366 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Wl. 6, No. 2, 1989 Confirence/Sem'mrs Issues in Methodology of Islamic Thought %& 9-12, I4lOlSeptember 11-14, B89 During the period from Safar 9-12, 1410 H. / September 11-14,1989 A.D., a seminar on the "Issues in Methodology of Islamic Thought" was held at Amir AM al Qadir University of Islamic Studies (Qusantinah, Algeria). The seminar was organized by the university in conjunction with the International Institute of Islamic Thought (Washington, D.C.). A group of professors and students of both sexes from Amir Abd al Qadir University, as well as from the Central University, participated in the seminar activities. The opening session was attended by representatives from Qusantinah Province, the Na- tional Liberation Front, the Municipal Council, and the Religious Commit- tee. Speeches were delivered by Dr. 'Ammar al Talibi, the University Presi- dent and Chairman of the seminar; Dr. Gamal El-Din Attia, Academic Ad- visor of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and convenor of the seminar; and by Dr. Muhammad 'AM al Hadi Abu Ridah representing the guests of the seminar. The seminar included seven panels where twenty-one research papers, prepared for the seminar, were presented and discussed. These research papers covered the following topics: 1- Inference Methodology in the Qur'an: A Response to the Op- ponents of Faith, by Dr. Ahmad 'Atwah. 2- The Elements of Scientific Methodology in the Qur'an and al Sunnah, by Dr. Ghawi 'Inayah. 3 - Muslim Methodology in Islamic Theology, by Dr. Fawqiyah Husayn. 4 - The Methodology of Ideology in the Light of Contemporary Scientific Advances, by Dr. Muhammad Abd al Sattar Nassar. 5- An Overview of the Methodology of Recording History, by Dr. 'Abd al Halim 'Uways. 6- The Methodology of the Principles of Jurisprudence, by Dr. Abd al Hamid Madkur. 7- The Crises of Methodology in Modem Ideological Studies, by Dr. Muhammad Kamal al Din Imam. 8- The Scientific Methodology and Spirit of Ibn Khaldun and Its Relation to Islam, by Dr. b a d al Din Khalil. The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989 367 9- The Methodology of Epistemology in Islamic Heritage, by Dr. Ahmad Fu’ad Pasha. 10 - An evaluation of the methodological epistomology of the con- tributions made by Dr. Muhammad al Jundi. 11- The Relationship between Revelation and Reason, by Dr. Muhammad ‘Imarah. 12- The Crises of Methodology in the Humanities, by Dr. ’Ula Anwar. 13 - The Role of Western Methodologies in the Prevalence of the Idea of Westernization and Cultural Usurpation of the Muslim Mind, by Dr. Sulayman al Khatib. 14 - An Islamic Mode for the Methodology of Scientific Research, by Dr. Ahmad Fu’ad al Pasha. 15- The Benefit of Religious Methodology to Modem Sciences , by Dr. Xbd al Latif %adah. 16 - Methodology between Monotheism and Multiplicity, by Dr. Muhammad al Jundi. 17- Social Science between Its Scientific and Ideological Counter- parts, by Dr. Mustafa ’Ashwi. 18- Indispensable Association of Objectivity and Analogy in Islamic Methodology, by Mr. Muhammad Amkyan. 19- Western Methodology of Knowledge in African Research: Critical Remarks and Ideas on the Alternative Islamic Methodology, by Dr. ‘Ali Qurayshi. 20- Qur‘anic Indication on the Methodology of Social Change, by Dr. ‘Abd al Sabur Marzuq. 21- The Methodology of Dealmg with Idioms, by Dr. Muham- mad ‘Imarah. The D r a m Committee prepared the closing statement and recommen- dations which the seminar discussed in its closing session and approved as follows: The Closing Statement It is no secret to research scholars that methodology is of prime impor- tance in promoting knowledge, its accuracy and advancement. Without methodology, there is QO knowledge and research is notlung but a mere waste of effort and energy. That was why it was necessary to hold this seminar on issues relating to methodology in Islamic thought, consideriog it a necessary 368 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989 introduction to any effort exerted in the Islamic scientific arena in order to reshape both social and natural sciences into an Islamic form, particularly since Islamic ideology has its own independent and distinguishing characteristics. This requires that the methodological experiences of Islamic ideology during its golden ages be sought, to help achieve its expected up- swing. In light of the scientific methodology witnessed during the golden ages, such experiences should be well understood to act as a guide throughout the journey of Islamic resurgence. That was why this seminar centered around three focal points: First-Introducing the most important methodic techniques used by Muslim scholars in their golden ages. Second-Introducing the most important methodic techniques used in the world, critically studying them, to reveal the crisis they face, and un- cover the criticism that has been directed at them in order to define their place on the overall map of contemporary Islamic methodic research. Third-Presenting research papers dealing with establishing an Islamic methodic pattern in the different branches of knowledge. Perhaps the efforts that have been exerted in these areas, and the discus- sions that were held, were able to bring into the open the necessity of sup- plementing certain aspects expressed in the following recommendations. Recommendations 1- The seminar stressed the necessity of conducting a com- prehensive search of the Qur’anic verses and hadith which deal with methodology as an idiom, and classlfying them according to the techniques they indicate. 2- A comprehensive search of the Qur’anic verses and Hadith should Be conducted, guided by issues relating to faith, to include the Prophet’s methods in confronting the opponents of faith. 3- Projects and attempts made at updating Islamic scholastic theology, both in content and form, should be gathered and made into a textbook. Specialized scholars are to be con- tacted in order to accomplish this task, carefully following the most advanced scientific accomplishments, building on them, and using the new scholastic theology patterns, yet maintaining the Qur’anic methodology, when trying to com- prehend matters of faith. Such a textbook must be periodidy reviewed and amended. The seminar recommends that such The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989 369 a textbook be taught in all universities in the Muslim coun- tries. 4 - A comprehensive search of Qur'anic verses and Hadith should be conducted, in order to define the historical methods that were used, to help arrive at a technique for i n t e r p w history. This should be done after an initial introduction necessary for rewriting the history of Islam and the Muslims, while on the one hand adhering to the objective approach (not pick- ing and choosing, negatively or positively), and on the other being comprehensive, and dealing with history from a political, economic, and cultural point of view, observing the unity of the Muslim nation while rewriting its history. 5 - History scholars should go beyond the Western methodology which narrows down Muslim accomplishments in the field of interpreting history to Ibn Khaldun. Muslim historians should include in their study the methodology of early Muslim historians prior to Ibn Khaldun and his sources, and the schools that followed him, as well as develop his method and improve on it. 6- A comprehensive study of the Usiiliyyiin methods in the sciences of jurisprudence, disparities and similarities, legal objectives and fundamental bases should be conducted in order to clarify the unity and variations in their approach depending on the subject-matter. 7- The seminar stresses the need for development of the science of the principles of jurisprudence in as far as its tools and content are concerned, in order that it can deal with the chang- ing realities, thus making religious laws applicable to con- temporary times. Furthermore, the seminar recommends that help should be sought from jurisprudence methodology, after its development employing techniques used in social sciences, to make it into a model pattern for these sciences to follow in their new Islamic form. 8 - Modern contemporary methodology techniques of jurisprudence research and legislative methods, whether ap- plied or still in their preparatory stages should be collected, analyzed and compared, provided the study covers as many Muslim countries as possible. 9 - Muslim accomplishments in the different sciences, social or ched. In conducting such a study help should be sought from old as well as modern and contemporary methods of history natural, Should be analyzed, compared and historidly The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989 interpretation and analysis, without being bound by one par- ticular method, which may interpret events, occurrences and stages of the juridicial and scientific history of Islam in a subjective manner. 10- A study of Muslims’ contributions in the various natural sciences should be conducted by specialized scholars, each in his field of specialization, researching the process and reasons for the pment Muslim backwardness, which led to a lack of creativity. They must propose solutions to the pre- sent situation. 11- The curriculums of mathematical and natural sciences in the different stages of education, in Muslim countries should be altered to include an introduction covering Muslim con- tributions in that science, in detail and in a way befitting these contributions. 12 - Islamic civilization should be taught in all universities in the Muslim countries. 13 - A course on the methodology of scientific research and ob- jective thinking should be taught in all colleges in Muslim countries, and perhaps even in the final year in secondary schools. 14 - Research should be conducted dealing with the extent to which scholastic theologians employ the scientific advancements which Muslims have achieved in their golden age in establishing the faith. Is - Qur’agic verses and Hadith which include numbers should be identified, and an accurate study of their meaning be researched. 16 - Contemporary juridicial rulings should be reached, in order to fulfill the unprecedented needs of the Muslim communi- ty, provided it is made clear that the rulings are made only with regard to the variables, and not the basics, which have been established and verified by clear-cut verses which are not subject to interpretation. 17- The curriculums for the humanities should be critically ex- amined against an original Islamic viewpoint benefitting from the constructive self-criticism of the W t considering a possi- ble introduction of a verified Islamic methodology for the study of these sciences. 18 - Furthermore, the seminar stresses the importance of contin- uing to take scientific and practical steps to formulate an Islamic methodology for the humanities. The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989 m 19- The methodological techniques used by Muslims in the dif- ferent branches of knowledge should be identified and ap- 20 21 , - plied to contemporary social and natural sciences, so they would be employed in updating the methodology of these sciences and Islamically restructuring them. The effects of ideology on the methodology of scientific research in the West should be identified, and the extent to which the results of gathering such information could be used in developing Islamic curriculums for these sciences should be examined. Help should be sought from all that has been accomplished in the field of methodology development for the different sciences, without favoring one method over another, or ty- ing one science to only one method and not the other. It should also be taken into consideration that these approaches should not contradict Islamic principles. 22 - A search should be conducted to locate studies, translations, 23 and researches that emphasize the role of Muslims in transfer- ring sciences, methodologies, and researches to Western scholars, and to publicize those works, whether still in manuscript form or published, in order to establish the in- fluence of Islamic civilization on Western thinkers and scholars. In this pursuit, only reference works and original writings which are considered authoritative in the West must be consulted. An in-depth study of the methods of cultural interaction from an Islamic viewpoint should be conducted in order to deter- mine what to adopt and what to discard from other cultures, and in order to identify the methodology used by previous generations as well as Europeans in dealing with other cultures. 24- The seminar stresses the importance of striving to identify and uncover plans for Westernization and enunciate steps taken towards their implementation, on all levels, then analyze them in as far as content and method are concerned. 25- A study of the negative effects of Westernization on the Muslim mind should be conducted, so a method of com- bating them be determined. 26- The seminar stresses the importance of moral values, con- sidering them to be the Islamic constants in any attempt to restructure the scientific methodological techniques accor- ding to Islamic patterns. 3n The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989 27- A search for Qur’anic verses and Hadith dealing with social change should be conducted, in order to clarify the Islamic methodology used. In this process, all the theoretical and scientific problems which are hindering the progress of Islamic resurgence because of lack of clarity of Islamic vision need to be analysed. 28 - The seminar recommends working towards gathering and stu- dying the terminology and concepts relating to the humanities and universal sciences, following their development or change, and examining the cultural effects of such development or change, in order to help researchers understand the meaning of these terminologies, and the extent to which they have been used. 29- A review of the curriculums for teaching Islamic law, the humanities, and universal sciences in the Muslim world should be started in light of the Islamic methodology. 30- The seminar stresses the necessity of directing research and scholars in universities in the Muslim world, especially on the M . A . and Ph.D. levels, towards an in-depth scientific study of methodology in order to speed up the process of breaking through the current cycle of stagnation in the field of methodology. 31- The seminar further stresses the necessity of supporting the organizations which work in the scientific, intellectual and 32 33 cultural areas, also the universities of Muslim countries that are concerned with Islamic methodology as the fundamental element in the cultural program, in order to re-start the up- swing of the Muslim world. The two sponsoring organizations of t h s seminar should print and publish the research papers and discussions of this con- ference, and distribute same to interested parties. The two sponsoring organizations of this seminar should ar- rang for another similar conference to be held in order to complete the discussion of the remaining topics in the original work-sheet of this seminar. HIT Egypt