Thinking styles in the quran

THINKING STYLES IN THE
QURAN
Lecturer:
Prof. Dr. Sauda Bint Abdur
Rahman
Prepared and presented by:
Belayet Hossen
Masters in Quran and Sunnah
Studies
Matric: G1429975 1

INTRODUCTION
1.Inquisitive thinking 9. Analogical thinking
2.Objective thinking 10.Emotional thinking
3. Positive thinking 11.Perceptual thinking
4. Hypothetical thinking 12.Conceptual thinking
5. Rational thinking 13.Intuitive thinking
6. Contemplative thinking 14. Scientific thinking
7. Visual thinking 15. Wishful thinking
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1. INQUISITIVE THINKING STYLE
 Asking questions is one of the most effective tools in
teaching and learning since it leads to the development
of new connections in the brain neural network which, in
turn, leads to new ideas and concepts.
Example: ‫ألست‬‫بركم؟‬‫قالوا‬‫بلى‬! ( Al-A’raf:172) ( Am I not your
Lord? They said: Yes we testify).
3

2. OBJECTIVE THINKING
STYLE
 Objectivity means to express the claims, and judgments based on
proofs and evidences, based on certainty and not on doubt or
conjecture to avoid bias, personal interest, or whims in forming
opinion and giving judgments.
 Example: Seeking evidence to prove a claim---
‫قل‬‫هاتوا‬‫برهانكم‬‫إن‬‫كنتم‬‫صادقين‬ ( Produce your proof, if you are truthful
.Al-Baqara:111)
4

3. POSITIVE THINKING STYLE
 Islam has a lot to contribute towards positive thinking in the
Quran. The style can be divided into the following aspects:
Example: Not to lose hope in Allah’s mercy.
‫قل‬‫يا‬‫عبادي‬‫الذين‬‫أسرفوا‬‫على‬‫أنفسهم‬‫ال‬‫تقنطوا‬‫من‬‫رحمة‬‫هللا‬.
‫إن‬‫هللا‬‫يغفر‬‫الذنوب‬‫جميعا‬.‫إنه‬‫هو‬‫الغفور‬‫الرحيم‬.
( Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against
themselves; do not despair of God’s mercy. Indeed, Allah
forgives all sins. Verily, He is the most Forgiver, the most
Merciful. Az-Zumar:53).
5

4. HYPOTHETICAL THINKING
 This style of thinking aims at increasing human intellect by
exposing it to Truth. Though the verse of the Quran, we will see
how this style of thinking can improve human mind in order to
become a good Muslim.
Example:
‫الخالقون‬ ‫هم‬ ‫أم‬ ‫شيء‬ ‫غير‬ ‫من‬ ‫خلقوا‬ ‫أم‬.‫يوقنون‬ ‫ال‬ ‫بل‬ ‫واألرض‬ ‫السماموات‬ ‫خلقوا‬ ‫أم‬.
( Or were they created out of nothing? Or are they the creators? Or
did they create the heavens and the earth? In fact, they are not
certain. At-Tuur:35-36).
6

5. RATIONAL THINKING
 Rational can be literally defined as: having the faculty of
reasoning, endowed with the reason, exercising one’s reason in a
proper manner, and having sound judgment. It also means
agreeable to reason , not foolish absurd or extravagant.
For instance:
‫إال‬‫هللا‬‫لفسدتا‬ ‫لو‬‫كان‬‫فيهما‬‫الهة‬ ( If there were in them gods other than
God, they would have gone to ruin. Al-Anbiya’:22).
7

6. REFLECTIVE/CONTEMPLATIVE
THINKING
Reflective thinking can be directed to the following areas:
For example-
‫إن‬‫في‬‫خلق‬‫السماوات‬‫واألرض‬‫واختالف‬‫الليل‬‫والنهار‬‫والفلك‬‫التي‬
‫تجري‬‫في‬‫البحر‬‫بما‬‫ينفع‬‫الناس‬‫وما‬‫أنزل‬‫هللا‬‫من‬‫السماء‬‫من‬‫ماء‬
‫فأحيا‬‫به‬‫األرض‬‫بعد‬‫موتها‬‫وبث‬‫فيها‬‫من‬‫كل‬‫دابة‬‫وتصريف‬‫الرياح‬
‫والسحاب‬‫المسخر‬‫بين‬‫السماء‬‫واألرض‬‫اليات‬‫لقوم‬‫يعقلو‬
‫ن‬Meaning of verses.docx
( Al- Baqara:164)
8

7. VISUAL THINKING
 Visual thinking is the ability to think and communicate in images.
In the Quran, visual thinking is used in the description of heaven
(Paradise), Hell and different situations during the Day of
judgment.
In describing horrible moments of the Day of Judgment, Allah
says:
‫يا‬‫أيها‬‫الناس‬‫اتقوا‬‫ربكم‬,‫إن‬‫زلزلة‬‫الساعة‬‫لشيء‬‫عظيم‬.
‫يوم‬‫ترونها‬‫تزهل‬‫كل‬‫مرضعة‬‫عما‬‫أرضعت‬‫وتضع‬‫كل‬‫ذات‬‫حمل‬‫حملها‬
‫وترى‬‫الناس‬‫سكارى‬‫وما‬‫هم‬‫بسكارى‬‫ولكن‬‫عذاب‬‫هللا‬
‫شديد‬.Meaning of verses.docx
( Al-Hajj:1-2).9

8. METAPHORICAL
THINKING
 Metaphor is described as : figure of speech using analogy or close
comparison between two things that are not normally treated as if
they had anything in common. Metaphor is a common means of
extending the uses and references of words.
 Stressing and affirming the oneness of Allah.
‫الحمد‬ ،‫مثال‬ ‫يستويان‬ ‫هل‬ ‫لرجل‬ ‫سلما‬ ‫ورجال‬ ‫متشاكسون‬ ‫شركاء‬ ‫فيه‬ ‫رجال‬ ‫مثال‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫ضرب‬
‫يعلمون‬ ‫ال‬ ‫أكثرهم‬ ‫بل‬ ، ‫هللا‬.
(Allah puts forth a parable- of a man belonging to many partners at
variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master;
are those equals in comparison? Praise be to Allah! But most of them
have no knowledge. ). (Az-Zumar:29)
10

9. ANALOGICAL THINKING
 This is another style of thinking used in the Quran. It uses
similes in order to indicate similarity of characteristics
common between the two things.
 Analogical thinking can upgrade our intellect and broaden
our perception once it is used in proper manner.
 Example:
‫والذين‬‫كفروا‬‫أعمالهم‬‫كسراب‬‫بقيعة‬‫يحسبه‬‫الظمأن‬‫ماء‬‫حتى‬‫إذا‬
‫جاءه‬‫لم‬‫يجده‬‫شيئا‬‫ووجد‬‫هللا‬‫عنده‬‫فوفاه‬‫حسابه‬,‫وهللا‬‫سريع‬
‫الحساب‬.Meaning of verses.docx
(An-Nur:39).
11

10. EMOTIONAL THINKING
 Emotional thinking which is also known as empathetic
thinking refers to care or mercy of Allah towards His ‘bad.
This thinking style can be found in many places in the
Quran where expression is used to touch the heart of the
readers or listeners.
 For example:
‫مي‬ ‫تميلوا‬ ‫أن‬ ‫الشهوات‬ ‫يتبعون‬ ‫الذين‬ ‫ويريد‬ ‫عليكم‬ ‫يتوب‬ ‫أن‬ ‫يريد‬ ‫وهللا‬‫ال‬
‫عظيما‬.
( Allah wishes to accept your repentance, but those who follow
their lusts, wish that you –believers- should deviate
tremendously away (from the right path)An-Nisa: 27)
12

11. PERCEPTUAL
THINKING
This style is related to the human perception about the world
around him. The Quran was revealed to initiate and establish
new perceptions about some matters, and to change the
human perception already existing, regarding other matters.
‫شيئا‬ ‫تكرهوا‬ ‫أن‬ ‫فعسى‬ ‫كرهتموهن‬ ‫فإن‬ ،‫بالمعروف‬ ‫وعاشروهن‬
‫كثيرا‬ ‫خيرا‬ ‫فيه‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫ويجعل‬.
( And live with them in kindness. If you dislike them, it may
be that you dislike something in which God has placed much
good. An-Nisa:19)
13

12. CONCEPTUAL
THINKING
 A. conceptual expansion:
it refers to constructing, stretching, extending, modifying, and
refining concepts to fit new situations and thus creating new
meanings.
 B. conceptual combination:
Conceptual combination refers to the combination of two
concepts together to produce a new idea or meaning where a
non-existent concept is brought into being.
‫تفرقوا‬ ‫وال‬ ‫جميعا‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫بحبل‬ ‫واعتصموا‬...
( And hold fast to the rope of God- Islam or Quran, altogether
and do not become divided. Al-’Imran:103)
14

13. INTUITIVE
THINKING
 This style has to do with insight and inspiration that Allah
bestows on the Muslims. It is only those who use their
reason and intellect in the right manner, enlightened and
inspired by Allah’s revelation that can have this insight, and
inspiration.
 For instance:
‫قال‬‫بصرت‬‫بما‬‫لم‬‫يبصروا‬‫به‬‫فقبضت‬‫قبضة‬‫من‬‫أثر‬‫الرسول‬‫فنبذتها‬
‫وكذالك‬‫سولت‬‫لى‬‫نفسي‬.
( He answered: “I gained insight into something which they
were unable to see, and so I took a
handful of (dust) from the print of the messenger and threw it
away, for thus has my mind prompted me to act. Ta’ha:96). 15

14. SCIENTIFIC
THINKING
 The term “scientific thinking style” in the light of the Quran
connotes the style by which the Quran enhances the
thinking ability of mankind in matters of natural sciences, as
to enable him to realize and recognize the greatness of
Allah as The Creator; and to utilize as well as develop the
findings resulting from the exercise of such thinking, for the
betterment of humanity as a whole.
 Example:
‫ثم‬‫استواى‬‫إلى‬‫السماء‬‫وهي‬‫دخان‬‫فقال‬‫لها‬‫ولألرض‬‫ائتيا‬‫طوعا‬‫أو‬
‫كرها‬‫قالتا‬‫أتينا‬‫طائعين‬.
 ( Then He turned to the sky, and it was smoke, and said to it
and to the earth, “Come willingly or unwillingly”.Fussilat: 11)
16

15. WISHFUL
THINKING
 Wishful thinking is defined as holding wishes that are
definitely impossible to come true.
 The Quran uses this style of thinking in many ways:
‫يومئذ‬‫يود‬‫الذين‬‫كفروا‬‫وعصوا‬‫الرسول‬‫لو‬‫تسوى‬‫بهم‬‫األرض‬‫وال‬‫ي‬‫كتمون‬
‫هللا‬‫حديثا‬.
( On that Day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the
Messenger will wish that the earth were leveled over them.
They will conceal nothing from God. An-Nisa:42)
17

CONCLUSION
‫ما‬‫فرطنا‬‫في‬‫الكتاب‬‫من‬‫شيئ‬
(We have neglected nothing in the Book, then to
their Lord they all shall be gathered. Al-an’m:38).
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REFERENCES
 1. Translation of the meanings of The Noble Quran, in the
English Language by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-Uddin al-Hilali
 2. And Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. King Fahd Complex
for the Printing of the Holy Quran, Madinah, K.S.A.
 3. Translation of The Quran by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
 4. Jamal Badi, Creative Thinking: An Islamic Perspective
 Muhammad Mumtaz Ali, Islamic Critical Thinking, Published
in 2011 by Pearson Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
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THE END
Thanks all for your kind
cooperation by listening and
watching and sharing your
knowledge with me.
20

Thinking styles in the quran

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