Montserrat Navarro

2-20-2020
Phil 102
Professor Samuel Sarri

Empirical Case of Islam

According to Pew Research Center, 84% of the world’s population is affiliated with

religion. Of that 84%, roughly 25% of people are muslim. Islam dates back to the 7th century; it

derived from modern-day, Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe in the existence of their God, Allah,

being the one and only God, and Muhammad being their final prophet. Although the Islam

religion has basic articles of belief, what makes the relgion vibrant is the muslim’s philosophical

views. Though the muslims believe Muhammad was the last prophent sent by God to reveal their

faith to mankind, the islamic logic was primarily inspired by Aristotle and other philosophers

such as Al-Kindi and Al-Farabi. For the islamic philosophers, logic included the elements of the

philosophy of language, epistemology and metaphysics.

Epistemology, the theory of knowledge, has been the muslim philosopher’s main

preoccupation because they are primarily concerned with the human happinnesss and its

attainment. They agree that the forms of things are either material or immaterial. Once that

concept is in the mind, the pure forms act as pillars of knowledge in which the mind constructs

judgements from these forms. Muslim philosophers also believe that above the seneses, there is

the rational soul which derives from practical and theoretical intellects. The theoretical intellect

is responsible for knowledge while practical is concerned with proper management of the body

through the apprehension of particular things, that way it can avoid the bad and do the good.

Metaphysics concerns existence and the nature of things that exist. For muslims, islamic

metaphysics is the unified system that discloses the ultimate nature of reality. It integrates
 Montserrat Navarro
2-20-2020
Phil 102
Professor Samuel Sarri
experience with higher orders in the suprarational levels of human consciousness and integrates

reason. This Ultimate Reality is Allah in which every teaching is based on the doctrine of the one

who is absolute and infinite. The dynamic existential movement is the process of bringing into

existence or returning to non-existence in creation, there is a principle of unity and diversity. The

essence of God is absolutely transcendent and is unknown except to himself.

Logic is important to guide the intellect when it is faced with the need to judge between

conflicting and opposed opinions. Al-Farabi, whose logical and linguistic writings compromise

the majority of his philosophical output, defines logic as an instrumental science aimed at

directing the intellect towards the truth. He explains that although grammar and logic share a

mutual concern with expressions, logic provides rules that govern the use of any language.

Grammaris idiomatic and provides rules that govern the correct use of expressions in a given

language. Logic has some of the characteristics of a universal grammar.

According to muslim philosphers, knowledge is possible. Human happiness is achieved

only through the intellectual grasp of universals such as the immaterial forms and the pure

essence of the natures of things. The philosophy of islamic beliefs derives from the powerful

logic of epistemology, metaphysics and language.

 Montserrat Navarro
2-20-2020
Phil 102
Professor Samuel Sarri

Works Cited Page

“Epistemology in Islamic Philosophy.” Epistemology in Islamic Philosophy,

www.muslimphilosophy.com/ip/rep/H019.

History.com Editors. “Islam.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 5 Jan. 2018,

www.history.com/topics/religion/islam.

“Logic in Islamic Philosophy.” Logic in Islamic Philosophy,

www.muslimphilosophy.com/ip/rep/H017.

“MAIN.” MAIN, www.livingislam.org/.

“Religions - Islam: Basic Articles of Faith.” BBC, BBC, 19 July 2011,

www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/beliefs/beliefs.shtml.