Humanism has a strong presence in classical Islam, be it in theological, philosophical, ethical, legal and literary traditions. For Muslims, the humanism that they understood is essentially a religious humanism where the affirmation of tauhid (monotheism) is central. More importantly, the social dimension forms an integral part of Islamic humanistic ideals where the nurturing of man through education affirms the exaltation of man’s reasoning power, ethical accountability, and spiritual freedom.
This essay traces key aspects of religious humanism as found in the Islamic traditions, particularly in the domains of theology, Sufism, philosophy and ethics. It offers rich insights into the works of various classical Muslim thinkers and outlines the humanistic agenda that are relevant for today’s contemporary society.
(RG Ocassional Paper Series No. 1)
Author:
Azhar Ibrahim Alwee
Paperback:
41 pages
Published:
2008, Singapore, 1st Edition
Publisher:
Leftwrite Center
ISBN:
978-981-08-1724-4
Price:
SGD $7.00
