General Articles
The Neoplatonist Roots of Sufi Philosophy
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Kamuran Godelek
- Source:
- http://www.muslimphilosophy.com
Neoplatonism strongly influenced the development of Sufism. Neoplatonism, as developed by Plotinus conceives God to be the source and goal of everything. Islam qua institution is closed to all critical and philosophical thought, but Sufism enjoys a more liberal and critical approach. It is probable that the translations of Plotinus have provided the necessary philosophical ground for Sufism. An examination of both Sufism and Neoplatonism reveals close similarities with regard to the nature of God, the soul, the body, concepts such as goodness, evil and beauty, death and life, and creation.
Seyyed Hossein Nasr (b. 1933 )'s Biography
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Ibrahim Kalin
- Source:
- http://cis-ca.org
Syed Hossein Nasr was born in Tehran (1933). After receiving his early education in Iran, Nasr studied physics and mathematics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and received his doctorate from Harvard University in 1958 with specialization in Islamic cosmology and science. From 1958 until 1979, he was professor of the history of science and philosophy at Tehran University where he was also the dean of the Faculty of Letters for some years. He also served as president of Aryamehr University in Iran.
THE MUHAMMADAN INHERITANCE
- Published at
-
- Author:
- William C. Chittick
- Source:
- http://www.muslimphilosophy.com
One of the great merits of the writings of Michel Chodkiewicz is that he has placed the Muhammadan dimension of Ibn ‘Arabi’s spirituality at the center of his concerns. Too often in earlier studies of al-Shaykh al-Akbar, scholars pretended that he had appeared in Islam almost in spite of the Koranic revelation and that his chief contribution was to formulate a philosophical system that had certain advantages over Western philosophy because it focused primarily on the spiritual and esoteric dimension of things. Before the writings of Chodkiewicz, those familiar with the Shaykh al-Akbar’s own writings were always surprised at how much these writings were skewed in Western-language presentations.
A Glance at Love in the Transcendent Philosophy
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Majid Sadiqi Hasan Abadi
The author would like to open the discussion with some of Ibn ‘Arabi’s words on love: Love can never be defined in term of its essence, and all the definitions provided for it so far have been nothing more than a number of formal and verbal statements. Whosoever defines love has not known it; and whosoever has not sipped from the goblet of love has not perceived it; and whosoever claims that he has quenched his thirst with the goblet of love has not grasped it, for love is a wine which does not let anyone drink it to satiety. [1]
Sciences are Means for Obtaining Closeness to God
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Prof. Dr. Mahdi Gulshani
Evidently, there are various dimensions to endeavour for obtaining closeness to God and His good pleasure. These include the obligatory worship, acquaintance with Divine teachings, refinement of one's inner self, recognition and understanding of the signs of God and service of His creatures. [1] In this context attention is drawn to the following conclusions:
Ibn Sina: The Renowned Philosopher And Physician Of The East
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Ayatullah Ali Dawani, Translated by: Sayyid Athar Husain S.H. Rizvi
- Source:
- Ansariyan Publications – Qum
Among the greatest intellectuals of Islam is the name of Abu Ali Husain ibn Abdullah ibn Sina, the well-known philosopher. Abu Sina is called “Bu Ali Sina” and “the chief Shaykh”. This great personality was a national of Bukhara, which at that time was a part of the Iranian kingdom. His father had come from Balkh but they had settled down in Bukhara.
Shahabuddin Suhurwardi: A Story Of A Young Philosopher Who Had The World Of Capabilities
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Ayatullah Ali Dawani, Translated by: Sayyid Athar Husain S.H. Rizvi
- Source:
- Ansariyan Publications – Qum
There was a small town near Zanjan. Shahabuddin Yahya ibn Habash Suhurwardi, known as Shaykh Ishraq was an inhabitant of this town. He was born there and became famous for his knowledge and intelligence. It is said that he was born before 550 A.H.
Science in Islamic Philosophy
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Prof Ziauddin Sardar
- Source:
- www.imamreza.net
Islam attempts to synthesize reason and revelation, knowledge and values, in its approach to the study of nature. Knowledge acquired through rational human efforts and through the Qur'an are seen as complementary: both are 'signs of God' that enable humanity to study and understand nature. Between the second and eighth centuries AH (eighth and fifteenth centuries CE), when Muslim civilization was at its zenith, metaphysics, epistemology and empirical studies of nature fused to produce an explosion of 'scientific spirit'.
An Introduction to Edward Said’s Orientalism
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Haroon Khalid
- Source:
- www.imamreza.net
Orientalism by Edward Said is a cononical text of cultural studies in which he has challenged the concept of orientalism or the difference between east and west, as he puts it. He says that with the start of European colonization the Europeans came in contact with the lesser developed countries of the east. They found their civilization and culture very exotic, and established the science of orientalism, which was the study of the orientals or the people from these exotic civilization.
Shi'i Rationalism in "Nahj al-balaghah"
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Shaheed Murtadha Mutahhari
- Source:
- Theology And Metaphysics In Nahj Al Balaghah
The discussion of theological problems and their analysis by the Shi'i Imams, of which the Nahj al-balaghah is the earliest example, was the main cause of the emergence of rationalistic approach and philosophic outlook in the Shi'i intellectual world from the earliest days of Islam. This cannot be labelled as an innovation in Islam; rather, its basis was laid down by the Quran itself.
Philosophical Theology
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Imam Reza Network
Knowing God In this section the main emphasis is on the Eminent Greek Philosophers i.e. 'Plato' and 'Aristotle'. However, it is appropriate first to briefly look into the theology during “The Period Of Fantasies” and “The Cosmologists Before Socrates” and then during the time of Socrates.
The Philosophical Issue Regarding Knowledge
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Ayatullah(Shaheed) Muhammad Baqir as-Sadr
The largest philosophical issue regarding knowledge is the casting of knowledge in a philosophical form that reveals its reality and essence and shows whether it is a material phenomenon present in matter when matter reaches a certain stage of development and completion, as materialism claims, or a phenomenon free from matter and, together with its manifestations, supported by a certain kind of existence, as it is understood philosophically in metaphysics.
The Philosophy of Maintenance in Islam
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Razieh Dehqan Salmasi
ISLAM, more than 1400 years back introduced laws which showed to be far advanced when compared with the societies 14 centuries ago, and some of these laws concern the Rights of the Family.
Sins (Offences) Are of Three Kinds
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Ayatullah Shaheed Sayyid Abdul Husain Dastghaib
Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s.) says in Nahaj-ul-Balagah: Zunbun…Maghfoor meaning: Sins are of three kinds: The one which will be forgiven, two; the committer of which can hope for pardon and three; the sin which will never be forgiven.
The Problem of Contradiction in Islamic Philosophy
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Martyr Murtuda Mutahhari
He makes the night enter into the day and makes the day to enter into the night and brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living. (The Holy Quran)
A Philosophical Discussion on Immateriality of the Soul
- Published at
-
- Author:
- Allameh Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai
- Source:
- al-Mizan, V.2،
Is the soul immaterial? The word “soul” in this discussion means that thing which every man refers to when he says “I”. Its “immateriality” refers to the fact that it is not a material thing, it is neither divisible nor governed by time or space.
