This document discusses sources of knowledge in Islam and how knowledge is classified from an Islamic perspective. It outlines that primary sources in Islam are the Quran and Hadith, which are directly revealed by God. Secondary sources include consensus of scholars, analogy, and reasoning based on public interest. Knowledge can be acquired through revelation, senses, mind, and ideas. The hierarchy of knowledge receivers starts with prophets, then pious people, scholars, and finally the public. Knowledge is typically divided into revealed knowledge from the Quran and Hadith, and acquired knowledge from observation and reasoning. It can also be categorized as individual or social obligations.

1. Chapter 2
Sources in Islam
1
IMR 660
ISLAMIC INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT

3. Sources in Islam

4. Primary Sources
• Definition
Primary source according to information
professional refer to original source which is
not translated, interpreted or published by
anyone else for examples, research,
biography, patent, thesis and etc.

5. Cont…
• According to Islam refer to knowledge that is
revealed by God to the prophet.
• So, primary sources in Islam are Quran and
Hadith.

6. Types of Primary Sources
1. Quran
• Definition
It is the Arabic speech of Allah which He revealed
to prophet Muhammad in wording and meaning
and which has been preserved in the Mushaf and
has reached us mutawatir transmission (several
chains of narration) and is a challenge to mankind
to produce something similar to it.

7. Cont…
• The Holy Quran is the book of Allah sent through the
last prophet, Muhammad.
• It contains the knowledge conveyed by Allah and the
guidance for men who are righteous (honorable) for
all time to come.
• The Quran provides a code of conduct for every
believer and is the commandment (order) and a
warrant for him.

8. Cont…
2. Hadiths
• Definition
– It includes everything, other than the Quran,
which has been transmitted from the prophet;
what he said, did and agreed to.
– The word stands for what was transmitted on
the authority of the prophet, his deed, sayings,
tacit approval or description of his features
meaning his physical appearance.

9. Characteristics of Primary Sources
• It is revealed by God to the prophet directly
or indirectly.
• The information cannot be changed.
• It is considered as the ultimate (final)
source.

10. Secondary Sources (alternative source)
• Definition
–It refers to sources which are not directly
revealed by God.
–It is gained by mankind through certain
processes like observation,
experimentation and research.

12. Types of Secondary Sources
1. Ijma (consensus)
– It refers to the consensus of the
companions of the prophet and the
agreement reached on the decision taken
by the learned Muftis on various Islamic
matters.
– The consensus of the jurists of a certain
period over a religious matter. Eg.
Collection of Quranic mushaf.

13. Cont…
2. Qias
– Literally it means analogy.
– It actually refers to the legal principle
introduced in order to derive at a logical
conclusion of a certain law on a certain
issue that has to do with the welfare of
the Muslim.
– It still must be based on the primary
sources. eg. Prohibition of drug.

14. Cont…
3. Istishab (The companions practice)
– It refers to the legal principle introduced
based on the companions' opinion and
practice. Eg. Azan for twice before Friday
speech.

15. Cont…
4. Istihsan/ Istihlah
– The legal principle introduced based on
public interest.
– Preference based on judgment of what is
more relevant, suitable or important and
what is more conducive to the public
interest, welfare and development. Eg.
Amount of mihar

16. Recaps…

17. Characteristics of Secondary Sources

18. Theory of knowledge from Islamic perspective
a) Islam and knowledge
b) Views from Islamic scholars regarding Islam
and knowledge
c) How knowledge is acquired
d) Hierarchy of knowledge receivers
e) Classification of knowledge in Islam.

19. a) Islam and knowledge
• Islam emphasizes on knowledge and there is
nothing equivalent to it in this world.
• Muslims are encouraged to seek knowledge
and it is compulsory to them.
• The prophet said, if we want the world, seek
knowledge. If we want the hereafter, seek
knowledge. If we want both, seek
knowledge.

20. b) Views from Islamic scholars regarding Islam
and knowledge
• Yusof al-Razi
–Knowledge will help to do the correct
action. It also will raise the level of
intellectualism.

21. Cont…
• Abu Hatim al-Razi
–A smart person is a person who put his
knowledge into practice.

22. c) How knowledge is acquired
• According to Islam, knowledge can be
acquired through various methods. They are:
1. Revelation
2. Mind
3. Sensors
4. Acquired ideas

23. Cont…
1. Revelation
– It is the main source of Islamic knowledge.
– It is revealed from God to mankind through the prophets
as the source of knowledge.
– Revelations include Quran and Hadiths.
– It is considered as the highest source of Islamic
knowledge.
2. Mind
– Healthy mind can help human beings to acquire
knowledge.
– They can use their healthy mind to think and conduct
research.
– These activities will help them to produce new
knowledge.

24. Cont…
3. Sensors
– The five sensors help human beings to acquire
knowledge.
– They are fully function when mankind receive or seek
knowledge.
– Information is brought to mind through these sensors for
interpretation.
4. Acquired ideas
– Islam also accepts acquired ideas as a method to gain
knowledge.
– Acquired ideas include the dream of a pious person.

25. Hierarchy of knowledge receivers

26. Hierarchy of knowledge receivers
• Hierarchy of knowledge receivers according to Islam is:‑
1. Prophet or messenger
 The prophet is the only person who received
knowledge from God, the creator and the perfect in
knowledge.
 The prophet is the independent male who receives
revelation from God.
2. Wali (the pious person)
 They are the most pious person after the prophet.
 They are given the ability to get knowledge through
the acquired ideas.
 The dreaming of wali is also considered as knowledge.

27. Cont…
3. Muslim intellectual or scholar
 They are the knowledgeable Muslim scholars
in both reveled knowledge and syariah.
4. Public
 They are the common people who receive
knowledge from Muslim scholar, Wali and the
prophet.

28. Classification of knowledge in Islam.
Classification of knowledge from 4th
century to
20th century (western & Islam)

30. Cont…
1. Aristotle (4th century)
He divided knowledge into:‑
a) Theoretical philosophy (pure knowledge of the
world)
 Geometry
 Astronomy – celestial object
 Music
 Physic (natural science)
 Metaphysic – principle of reality –
– Ontology - existence
– Cosmology - cosmos
-Theoretical
- practical
- productive

31. Cont…
b. Practical philosophy (Study of the social
science)
–Moral
–Economy
–Politic

32. Cont…
c. Productive philosophy (study of creative
activity)
–Poetry
–Rhetoric (speech) –public speaking
–Dialectical

33. Cont…
2. St Augustine (4th – 5th century)
He divided knowledge into:
–Physic
–Logic
–Ethic

34. Cont…
3. Al-kindi (801-873)
He divided knowledge into
–theoretical (Philosophical aspect)
–practical

35. Cont…
4.A1-Farabi (950)
He explained the classification of knowledge
in his book "Enumeration of science", which is
known to the west from the Latin translation
by Gerald Cremona as De Sciendis. Hossein
Nasr has summarized al-Farabi's scheme as
follows:-

36. Cont…
• Science of Language: syntax, grammar,
pronunciation and speech, poetry.
• Logic- study on syllogism.
• The propaedutic science: Arithmetic, Geometry,
Optics, Science of heavens (Astronomy), Music,
Science of weights, Science of tool making
(Engineering)
• Science of nature: Physic and metaphysic
• Science of society: political science, sociology,
Jurisprudence, etc

37. Cont…
5. Ibnu Sina (980-1037)
He divided knowledge into
–permanent (Revealed knowledge/ Syariah)
–temporary (Acquired knowledge/
Philosophical knowledge)

38. Cont…
6. Al-Ghazali (1058-1111)
He divided knowledge into:-
–Theoretical science
–Practical science

39. Cont…
2. This division is divided into two part:‑
a. Religion (Syariyya Sciences)
– The Holy Quran
– The sunnah and hadith
– Jurisprudence
– Theology (Tawhid)
– Islamic Metaphysic
(Tasawwuf)
– Linguistic science

40. Cont…
b. Rational philosophy (non-syariyya sciences)
- Human sciences
- Natural sciences
- Applied sciences
- Technological sciences

41. Cont…
3. Individually requisite knowledge (Fardhu ain)
and Socially-requisite knowledge (Fardhu
Kifayah)

42. Cont…
7. Ibn Khaldun (14th century)
He divided knowledge into:‑
a. Philosophical or rational/ intellectual
Science or natural sciences
– Logical, natural sciences, Physic (Medicine,
Agriculture etc)
– Metaphysics
– Mathematical science

43. Cont…
b. Theological science
– Quranic science
– Hadith and sunnah
– Principle of Shar'ia
– Fiqh
– Theology
– Sufism

44. Cont…
8. Francis Bacon (17 century)
He divided knowledge into:‑
a. Human Learning
– History (memory)
– Poetry (Imagination)
– Philosophy (Logic)
b. Divine learning
– Sacred History
– Parables (Analogous stories from bible)
– Doctrines

45. Cont…
9. Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Atas
He divided knowledge into:
–Fardhu Kifayah
–Fardhu Ain.

46. Revealed knowledge
• Revealed knowledge refer to knowledge which is
revealed from God to mankind through the prophet.
• It includes knowledge on Quran, Hadiths and syariah
• This knowledge is compulsory to be learnt by all
Muslim.
• It is also known as religious knowledge.

47. Acquired knowledge
• Acquired knowledge refer to knowledge which
is acquired by mankind through the
interpretation, analysis, observation and
experimentation.
• It is also called worldly knowledge.

48. Fardhu Kifayah/ Social Obligation
• According to Professor Syed Muhammad
Naquib al-Atas, it is obligation towards
society.
• According to Prof Dr. Osman Bakar, it refers to
what is divinely binding for the Muslim
community as a whole but it is not necessarily
binding for each member of the community.

49. Fardhu Ain / Individual Obligation
• According to Professor Syed Muhammad
Naquib al-Atas, it is obligation towards the
self.
• According to Prof Dr. Osman Bakar, it refers to
a religious obligation that is binding on every
Muslim

50. List of terms
• Geometry
• Astronomy
• Music
• Physic
• Metaphysic
• Moral
• Economy
• Politics
• Poetry
• Rhetoric
• Dialectical
• Logic
• Ethic
• Syntax
• Grammar
• Syllogism
• Propaedutic science
• Arithmetis
• Geometry
• Optics
• Anthropology
• Cosmology
• Ontology

51. THANK YOU…THAT ALL FOR TODAY.
SEE U IN NEXT CLASS !!!