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ISL361Arts3 Unitsintermediate

Islamic Philosophy

This course introduces students to Islamic philosophy, exploring its definition, scope, and relationship with religion. It examines pre-Islamic Arabian thought and the influence of Greek philosophy on Muslim thinkers. The course delves into the sources and development of Islamic philosophy, including the Qur'an and Hadith. It also covers key concepts such as epistemology, free will, and eschatology, while highlighting notable Muslim philosophers and their contributions to both Eastern and Western thought.

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208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Islamic PhilosophyMuslim ThinkersQur'anReasoningRevelation

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Definition of Philosophy

2

Pre-Islamic Arabian Thought

3

Greek Philosophy Transmission

4

Sources of Islamic Philosophy

5

Qur'anic Teachings

6

Notable Muslim Philosophers

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Religious Studies Teacher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Islamic Scholar

Apply your skills in this growing field

Philosopher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Theologian

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationReligious OrganizationsResearch Institutions

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Introductory

2h

Unit 1: Definition of Term, Philosophy and Religion

2 study hours
  • •Understand the etymology of 'philosophy' and its Arabic equivalents
  • •Differentiate between ordinary thinkers and philosophers
  • •Analyze definitions of religion and their alignment with Islamic views
Week
2

Module 1: Introductory

2h

Unit 2: Pre- Islamic Arabian thought

2 study hours
  • •Describe pre-Islamic Arabian beliefs in gods, souls, and predestination
  • •Evaluate pre-Islamic thought using intellect
  • •Discuss moral issues among pre-Islamic Arabs
Week
3

Module 1: Introductory

2h

Unit 3: The Greek philosophy transmitted to the Muslims

2 study hours
  • •Explain the transmission of Greek philosophy to Muslims
  • •Itemize activities of Bayt al-Hikman
  • •Discuss contributions of Harun Rashid, Al-Mansur, and al-Ma'mun
Week
4

Module 2: Sources and Development of Islamic Philosophy

2h

Unit 1: The Sources

2 study hours
  • •Identify sources of Islamic philosophy
  • •Analyze Qur'anic verses and Prophetic traditions that inspired philosophy
  • •Give an account of the development of Muslim philosophy
Week
5

Module 2: Sources and Development of Islamic Philosophy

2h

Unit 2: Philosophical teachings of the Qur'ān

2 study hours
  • •Extract Qur'anic verses on which Islamic philosophy was laid
  • •Describe Islamic views on Ultimate Reality, God, and the World
  • •Discuss Islamic teachings on soul and epistemology
Week
6

Module 2: Sources and Development of Islamic Philosophy

2h

Unit 3: Mu'tazilism

2 study hours
  • •Describe the origin of Mutazilism and its meaning
  • •Discuss the basis of Mutazilite doctrines
  • •Highlight basic principles of Mutazilism
Week
7

Module 2: Sources and Development of Islamic Philosophy

2h

Unit 4: Ash'arism

2 study hours
  • •Define Ash'arism
  • •Trace the origin of the Ash'arites movement
  • •Enumerate and critically discuss the fundamental doctrines of the Ash'arites
Week
8

Module 3: Notable Muslim Philosophers of the East

2h

Unit 1: Al- Kindī

2 study hours
  • •Give an account of the life and education of Al-Kindi
  • •Explain the characteristics and chief elements of Al-Kindi's philosophy
  • •Describe how Al-Kindi brought harmony between religion and philosophy
Week
9

Module 3: Notable Muslim Philosophers of the East

2h

Unit 2: Al- Fārābī

2 study hours
  • •Give an account of the life and education of Al-Farabi
  • •Explain the characteristics and chief elements of Al-Farabi's philosophy
  • •Highlight the major themes in the philosophical works of Al-Farabi
Week
10

Module 3: Notable Muslim Philosophers of the East

2h

Unit 3: Ibn Sina

2 study hours
  • •Give a brief life history of Ibn Sina
  • •Give an account of Ibn Sina's philosophy
  • •Discuss areas of agreement and disagreement with non-Muslim philosophers
Week
11

Module 3: Notable Muslim Philosophers of the East

2h

Unit 4: Ar-Rāzī

2 study hours
  • •Describe the life of Abu Bakr Al-Razi
  • •Discuss Al-Razi's areas of agreement and doctrinal difference with non-Muslim philosophers
  • •State some of the scholastic works of Al-Razi
Week
12

Module 3: Notable Muslim Philosophers of the East

2h

Unit 5: Al- Ghazzālī

2 study hours
  • •Describe the life of al-Ghazzali and his works
  • •Analyse al-Ghazzali's condemnation of the metaphysics of the philosophers
  • •Expatiate on al-Ghazzali's concept of causality
Week
13

Module 4: Muslim Philosophers of the West

4h

Unit 1: Ibn Bājjah, Ibn Tufayl

2 study hours
  • •Describe the life of Ibn Bajjah and Ibn Tufayl
  • •Give an account of their contribution to Muslim philosophy
  • •Discuss their areas of agreement and doctrinal differences with non-Muslim philosophers

Unit 2: Ibn Rushd

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the life of Ibn Rushd
  • •Highlight the areas of differences between al-Ghazzali and Ibn Rushd
  • •State some of the major contribution of Ibn Rushd to philosophy

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create concept maps linking key philosophers and their ideas

2

Focus on understanding the core tenets of each philosophical school

3

Practice essay questions comparing and contrasting different viewpoints

4

Review key Qur'anic verses and their philosophical interpretations

5

Allocate time for thorough revision of all units

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