Books-In-Brief: The Socio-Intellectual Foundations of Malek Bennabi’s Approach to ‎Civilization (Swahili Language)
Books-In-Brief: The Socio-Intellectual Foundations of Malek Bennabi’s Approach to ‎Civilization (Swahili Language)

Author: Badrane Benlahcene

Publisher: International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)

Published: 2003-01-01

Total Pages: 40

ISBN-13: 1642054127

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Since the publication of Samuel Huntington’s “The Clash of Civilizations” concern about civilization has been reintroduced into the debate on the world order. Malek Bennabi (1905–1973), prominent Algerian thinker and great Muslim intellectual, intently focused on unraveling the causes of Muslim decline and the success of Western civilization and culture. The key problem he theorized lay not in the Qur’an or Islamic faith but in Muslims themselves. The author investigates Bennabi’s approach to civilization and the fundamental principles drawn, using metatheorizing methodology. In doing so he sheds further light on perhaps one of the more intriguing elements of Bennabi’s theory, that civilization is governed by internal-external and social-intellectual factors and that an equation can be generated for civilization itself. This equation of Man+Soil+Time = Civilization and of which religion, according to Bennabi, forms the all-important catalyst, is explained and its significance in terms of the reversal of Muslim decline evaluated. What is clearly apparent is that for Bennabi, Man is the central force in any civilizing process and without him the other two elements are of no value. With regard to outcomes, Bennabi’s unerring conviction that unless Muslims changed their spiritual condition, they could not affect any far-reaching, meaningful change in society is echoed in the Qur’anic verse: “Verily, never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (13:11).

The Socio-intellectual Foundations of Malek Bennabi's Approach to Civilization
The Socio-intellectual Foundations of Malek Bennabi's Approach to Civilization

Author: Badrane Benlahcene

Publisher: International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 331

ISBN-13: 1565643674

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Since the publication of Samuel Huntington’s “The Clash of Civilizations” concern about civilization has been reintroduced into the debate on the world order. Malek Bennabi (1905–1973), prominent Algerian thinker and great Muslim intellectual, intently focused on unravelling the causes of Muslim decline and the success of Western civilization and culture. The key problem he theorized lay not in the Qur’an or Islamic faith but in Muslims themselves. The author investigates Bennabi’s approach to civilization and the fundamental principles drawn, using metatheorizing methodology. In doing so he sheds further light on perhaps one of the more intriguing elements of Bennabi’s theory, that civilization is governed by internal-external and social-intellectual factors and that an equation can be generated for civilization itself. This equation of Man+Soil+Time = Civilization and of which religion, according to Bennabi, forms the all-important catalyst, is explained and its significance in terms of the reversal of Muslim decline evaluated. What is clearly apparent is that for Bennabi, Man is the central force in any civilizing process and without him the other two elements are of no value. With regard to outcomes, Bennabi’s unerring conviction that unless Muslims changed their spiritual condition they could not effect any far-reaching, meaningful change in society is echoed in the Qur’anic verse: “Verily, never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (13:11).

Mecca of Revolution
Mecca of Revolution

Author: Jeffrey James Byrne

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 409

ISBN-13: 0199899142

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Through an examination of Algeria's interactions with the wider world from the beginning of its war of independence to the fall of its first post-colonial regime, Mecca of Revolution provides the Third Worldist perspective on twentieth century international history. Featuring pioneering research on multiple continents, it rejuvenates the fields of diplomatic history and post-colonial studies.

The Foundations of Faith
The Foundations of Faith

Author: Nicholas Cacciatore

Publisher: Pleasant Word

Published: 2007-08-01

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13: 9781414109565

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The Foundations of Faith is a commentary on the foundational truths of Scripture, written by Nicholas Cacciatore and eight contributing authors, to help one deepen the understanding of God's works.

An Introduction to African Philosophy
An Introduction to African Philosophy

Author: Sam O. Imbo

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Published: 1998-03-26

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 1461636507

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Organized topically rather than historically, this book provides an excellent introduction to the subject of African Philosophy. Samuel Oluoch Imbo synthesizes the ideas of key African philosophers into an accessible narrative. The author focuses on five central questions: What are the definitions of African philosophy? Is ethno-philosophy really philosophy? What are the dangers of an African philosophy that claims to be 'unique'? Can African philosophy be done in foreign languages such as English and French? Are there useful ways to make connections between African philosophy, African American philosophy, and women's studies? By making cross-disciplinary and transnational connections, Imbo stakes out an important place for African philosophy. Imbo's book is an invaluable introduction to this dynamic and growing area of study.

Books-in-Brief: Epistemological Integration
Books-in-Brief: Epistemological Integration

Author: Fathi Hasan Malkawi

Publisher: International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)

Published: 2015-01-01

Total Pages: 53

ISBN-13: 1565646754

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The book is a program which seeks to construct an intellectual framework for Islamic methodology with a view to realizing practical training in the thoughtful investigation of issues related to knowledge in various fields. The book’s title affirms the distinctive types of integration that characterize Islamic methodology, including integration of sources, means, and schools of thought, as well as existing realities with desired ideals etc. This is fully consistent with human nature, as variety is fundamental to the functions people perform and skills they master. The work essentially makes the case that fundamental to any Muslim recovery is laying the foundations of sound thinking and values that integrate the two main sources of knowledge: Revelation and Reality (that is the created worlds both physical, societal and psychological) under the umbrella of Tawhid. This concept of integration implies using both human theoretical conceptualization and practical experimental investigation whilst also affirming the need to apply human capabilities in understanding the divine text, and acquiring sound knowledge of the physical world in terms of its resources, as well as accumulated past and present human experiences. The aim being to vitalize human potential and creativity.

Ibn Ashur
Ibn Ashur

Author: Muhammad Al-Tahir Ibn Ashur

Publisher: IIIT

Published: 2006-01-01

Total Pages: 521

ISBN-13: 1565645375

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Shaikh Muhammad al-Tahir ibn Ashur is the most renowned Zaytuna Imam and one of the great Islamic scholars of the 20th century. The publication of this translation of Shaikh Ibn Ashur’s Treatise on Maqasid al-Shari’ah is a breakthrough in studies on Islamic law in the English language. In this book, Ibn Ashur proposed Maqasid as a methodology for the renewal of the theory of Islamic law, which has not undergone any serious development since the era of the great imams. Ibn Ashur – quite courageously – also addressed the sensitive topic of the intents/Maqasid of Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) behind his actions and decisions. He introduced criteria to differentiate between the Prophetic traditions that were meant to be part of Islamic law and the Prophetic actions/ sayings that were meant to be for the sake of specific purposes such as political leadership, court judgment, friendly advice, and conflict resolution. But Ibn Ashur’s most significant contribution in this book has been the development of new Maqasid by coining new, contemporary, terminology that were never formulated in traditional usul al-fiqh. For example, Ibn Ashur developed the theory of the ‘preservation of lineage’ into ‘the preservation of the family system’, the ‘protection of true belief’ into ‘freedom of beliefs’, etc. He also introduced the concepts of ‘orderliness’, ‘natural disposition’, ‘freedom’, ‘rights’, ‘civility’, and ‘equality’ as Maqasid in their own right, and upon which the whole Islamic law is based. This development opens great opportunities for Islamic law to address current and real challenges for Muslim societies and Muslim minorities.

The Postnormal Times Reader
The Postnormal Times Reader

Author: Ziauddin Sardar

Publisher: International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)

Published: 2019-01-01

Total Pages: 397

ISBN-13: 1642052442

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IIIT Books-In-Brief Series is a valuable collection of the Institute’s key publications written in condensed form to give readers a core understanding of the main contents of the original. Postnormal times are best defined as ‘an in-between period where old orthodoxies are dying, new ones have yet to be born, and very few things seem to make sense’. or, as Ezio Mauro puts it: ‘we are hanging between the “no longer” and the “not yet” and thus we are necessary unstable –nothing around us is fixed, not even our direction of travel.’ The postnormal times theory attempts to make sense of a rapidly changing world, where uncertainty is the dominant theme and ignorance has become a valuable community. The Postnormal Times Reader is a pioneering anthology of writings on the contradictory, complex and chaotic nature of our era. It covers the origins, theory and methods of postnormal times; and examines a host of issues, ranging from climate change, governance, Middle East to religion and science, from the perspective of postnormal times. By mapping some of the key local and global issues of our transitional age, the Reader suggests a way of navigating our turbulent futures.

Identity and Beyond
Identity and Beyond

Author: Souleymane Bachir Diagne

Publisher: Nordic Africa Institute

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 38

ISBN-13: 9789171064875

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"Beyond Identities -- Rethinking Power in Africa" was the general theme of the biennial "Nordic Africa Days" organized in October 2001 by the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala. The plenary presentations by three invited African scholars are included in this Discussion Paper. They centre on aspects of the event’s general theme and provide a variety of stimulating reflections and insights from different disciplines.