Chapter 1

ISB 539 ISLAMIC THEOLOGY
Academy of Islamic Contemporary Studies (ACIS),

UiTM Kelantan
STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
OF SYLLABUS (ISB539)
• CHAPTER 1:
Introduction: Basic Terminologies and
Conceptions of Islamic Theology.
• CHAPTER 2:
Islamic Approaches and Methodologies in
Study of Islamic Theology.
• CHAPTER 3:
Different Groups and Schools of Thought in Islamic Theology.
• CHAPTER 4:
The Attributes of Allah swt
• CHAPTER 5:
Remaining Pillars of Iman
• CHAPTER 6:
The Corrupters of Islamic Aqidah: (al-
Riddah/al-Syirk/al-Kufr)
• CHAPTER 7:
Modern Ideologies and School of Thought (Atheism,
Darwinism, Feudalism, Secularism, Maxism, Liberalism,
Nationalism, Democration etc)
Teaching Methodology
• Lecturer (f2f + ODL)
• Group Discussion
• Assingment
• Presentation
Assessment
• Course Work
Test 1: 15%
Test 2: 15%
Group Assg: 20%
Presentation: 10%
Ind Assg: 10%
Final Test: 30%
CHAPTER 1:
AN INTRODUCTION:
THE BASIC TERMINOLOGIES AND
CONCEPTS
1.1: Human, The Universe
and The Religion
Human Being in Islamic Perspectives
• In Islamic perspective as well humans have high importance. First
of all everything is the creation of Allah (God) as it is mentioned in
the Quran,
“It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is
between them.” al-Quran, (32:4)
• Everything is created for humans, as mentioned in the Quran,

“It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth.” al-
Quran, (2:29)
• Human beings are noble creation, as it is mentioned in the Quran,

“We have certainly created man in the best of stature. Al-Quran, (95:4)
Human in Islam
• Humans in the Islamic context are of dualistic nature i.e. a
combination of body and soul. As Allah says in the Quran,
“(Remember) when your Lord said to the angels: ‘Truly,
I am going to create man from clay. So when I have
fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me.”
al-Quran, (38: 71-72)
• Ibn Taymiyyah explains this as:

“Insan (human) is the expression which refers to both the body and
the soul together; indeed, it applies more to the soul than to the body. The
body is just the vehicle for the soul .
1.2 The Conceptions of Human Creation
The Islamic Conception Of Human
• Khalifah fi al-Ard
Human is at once the slave of God - Allah (al- àbd)
and His vice-gerent on earth (khalîfat Allâh fi'l - ard.)
• Best Creation
 Human is not an animal which happens to speak and think
but a being who possesses a soul and spirit created by God.
• Man is the only creation on earth that has the potential to
explore and investigate the universe as well as the flora and
fauna.
• Among all creations in the heaven and earth, only man has
been bestowed with many distinctive qualities. As the recipient
of these distinctive qualities from Allah the Almighty, man is
placed on the highest pedestal in the hierarchy of creations.
• Man has been created in the best of forms (The Qur’an, 95:1-4),
provided with the creative intelligence (The Qur’an, 2:31-34),
given the power of speech and freedom of choice (The Qur’an,
55:4; 76: 3).
• The Islamic man possesses the possibility of inner
knowledge : the knowledge of his own inner being, which
is in fact the key to the knowledge of God - Allah according
to the famous prophetic hadîth, 'He who knows himself
knoweth his Lord' (man àrafa nafsahu faqad àrafa
rabbahu).
• The Islamic man thus remains aware of the eschatological

[e] realities of the fact that, although he lives on this earth,
he is here as a traveller far away from his original abode.
Human Creation and Development
Verily We created Man

from a drop of mingled
sperm, in order to try him:
So We gave him (the gifts),
of Hearing and Sight.
• “It has been a great pleasure for me
to help clarify statements in the
Quran about human development.
It is clear to me that these
statements must have come to
Muhammad from God, because
almost all of this knowledge was
not discovered until many centuries
later. This proves to me that
Keith Leon Moore (born 5 October 1925 in
Muhammad must have been a Brantford, Ontario) is a professor emeritus in
messenger of God.” Professor the division of anatomy, in the Faculty of
Emeritus Keith L. Moore Surgery, at the University of Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
• Man is the crown of creation (ashraf al-makhlûqât);
but he has not evolved from the lower forms of life
(as Theory of Darwinism). Man has always been man.
‫ب‬ ‫ق(‪)6‬يَ ْخ ُر ُج ِم ْن بَي ِْن الصُّ ْل ِ‬
‫ب َوالتَّ َراِئ ِ‬ ‫ق(‪ُ )5‬خلِ َ‬
‫ق ِم ْن َما ٍء َدافِ ٍ‬ ‫فَ ْليَ ْنظُ ِر اِإْل ْن َس ُ‬
‫ان ِم َّم ُخلِ َ‬
‫)‪(at-Thariq: 5-7‬‬
Universe
The Islamic view toward the universe is an intellectual,

scientific view that creates the human emotions and feelings
toward the greatness of Allah the creator.
It also creates emotions and feelings toward the smallness of

the human being and his weakness in front of this universe,
which leads to the necessity to submit to Allah (S.W.T.)
• 1. The universe as a whole is a creation of
Allah that created it for a purpose. "We have
not created the heavens and the earth, and
all that is between them, for mere play, We
created them not except with truth, but most
of the do not know.“
•
• Qur’an demands man to think and reflect
upon the creation of Allah, to reach to the
oneness of Allah and to submit exclusively to
Allah. Allah (S.W.T.) says in surat A-Zummar,
(Verses 62-63 & 67), what can be translated
as, "Allah is the Creator of all things, and he
is the Wakil, (Trustee, Dospose of affairs,
Guardian, etc.)
• 2. The universe is subjected to certain absolute laws that
Allah (S.W.T.) made according to certain predestination
prescribed by Allah. He (S.W.T.) says in surat Yasseen, (Verses
37-40), "And a sign for them is the night, We withdraw
there from the day, and behold, they are in darkness. And
the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That
is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. And the
moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it
returns like the old dried curved date stalk. It is not for the
sun to catch up with the moon, nor does the night outstrip
the day. They all float, each in an orbit."
1.2 Need for Religion
• 1) What is Religion?
The Arabic word “Deen”‫ دين‬which is translated as “Religion” in English is used for
several meanings:
(a) “Islam; Belief in unity of God; Worship; Obedience; All the acts of worship;
piety;” All these meanings are interrelated and are connected with the belief in
Creator (Allah swt).
(b) “Judgment; Reward or Punishment; Account; Order; Law;” These meanings are
inter-related and point to the belief in the Life-Hereafter.
(c) The third group of its meanings is: “Custom; character; Habit; Religion revealed
and traditional both.’”
The idea behind the word‫ دين‬deen” is that man, by his
nature, has to have a pattern of life based upon some
spiritual ideals or ideas which we call ‘belief’.
It appears that the word ‫ دين‬is more comprehensive than

the English word ‘’Religion’’ which puts emphasis on only
‘’Human recognition of super-human controlling power
and especially of a personal god or gods entitled to
obedience and worship, effects of such recognition or
conduct of mental attitude, particular system of faith and
worship.”
Why we need the Religion?
• Man is a social animal and need of society.
Every society needs some laws to prevent
injustice and perserve the right of every
member of the society.
• But…who is the right authority to make the law???
• Religion provides power for facing adversities

and serves as a bulwark (benteng) against
undesirable reactions of despair and
hopelessness.
• Man cannot live in an ideological vacuum for long and as such
his tendency towards a wrong ideology and false values
becomes definite. Ideology is not filled with sound beliefs and
healthy teachings.
• Religion with its firm and sound teachings can be an effective

factor in scientific progress, because its foundation has been laid
on the solid bed-rock of "freedom of will" and on the fact that
everybody is accountable for his own deeds.
• Religion strongly againts every discrimination based on color,

race or class, because it regards all human beings as God's
creatures and every country as God's country. According to it, all
enjoy God's love and kindness equally and as such, all are equal.
1.2 Al-Din al-Islami (Islamic Religion):
Aqidah, Shariah & Akhlak
• What is Islam?:
Islam-The name which comes from an Arabic
root word meaning "peace" and "submission."
Islam teaches that one can only find peace in
one's life by submitting to Almighty God (Allah)
in heart, soul and deed.
– Islam is a Deen (al-Quran: 5.3)
– Islam is a submission to Allah (al-Quran: 3.19)
– Islam is Religion of Allah (al-Quran: 3.83)
• Ibn Taymiyyah: “Islam is to surrender to Allah,
submit to Him, worship Him and serve Him..”
The Content of Islam
Aqidah in Islam
Shariah
Akhlak
1.3 The Meaning and Connection of Iman,
Islam and Ihsan
Iman
• Iman-"Iman" is both verbal and actions. Meaning, the heart and
tongue confess with Iman while the heart and other sense do actions.
The Pillars of Iman (Faith)

1)Belief in Allah
2)Belief in His Angels
3)Belief in His Messengers
4)Belief in His Books
5)Belief in the Last Day
6)Belief in Al-Qadar
(Pre-Ordainment).
Islam
• "Islam" means believing in Allah (The God) to the extent of
surrendering your will to Him....
• Islam is the Religion of all Prophets.
Five Pillars of Islam (five obligatory

acts of worship)
1)Declaration of Faith (Syahadah)
2)Perform the five prayers (salat)
3)Pay the Zakat
4)Fasting (sawm) during the Ramadhan
5) Pilgrimage (hajj)-if he/she is able to
do so)
Ihsan
• Ihsan- "Ihsan" is the highest of the three levels
of faith and the closest to God. It is to worship
Allah as if you are seeing Him. While you do not
see Him, He truly sees you...
• Ihsan also meaning of spending out what God

has given. Mean using your energy, talent,
resources, money, possessions, or whatever
else, to help and do good to those in need.
• Ihsan is achieved through concerted efforts to
beautify one's soul by ridding one’s heart and soul
of all evil qualities like anger, hatred, jealousy,
envy, arrogance, greed, injustice, impatience,
egoism, racism, fanaticism, extremism, self-
righteousness, vengeance, hard-heartedness,
ignorance, cowardliness, entertaining evil
thoughts, lust for fame/control/power, and all
negative traits and tendencies;
• Beautifying one's soul can be developed through all
good qualities like love, patience, gratitude,
forgiveness, kindness, compassion, generosity,
humility, sincerity to God and to all human beings,
trust in God, inner purity, all positive traits and
tendencies,
• consequently developing an intimate relationship

with God thus receiving Divine protection and
guidance in all matters of life.
• This level is considered to be Islam’s third dimension
that gives Islam its depth and beauty.
• It is the highest level of Islam that one strives to reach
in order to realize full human potential by completely
eliminating darkness within one's soul and
consequently receiving the Divine light of wisdom in
which one finds answers to all questions of life such as
– who I am, where have I come from, where am I heading to,
what is the purpose of life, why God created everything,
and what really is true happiness and success..
Connection of Islam-Iman-Ihsan
Islam and Iman --> Iman as the inward
deeds, while Islam is the outward actions..
Topics of Assingments
• Religion vs. Ideology: looking for differential
• The important of Islamic Aqidah in Economic
and Finance

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ISB 539 ISLAMIC THEOLOGY

Academy of Islamic Contemporary Studies (ACIS),

• Everything is created for humans, as mentioned in the Quran,

• Human beings are noble creation, as it is mentioned in the Quran,

• Ibn Taymiyyah explains this as:

• The Islamic man thus remains aware of the eschatological

Verily We created Man

The Islamic view toward the universe is an intellectual,

It also creates emotions and feelings toward the smallness of

It appears that the word ‫ دين‬is more comprehensive than

• Religion provides power for facing adversities

• Religion with its firm and sound teachings can be an effective

• Religion strongly againts every discrimination based on color,

The Pillars of Iman (Faith)

Five Pillars of Islam (five obligatory

• Ihsan also meaning of spending out what God

• consequently developing an intimate relationship

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