
Qur’an & Sunnah
 We have to accept our differences, but we must
stay united
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall”
 Live a balanced life between “Dunya & Akhirah”

32. Internet and social media provide
information & good communication tools.
But our lives should not be enslaved to
them. At times we have to pause and see
the world through our own eyes and not
through a borrowed vision. Seeing things
as they are promises the birth of wisdom
(Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak)
IIUM
Social Media

33. Reference
• Standard Slides produced by Department of
Fundamental & Inter-Disciplinary Studies,
KIRKHS, International Islamic University
Malaysia
• Personal Reflection of the Research Team

34. Syukran Jazilan
Terima Kasih
Thank you
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