UNGS 1301 BASIC PHILOSOPHY AND ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW

SEM 1 2021/2022

CASE STUDY

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF COSMOLOGY IN ISLAM AND

ITS APPLICATION IN LIFE OF MUSLIM STUDENTS

NORBANI BINTI ISMAIL

Name : Siti Safiah Binti Bakhtiarlili

Matric Number : 2019052

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Table of Content

Content Pages

Introduction 3

Discussion 3-6

Conclusion 6

Recommendation 7

References 8
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Introduction

Basically, the main purpose of case study is to identify the issues and to define the

issues to be addressed precisely. And at the end of the discussion, the desirable solution to the

problem should be outlined. In this regard, the topic that would be discuss is understanding of

the concept of cosmology in Islam and its application in life of Muslim students. So, basically

it is to see the understanding of Muslim students regarding the concept of cosmology in Islam

and how does it apply into their life. It has been assumed that cosmology plays an important

role in our lives as it is connected with our believers or Tawhid.

Discussion

The main issue that can be addressed here is Muslim students does not have much

knowledge about cosmology. And some of them even do not know what is cosmology? Based

on my research, when I asked what cosmology is, they had no ideas to explain about it. And

some of them know that cosmology is something that is related to the universe but they just

know the basic idea of it. This shows that their level of knowledge related to philosophy is too

weak. If they do not even know what cosmology is, then how are they going to apply their

understanding regarding cosmology in their life?

Basically, to be precise, cosmology is the study of the entire cosmos, including the past

and future. It is the study of the universe's general nature. What is the universe for this present

day? How was it in the past, and what will it be in the future? How did the universe come to

be? These are the fundamental concepts of cosmology. Ideas concerning the genesis of the

universe have evolved and continue to change as scientific discoveries are made. The Quran

and Hadiths were the primary sources of cosmological beliefs in Islam. The Quran has several
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allusions to cosmic components, such as the book, table, heaven, and earth, as well as the

creation and resurrection, paradise, and hell, but they are primarily abstract and do not weave

a comprehensive and cohesive cosmic image. The Hadiths contain most of the material

required to fit together the Qur'anic parts. So, in order to understand all these, we need to

understand the interpretation of al-Quran and Hadith.

The cosmos or universe (al-'alam) is defined broadly in Islamic cosmology as "anything

other than God." The meaning of this, which is widely recognised in Islam, is based on the

Quran. The Quran emphasises frequently that God is "lord of all the worlds" and that

"everything in the heavens and the earth" and "all is in between" belongs to God. The full total

of "everything other than God," which forms the whole Muslim universe, is associated with

"all the worlds" and "everything in the heavens and the earth" in the Quran.

The Quran's most essential message is that God is the central reality. Although the

universe is not God, and there is a fundamental difference between the two, the cosmos is

constantly defined in relation to this core truth, which is its metaphysical source and origin, as

well as its ultimate objective. God does, in fact, have a role in the definition of the cosmos.

And the numerous cosmological schemes or theories created by the various schools of Islamic

cosmology indicate a plethora of perspectives on God's connection with the cosmos. The nature

of this link is one of the most important concerns that Muslim cosmologists have grappled with

throughout the years.

Second, unlike Islamic cosmology, which considers all worlds or the entire cosmos,

contemporary cosmology considers just a limited section of the cosmos, which is called the

physical world. Modern cosmology may have found many new truths about the physical world

that ancient and mediaeval cosmologists were unaware of, and it may have expanded the

bounds of that cosmos much beyond what they had previously understood. However, based on
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their researched, the dimensions of the modern universe are significantly little than those of the

old Muslim cosmos.

The Quran is the most significant source of cosmological information for Muslims. It

teaches Muslims broad cosmological concepts that govern the dimensions and limitations of

the Muslim cosmos, both chronologically and geographically, and it is as for an essential

backdrop for scientific research of that cosmos. These cosmological concepts are either directly

stated or deduced from the Quranic metaphysical teachings through application to the cosmic

sphere. The Quran's verses are classified into two types: muhkamat (clear) verses and

mutashabihat verses (ambiguous). Many cosmological notions established in Islam may be

traced back to passages of the second category.

The Quranic philosophical phrase "God is the First and Last, the Outward and the

Inward" (57:3), for example, has direct cosmic repercussions. To state that God is the First (al-

Awwal) implies that the universe had a beginning or genesis. And the fact that he is the Last

(al-Akhir) implies that the cosmos has a conclusion. In other words, the universe of diversity

originates from and returns to the One God. As a result, the universe did not emerge by

coincidence or without a higher purpose.

Another example that we can find the prove about the cosmology phenomena is in

Surah Al-Anbiya verse 30. The Quran depicts two phenomena that comprised the fundamental

process of the universe's origin.

َ‫ض كَانَـت َا َر ۡتقا فَفَت َۡق ٰن ُه َما َو َج َع ۡلنَا مِ نَ ۡال َمآءِ ُك َّل ش َۡىءٍ َح ٍى اَفَ ََل ي ُۡؤمِ نُ ۡون‬ َ ۡ ‫ت َو‬
َ ‫اۡل ۡر‬ ِ ‫ا َ َولَ ۡم َي َر الَّذ ِۡينَ َكف َُر ۡۤۡوا ا َ َّن السَّمٰ ٰو‬

Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity,

and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?

(21:30).
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They are many more that we can find in al-Quran related to the cosmology concept and

the up are the examples of it. By understanding the real meaning of the verses, then we can

understand the concept of cosmology precisely.

Conclusion

Hence, the major problem here is most of the Muslim students do not have the basic

knowledge about cosmology. First and foremost, they need to understand the meaning concept

of cosmology beforehand. To understand this, we can do some readings to dig more about this

topic, or join some lectures or talks regarding this topic in order to have the detailed ideas about

cosmology. Besides, we also can find the cosmology knowledge from Al-Quran and Hadith,

as it is the most important source of Islamic cosmology. But, in order to do this, we need to

tadabbur the Quran and Hadith, it must be guided with a professional’s one who has a deep

understanding and knowledge in every each sentence of the meaning. Then, after we have the

understanding in the concept of cosmology, then we can apply it into our lives. Generally, in

Islamic thought, the universe includes unseen (alam al-Ghaib) and observable universe. So, for

the observable universe, we can observe it by ourselves with the knowledge that we have. That

is why the cosmology knowledge is very important for us. Even if we look at the universe, we

can relate it to cosmology. When we see the star, the moon, the sky, we can return it back to

the cosmology concept. The cosmology is really related to our lives which we can think by our

rational thinking. And the most important thing is our belief toward the concept of cosmology

in Islamic perspective. This is more related to the unseen universe. We need to have faith and

belief in everything that al-Quran and Hadith has said.

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Recommendation

To conclude up, the most suggested solution in regard to this problem is by

interpretation the Quran and Hadith. Since al-Quran and Hadith has all the answers towards

the cosmology questions, so if we truly understand deeply in what Allah has said in the Quran,

then we can understand the concept and nature of cosmology. If we have the strengthen

knowledge about cosmology, indirectly everything that has happened to our universe, we can

relate to it. Thus, it is when we apply it from what we have learnt from the knowledge that we

have. By having abundance knowledge about cosmology in Islam, we can reflect and acquire

knowledge that would bring us closer to God and His creation.

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References

1. Huzen, B. K. (2019, September). University of Canterbury. Islamic Cosmology and

Science. Retrieved December 16, 2021, from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336044953_Islamic_Cosmology_and_Scien

ce

2. Bakar, Osman. In The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford Islamic
Studies Online. Cosmology. Retrieved December 16, 2021, from
http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0167

3. Almirzanah, S. (2020, October 20). God, humanity and nature: Cosmology in Islamic
spirituality. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies. Retrieved December 16,
2021, from
http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/hts/v76n1/70.pdf

4. Bhat, M. A. (2016, February 11). Philosophical paradigm of Islamic cosmology.

Islamic Research Academy, India. Academic Journals. Retrieved December 16, 2021,
from
https://academicjournals.org/journal/PPR/article-full-text-pdf/E1A8ABA57874