Centuries of Religious Wars led Enlightenment Philosophers to seek to build society on secular foundations, to achieve peace. This required an epistemology which would be acceptable to all. This led to the idea of objective knowledge, based on facts and logic, which would be equally acceptable to all. This also led to the exclusion of subjective reality, the heart, the soul and the lived experiences of human beings, as sources of knowledge. This was an enormous error, which has led to knowledge being built on the wrong foundations for the past few centuries. The Ghazali Project is an attempt to counter this mistake, to rebuild human knowledge on sound foundations, and to create an alternative to toxic educational systems currently in use globally.

1. The Ghazali Project:
Countering Enlightenment
Revised: Decolonization of Education: An Islamic Perspective
Friday 23rd Feb, 2024, Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad
https://www.ips.org.pk/decolonization-of-education-a-muslim-perspective/

2. Everybody Agrees that Ummah is in bad shape
Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi: What the World Lost Due to the Decline of
the Islamic Civilization. See: http://bit.ly/azrdm
Numerous books explore the rise of the West, and the decline of Islam
An Important Western perspective is available from:
Marshall Hodgson: The Venture of Islam in three volumes – see:
http://bit.ly/AZHodgson

3. Massive Disagreements on CAUSE
• Western Analysts: We are the greatest civilization which ever existed
on the planet. So, be like us, if you want to progress.
• Western-influenced Muslims: Democracy, Secularism, Rule of Law, etc
• We have fallen behind in knowledge: Science and Technology.
The Final Message remains relevant for our guidance.
• Renewal of Faith (Tableegh)
• Eliminate Bid’at & Shirk (Salafi)
• Recreate Khilafah (Political Islam)
• Emphasize the Heart and Human Aspects (Service, Tasawwuf)

4. Tragedy:
• We do not even know the central battleground. We are wasting our
energies in fighting each other, and in fighting peripheral battles.
• We do not have the weapons required to fight the central battle.
• Meanwhile, the enemies have manufacture powerful weapons, which
are currently in use against us, on an UNCONTESTED battleground
• The Ghazali Project (for decolonization of education) provides an
analysis, diagnosis, treatment, and plan of action. This is to be
discussed in this talk.

5. Knowledge is at the heart of Islam
Read, in the name of thy Lord who created … and gave to mankind knowledge
which they did not have
This knowledge launched a revolution in world history, catapulting
ignorant and backward Bedouin in world leadership.
Today, Muslims are again ignorant and backward. Does this knowledge
have the same power today, to revolutionize our lives, and the world?
TRAGEDY: Most Muslims DO NOT THINK SO!
Today, Most Muslims are convinced that the path out of our current
darkness requires guidance from the West!

6. Decolonization of Knowledge
• COLONIZED MINDS: Today, we Muslims believe – and demonstrate
with our actions – that guidance for solutions of our modern
problems is only available from the West. The Quran no longer has
the power to guide us.
• SUCCESSFUL DECOLONIZATION OF MINDS => Understanding that the
final message of God the mankind is complete and perfect, and far
superior to any knowledge which can be produced by mankind. That
it is just as revolutionary today as it was 14 centuries ago.

7. A Deep & Difficult Dilemma
http://bit.ly/AZddd
The Quran is Revolutionary Today
• Why are Muslims unable to
utilize this knowledge to launch
a revolution?
• Why cant the Ulema design a
path to uplift the Umma?
• Why are multiple massive efforts
launched on BASIS of study of
Quran failing to produce
significant effects?
Western Knowledge is the only PATH!
• The Power of Western
knowledge is so obvious, that it
seems IMPOSSIBLE to deny.
• It shapes every moment of our
modern lives.
• HOW can it possibly be inferior
to the knowledge of the Quran,
which seems to provide no
guidance for our modern lives?

8. Questions to be discussed/answered
• What is a Colonized Mind? Education in Harmful Knowledge
• What is Decolonized Mind? Able to see the NOOR of the Quran
• Colonialism ended 70 years ago: Why are minds still colonized?
• What is the process by which minds are colonized today?
• How can we counteract this process?
• Comprehensive SOLUTIONS: The Ghazali Project
How to Launch an Islamic Revival: http://bit.ly/azlir

9. Why the Quran appears irrelevant & obsolete
Jahl-e-Murakkab:: Compound Ignorance
• We think we HAVE this knowledge.
• We have been UNABLE to use it to find solutions to modern
problems.
• THEREFORE, this knowledge does NOT have the power to solve
modern problems.
• INSTEAD, we must turn to Western corpus of knowledge to find
solutions today.

10. Penetrating the Veil of Over-Confidence:
Unjustified belief that we KNOW the message
ْ‫ل‬ِ‫ل‬ ‫ى‬َ‫ب‬‫و‬ُ‫ط‬َ‫ف‬ ‫ا‬ً‫ب‬‫ي‬ ِ
‫َر‬‫غ‬ َ‫أ‬َ‫د‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬َ‫ك‬ ُ‫د‬‫و‬ُ‫ع‬َ‫ي‬َ‫س‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ً‫ب‬‫ي‬ ِ
‫َر‬‫غ‬ ُ‫م‬َ‫ال‬ْ‫س‬ِ‫اإل‬ َ‫أ‬َ‫د‬َ‫ب‬
ِِ‫ا‬َ‫ب‬ َ‫ر‬ُ‫ُغ‬
“Islam began as a something strange and it will return to being strange,
so blessed are the strangers.”
ِ‫ب‬ ‫ا‬ً‫ع‬‫ا‬َ‫ر‬ِ‫ذ‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ً‫ْر‬‫ب‬ِ‫ش‬ ‫ا‬ً‫ْر‬‫ب‬ِ‫ش‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ل‬ْ‫ب‬َ‫ق‬ َ‫ان‬َ‫ك‬ ْ‫ن‬َ‫م‬ َ‫َن‬‫ن‬َ‫س‬ َّ‫ن‬ُ‫ع‬َ‫ب‬ْ‫ت‬َ‫ت‬َ‫ل‬
ْ‫ع‬ِ‫ب‬َ‫ت‬ ،ٍّ ََ َ‫ر‬َُُْ ‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬َََ‫د‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ل‬ ‫ى‬َّ‫ت‬ََ ،ٍ‫ا‬َ‫ر‬ِ‫ذ‬
ُ‫ه‬‫و‬ُ‫م‬ُ‫ت‬
ْ‫م‬
The Prophet‫ﷺ‬ said, "You will follow the ways of those nations who
were before you inch by inch, so much so that even if they entered a
hole of a lizard, you would follow them."

11. Indirect Approach to Revolutionary
Knowledge contained in the Quran
• Instead of searching through Quran, Hadeeth, and our Intellectual
Tradition, look at History
• How did this knowledge change the world?
• The external effects of this knowledge:
See: Marshall Hodgson: The Venture of Islam http://bit.ly/AZHodgson
Islam was a unique venture to create a worldly civilization imbued with
spiritual values, and standards of human excellence.
(Not a materialistic civilization based on pursuit of power, profits, and
pleasure – as currently hegemonic western models are)

12. A Small Example, of Great Importance
• Islamic Studies Teacher came to discuss his presentation at assembly
• He prepared a traditional type lecture, guaranteed to put students to sleep
– they have heard the materials a thousand times, and have been unable to
relate what they hear to their lives.
• What was in the message, that the lives of the Sahaba changed after
hearing a few Ayat?
• Recreate the excitement and wonder of the Quran by listening to
conversion videos, where so many new Muslims describe how the Quran
changed their lives.
The Modern Miracles of Mohammad – bit.ly/Azmmm
The Quran on Purpose of Life (conversion story of Dr. Lang) bit.ly/49posCw

13. First Steps Towards Decolonization:
Rejection of Eurocentric History
• Syed Abul Hassan Ali Nadwi: Islam and the World: The Rise and
Decline of the Muslims, and its Effect on Mankind.
• http://bit.ly/azrdm
• The central quality of the Islamic Civilization was the ability to balance
the spiritual and material aspects of our existence. This contrasts with
nearly all other civilizations, which lose their balance on one side or
the other

14. Impact of Revelation on World History
Launched a Civilization which enlightened the world for a thousand
years.
Reconquest of Al-Andalus gave European barbarians access to millions
of books in Islamic Libraries. The Toledo Translation Project ended the
dark ages of Europe.
Flood of knowledge in conflict with Catholic teachings split Christianity
into two factions. Violent Battles for Centuries between the two
factions made population allergic to religion.
The need for secular social science was firmly established. Politics and
Economics were detached from Moral Philosophy.

15. The Enlightenment Project:
Rebuild Entire Stock of Human Knowledge!
Christianity had led us astray. We must firmly reject it as superstition
and ignorance. Reject the ENTIRE stock of inherited knowledge.
Rebuild Knowledge starting from ZERO, on grounds of reason and
empirical evidence.
Firmly reject the UNSEEN. ٍِّ ۡ‫َي‬‫ُغ‬ۡ‫ٱل‬ِ‫ب‬ َ‫ون‬ُ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ۡ
‫ؤ‬ُ‫ي‬ َ‫ين‬ِ‫ذ‬َّ‫ٱل‬
Firmly reject the HEART. ۡ‫ف‬َ ۡ
‫ٱۡل‬ َ‫و‬ َ‫ر‬ ََٰ‫ص‬ۡ‫ب‬َ ۡ
‫ٱۡل‬ َ‫و‬ َ‫ع‬ ۡ
‫م‬َّ‫س‬‫ٱل‬ ُ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬َُ َ‫و‬
َ‫ة‬َ‫د‬ِ‫ـ‬
Descartes: I think, therefore I am.
Fundamental Break with Islamic Epistemology. This is the ROOT of our
current problems

16. Critical Lessons from this History
• The Dark Ages of Europe ended when translations of knowledge
gathered by Muslims reached Europe after reconquest of Spain
• This knowledge was violently in conflict with Catholic teachings and
split the Church.
• The ESSENCE of the knowledge could NOT be absorbed by Europeans,
and REMAINS a treasure beyond their reach!!
• The Western copies we are currently mindlessly imitating are
INFERIOR to the originals. To learn the original, we must reconnect
with our intellectual tradition.

17. Critical Errors of Enlightenment Epistemology
Sahih Bokhari: Dajjal is blind of left eye -- Abu-Jahl was known as Abul-
Hakm because he was wise in worldly wisdom, but blind in affairs of
the heart and soul.
Enlightenment epistemology leads to deep insights into the external
world. But, it blinds us to the internal nature of human beings.
Why? Human experience is unique, not subject to scientific study.
Society is collective activity of human beings. We cannot study society
without understanding human beings.

18. The Illusion of Objectivity
• Society consists of individuals. Each individual has a unique subjective
life-experience. We cannot understand society without understanding
these life experiences.
• Exclusion of Heart, Soul, and Lived Human Experiences from Western
epistemology makes it impossible for Western Intellectuals to
understand human society. Western Social Science is built on false
foundations
• The Ghazali Project involves rejecting Enlightenment epistemology,
and rebuilding the entire stock of human knowledge on Islamic
foundations

19. Western Failure to Understand
Humans
• Western epistemology reduces Humans to their
minds – I think therefore I am.
• The homo economicus is cold, calculating, callous,
and cruel.
• Psychologists have shown that actual human
behavior is radically different from that of economic
theory. See: bit.ly/WEAbvn
• Islamic Psychologists have made great strides,
rejecting Freudian theories, and building on Islamic
intellectual heritage: Aql, Qalb, Nafs, and Ruh.

20. Multiple, Ongoing, Projects
Recep Şentürk: Sequence of Lectures on Decolonization of Knowledge
and on Ibn-e-Khaldun – Access from bit.ly/RSdss
Uloom-ul-Umran: An Islamic Alternative to Western Social Science
bit.ly/AZUUU
(The Ghazali Project): How to Launch an Islamic Revival:
https://portal.alnafi.com/courses/how-to-launch-an-islamic-revival
A New Approach to Islamic Economics: bit.ly/IslamicEcon2023
Even Mathematics and Statistics must be rebuilt on new foundations!

21. Lord Macaulay: Purpose of Indian Education
Creation of a Coconut Class:
We must at present do our best to form a class who may be
interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern; a class of
persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in
morals, and in intellect.
Elite classes in Pakistan continue to respect, admire, and love the
Colonizers, and have contempt and hatred for their own culture,
heritage, and religion. This colonization of minds is produced by
Western education.

22. Western Education Creates Colonized Minds
• Shock and Awe of Western Knowledge
• PREVENTS us from recognizing the value of the Quran
• Crucial to understand and highlight the PURPOSE of life.
• If it is to make money, then teachings of Quran condemn Qaroon,
• If it is to learn excellence in conduct, to develop the infinite potential
within our souls, Western knowledge is completely useless.

23. The Mu’tazila and Ilm ul Kalam
Shock and Awe of Greek Philosophy: Reason is primary and Revelation
is secondary: We use reason to understand revelation.
Is the Quran created? If so, then it will die, like all creations.
Applying logic to the Quran – highly disliked by orthodoxy. If question
was never raised by the early scholars, then we should not discuss it.
Orthodox position was to avoid disputes with the Mu’tazala – it would
lead to Kufr, and was forbidden even if done to support Islam.
This was also the position taken by Ulema about Western knowledge
following 1857. This withdrawal from the field has led to disaster.

24. Necessity of Ilmul Kalam after
it became state religion
• We are in same position today.
• We need to enter into battle against Western philosophy.
• The need for a new Ilmul Kalam
We cannot afford to detach ourselves, and disengage with Western
knowledge. We cannot call this knowledge the equivalent of carpentry,
not relevant for religion.
We must enter the battlefield, and defeat them on their own
battleground, using their own tools, PLUS our intellectual heritage.

25. Western Education Colonizes Minds
• It teaches us that the purpose of life is to make money.
• Then, knowledge is useful if it allows us to make money.
• Then, only knowledge created over the past few centuries is useful –
because this knowledge allows us to get jobs within capitalist
economies.
• Obviously, Islamic teachings are not designed to teach us how to earn
money.

26. How Can We Counter This Message?
• We need to de-colonize the educational system. This is a difficult and
challenging task.
• We need to build an alternative to modern Western educational
systems. These new models must create deep understanding of
modern societies, and the history which led to the creation of the
modern world.
• We must replace Eurocentric history with an Islamic perspective.
• We must rediscover Islamic Pedagogy, with its unique approach to
education. See: bit.ly/4c13knZ

27. The first step is to discuss Purpose of Life
Second step is to discuss USEFUL and USELESS Knowledge
Useful is relevant to purpose
First Step of the Ghazali Project is AL-Munqidh min al-dalalah
Deliverance from Error: Rebuild Faith by understanding the nature of
Knowledge as a Noor which is cast into our hearts.
Purpose of Life: Learn Who You Are: bit.ly/Azwya
Useful Versus Useless Knowledge: bit.ly/LKuauk

28. Squarely Confront the Challenge Facing Youth
There is no God
• World was created by chance
• Man emerged via evolution
• Our lives are meaningless.
• Society is jungle of cut-throat
competition.
• Survival of the fittest is the ONLY
moral principles. Lie, Cheat,
Steal, everything is fine.
God Exists
• Universe was created for a
purpose.
• Man is the best of the creations
• We have potential to rise above
the angels. But also the potential
to be worse than beasts.
• Purpose is to achieve excellence,
fulfill our potential.

29. How to Acquire Faith in God?
• Logical arguments from Ilmul Kalam remain very powerful.
• New Arguments are now available. Atheists have no satisfactory
counters to these arguments. Unfortunately, we do not know the
state of the art here.
• Ontological, Cosmological, Teleological, Big Bang, Fine Tuning, Design
• As Ghazali noted, intellectual arguments fail to reach the heart. The
ultimate argument is the illumination of the heart by the Noor of
Allah. There are a number of known pathways to this.

30. Second Step: Tahafat al Falasafa
• The Puzzle of Western Social Science -- bit.ly/AZpss
• Origins of Western Social Science – bit.ly/IR3owss
A lot of other work which debunks the best that West has to offer is
available
• Ongoing efforts on Mathematics, Statistics, Islamic Psychology, and
other area.

31. Third Step: Ihya Uloom ul Deen
• Rebuilding the entire structure of human knowledge on Islamic
epistemological foundations.
• Rebuilding a University Education using these new approaches to
knowledge
• Rebuilding the Social Sciences on Islamic Foundations (Parts 1 and 2)
bit.ly/AZrss1 and bit.ly/AZrss2
• Islamic Pedagogy: bit.ly/4c13knZ

32. The Root Cause of Muslim Decline Today?
• Failure to TRUST in the completeness and perfection of the Final
Message of God to Mankind.
• The Challenge Facing Us: Rebuild the ENTIRE structure of human
knowledge – Economics as a branch of Moral Philosophy
• Some time ago, Muslim intellectuals failed to take the challenge of
emerging Western knowledge seriously. They considered these uloom
as technical skills outside scope of religious learning.
• This was a repeat of the mistake made in countering the Mu’tazila
centuries ago. The cure lies in the Ghazali Project, same as before.

33. So, What is the Ghazali Project?
• The Enlightenment Project sought to reject all inherited human
knowledge, and rebuild the entire stock of knowledge starting from
ZERO.
• This project has lead to a few centuries of knowledge built on toxic
foundations. This has been spread over the globe by Western
education.
• The Ghazali Project seeks to reject all of the knowledge created on
foundations of the Enlightenment Project. Instead, we need to rebuild
this knowledge – NOT from zero, but by building upon our heritage,
the thousand year plus intellectual tradition of Islam.

34. Reasons for Optimism and Hope
The mistakes of the Enlightenment epistemology are very simple. Our
own intellectual tradition is very deep, and provides excellent basis for
rebuilding knowledge on Islamic epistemological foundations,
May Allah T’aala give us the Taufeeq to rise to the challenge facing us.

35. Links to Related Materials
These slides: tinyurl.com/SStgpce
The Deep and Difficult Dilemma of Islamic Education:
http://bit.ly/AZddd
Central Ideas of The Ghazali Project: http://bit.ly/Ghazali1
How to Launch an Islamic Revival: http://bit.ly/azlir
Series of Webinars of the Ghazali Project: http://bit.ly/AZwebinars
Rebuilding the Social Sciences on Islamic Foundations (Parts 1 and 2)
bit.ly/AZrss1 and bit.ly/AZrss2

36. References given earlier
Purpose of Life: Learn Who You Are: bit.ly/Azwya
Useful Versus Useless Knowledge: bit.ly/Lkuauk
Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi: What the World Lost Due to the Decline of
the Islamic Civilization. See: http://bit.ly/azrdm
Marshall Hodgson: The Venture of Islam in three volumes – see:
http://bit.ly/AZHodgson
• The Puzzle of Western Social Science -- bit.ly/AZpss
• Origins of Western Social Science – bit.ly/IR3owss
• Islamic Pedagogy: bit.ly/4c13knZ