صناعة التفكير الناقد في العلوم الإسلامية

Developing Critical Thinking in the Islamic Sciences

Abstract

The study addresses the theoretical foundations of critical thinking within the Islamic sciences by exploring its epistemological, ethical, and methodological dimensions. It argues that authentic critical thinking in the Islamic tradition is not merely a cognitive skill but a comprehensive intellectual and moral practice governed by the ethical principles of sincerity, intellectual integrity, objectivity, humility, and responsibility. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the cultivation of critical thinking depends upon interdisciplinary engagement among the various Islamic sciences—including jurisprudence (fiqh), legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh), theology (kalām), hadith studies, Qur'anic exegesis, and Arabic linguistic sciences—while also benefiting from auxiliary disciplines such as logic and grammar, which provide the analytical tools necessary for sound reasoning and accurate interpretation. Employing analytical and inductive methodologies, the study examines the mechanisms through which Islamic scholars developed critical inquiry, emphasising the indispensable roles of scientific scepticism toward transmitted knowledge, evidence-based reasoning, methodological verification, and precise mastery of disciplinary terminology. The findings indicate that the Islamic intellectual tradition provides a coherent theoretical framework for cultivating critical thinking by integrating ethical formation with epistemological discipline and methodological competence. Consequently, the study concludes that critical thinking is an intrinsic characteristic of the Islamic sciences rather than an external or modern addition, and that its revival offers a valuable paradigm for contemporary Islamic education, capable of promoting intellectual creativity, balanced reasoning, and responsible scholarly engagement.