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Course Name: ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY
Course Code: RSD 3206
Course Units: 3
Course Description
The course looks at rationalism towards Islamic teachings. There has been a radical
development of Islamic Philosophy in a modern direction from the seventh century with a
coherent worldview for modern Muslim man in which the role of ancient and medieval (both
Arabic and Latin) thought is progressively ignored or minimized.
Course Objectives: i) To deepen the knowledge of an Islamic student towards the basic
Islamic principles
ii)
To enrich the student with the rich Islamic history in knowledge
acquisition
iii)
To equip the student with basic tools philosophical of knowledge
acquisition in contemporary times.
Course Outline
Part A
 The legacy of Greek philosophies; translation and neo-platonic elements – General
introduction to Islamic philosophy – core terminologies, concepts and tools
 Early political and religious tensions – religious political factions and the rise of Islamic
scholasticism (Kalam) over; God, soul, immortality/eternity motion, time, space,
revelation, attributes, universe Gods justice etc.
 Beginning of systematic Islamic Philosophy. All Kindi, naturalism vs Dogma, Al Razi
and Ibn Al Rawandi
 Neo Platonism – Al Farabi, Ibn Sina and the popularization of the philosophical sciences.
Part B
 Diffusion of philosophy with culture and interaction of philosophy and Dogma-Asharites,
Ibn Rushid and the Mutazilites
 The rise and development Islamic mysticism (SUFISM) Al Ghazali.
 Theological reaction and deribarate attack on philosophy; literalism and Neo-Hanbalism,
moderation and its decline, Ibn Khaldun, Ibn Hamza, Abdalul Wehab Taymiyyah.
 Modern and contemporary trends of philosophy in Islam: al Afghan, M. Abdu, Ahmed
Khan M. Iqbal; Fundamentalism, Existentialism, Positivism and Socialism.
Learning Outcome
 Students should have enriched their knowledge of the basic Islamic principles
 Students should have understood the legacy of Greek philosophy to Islam
 Students should have understood the early political and religious tensions impacted on
Islam.
 Students should have acquired the philosophy of Islamic knowledge acquisition in
contemporary times.
Method of Delivery
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

Lectures
Group discussions
Analysis of case studies
Mode of Assessment
 Coursework- 30%
 Final Examination – 70%
Reference Materials
1. Adam, Charles, C., Islam and Modernization 1 Egypt, London, 1993
2. AFFIFFI A., The mystical philosophy of Arabi, Cambridge 1933.
3. Ali, AMEER, The spirit of Islam, London, 1955
4. ATNAN, SOHEIL M, AVECENNA: His life and works, London 1958.
5. Fakh Y.M., Islamic occassionalism, London, 1958.
6. Fakhry M. Reconciliation of Plato and Aristotle, London 1978.
7. Fakhry M., A History of Islamic Philosophy, London 1983.
8. Gibb H.A.R., Modern Trends in Islam, Chicago, 1945.
9. Guillanme A., The tradition of Islam
10. Hastings, J. Encyclopedia of Religion and ethics, Edinburgh 1926
11. Iqbal M. The reconstruction of Religion thought is Islam London, 1934
12. Ivry A.L. Al Kindi’s Metaphysics, Albany, 1974.
13. Jeffery A. Materials for the history of the text of the Quran, lerden, 1937
14. Mecathy R.J. Al Kandi’s Trealise on the intellect, Islamic Studies, 111 June 1964, page
119
15. Quraish, Test book of Islam 11 Islamic foundation Nairobi
16. Ross W.D. Aristotle, London, 1954
17. Shariff M.M. History of Muslim Philosophy, Wiesbaden 1962.
18. Watt W.M. Free will and predishnation in early Islam, London 1948
19. Watt W.M. Islamic philosophy and theology Edinburgh 1962
20. ZELLER E., Outlines of History of Greek Philosophy, New York 1931