The Higher Objectives of Islamic Theology
Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour
Hardback, 200 pages
9780197648636
Ā
Toward a Theory of Maqasid al-Aqida
Ā
In the Islamic tradition, fiqh (Islamic law) is generally regarded as the science of furÅ«'al-dÄ«n (matters complementary to the Islamic faith), as opposed to kalÄm (Islamic theology) which is known as the science of uį¹£Å«l al-dÄ«n (matters primary to the Islamic faith). Over time, however, fiqh has significantly surpassed KalÄm in terms of cognitive maturation and epistemic development. In The Higher Objectives of Islamic Theology, Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour argues that far too little attention has been paid to parallel developments in Islamic theology. Consequently, the theological project in the Islamic tradition has largely become limited to definitions and deliberations about the nature and qualities of the transcendent God, and has barely developed as a systematic discipline devoted to the higher objectives of Islamic theology, similar to those of MaqÄį¹£id al-SharÄ«'a (higher objectives of Islamic law).
Ā
Addressing this gap and drawing on the full-fledged genre of MaqÄį¹£id al-SharÄ«'a, this study aims to develop a genre of MaqÄį¹£id al-'AqÄ«da (higher objectives of Islamic theology) based on a scheme of core values (Truth, Justice, Beauty), instead of a scheme of įø„udÅ«d (penalties). Arguing that the tradition's current overemphasis on law (Justice) has relegated both theology (Truth) and Sufism (Beauty) to the periphery of the tradition, Abdelnour illustrates how this marginalisation of theology and Sufism leaves less room for an "ethical Islam" and instead prioritises "legal" and "political Islam." In shifting the focus from law to theology, the book thereby grapples with such questions as: why did Islamic theology fail to develop a systemic genre of MaqÄį¹£id al-'AqÄ«da? How do we chart out a map to guide the process of founding such an area? In what ways can the emerging MaqÄį¹£id al-'AqÄ«da benefit from the well-established MaqÄį¹£id al-SharÄ«'a? What are the ramifications of having an underdeveloped theology?
Ā
Contents
Introduction
I. Historical Roots of Maqasid al-'Aqida
-Maqasid al-'Aqida before al-Ghazali
-Al-Ghazali's Contributions to Maqasid al-'AqidaĀ
-Maqasid al-'Aqida after al-Ghazali
-Muhammad 'Abduh's Contributions to Maqasid al-'Aqida
-Explaining the Underdevelopment of Maqasid al-'Aqida
II. Sources and Methods of Maqasid al-'Aqida
-The Qur'an and Maqasid al-'Aqida
-The Sunna and Maqasid al-'Aqida
-Maqasid al-'Aqida between Exotericism and Esotericism
III: Towards a Theory of Maqasid al-'Aqida
-"Interrogating" the Classical "Theory" of Maqasid al-Shari'a
-"Generating" the Higher Objective/s of Islamic Theology
-Is Islam the Only Valid Path to the Truth?
IV: "Integrating" the "Tools" of Maqasid al-Shari'a into Maqasid al-'Aqida
-Definition and Transmission
-Al-Firqa al-Najiya between al-Daruriyyat, al-Hajiyyat, and al-Tahsiniyyat
-Faith vis-Ć -vis Deeds between al-Daruriyyat, al-Hajiyyat, and al-Tahsiniyyat
-Prophet Muhammad between al-Daruriyyat and al-Hajiyyat
Chapter V: Why Does Maqasid al-'Aqida Matter?
-Al-Ghazali's Maqasidi-oriented Approach and Treating the Wahhabi-Shiite Conflict
Description
Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour
Hardback, 200 pages
9780197648636
Ā
Toward a Theory of Maqasid al-Aqida
Ā
In the Islamic tradition, fiqh (Islamic law) is generally regarded as the science of furÅ«'al-dÄ«n (matters complementary to the Islamic faith), as opposed to kalÄm (Islamic theology) which is known as the science of uį¹£Å«l al-dÄ«n (matters primary to the Islamic faith). Over time, however, fiqh has significantly surpassed KalÄm in terms of cognitive maturation and epistemic development. In The Higher Objectives of Islamic Theology, Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour argues that far too little attention has been paid to parallel developments in Islamic theology. Consequently, the theological project in the Islamic tradition has largely become limited to definitions and deliberations about the nature and qualities of the transcendent God, and has barely developed as a systematic discipline devoted to the higher objectives of Islamic theology, similar to those of MaqÄį¹£id al-SharÄ«'a (higher objectives of Islamic law).
Ā
Addressing this gap and drawing on the full-fledged genre of MaqÄį¹£id al-SharÄ«'a, this study aims to develop a genre of MaqÄį¹£id al-'AqÄ«da (higher objectives of Islamic theology) based on a scheme of core values (Truth, Justice, Beauty), instead of a scheme of įø„udÅ«d (penalties). Arguing that the tradition's current overemphasis on law (Justice) has relegated both theology (Truth) and Sufism (Beauty) to the periphery of the tradition, Abdelnour illustrates how this marginalisation of theology and Sufism leaves less room for an "ethical Islam" and instead prioritises "legal" and "political Islam." In shifting the focus from law to theology, the book thereby grapples with such questions as: why did Islamic theology fail to develop a systemic genre of MaqÄį¹£id al-'AqÄ«da? How do we chart out a map to guide the process of founding such an area? In what ways can the emerging MaqÄį¹£id al-'AqÄ«da benefit from the well-established MaqÄį¹£id al-SharÄ«'a? What are the ramifications of having an underdeveloped theology?
Ā
Contents
Introduction
I. Historical Roots of Maqasid al-'Aqida
-Maqasid al-'Aqida before al-Ghazali
-Al-Ghazali's Contributions to Maqasid al-'AqidaĀ
-Maqasid al-'Aqida after al-Ghazali
-Muhammad 'Abduh's Contributions to Maqasid al-'Aqida
-Explaining the Underdevelopment of Maqasid al-'Aqida
II. Sources and Methods of Maqasid al-'Aqida
-The Qur'an and Maqasid al-'Aqida
-The Sunna and Maqasid al-'Aqida
-Maqasid al-'Aqida between Exotericism and Esotericism
III: Towards a Theory of Maqasid al-'Aqida
-"Interrogating" the Classical "Theory" of Maqasid al-Shari'a
-"Generating" the Higher Objective/s of Islamic Theology
-Is Islam the Only Valid Path to the Truth?
IV: "Integrating" the "Tools" of Maqasid al-Shari'a into Maqasid al-'Aqida
-Definition and Transmission
-Al-Firqa al-Najiya between al-Daruriyyat, al-Hajiyyat, and al-Tahsiniyyat
-Faith vis-Ć -vis Deeds between al-Daruriyyat, al-Hajiyyat, and al-Tahsiniyyat
-Prophet Muhammad between al-Daruriyyat and al-Hajiyyat
Chapter V: Why Does Maqasid al-'Aqida Matter?
-Al-Ghazali's Maqasidi-oriented Approach and Treating the Wahhabi-Shiite Conflict
