{"id":184843,"date":"2025-08-18T04:14:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T04:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=184843"},"modified":"2025-08-18T04:14:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T04:14:11","slug":"islamic-perspective-of-researching-using-western-theories-and-ideologies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=184843","title":{"rendered":"Islamic Perspective of Researching using Western Theories and Ideologies\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By, Md Maruf Hasan <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine you got\u00a0trapped\u00a0in some distorted thoughts that are against\u00a0the\u00a0Islamic Worldview, and you cannot get rid of them easily. How do you reconcile these thoughts with your Islamic worldview?\u00a0Or how do you save yourself from deviation and remain being Islamic?\u00a0You are not alone,\u00a0fortunately or unfortunately. Most students are busy learning different theories during their undergraduate level, and they are still struggling on conducting research while doing their master’s but as you do your PhD programme and gradually become an expert in your own field, you are expected to produce some intellectual works to defend the Islamic worldview against all secular ideologies, you might be in the state of dilemma that perhaps they are right and you are wrong. It is normal to experience this mental state since there are complex, intellectual thoughts that are leading in western literature over centuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage, the best strategy for Muslim students and academics is to face this state, experience it and go through it. Sometimes you may go\u00a0through\u00a0extreme frustration, but if you look at the nature of\u00a0the storm, it slows down and\u00a0stabilizes\u00a0at one point. Similarly, you may have a negative outlook at first sight, but as you\u00a0keep\u00a0doing research, there must come a time, when you will gradually learn to adapt and normalize your mental state. It is kind of a writer\u2019s block when we start writing our PhD thesis, and no ideas seem to flow, but as you keep on reading, there are so many new ideas floating around your brain and as time passes you come up with the best conclusion which ultimately\u00a0solves the problem that Muslim societies are facing in contemporary time.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I will talk about texts and their interpretations. If you read post-modern books, you can see how academics do not depend on only one interpretation, rather, they go for various interpretations. The trend has entered in Muslim discourse, and this is why we witness feminists’ interpretations of Islamic literature and other types of interpretations of Islamic literature. It is about human rights and equality. We have witnessed the rise of individualism after scientific enlightenment in\u00a0Europe. Muslims are also influenced by ideologies in Western\u00a0literature,\u00a0which they use to upgrade themselves. There are some advantages and disadvantages of\u00a0contextualizing\u00a0these theories within Muslim discourse.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advantage is that if Muslim societies misuse some of the\u00a0commandments\u00a0in favor of a particular group, these theories can detect and lead to sincerity. For example, in a\u00a0patriarchal society, women are suppressed using wrongful religious interpretations in almost every religion but when using Western religious feminist thoughts, they identify errors\u00a0which are relevant to some extent.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there\u00a0are\u00a0disadvantages\u00a0of using these theories. For example, in Islam, men and women are complementary to each other and\u00a0Islam treats women with honour and respect. For most great scholars that the Islamic civilization has produced, their parents were role models for these scholars. Feminist groups are end up using religion exclusively to entertain their interests instead of emphasizing the core teaching of Islam, this ultimately builds a new Islamic civilization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How\u00a0are these\u00a0different theories in the Western world? Most of these theories were invented when they realize that\u00a0Christianity is at present not based on a revealed source rather it has become a man-made religion. In other words, Western intellectuals develop their theories on the basis of a Godless world.\u00a0Imagine you are\u00a0a Western\u00a0feminist,\u00a0and you come to realize that the Christian God is false God, then you start asking making the statement like Dostoevsky; if God is dead, all are permissible. That means the moral framework based on organized religion no longer exists, then as\u00a0a\u00a0Western feminist supporter, your thoughts would automatically lead to get you on the right path. Previously you were silent because you thought the Cristian God has commanded so, that is why we need to accept the societal narratives, but now it is no longer necessary. Hence, the ideological foundation for all Western knowledge is based on Godlessness. When Muslims are applying these Western theories in their societies, they are ultimately doing a disenchantment of Islam in their daily lives. This is the dangerous part of the modern interpretation of Islamic literature.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why was Islam revealed at the first place?\u00a0If we look at the very first\u00a0revelation\u00a0that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it was mentioned,\u00a0\u201c[He]\u00a0taught man\u00a0what\u00a0he did not know\u201d\u00a0(Al Quran,\u00a096:5).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Western thought, the very existence of God is skeptical, but the Quranic Worldview is a completely polarized worldview from secular worldview. It is no doubt that contextualization is important for the Muslim community based on the Islamization of knowledge, but we must be careful about the\u00a0Maqasid<\/em> (objectives)\u00a0of Islam. The protection of Din must be the very first priority for every single Muslim based on the\u00a0Maqasid<\/em> (objectives)\u00a0of Shariah principles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now\u00a0let us\u00a0discuss\u00a0on how to get rid of intellectual frustration that may\u00a0come during your research for Islamization.\u00a0Again, I have mentioned already that you need to keep on doing literature\u00a0reviews\u00a0from both sides of knowledge. It might\u00a0take\u00a0a long\u00a0time to overcome\u00a0this\u00a0frustration. I\u00a0will give\u00a0you an easy example; our university\u00a0Rector\u00a0is\u00a0Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr.\u00a0Osman Bakar. This\u00a0person exists in nature as a text or a sign (you can imagine).\u00a0Now what about the interpretations of this text or sign about this person, Prof. Osman Bakar?\u00a0When his children meet with him, they call him, \u201cBapa<\/em> (Father)<\/em>\u201d<\/em>.<\/em>\u00a0When\u00a0we\u00a0students\u00a0meet him,\u00a0we\u00a0call him Prof. Maybe some others call him, \u201cDatuk<\/em>\u201d in other\u00a0contexts. Malaysian Prime Minister,\u00a0Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim,\u00a0called the Rector\u00a0once\u00a0by his name as Osman in an ISTAC conference once, as I\u00a0recall. The\u00a0contextualization\u00a0still\u00a0makes sense so far\u00a0about this person.\u00a0The interpretations seem quite relevant based on our experiences.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But\u00a0now\u00a0imagine some random\u00a0Western scholars\u00a0from other parts of the world came to visit\u00a0IIUM\u00a0for a few days\u00a0and start to call him\u00a0at an international conference,\u00a0\u201cBapa<\/em>\u00a0(Father),\u201d you can easily detect something is\u00a0not\u00a0right contextually\u00a0and the interpretation is fishy and ambiguous. They\u00a0are\u00a0supposed to call him\u00a0by \u201cProfessor\u201d or by his name\u00a0at most.\u00a0Only his children can call him, \u201cBapa,\u201d but not the scholars\u00a0while in academic discussion\u00a0at a conference room.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you are doing literature reviews\u00a0on Islam and\u00a0Western\u00a0theories, you can only realize these flaws\u00a0or defects\u00a0if you are really patient and keep on investigating for long periods. Unless you are satisfied with the Islamic worldview, you must keep on reading,\u00a0and it is expected that\u00a0there\u00a0must come some point during your research\u00a0that\u00a0you will realize, Islam is profoundly right to save\u00a0the\u00a0whole of humanity from\u00a0misguidance\u00a0or deviation.\u00a0Western theories and ideologies are embedded with (I call it) emotional intelligence, and they sometimes fail to detect their errors as philosophical naturalism does while investigating nature based on methodological naturalism.\u00a0This can cause serious frustration at some point and lead to pessimism among academics and students.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who have read the Quran in translation, you know that the Quranic verses are mainly two types: 1.\u00a0Muhkamat<\/em>\u00a0(Clearly explained\u00a0verse or\u00a0Ayah<\/em>) 2.\u00a0Mutashabihat<\/em>\u00a0(Ambiguous\u00a0Ayah<\/em>). Allah also mentions those who\u00a0want\u00a0conflict in society, they go into looking for ambiguous verses whereas only Allah knows the hidden message for those verses.\u00a0Allah mentions,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe is the One Who has revealed to you\u00a0\u02f9O Prophet\u02fa\u00a0the Book, of which some verses are precise\u2014they are the foundation of the Book\u2014while others are elusive.\u00a0Those with deviant hearts follow the elusive verses seeking\u00a0‘to spread’\u00a0doubt through people’s ‘false’\u00a0interpretations, whose true meanings are not grasped except for Allah. As for those well-grounded in knowledge, they say,\u00a0\u201cWe believe in this\u00a0‘Quran’ \u2014 it is all from our Lord.\u00a0But none will be mindful\u00a0‘of this’\u00a0except people of reason\u201d (Al- Quran, 3:7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now when it is the natural world, it is also signs of Allah SWT. The Quran is the book of signs. What do you think if the Quran is based on these two conditions, what about\u00a0the\u00a0natural world?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allah mentions in the Quran:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSurely in\u00a0‘the creation of’\u00a0the heavens and the earth are signs for the believers” (Al-Quran, 45:3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will show them Our signs in the universe and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that this\u00a0‘Quran’\u00a0is the truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is a Witness over all things?\u201d (Al-Quran,41:53).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you not think there may be ambiguous signs also in the natural world which only Allah knows best? You can do scientific inquiry on natural world and Islam encourages it for sure, as we learn from the Quran, but it is still possible to be misled or misguided as in the case of the Quran. Let’s look at those ayah( Verses) from the Glorious Quran:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surely Allah does not shy away from using the parable of a mosquito or what is even smaller. As for the believers, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. And as for the disbelievers, they argue, \u201cWhat does Allah mean by such a parable?\u201d Through this\u00a0‘test’ He leaves many to stray, and guides many. And He leaves none to stray except the rebellious\u2014those who violate Allah\u2019s covenant after it has been affirmed, break whatever\u00a0‘ties’\u00a0Allah has ordered to be maintained and spread corruption in the land. It is they who are the\u00a0‘true’\u00a0losers\u00a0(Al Quran, 2: 26-27).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Western theories and ideologies, you will exactly find these trends as you start doing in-depth research as Muslim academics and students. Hence, it is suggested when you are doing Islamization, Integration,\u00a0contextualization, relevantization , and many others, you must prioritize the very\u00a0first\u00a0Objectives\u00a0<\/em>of Shariah<\/em>\u00a0which is the protection of Din. Otherwise, you are too busy or arrogant to justify your stance based on their theories and ideologies, you may lose track as you keep on walking in this academic world.\u00a0With the sincere intention to serve Islam, you need to develop your perseverance to strive for Allah till your very last breath. That\u2019s the best struggle for Allah SWT.***<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By, Md Maruf Hasan Imagine you got\u00a0trapped\u00a0in some distorted thoughts that are against\u00a0the\u00a0Islamic Worldview, and you cannot get rid of them easily. How do you… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":239,"featured_media":184844,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,773],"tags":[],"nelio_content":{"isAutoShareEnabled":true,"autoShareEndMode":"never","automationSources":{"useCustomSentences":false,"customSentences":[]},"followers":[257,239],"suggestedReferences":[],"efiUrl":"","efiAlt":"","highlights":[],"permalinkQueryArgs":[]},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2584.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184843"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=184843"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184843\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":184985,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184843\/revisions\/184985"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/184844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=184843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=184843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=184843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}