explain four importance of research in islamic studies

Research Methodology in the Domain of Islamic Studies

Shahzadi Pakeeza
Humaira Jahangir

The most important thing given by Allah Almighty to the human being is thinking power. It enables them different from other creatures of the world. Humans thinking act, built and rebuilt his life. Allah Almighty, therefore, ordered man to think, investigate and research. This study is based on the overview of research methodology in the field of Islamic Studies. Since the domain of Islamic studies is mainly based on the Holy Quran and Ahadith or Sunnah. This paper presents a close revision for conducting a research with special reference to data handling and analysis, text and speech analysis etc. in context with Islamic studies.

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Research Methods in Islamic Sciences

Man’s curiosity is the origin of all human knowledge. Knowledge refers to bodies of facts and hypotheses that enables one to understand phenomena and to solve problems. Islam actively immensely encourages Muslims to seek knowledge.

The Almighty Allah in almost every page of the holy Quran praises knowledge and invites people to seek and learn the truth. Seeking knowledge in Islam is an obligation upon every Muslim. Therefore, a mature Muslim must personally seek the truth in the matter of principles in his/her religion.

Nonetheless, in early times a large body of human understanding was based on unsystematic, unreliable and unverified sources. The inadequacies of accumulating knowledge through these sources forced scholars to develop what is presently known as ‘scientific methods in research.’

1) ‘Research Methods’: Etymology and Definition

The term ‘research’ in English is from a French term ‘ recercher ’ to seek. The Oxford English dictionary defines research as: “the study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusion.”

The term used in Arabic is ‘al Bahth’ which means to search. It is also called ‘al-Tahqiq’ which is derived (driven) from the root ‘Haqqaqa’, to discover and confirm the truth. Therefore, research is a diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover a truth or revise facts.

What is a ‘Research Method’?

By a research method we mean the logic of research. Formal logic is the methodology of correct thinking, which when utilized protects the mind from incorrect thinking. Similarly a research method is the logic of correct research. Thus, formal logic is the method of correct thinking, and applied logic is the method of correct research.

2) Characteristics of a Researcher

A learned person is not necessarily a researcher. Often we meet people with a vast amount of information on various topics. They look like a mobile encyclopaedia. However, they don’t have any systematic approach to acquiring knowledge about any topic. Thus, if they are asked to deliver a lecture or write an article on a particular topic they fail.

Francis Bacon, English philosopher of the 17 th century says in his book ‘The New Method’, that scholars with no systematically attained knowledge are like ants who collect data together in heaps without ever giving a unifying structure to them whereas philosophers are like spiders spinning out their own ideas in their webs.

It is only a true researcher who is like a bee extracting matter from the flowers of different gardens and fields but works and fashions it to produce a sweet honey.

A researcher must enjoy the following characteristics:

1) Knowledgeable : A researcher must have a solid, general knowledge about the topic he researches about. For instance, if he wishes to conduct research on a particular jurisprudential topic he must have a fair knowledge of Fiqh and its related sciences. He should also be familiar with jurisprudential terminologies to understand and interpret jurisprudential texts.

A researcher needs to be aware of the historical background of the topic and research previously conducted. This will help the researcher to avoid duplication on the one hand whilst expanding the scope of the previous researches and clarifying their validity.

2) Experienced: driving skills and so is researching. The more you conduct the research the more skilful you natural become.

3) Sharp: A researcher is sharp and insightful. He is very aware of what happens around him. For instance, for several centuries millions of people had observed apples falling from an apple tree but they were oblivious to the force that caused it to fall. It was only Newton whose sharp mind noted the law of gravity by observing the fall of a mere apple.

4) Free-thinker: A researcher is free from his personal social beliefs and superstitions. When conducting research he independently examines the validity of every statement irrespective of the beliefs of his society.

5) Considers the speech not the speaker: Often renowned scholars makes false statements just as laymen utter the truth. The status of the speaker does not make a speech necessarily true or false. The Imams of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s), though not very often, quoted poems of Jahiliyyah.

In the past, our Muslim scholars have been known to criticise an opinion, however they would not mention the name of the scholar, especially if that scholar was one of their contemporaries. The scholars consider mentioning the names unimportant as it was the statement that had to be examined not the speaker. This also avoided belittling the scholar.

6) Brave: Often the result of research is contrary to the opinion of the mainstream academic society. In order to freely express the findings of his research, a researcher must be brave and confident. A scientific research is based on compelling evidence, not the approval of the majority.

7) Fair: A researcher is fair in his judgment. When examining a statement he considers all its possible meanings. His quotation of other opinions is not limited to disagreements and criticism. He also acknowledges the interesting findings of other scholars.

8) Honest: A researcher must be honest when quoting from other sources. An incomplete quotation or misquotation of an author is an academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is also a serious offence in today’s academic world and is a clear sign of dishonesty.

3) Benefits of a Scientific Research

Research remains a fresh tree of human knowledge. Unlike the misconception of ‘the early scholars left nothing for the latter (to discover)’, al-Jahiz (the famous critical Arab linguist who died in 255 AH) correctly said: ‘The early scholars have left much for the latter ones (to discover). The following are but some benefits of scientific research:

• Satisfaction of the human sense of curiosity. For a researcher nothing is more pleasurable than finding the solution to his problem. Thus, Khaje Naseeru-Din al Tousi (died 672 AH), the renowned Muslim mathematician, astronomer and philosopher when finding a solution for his scientific problem would cry:

(‘Where are the kings and the princes to taste this pleasure?’ The anecdote of the Golden Crown is another famous example in the life of Archimedes, the ancient Greek mathematician.

When he discovered that the density of the crown would be lower than that of gold if cheaper and less dense metals had been added, he was so excited that he stepped out of the public bath forgetting to dress crying: “Eureka!” (I found it)!

• Freedom from partial opinions and wrong assumptions

• Reforming the currently accepted but wrong values

• Reviving knowledge and expansion of its life

• Forcing opinions to be more scientific

• Disclosing false opinions

• Foretelling future events in order to prevent catastrophes and to minimize mistakes.

4) Types of Research

The nature of research can be divided into two main types, descriptive and prescriptive research. Descriptive research aims at collecting and quoting all different opinions in the discussed topic without analysing them. With descriptive methodology, the researcher narrates the information without judgment, whereas in prescriptive methodology he analyses the data and suggests his opinion.

Research in terms of people involved in it, is either individual or group. In group research a team of researchers conduct the research.

Conditions of a Group Research

• Unity in objective,

• Unity in method,

• Identification of the job description of each member,

• Cooperation between members,

• Consideration of other members’ opinions and avoiding self-centredness,

• Appointing a team leader.

Advantages of a Group Research

• Scope is usually wider and more comprehensive,

• Research is more critical,

• Results are more scientific and reliable.

Disadvantages of a Group Research

• Progress is usually slower,

• Inactivity of a member can stagnate the project.

5) Tools of a Research

• Library: books, periodicals, audio visual materials

• Questionnaire

• Supervisor

6) Principles of a Scientific Research

1. Begins with a philosophical doubt and continues until it converts to certainty,

2. Is systematic and follows pre-established rules and regulations.

3. Is fair and impartial

4. Has a specified topic

5. Has clear objectives

6. Is well- documented

7. Aims at discovering the truth

8. Is replicable, and hence its validity can be examined.

9. Relies only on facts and reliable evidence. No research is scientific unless it is supported by adequate compelling evidence.

7) Methods of a Research

There are five methods of research in different Islamic sciences:

1. Rational method , as used in philosophical texts of Ibn Sina (died 428 AH).

2. Narrative method , as used in history, the science of al-Rejaal, jurisprudence, etc.

3. Intuitive method , as used in mysticism.

4. Common sense method , as used in the science of principles of jurisprudence.

5. Combined method , which is the combination of some or all of the above methods. For instance, the methodology of Khaje Naseeru-Din al Tousi in his ‘Tajridul-E’teqad’ (Purification of the Belief) in theology is a combination of philosophical and narrative methods. Similarly, Mulla Sadra (died 1050 AH) in al-Asfar (the Books) has combined all methods of research.

8) Stages of Research

1. Select a topic;

2. Explain the topic and its key terms;

3. Study the historical background and the previous research on the topic;

4. Identify sources and references;

5. Proposal;

6. Collect relevant data;

7. Logical classification of the data;

8. Analysis of the data;

9. Conclusion;

10. Compilation of the thesis.

9) Scientific Method of Studying

1. Identify primary and the secondary sources.

2. Examine the genuineness of the sources. For example, make sure the printed copy of an ancient book is genuine and the best available copy.

3. Take precise and documented notes of the important points.

4. Choose the suitable time for studying.

5. Stop, revive, survive, otherwise the quality of one’s understanding diminishes.

6. Choose a quiet and comfortable place to enhance your concentration.

7. Restrict your studying to the topic and its relevant subjects.

8. Read carefully and comprehensively to make sure you understand the text.

10) Scientific Method of Compiling a Thesis

In short, a thesis may be analysed into three S’s: S tructure, S ubstance, and S tyle. Structure confers logical coherence. Substance is the significance and depth of a thesis and style is the elegance of the thesis and its grammatical appeal. In order to achieve this one must follow the following rules:

1. Be explicit and clear.

2. Narrow down the title.

3. Write down the title and your name in full.

4. Introduce the key words

5. Open the thesis with a catchy summary of your thesis in a paragraph. When compiling a book a brief introduction can present the summary of the book. Some authors summarize their works at the end of their thesis. While this is a useful ending, opening the thesis with a nice summary will entice the reader to your thesis.

6. Have two tables of contents; one stating the main headings (chapters), and the second a more detailed table of contents.

7. Acknowledge all those who help you in compiling your thesis.

8. Write the body of your thesis in a systematic, logical order.

9. Have a bibliography for your work and state all your references and sources. Indicate, the author, the full name of the source, the publisher and the date of publication.

10. Make sure you have your thesis edited. Even the best writers are often oblivious of their mistakes.

It is an advantage to compile a table of places, persons, Ayaat, Ahadeeth, etc

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Introduction to Research Methodology in Islamic Studies

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Who defines islam critical perspectives on islamic studies.

1. Introduction

In Germany, an epistemic community within the study of Islam trans- formed from a low institutionalized network of Muslim scholars into an autonomous aca- demic discipline that combines epistemic and social insiderism in its studies: Islamic Theology. In the US, the epistemic community works as a network of scholars based mainly on an epistemic-normative research framework within the existing structure of disciplines dealing with Islam—primarily Islamic Studies. This different institutional development shows that science systems may react in various ways to the emergence of insiderism within the study of Islam, by either establishing a separate discipline or allowing insiderism to take place within the existing disciplines. ( Engelhardt 2016, pp. 740–41 )

2. Who Defines Islam?: A Question of Religious and Epistemic Authority

2.1. texts and caretakers, 2.2. western researchers and universities between politics and identity.

The last 20 years has seen chairs, programs, and centers established in Islamic Studies, quite a few with funding from Muslim rulers and organizations. This funding has raised the question, in Britain, Germany, the United States of America, and Australia—are strings attached that might compromise academic integrity? Britain’s Centre for Social Cohesion published a report in 2009 called A Degree of Influence on the funding of “strategically important subjects in British universities,” which focuses on Islamic Studies. Government interest in the subject or field of Islamic Studies, alongside A Degree of Influence, suggests that Islamic Studies cannot be pursued in isolation from politics, actual or perceived national interests, culture war, even from how the media covers Islam. ( Bennett 2013, pp. 4–5 )

This redefinition of Islamic studies and what gets to count (or not count) as valid scholarship creates real epistemological problems. What role, for example, do non-Muslims or even Muslims who are interested in historical and critical scholarship have to play in this new Islamic studies? Islamic Religious Studies, to reiterate, risks becoming a form of liberal Muslim theology...this “progressive” identity is something that is manufactured by scholars of Islamic Religious Studies. And that is precisely what they do: seek one another out, read each other’s works, write blurbs for each other’s books, and invite one another to their conferences, where religious studies and overt (not even crypto-) theology intermingle. ( Hughes 2012, p. 112 )

3. Islamic Studies: A Diversity of Models and Approaches

3.1. models of islamic studies in europe, 3.2. approaches to islamic studies, 4. the need for multiple critiques, 4.1. practices of critique, 4.2. islamic studies between power, hegemonic epistemology, and competence, 4.3. from self-criticism to multiple critiques, 5. conclusions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

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Research Methodology in Islamic Studies

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This Research Methodology course is a hands‐on course designed to impart education in the foundational methods and techniques of academic research in Islamic religious studies and social sciences. Students will examine and be practically exposed to the main components of a research framework generally and from an Islamic perspective i.e., problem definition, research design, data collection, Islamic ethical issues in research, report writing, and presentation. Once equipped with this knowledge, participants would be well‐placed to conduct disciplined research in areas of their choosing related to Islamic sciences and humanities.

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Students will be equipped with qualitative and quantitative research method skills and theoretical knowledge in general, and for use in Islamic studies in particular. These skills are essential for the students throughout their career as an academic and researcher as well as general life skills. Additionally, it will train students on how to investigate and design a research problem from start to finish using appropriate methodology and how to present their research outcome effectively in their area of expertise as well as broader areas. As such, students are provided with the opportunity to apply their learning to a subject matter of their own choice in the field of Islamic studies, while increasing awareness about various types of resources that will be of use during the course of their studies.

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1. Introduction to Research

Introduction to course
Importance of Research Methodology
The role of research in Islamic Studies and Humanities
Research process overview

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Six major themes, Quran Studies, Hadith Studies, Usul al-Din (principles of faith), Fiqh (Jurisprudence) Sirah (biography) and Tarīkh (civilization)
Research methodology of Fuqaha’ (Jurists),
Research methodology in Usul al-Din
Research methodology in Hadith and Civilization

3. Philosophies and the Language of Research Theory Building

Science/ Theologyand theirfunctions,
What is theory?
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Understanding Concepts,
Understanding Constructs,
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Defining the research problem,
Formulation of the research hypotheses,
The importance of problems and hypotheses

6. Research Design

Experimental and Nonexperimental research design,
Field research,
Survey research

7. Methods of Data Collection

Secondary data collection methods,
qualitative methods of data collection,
Survey methods of data collection

8. Attitude Measurement and Scaling

Types of measurement scales;
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Reliability and Validity

9. Sampling Techniques

The nature of sampling,
Probability sampling design,
Nonprobability sampling design,
Determination of sample size

10. Using the Internet and Software for Research in Islamic Studies

Where and how to look
resources inIslamic studies(Englishand Arabic)
recognising authenticity

11. Processing and Analysis of Information and Data

Acquiring Data
Data Processing
DataAnalysis

12. Islamic Ethical issues in Conducting Research

Harm Considerations
Privacy / Confidentiality Considerations
DeceptionConsiderations
Ethics and Quantitative Considerations
Ethics and Qualitative Considerations
Plagiarism Considerations

13. Islamic Hermeneutics and Islamisation of Knowledge

What is Islamisation of Knowledge
What is Hermeneutics and Its Importance
Application of Hermeneutics
Islamic Hermeneutics
Applied Islamic Hermeneutics and Research
Islamic Social Sciences

14. Report generation

report writing, and APA format –
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Introduction,
Methodology,
Discussion,
Referencesand Appendices

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This course is suitable for ‘Ulama, students of knowledge and anyone interested in academic research from an Islamic perspective and who has an interest in Islamic studies. This course is unique and ideal for those who wish to have a much broader, specialist understanding of the art of Islamic research methodology, professionally that can be applied to a broad range of disciplines.

Learning Objectives

develop understanding of the basic framework of research process.
develop an understanding of various research designs and techniques.
identify various sources of information for literature review and data collection.
develop an understanding of the Islamic ethical dimensions of conducting applied research.
Appreciate the components of Islamic scholarly writing and evaluate its quality.

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The Importance of Islamic Studies from an Islamic Worldview in Australia

First Online: 31 May 2018

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Ibrahima Diallo 4

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The Australian Muslim population, which represents 2.2% of the total population, is one of the most diverse communities in Australia in terms of ethnicity, country of origin and linguistic background. Because of Australia’s secular and liberal policies and practices, the current national and international debate on Muslim integration in Western societies, Islamic radicalisation and anti-Muslim political attitudes and rhetoric, Australian Muslims face prejudices, namely negative media portrayals of Muslims and Islam, and attacks against Muslim educational institutions (e.g., Islamic schools). Despite these prejudices, Australian Muslims show strong attachment to Islamic studies as a means to develop an Islamic worldview constructed on Qur’anic teachings and prophetic traditions.

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Experiences of Muslims in Western Europe

Participation of European Muslim Organisations in Holocaust Commemorations

Australian Bureau of Statistics, “Religion in Australia”.

Amanda Wise and Jan Ali, “Muslim Australians and Local Government. Grassroots strategies to improve relations between Muslim and non-Muslim-Australians. Final Research Report for the Centre for Research and Social Inclusion,” accessed 17 June 2009. http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/multicultural/grassroots/ .

Riaz Hassan, Australian Muslims: A demographic, social and economic profile of Muslims in Australia (Adelaide: International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim understanding, 2015), 44–47.

Raihani Raihani and David Gurr, “Parental involvement in an Islamic school in Australia: An exploratory study,” Leading and Managing 1, no. 16 (2010): 2.

Irene D. Clyne, “Educating Muslim children in Australia,” in Muslim Communities in Australia , ed. Abdullah Saeed and Shahram Akbarzadeh (Sydney: UNSW Press, 2001), 119.

Mesut Akdere, Darlene Russ-Eft and Natalie Eft, “The Islamic worldview of Adult learning in the workplace: Surrendering to God,” Advances in Developing Human Resources 8, no. 3 (2006): 355.

Nidhal Guessoum, “The Qur’an, science, and the (related) contemporary Muslim discourse,” Zygon 43, no. 2 (2008): 413.

Sunnah and Hadith are the second-most important sources of Islamic authority for Muslims. They both refer to actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad who lived and acted in accordance with God’s teachings and, therefore, He represents the perfect model for all Muslims.

Narayanan Annalakshmi and Mohammed Abeer, “Islamic worldview, religious personality and resilience among Muslim adolescent students in India,” Europe’s Journal Psychology 7, no. 4 (2011): 721.

Ibid., 721.

Mark J. Halstead, “An Islamic concept of education,” Comparative Education 40, no. 4 (2004): 520.

Rida Blaik-Hourani, Ibrahima Diallo and Alia Said, “Teaching in the Arabian Gulf: Arguments for the deconstruction of the current educational model,” in Teaching and Learning in the Arab World , ed. Christina Gitsaki (Berne: Peter Lang, 2011), 345.

Annalakshmi and Abeer, “Islamic worldview,” 721.

Halstead, “An Islamic concept of education,” 520.

Ibid., 520.

Sarfaroz Niyozov and Nadeem Memon, ‘Islamic education and Islamization: Evolution of themes, continuities and new directions,” Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs 31, no. 1 (2011): 13.

Halstead, “An Islamic concept of education,” 525.

Nimat Hafez Barazangi, “Religious Education”, in Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World , ed. John L. Esposito (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), 2.

In France, for example, Article 1 of the 1958 Constitution mentions ‘France shall be an indivisible, secular , democratic and social Republic. It shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law, without distinction of origin, race or religion […]’ (emphasis added).

Asad Zaman, “Developing an Islamic world view: An essential component of an Islamic education,” Lahore Journal of Policy Studies 1, no. 1 (2006): 95.

Prejudice against Muslims is not recent in the history of Australia. Australia’s first Muslims, known as the ‘Afghan cameelers’, faced systemic prejudice under Australia’s White policy.

Nahid Kabir, “Representation of Islam and Muslims in the Australian media, 2001–2005,” Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs 26 (2006): 314.

Ibid., 315–6.

Ibid., 320.

Richard Wike and Brian J. Grim, “Western views towards Muslims: Evidence from a 2006 cross-national survey,” International Journal of Public Opinion Research 22, no. 1 (2010): 16.

Emad A. Algamdi, “The representation of Islam in Western media: The coverage of Norway terrorist Attacks,” International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature 4, no. 3 (2015): 198.

Ibid., 203.

Bergen, Peter, and Swati Pandey. “The Madrassa Scapegoat.” The Washington Quarterly 29, no. 2 (2006): 115–125.

Hazem Rashed, “Towards a common ground: Arab versus Western views about the challenges of Islamic religious education curriculum of the twenty-first century,” Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education 45, no. 6 (2015): 954.

Saeeda J.A. Shah, “Muslim schools in secular societies: Persistence or resistance!,” British Journal Religious Education 34, no. 1 (2012): 60.

David Weber and Nikki Roberts, “Perth Mosque attack: Car firebombed, anti-Muslim graffiti sprayed in ‘act of hate’,” accessed 10 November 2016. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-29/firebombing-ant-islam-graffiti-attack-at-thornlie-mosque-school/7552394 .

Charlotte Hamlyn, “Perth Mosques, Islamic School Vandalised in Weekend Attacks,” accessed 5 November 2016. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-20/mosques-islamic-school-vandalised-in-perth-weekend-graffiti/5827552 .

Sharri Markson, “Islamic school Al-Faisal College ‘has never had a child who is gay’,” accessed 14 November 2016. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/islamic-school-alfaisal-college-has-neverhad-a-child-who-was-gay/news-story/a79078065cc974276c9c0f8a50144e19 .

Hassan, “Australian Muslims,” 44–47.

Amy Nelson, “The Surrendering: An Introduction to Islam,” in Five Voices, Five Faiths: An Interfaith Primer , ed. Amanda Millay Hughes (Cambridge: Cowley, 2005), 100.

Sachiko Murata and William C. Chittick, “The Koran,” in The Vision of Islam , ed. Sachiko Murata and William Chittick (Minnesota: Paragon House, 1994), xiv.

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Diallo, I. (2018). The Importance of Islamic Studies from an Islamic Worldview in Australia. In: Abdalla, M., Chown, D., Abdullah, M. (eds) Islamic Schooling in the West. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73612-9_12

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Encyclopaedia of Islam Platform for cross-searching Encyclopaedia of Islam titles, including: Encyclopaedia of Islam, First Edition (1913-1936) (EI), Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition (EI2), Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE, Historical Atlas of Islam
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Encyclopaedia of the Qur’ān Online This link opens in a new window Encyclopaedic dictionary of qur'ānic terms, concepts, personalities, place names, cultural history and exegesis.
Dictionary of Qurʾanic Usage This link opens in a new window A comprehensive, fully-researched and contextualized Arabic-English dictionary of Qur'anic usage.
Arabic-English dictionary of Qur'anic usage (Elsaid M. Badawi, Muhammad Abdel Haleem)
A concordance of the Qurʾan (Hanna E. Kassis)
The Oxford Handbook of Qur'anic Studies (2020)
The Blackwell companion to the Qurʼan (2006 ed.)
How to read the Qurʼan a new guide, with select translations (Carl Ernst)
Quran.com (THE NOBLE QUR'AN) Verse by verse Qur'anic text with numerous translations and recitations
Interkulturelle Koran-Bibliographie Available online. Bibliographic compendium of Qur'anic translations, studies, articles and collections in a range of European and non-European languages. Includes citations for 6542 titles.
GloQur The Global Qur’an القرآن العالمي "GloQur looks at Qur’an translations as a central medium through which Muslims across the globe today approach their faith."
The Qurʾan (translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem)
The Quran Beheld (A new English translation from the Arabic by Nuh Ha Mim Keller) Introduction, search, and recordings of the tafsir readings of Nuh Ha Mim Keller with Sheikh Ali Hani (uploaded as completed). Detailed and comprehensive tafsir of each verse of the Quran to be added to the site as well.
Concordance et indices de la tradition musulmane This link opens in a new window Online version of Wensinck's Concordance, an essential reference work for hadith literature
Encyclopedia of canonical ḥadīth (Juynboll)
The Wiley Blackwell Concise Companion to the Hadith (2020)
Handbook of Islamic Sects and Movements (Brill) "The Handbook of Islamic Sects and Movements offers a multinational study of Islam, its variants, influences, and neighbouring movements, from a multidisciplinary range of scholars." Open access
Oxford Handbook of Islam and Politics Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Oxford Encyclopedias of the Islamic World: Digital Collection Selection of articles on Islamic beliefs, institutions, movements, practices, and peoples previously published on the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Women Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Oxford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Science, and Technology in Islam Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Islamic World : Past and Present (2004) Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Oxford History of Islam (1999) Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Oxford Dictionary of Islam (2003) Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online
Makers of Contemporary Islam (2001) Explores the lives and thought of some of contemporary Islam's most important thinkers. Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
What everyone needs to know about Islam (2011) Question-and-answer guide by John L. Esposito. Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Oxford Reference | Religion Cross-search many titles previously on the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online platform
Bibliographies (Formation of Islam) Bibliographies on administration, taxation, and agriculture and landholding as well as lists of fiscal terminology and governors attested in papyri (from the Formation of Islam project)
Onomasticon Arabicum (OA) Online database with more than 27000 scholars and celebrities from the first Muslim millenary. Its entries in Arabic are compiled from ancient biographical dictionaries, a veritable treasure of Islamic culture. Crossed search allows separate interrogation on any of the different elements of the Arabo-Muslim names, dates and places, reconstructing the identity of a person, trace ways of knowledge transmission and frame historical contexts.
Islamic Philosophy Online Books and articles on Islamic philosophy, ranging from the classical texts in the canon of Islamic philosophy to modern works of Muslim philosophy
Teaching Islam (2003) Previously part of the now retired Oxford Islamic Studies Online
Islam and Islamic Studies Resources (Alan Godlas, UGA) Information for the study of Islam, Qur'an, hadith, the Sunnah, Shi'ism and Heterodox Movements Sufism and Sufi Poetry Islam in the modern world, militant Islam, jihad, Islamist or extremist Muslims, and terrorism, Islam in Iraq, Muslim women, Islamic art, architecture, music, as well as Islamic history, theology, philosophy, and Arabic and other Islamic languages such as Persian, and religion in general.
Guide to Research in Islamic Art and Architecture (András Riedlmayer, Harvard) "This research guide is divided into two sections. One section presents online and printed bibliographies, indexes, and other reference works and surveys organized according to subject or artistic medium (e.g. Architecture; Arts of the Book; Ceramics; Metalwork; Museums and Collections, etc.). A separate section presents research tools organized according to geographic or cultural region (e.g. works on the art and architecture of Central Asia; South Asia; Iran; Egypt; Islamic Spain, etc.)."
Access to Mideast and Islamic Resources (AMIR) Compilation of open access bibliographic resources including online journals, archives, digital libraries, etc. Keyword search by topic or use tags to navigate.
Islamic Liberation Theology Reading List (Asad Dandia and Sharmin Hossain)
The Islamic Liberation Reading List (Asad Dandia) "The Islamic Liberation Reading List aims to offer both a contribution and a critique to help readers grapple with our contemporary global crises, during where movements animated by racial, economic, gender, and environmental injustice (among others) have mobilized in the pursuit of a better world."
The Great Debate: Critical Race Theory and Muslims | Sapelo/Maydan Series on CRT
The MAYDAN "an online publication of Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University, offering expert analysis on a wide variety of issues in the field of Islamic Studies for academic and public audiences alike, and serving as a resource hub and a platform for informed conversation, featuring original articles and visual media from diverse perspectives."
Sapelo Square "...Sapelo Square intervenes in the marginalization and erasure of Black Muslims in the public square by building an online forum that places Black Muslims at the center. Our mission is to celebrate and analyze the experiences of Black Muslims in the United States to create new understandings of who they are, what they have done, and why that matters."
Black Islam Syllabus (curated by Kayla Renée Wheeler) "The goal of this project is to provide teachers, professors, researchers, journalists, and people interested in learning more about Islam with resources on Black Muslims to promote a more inclusive approach to the study of Islam..."
Race and Slavery in Muslim Societies Bibliography (Margari Aziza)
#IslamophobiaIsRacism Syllabus "ISLAMOPHOBIA IS RACISM Resource for Teaching & Learning about anti-Muslim Racism in the United States. Inspired by the #FergusonSyllabus, the #StandingRockSyllabus, the #BlackIslamSyllabus and others, this reading list provides resources for teaching and learning about anti-Muslim racism in the United States."
Halal Metropolis "Halal Metropolis is a series of exhibitions that explores the facts, fictions and the imaginaries of the Muslim population(s) in Detroit and South-east Michigan as viewed through historical and archival research, documentation of current conditions, and explorations of future desires." Stories, conversations, exhibition series, podcast, interviews, etc
Muslims of the Midwest Digital resource documenting "some of the varied experiences of Muslims in the American Midwest through testimonies across generational, gender, geographical, socio-economic, and ethnic differences." Collects recordings of interviews conducted between 2015 and 2019 as well as links to online exhibits, films, essays, reports, and other resources.
Muslims in Canada Archives "MiCA is an archive collection and platform that is uniquely designed to document and share the experiences of Muslims in Canada."

Text Collections / Corpora

Corpus Coranicum Project which aims to document the text of the Qur'an in the form in which it has been transmitted in manuscripts and in oral transmission; to create a comprehensive database of Jewish, Christian, Old Arabian and other intertexts of individual passages of the Qur'an; and to provide a detailed commentary on the text
Paleocoran Studying variant readings and spellings in Egyptian Quranic Manuscripts (7th to 10th century AD) for a better understanding of the history of the Quran
Quranic Arabic Corpus Annotated linguistic resource which shows the Arabic grammar, syntax and morphology for each word in the Holy Quran. The corpus provides three levels of analysis: morphological annotation, a syntactic treebank and a semantic ontology
Qur’an Tools Formerly Quran Gateway, now open access. "A powerful piece of software that enables more efficient critical study of the Qur’an. It combines a host of ground-breaking features such as a powerful Qur’an browser, fast and flexible searching, customization options, and one-click access to beautiful charting and analysis functions. Qur’an Tools also contains a wealth of tools to help you explore Qur’anic vocabulary, plus resources for easy formulaic analysis and other scholarly analysis."
Sunnah.com Database of several hadith collections searchable in Arabic and English taken from numerous unspecified editions
HadithCollection.com Portal for browsing and searching several hadith collections in English translation
Hadis Veritabanı (Hadith Database) Searchable database of hadith, transmitters, etc (in Turkish)
كشاف البخاري Database compiling manuscripts, reading notes, publications, etc related to Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
ALTAFSIR.COM Open access online collection of commentary, translation, recitation and other Qur’anic resources, Arabic & English
SHARIASource (Harvard Law School) Platform to house primary sources of Islamic law, organize the people to critically analyze them, and promote research to inform academic and public discourse about Islamic law
المكتبة الشاملة | Shamela Thousands of Arabic books (including various editions of important classical texts) available for browsing, download, search
المكتبة الشاملة الحديثة مشروع تقني يهدف لتوفير خدمات بحث وتصفح متقدمة لمحتوى المكتبة الشاملة
المكتبة الوقفية Vast collection of digitized Arabic books and manuscripts relevant for Islamic studies including numerous classical texts
شبكة المشكاة الاسلامية Platform with a multitude of digitized Islamic texts (drawn from various editions) and reference works on a range of subjects including tafsīr, fiqh, ʻaqāʾid, and more
nusus | corpus of digitized Arabic texts "Nuṣūṣ is a corpus of digitized Arabic texts designed to fill gaps in extant digital corpora. Originally a collection of early Sufi and Sufi-adjacent texts, nuṣūṣ has since expanded to include early works on kalām, falsafa, and Christian theology."
Persian E-Books Miras Maktoob This link opens in a new window Persian and Arabic books on Islamic history and culture, published by the Written Heritage Research Institute (Miras Maktoob).
E-Kitap (PDF) Kütüphanesi Publications of the Türkiye Yazma Eserler Kurumu Başkanlığı available for browsing and PDF download
Muftiships Web Archive Preserves websites of Muftis and leading jurists from the Islamic world. "These websites cover the responses of leading judicial authorities to current events in their respective countries (and in some cases well beyond)."
African Online Digital Library "AODL provides free universal access to cultural heritage materials from and about African countries and communities. It brings together tens of thousands of digitized photographs, videos, archival documents, maps, interviews and oral histories in numerous African languages, many of which are contained in curated thematic galleries and teaching resources." Including numerous resources on traditions of Islam in Africa

Scholarly Societies and Initiatives

Muslim Middle East and Islamic Studies Graduate Studies Academic listserv for Muslim scholars in Islamic Studies and related disciplines.
International Qur'anic Studies Association (IQSA) Learned society dedicated to the study of the Qur’an. Holds conferences around the world and publishes cutting-edge research and scholarship
North American Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies (NAAIMS) Organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the production and dissemination of academic research on Islam and the diverse lived experience of Muslims
American Academy of Religion Learned society and professional association of teachers and research scholars in the field of religion
Historians of Islamic Art Association (HIAA) "...dedicated to promoting the study and teaching of the art, architecture and archaeology of Islamic cultures world-wide. HIAA also connects colleagues engaged in scholarly and professional activities related to Islamic art, and provides information about current programs and resources vital to the field’s continued development"
GloQur The Global Qur’an القرآن العالمي "GloQur looks at Qur’an translations as a central medium through which Muslims across the globe today approach their faith. We study the historical, exegetical, socio-political and linguistic dimensions of this genre throughout the modern period, which has been characterized by globalizing forces as well as the rise of print and new media. GloQur thus bridges the gap between philological, historical and anthropological approaches to modern and contemporary Muslim engagement with the Qur’an."
Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab "...academic home for the study of mental health in the context of the Islamic faith and Muslim populations. The Lab aims to provide intellectual resources to clinicians, researchers, trainees, educators, community, and religious leaders working with or studying Muslims."
Digital Lab for Islamic Visual Culture & Collections "Based at the University of Edinburgh, the Digital Lab brings researchers and students together to work on creative, interdisciplinary projects in collaboration with partners in the games and GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) sectors"

Digital Scholarship / Digital Humanities (DS / DH)

Resource List (Middle East Librarians Association Digital Scholarship Interest Group = MELA DSIG) "An evolving sampling of digital scholarship related communication channels, collections, corpora, training opportunities, tools (including Arabic OCR), projects & initiatives - by no means an exhaustive list. We will continue to expand the list & invite your suggestions for additional projects & other resources"
MESA Guidelines for Evaluating Digital Scholarship
Text and Data Mining Support (U-M Library)

Sampling of Tools, Initiatives, & Projects

(for an even richer sampling, see MELA DSIG Resource List)

Jedli Search Tool "Toolbox that contains several distinct search functions. It allows you to perform customized search operations looking for any number of words, or combinations thereof, in Arabic texts. Jedli has three different search options: the indexer, the highlighter, and the context search."
Islamicate Digital Humanities Network (IDHN) "network of scholars with a research focus on Islamicate Digital Studies. This includes scholars from the Humanities, Computer Sciences, Computational Linguistics as well as librarians and archivists that work on topics that relate to Middle Eastern politics and culture, Islam as a religion, Arabic, Persian, and other Islamicate languages, et al. and that are already using or are interested in using digital methods for their research..."
Islamicate Digital Humanities
Digital Islamic Humanities Project (Elias Muhanna, Brown University)
Open Islamicate Texts Initiative (OpenITI)
Middle East Librarians Association | Digital Scholarship Interest Group "The MELA Digital Scholarship Interest Group (MELA DSIG) is focused on supporting our community of colleagues working in MENA librarianship as we engage with digital humanities / digital scholarship."

Arabic script OCR

See also the various publications and presentations from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Alexandria, Egypt) and Qatar Computing Research Institute. Important existing tools are QATIP, Sakhr, NovoVerus, and Kraken

Using Transkribus for Arabic Handwritten Text Recognition (British Library)
QATIP – An Optical Character Recognition System for Arabic Heritage Collections in Libraries (2016)
Important New Developments in Arabographic Optical Character Recognition (OCR) (2017) Maxim Romanov, Matthew Thomas Miller, Sarah Bowen Savant, Benjamin Kiessling. (2017). "Important New Developments in Arabographic Optical Character Recognition (OCR)" arXiv:1703.09550
The Ground Truth: Transcribing historical Arabic Scientific Manuscripts for OCR research (2018)
The Open Islamicate Texts Initiative Arabic-script OCR Catalyst Project (OpenITI AOCP) (2019)
MELA DSIG Virtual roundtable on Arabic script OCR / HTR (1 October 2020)
Advances and Limitations in Open Source Arabic-Script OCR: A Case Study (2021) Kiessling, B. & Kurin, G. & Miller, M. T. & Smail, K., (2021) “Advances and Limitations in Open Source Arabic-Script OCR: A Case Study”, Digital Studies / Le champ numérique 11(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.16995/dscn.8094

Transliteration / Romanization

Transliteration (called Romanization when converting to Latin characters) is essential for searching in catalogues, databases, indexes, full text collections, etc. Systems vary considerably by publication / electronic resource / scholarly community / language of influence. Most North American library catalogues (including our local catalogue) use the Library of Congress (ALA / LC) Romanization system . For comparison of various transliteration systems, see the samples linked below along with Thomas T. Pedersen’s comparison tables .

Sampling of Transliteration / Romanization Systems

ALA / LC Romanization Tables
Arabica (Arabic script)
DIN 31635 / DMG Transliteration Standard (Arabic script)
Encyclopædia Iranica Transliteration of Persian and Arabic (Arabic script) Also discusses preferred transliteration systems for Turkish, Avestan, Old Persian, Middle Persian, Chinese, Russian, and Tajik.
IJMES Transliteration System for Arabic, Persian and Turkish (Arabic script)
Hebrew Transliteration (Hebrew script) List of several schemas for Romanization of Hebrew from The Open Siddur Project, including ALA-LC, SBL Handbook of Style, Academy of Hebrew Language, etc.)

Transliteration Comparison Tables (Thomas T. Pedersen)

Arabic (Arabic script) | transliteration comparison
Persian (Arabic script) | transliteration comparison
Ottoman Turkish (Arabic script) | transliteration comparison

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Why We Need Ulama: The Importance of Seeking Islamic Knowledge From Scholars

Published: May 4, 2023 • Updated: July 22, 2024

Author : Dr. Usaama al-Azami

Why We Need Ulama: The Importance of Seeking Islamic Knowledge From Scholars

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Author Acknowledgments

Introduction

Why do we need ʿulamāʾ, what is the ʿulamāʾ, interpreting a single letter, historical roles of the ʿulamāʾ.

How many regions’ only physician is a non-Muslim, whose testimony is not even admissible with respect to other doctors in relation to fiqh rulings. Yet we see no one taking up the study of medicine, but we see them dispute over the study of fiqh , and in particular in contentious matters and polemics while the region is full of jurists who occupy themselves with rulings and respond to events as they unfold. I wish I knew how the jurists of religion could sanction this involvement in a communal obligation ( farḍ kifāya ) that others have already taken responsibility for, while they abandon another communal obligation which no Muslims have undertaken [i.e., the study of medicine].

Is there any other reason for this than the fact that medicine does not facilitate access to being entrusted with the management of financial endowments ( awqāf ), the inheritance of estates ( waṣāyā ), and control over the wealth of orphans; or to assume offices in the judiciary or government, and to gain advancement over one’s peers as well as the power to overcome one’s enemies? 12

Muslims and the modern ‘cultural revolution’

Where and how can reliable scholars be found.

The only thing that kept these people from believing, when guidance came to them, was that they said, “How could God have sent a human being as a messenger?” Say, “If there were angels tranquilly walking about on the earth, We would have sent them an angel from Heaven as a messenger.” 15

Where are the female scholars ( ʿālimāt )?

What if the ʿulamāʾ get things wrong.

The correct position is that rulers ( umarāʾ ) are only to be obeyed inasmuch as they issue commands that are in accord with scholarship ( ʿilm ). Consequently, [the obligation] to obey them follows from [the obligation] to obey the scholars ( ʿulamaʾ ). For obedience is only to be rendered in those matters which are known to be right ( maʿrūf ) and what is obligated by scholarship ( ʿilm ). So just as obeying ʿulamaʾ follows from obeying the Messenger ﷺ, similarly obeying rulers follows from obeying the ʿulamaʾ . Since the practice of Islam can only be fully realized through two groups of people: the scholars and the rulers; and since all people are their followers, worldly flourishing is only attainable through the flourishing of these two groups, and its corruption is through their corruption. As ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak (d. 181/797) and other forebears ( salaf ) have said: There are two types of people who, if they flourish, the people will flourish, and if they are depraved, the people will be depraved. He was asked: “Who are they?” He replied: “The rulers and the ʿulamaʾ .” 24

Infallible sources, fallible humans

“heirs of the prophets”.

Whoever travels a path on which he seeks knowledge, Allah makes a path to Paradise easy for him. Indeed, the angels lower their wings in approval of the one seeking knowledge. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depths of the sea seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the stars. Indeed, the scholars are the heirs of the prophets, and the prophets do not leave behind dinars or dirhams, but rather knowledge. So, whoever acquires it has indeed acquired a bounteous share. 33

A man who had acquired and imparted knowledge and read the Qur'an will be brought forward. Allah will remind him of the favors He had bestowed upon him and the man will acknowledge them. Then He will ask him: “What did you do to express gratitude for these favors?” The man will reply: “I acquired knowledge and taught it, and read the Qur'an for Your sake.” Allah will say to him: “You have lied. You acquired knowledge so that people might call you a learned man, and you read the Qur'an so that they might call you a reciter, and they have done so.” A command will then be issued, and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell. 34

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in these papers and articles are strictly those of the authors. Furthermore, Yaqeen does not endorse any of the personal views of the authors on any platform. Our team is diverse on all fronts, allowing for constant, enriching dialogue that helps us produce high-quality research.

Jurisprudence (fiqh)

Slavery and Emancipation in the Sharia: The Islamic Framework for Ethical Treatment of Slaves in the Minhāj fī shuʿab al-īmān of al-Ḥalīmī

Fard Kifayah: The Principle of Communal Responsibility in Islam

What is a Madhhab? Exploring the Role of Islamic Schools of Law

Does That Apply to Non-Muslims, Too?

The Issue of Apostasy in Islam

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What Is Islam?: The Importance of Being Islamic By Shahab Ahmed

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Wendy Shaw, What Is Islam?: The Importance of Being Islamic By Shahab Ahmed , Journal of Islamic Studies , Volume 28, Issue 3, September 2017, Pages 378–382, https://doi.org/10.1093/jis/etx042

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Sometimes a book or a movie or a poem comes precisely at the moment that one needs it. As any reader knows, this is a moment of profound communion, a rare moment in which we can feel less alone in our world and more together in our thoughts. This is the feeling that filled me as I read Shahab Ahmed’s What is Islam? This is the book that I have been looking for. I wanted to thank the author for having finally brought such a book into the world, but he had just died. As I read it, I wanted to engage him in debate, ask him questions, think and rethink the issues he raises, but he is gone, and I instead turn to the diverse and erudite footnotes of his text, jotting down the many ways in which we, his readers, can push these thoughts in new directions.

It is rare, of course, to begin a book review with a feeling. It is precisely what we, as scholars, learn not to do. We learn not to do it especially if we want to be taken seriously. It becomes a particularly important measure if we, as outsiders to the hegemony—as women, and/or as Muslims—want to be taken seriously. As if our emotions have no place in our thoughts, as if our beliefs are simply biases that endanger our objectivity. However, this is precisely the problem at the heart of the study of ‘other’ cultures: that we must position ourselves as outsiders, all the more so if we speak from inside. As a feminist liberal Muslim woman, I belong to a religion that, in its blanket resistance to Western and colonial inspired modernism, has adopted an alternative modernism rooted in punishingly misogynistic patriarchy which it grounds in a puritanical, reductionist understanding of Islam. My religion excludes me. And yet as a scholar, an Islamic art historian, I know that the historical legacies of Islamic arts—in which I include visual arts, music, poetry, philosophy—show us a far more diverse, inclusive, expressive, and sexy face of Islam. There is a place for me in that history, but not in the living space of Islam. And yet, the idea of scholarship also excludes this relationship with history as a part of faith. But I do not believe that it should. And while I have no say over how religion should function, the very premise of reasoned argument at the heart of scholarship gives me the authority to have some say in what the rules of the game might be here.

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DOI: 10.47191/ijsshr/v6-i5-71
Corpus ID: 258951207

The Importance of Seeking Knowledge in Islam: A Literature Review

Zohra Yasin , R. Husain , +1 author Muhammad Obie
Published in International journal of… 27 May 2023

2 Citations

Classroom learning management using component display theory in islamic education courses, management of project-based learning and case-based learning in guidance and counseling lessons, 32 references, kewajiban menuntut ilmu dalam islam, revisiting islamic education: the case of indonesia, islamic perspectives on training and professional development, islamic conceptualisation of knowledge management, the perception and method in teaching and learning islamic education, islamic religious curriculum in muslim countries: the experiences of indonesia and malaysia, saudi women doctors: gender and careers within wahhabic islam and a ‘westernised’ work culture, pandangan islam tentang ilmu pengetahuan dan refleksinya terhadap aktivitas pendidikan sains di dunia muslim, religion and science: beyond the epistemological conflict narrative, islamic thought: an introduction, related papers.

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This compendium of articles from outstanding scholars throughout the world presents a wide-ranging series of issues and developments in Islamic Studies, in order to profile the 'state of the art' in the discipline. The chapters are subdivided into five groups. First, Islam is defined, its multicultural aspect emphasized, and then ...
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There are five methods of research in different Islamic sciences: 1. Rational method, as used in philosophical texts of Ibn Sina (died 428 AH). 2. Narrative method, as used in history, the science of al-Rejaal, jurisprudence, etc. 3. Intuitive method, as used in mysticism. 4.
Introduction to Research Methodology in Islamic Studies
Guidelines To Islamic Studies Research Methodolgy Islamic Studies comprises six major themes, which are Quran Studies, Hadith Studies, Usul al-Din (principles of faith), Fiqh (Jurisprudence) Sirah (biography) and civilization. For the benefit of researchers, the field can be categorized into four branches of scholarship.
Who Defines Islam? Critical Perspectives on Islamic Studies
Born as Islamwissenschaft in Germany in the second half of the 19th century, then exported to France as islamologie, and later as Islamic studies to the English-speaking world, the study of Islam as a discipline has always been contested.1 A key question in the controversies around Islamic studies is who defines Islam as a subject study. Claiming to define Islam is an argument for epistemic ...
Research Methodology in Islamic Studies
About the Course. This Research Methodology course is a hands‐on course designed to impart education in the foundational methods and techniques of academic research in Islamic religious studies and social sciences. Students will examine and be practically exposed to the main components of a research framework generally and from an Islamic ...
(PDF) Islamic Research Methodology in Contemporary Research: Is it
For the first type of research, it was an armchair study and used a qualitative design. Meanwhile, for the seco nd type of research, it is an applied study or fieldwork research. These. two ...
The Importance of Islamic Studies from an Islamic Worldview in
Islamic Worldview: A Snapshot. To start this discussion on Islamic studies in pursuit of the Islamic worldview in Australia, it is essential to understand the meaning of the word Islam. Islam is an Arabic word which encompasses the trilateral Arabic root s.l.m. and its derivatives are the meanings of peace, security and surrender.
Islamic Studies
Vast collection of digitized Arabic books and manuscripts relevant for Islamic studies including numerous classical texts. شبكة المشكاة الاسلامية. Platform with a multitude of digitized Islamic texts (drawn from various editions) and reference works on a range of subjects including tafsīr, fiqh, ʻaqāʾid, and more.
Why We Need Ulama: The Importance of Seeking Islamic Knowledge From
For example, a doctorate in Islamic studies from a Western university is in no way an indication that an individual is an ʿālim, because Islamic studies at Western universities overwhelmingly continues to be taught in a secular register—it is usually approached from the perspective of intellectual history. When it comes to Islamic ...
(PDF) Need and Importance of Research in Islam
andimportance of research in Islam and w ishes to create a climate for research. while searching truth. Infact,in Islam, r esearch primarily ai ms to solve issues confronting by the human beings ...
What Is Islam?: The Importance of Being Islamic By Shahab Ahmed
The Importance of Being Islamic By Shahab Ahmed, Journal of Islamic Studies, Volume 28, Issue 3, September 2017, ... The approach of Islamic studies, and its many associated branches and fields—history, Qurʾānic studies, art history, national studies, etc.—has been to maintain the positivist secularist approach which places the scholar at ...
PDF The Science in Islamic Perspective
Literature study or literature can be defined as a series of activities relating to collecting library data, reading and taking notes, and processing study materials (Muslimah, 2016; Aslan, 2017 ...
The Importance of Seeking Knowledge in Islam: A Literature Review
This study discusses the importance of seeking knowledge in Islam by conducting a literature review. The background of this research is the obligation in Islam to seek knowledge as part of worship. This study aims to explore an understanding of this obligation and the method of seeking knowledge in Islam. The method is to review the literature on the obligation to seek knowledge in Islam. The ...
The Importance of Seeking Knowledge in Islam: A Literature Review
A. The Basics of the Importance of Seeking Knowledge in Islam. According to the teachings of Islam, the need to seek knowledge is known as fardhu 'ain, which translates to "it is obligatory for ...

Research Methodology in the Domain of Islamic Studies

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Research Methods in Islamic Sciences

1) ‘Research Methods’: Etymology and Definition

What is a ‘Research Method’?

2) Characteristics of a Researcher

3) Benefits of a Scientific Research

4) Types of Research

Conditions of a Group Research

Advantages of a Group Research

Disadvantages of a Group Research

5) Tools of a Research

6) Principles of a Scientific Research

7) Methods of a Research

8) Stages of Research

9) Scientific Method of Studying

10) Scientific Method of Compiling a Thesis

Introduction to Research Methodology in Islamic Studies

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1. Introduction

2. Who Defines Islam?: A Question of Religious and Epistemic Authority

3. Islamic Studies: A Diversity of Models and Approaches

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Research Methodology in Islamic Studies

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12 Live Online Sessions

Duration: 4 Months

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1. Introduction to Research

2. Research Methodology in Islamic Studies

3. Philosophies and the Language of Research Theory Building

4. Thinking like a Researcher

5. Problems and Hypotheses

6. Research Design

7. Methods of Data Collection

8. Attitude Measurement and Scaling

9. Sampling Techniques

10. Using the Internet and Software for Research in Islamic Studies

11. Processing and Analysis of Information and Data

12. Islamic Ethical issues in Conducting Research

13. Islamic Hermeneutics and Islamisation of Knowledge

14. Report generation

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The Importance of Islamic Studies from an Islamic Worldview in Australia

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Why We Need Ulama: The Importance of Seeking Islamic Knowledge From Scholars

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