Hadith
Continued from page 3
when, in fact, it was Islam that introduced this methodology to
the West. The words of the English historian Robert Briffault deserve
to be quoted in full:
“... It was under their successors at the Oxford
school that Roger Bacon learned Arabic and Arabic science. Neither
Roger Bacon nor his later namesake has any title to be credited
with having introduced the experimental method. Roger Bacon was
no more than one of the apostles of Muslim science and method to
Christian Europe; and he never wearied of declaring that knowledge
of Arabic and Arabic science was for his contemporaries the only
way to true knowledge. Discussions as to who was the originator
of the experimental method ... are part of the colossal misrepresentation
of the origins of European civilization. The experimental method
of [the] Arabs |
was by Bacon's time widespread
and eagerly cultivated throughout Europe...”(The Making of
Humanity, pp. 200-01).
However, the scientific methodology of Europe sought to bar supra-rational
and supra-sensory knowledge from science..It is now admitted that
this is inadequate to conform to the truly Islamic scientific methodology
of combining sensory, rational and supra-rational knowledge to produce
true integrated knowledge. Using this methodology, we take the Quran
as our basis and starting point and subject all the evidence of
the hadith, i.e. the hadith itself, the major classical writings
on them and modern European and Muslim criticisms, to Quranic and
rational judgments. We may, of course, take ten years to do this
and produce five volumes that few will have the time and the stamina
to read. Our purpose is different. Ours is to write a readable book
for the general reader with
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enough matter for him to think and draw
conclusions.
It is hardly necessary to state that this is a view offered to
the reader for his consideration. God Almighty Himself has ordered
us to read in His name, for doing that we cannot fail to develop
our mind and increase our knowledge. A good book will do that positively;
a bad one, negatively. Reading in His name, therefore, cannot but
produce good results. Yet, the Muslims today are very bad readers.
Centuries of subservience to bigoted religious authorities have
shackled their minds. This subservience plus their deplorable ignorance
of the contents of the Quran combine to make what they are today?a
weak, backward and humiliated people. The time has come for us to
break out of this prison. It is for this purpose that this study
is undertaken.
Kassim Ahmad |
A Reader’s View From West Africa
Dear Sir/Madam
I thank the Almighty Allah for giving me health and strength to
correspond with you. I and my family were receiving the Islamic
perspective but now it seems not to be coming any more. I am therefore
pleading with you to send us a copy of the Submitters Perspective
every month as you had been doing sometime ago. The Submitters Perspective
always puts me in good condition when I’m lonely, unhappy
or sad. It makes me remember Almighty Allah and His attributes.
In fact, I really do like it. Please, I repeat, please send us
a copy every month for I ask for the sake of Allah, our only God.
I wish you start sending us copies.
May Allah grant you the opportunity to be publishing this and sharing
it to Muslims all around the world. This is really a great work
you’re doing. Keep it up. May Allah help you.
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