Abdul Hamid A. Abu Sulayman

Islamization: Reforming Contemporary Knowledge (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Islamization: Reforming Contemporary Knowledge represents a watershed contribution to contemporary Islamic thought, offering both a penetrating diagnosis of the Muslim world's intellectual malaise and a comprehensive prescription for its remedy. Dr. ʿAbdul ?amid A?mad Abu Sulayman, a pioneering figure in the Islamization of knowledge movement, addresses fundamental questions that have troubled Muslim intellectuals for generations: Why has the Ummah declined from its position of civilizational leadership? Why do Muslims struggle to respond effectively to modernity's challenges? What prevents Islamic thought from producing creative solutions to contemporary problems?



The author's central thesis is both bold and compelling: the root cause of Muslim decline lies not in material deficiency but in a fundamental crisis in the conception and methodology of knowledge itself. While the Ummah possesses abundant natural resources, human potential, historical depth, and divinely revealed values, it suffers from an intellectual paralysis that prevents these assets from being mobilized effectively. This paralysis manifests in multiple symptoms: pervasive backwardness, intellectual stagnation, absence of ijtihad, cultural ossification, and estrangement from the foundational norms that once animated Islamic civilization.



The Historical Roots of Crisis



Abu Sulayman traces this crisis to a critical turning point in early Islamic historythe split between political and intellectual leadership that emerged after the period of al-Khulafaʾ al-Rashidun (the Rightly Guided Caliphs). During the Prophet Muhammad's lifetime and the era of his immediate successors, Islamic society achieved a remarkable synthesis: political authority and intellectual leadership were unified in individuals who combined deep knowledge of revelation with practical wisdom, systematic reason, and commitment to justice. This integration enabled the early Muslim community to build an exemplary civilization that balanced spiritual devotion with worldly competence.



However, as tribal elements infiltrated positions of authority and established dynasties based on hereditary succession rather than merit and religious commitment, a destructive bifurcation occurred. Political rulers adopted increasingly oppressive measures to maintain power, while religious scholarsmarginalized, imprisoned, and tortured when they resisted injusticeretreated into abstraction. Figures like Imam Abu ?anifah died in prison refusing judicial appointments under unjust rulers. Imam Malik ibn Anas suffered physical torture for issuing fatwas contrary to political interests. Imam al-Shafiʿi was forced into exile.



This schism had devastating long-term consequences. Religious scholarship became increasingly theoretical and disconnected from practical realities, while political leadership abandoned accountability to Islamic values. The vigorous ijtihad that characterized early Islamthe creative application of revelation and reason to address emerging challengesgradually gave way to rigid imitation (taqlid) and intellectual timidity. Scholars, fearful of deviation and lacking practical engagement with governance, sealed the gates of ijtihad in a misguided attempt to protect Islamic teachings. Meanwhile, abstract philosophical speculationoften imported from non-Islamic sourcesflourished in elite circles without genuine commitment to Islam's practical objectives.



The Contemporary Manifestation



The modern crisis represents an intensification of these historical problems, compounded by new challenges. The Muslim world faces not only its inherited intellectual deficiencies but also the overwhelming impact of Western colonialism and the uncritical importation of secular knowledge systems. Two unsuccessful responses have dominated: attempting to revive traditional approaches unchanged, or blindly imitating Western models. Both strategies have failed disastrously, as evidenced by the troubled trajectories of countries like Turkey and Egypt.



Abu Sulayman identifies a debilitating dualism in contemporary Muslim societies: on one hand, a so-called "Islamic knowledge" limited to legalistic studies increasingly irrelevant to modern life; on the other, imported secular knowledge dominating universities and institutions, producing graduates alienated from Islamic values and unable to address the Ummah's authentic needs. This bifurcation perpetuates the leadership split and ensures the continued marginalization of Islam from the main currents of intellectual and practical life.



The Three-Fold Reform Agenda



The author's prescription centers on three interconnected reforms that must occur simultaneously:



First, Muslims must rectify the relationship between divine revelation and reason. The false dichotomy that either elevates reason above revelation (rationalist excess) or suppresses reason in favor of textual literalism (reactionary rigidity) must be transcended. Abu Sulayman articulates a sophisticated position: revelation provides the ultimate objectives and moral framework for human existence, while reason serves as the indispensable instrument for understanding revelation, addressing particular circumstances, and applying eternal principles to changing realities. Neither can function properly without the other.



Second, the scope of knowledge must be redefined. Abu Sulayman challenges the widespread assumption that traditional fuqahaʾ (jurists) alone can provide solutions to contemporary problems through ijtihad. While this was once validwhen a scholar could master law, medicine, mathematics, commerce, and philosophymodern knowledge has become far too specialized and complex. Contemporary challenges in economics, politics, international relations, technology, and other fields require specialists who combine deep expertise in their disciplines with thorough grounding in Qurʾanic and Prophetic teachings. Islamic intellectual renewal demands interdisciplinary teams of committed Muslim specialists capable of producing Islamic legislative frameworks, policy solutions, and theoretical innovations.



Third, an integrated Islamic educational infrastructure must replace the current dualistic system. Universities should not be divided into Islamic institutions teaching only traditional religious sciences and secular institutions teaching modern disciplines devoid of Islamic perspective. Instead, every field of study must be taught within a framework incorporating Islamic values and ethical principles. This requires fundamental curriculum reform and the development of Islamic perspectives on all branches of knowledge.



Political Science as Paradigmatic Case



The work's extended treatment of political science demonstrates the Islamization process concretely. Abu Sulayman exposes the deficiencies of existing Islamic political studies: romanticized narratives, apologetic distortions, uncritical adoption of Western terminology, and failure to articulate Islamic alternatives for modern political realities.



His analysis of the khilafah system is especially instructive. Abu Sulayman highlights the core principles that underpinned its successunified leadership, meaningful shura, justice, accountability, and communal welfareand argues for their revival in contemporary forms rather than mechanical replication of medieval structures.



Similarly, concepts like democracy and sovereignty reveal how uncritical borrowing creates conceptual confusion. Democracy's philosophical foundations differ fundamentally from shura, while sovereignty imposes foreign dichotomies onto Islamic governance, obscuring its multi-layered legislative structure.



A Blueprint for Intellectual Renewal



Throughout the work, Abu Sulayman writes with scholarly precision and passionate commitment to Islamic revival. He avoids both defensive apologetics and rigid traditionalism. His outlook is confident yet self-criticalrooted in Islam's strengths while fully acknowledging the Ummah's present deficiencies.



The conclusion offers a call to action for research centers, Islamic universities, and scholarly organizations: the Islamization of knowledge requires institutional commitment, systematic research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and training new generations of scholars capable of applying Islamic principles to contemporary challenges.



Enduring Relevance



Originally published in the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences and issued in the International Institute of Islamic Thought's Occasional Papers series, this landmark work has shaped Islamic intellectual discourse for decades. Its diagnosis remains accurate, its prescriptions remain compelling, and its call for systematic reform remains urgent. For scholars, educators, and all who seek to understand the philosophical foundations of contemporary Islamic reform, this volume is essential readinga foundational text illuminating the way forward for authentic Islamic intellectual renewal in the modern world.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Qadeem Press
• Seitenzahl: 58
• Erscheinungstermin: 25. November 2025
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9789366081250
• Artikelnr.: 75990691

Autorenporträt

Dr. ʿAbdul ?amid A?mad Abu Sulayman was born in the holy city of Makkah in 1355/1936 and has emerged as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Islamic intellectual reform. His academic credentials span both Islamic scholarship and Western social sciences, uniquely positioning him to address the epistemological and methodological challenges facing Muslim intellectuals.



Educational Background: Dr. Abu Sulayman earned his Bachelor's degree in Commerce from the University of Cairo in 1378/1959, followed by a Master's degree in Political Science from the same institution in 1381/1963. He completed his doctorate in International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania in 1393/1973, where his dissertation work laid foundations for his later contributions to Islamic political thought.



Institutional Leadership: Since 1408/1988, Dr. Abu Sulayman has served as Rector of the International Islamic University (IIU) in Malaysia, one of the premier institutions of Islamic higher education globally. In this capacity, he has implemented comprehensive educational reforms embodying his vision of integrated Islamic knowledge that transcends the dualism between religious and secular studies. His leadership has made IIU a model for institutions attempting to Islamize contemporary knowledge while maintaining academic excellence.



International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT): As Chairman of the Board and a founding member of IIIT, Dr. Abu Sulayman has been instrumental in establishing and guiding the most significant institutional vehicle for the Islamization of knowledge movement. He previously served as IIIT's President from 140507/198587, during which time he shaped the organization's research agenda and publication program. IIIT's extensive series of books, monographs, and occasional papers addressing Islamic intellectual reform bear the imprint of his strategic vision and scholarly guidance.



Professional Experience: Dr. Abu Sulayman's career includes significant administrative and scholarly positions. He served as Chairman of the Department of Political Science at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 140204/198284, where he worked to develop curricula integrating Islamic perspectives with contemporary political science. Earlier in his career, he held the position of Secretary, State Planning Committee, Saudi Arabia (138384/196364), giving him practical experience in governance and policy that informs his theoretical work.



From 139399/197379, he served as Secretary General of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), a position that connected him with Islamic reform and da'wah movements globally and provided insight into challenges facing young Muslims navigating between Islamic identity and modern secular contexts. This international exposure enriched his understanding of the intellectual crisis afflicting Muslim communities worldwide.



Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS): Dr. Abu Sulayman was a founding member of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists in 1392/1972 and served as its President from 140507/198587. AMSS pioneered efforts to develop authentically Islamic approaches to social sciences, establishing institutional frameworks and professional networks that continue supporting Muslim scholars working toward knowledge Islamization.



Scholarly Contributions: Dr. Abu Sulayman has authored several influential works addressing the reform of Islamic thought and the intellectual dimensions of Muslim revival. His books include:

• Crisis in the Muslim Mind: A foundational text diagnosing the intellectual malaise preventing Islamic civilizational renewal, examining psychological, social, and educational dimensions of the crisis while proposing comprehensive reform strategies.
• The Islamic Theory of Economics: Philosophy and Contemporary Means: Developing Islamic economic alternatives grounded in revelation-guided ethics rather than materialistic assumptions underlying conventional economics.
• Towards an Islamic Theory of International Relations: Reconceptualizing international politics from Islamic foundations, moving beyond uncritical adoption of Westphalian concepts while engaging seriously with contemporary international relations realities.

These works, alongside numerous articles published in academic journals, have established Dr. Abu Sulayman as a leading voice in contemporary Islamic intellectual discourse. His writings consistently emphasize transcending both uncritical traditionalism and wholesale Westernization, calling instead for creative ijtihad that applies eternal Islamic principles to contemporary realities through systematic methodology.



Conference Leadership: Throughout his career, Dr. Abu Sulayman has been instrumental in organizing international academic conferences and seminars that bring together scholars committed to Islamic intellectual renewal. These gatherings have fostered dialogue, established research priorities, and built networks supporting the Islamization of knowledge movement globally. His ability to convene diverse scholars and facilitate productive discourse has multiplied his influence beyond his own writings.



Intellectual Legacy: Dr. Abu Sulayman's work is characterized by several distinctive qualities:



Methodological Rigor: His approach combines deep grounding in Islamic sources with serious engagement with modern social sciences, refusing to sacrifice either for the other's sake. This integration models the interdisciplinary expertise he advocates.



Balanced Tone: Unlike some Islamic discourse marked by defensive apologetics or polemical attacks on Western thought, Abu Sulayman writes with scholarly objectivity and intellectual confidence, acknowledging both Islam's foundational strengths and Muslims' current deficiencies honestly.



Systematic Vision: Rather than addressing isolated issues, his work presents comprehensive frameworks for understanding the Ummah's intellectual crisis and pursuing genuine reform through interconnected changes in epistemology, methodology, and educational infrastructure.



Practical Orientation: While philosophically sophisticated, his work always maintains focus on practical implementationhow to actually reform educational institutions, develop interdisciplinary Muslim specialists, and produce scholarship that addresses contemporary realities from Islamic foundations.



Historical Consciousness: Abu Sulayman's analysis demonstrates deep understanding of Islamic intellectual history, neither idealizing the past nor dismissing its insights, but rather seeking to understand principles that enabled early Islamic success and reasons for subsequent decline.



Continued Influence: Decades after his major works were published, Dr. Abu Sulayman's diagnosis of the Ummah's intellectual predicament and his prescriptions for reform continue shaping discourse among Muslim scholars, educators, and intellectuals globally. Students at Islamic universities engage his texts; researchers cite his frameworks; and institutions attempting educational reform reference his vision. Through institutional leadership, scholarly production, and strategic guidance of reform efforts, Dr. ʿAbdul ?amid A?mad Abu Sulayman has established himself as one of the most significant figures in contemporary Islamic intellectual lifea pioneering voice calling the Ummah to authentic engagement with modernity through systematic revival of Islam's intellectual foundations.