UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEEN (AL-ISLAM)Intermediate Islamic (FIQH) course in English

Conducted by Ustaz Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail

LESSON # 6 dLESSON # 6 d

Using text & curriculum he has developed especially for Using text & curriculum he has developed especially for Muslim converts and young Adult English-speaking Muslims. Muslim converts and young Adult English-speaking Muslims.

““To seek knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim (male & female)”To seek knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim (male & female)”

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IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,MOST COMPASSIONATE,MOST COMPASSIONATE,MOST MERCIFUL.MOST MERCIFUL.

"O my Lord! Let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honour, and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honour; and grant me from

Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)”(Qur’an: Isra’: 17: 80)

Daily application of FIQHDaily application of FIQH CONTEMPORARY DA’WAH ISSUECONTEMPORARY DA’WAH ISSUE

RESPONDING TO ISLAMAPHOBIARESPONDING TO ISLAMAPHOBIA[1] Marital ‘rape’ [2] ‘Barbaric’ Law [3] Female ‘discrimination’ [1] Marital ‘rape’ [2] ‘Barbaric’ Law [3] Female ‘discrimination’

(a continuation)(a continuation)

Updated 9 MAY 2015

PARTPART # 2 # 2((20152015))

SHORT CLASS OPEN DISCUSSION

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IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,MOST COMPASSIONATE,MOST MERCIFUL.

Break into 3 groups (male), 3 group (female) Each side, a group to choose one topic from the 3 listed (specifically to prepare write-up):

[1] Marital ‘rape’ [2] ‘Barbaric’ law [3] Female ‘discrimination’

DISCUSS AND PREPARE REBUTTAL AGAINST THESE MISCONCEPTIONS – (one topic will be chosen to be presented in class – and commented)

Guidelines:1. Utilize your knowledge to first derive understanding of the cause of

the misconception; nature of the problem (CONTEXT)2. Clarify with basis, the Islamic position regarding the issue discussed;

its principles, raisons d'être, wisdom etc. (MAQASID)3. Present response from perspective of Islam providing the best

solution to current problem (MAU-IZA-TIL-HASANAH)

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CHECK THE ‘FACTS-DATA’ PRESENTED

Source and veracity?

Partial or complete?

What is the context?

Consistency or with possible discrepancy

CHECK ARGUMENT USED

Fallacious arguments?

Alien standard used?

Relevance?

AN-NASEEHAH – Sincere Advice

: How to dispel misconceptions?

By correcting these

inherent flaws, the

picture will become

clearer, false

arguments refuted

and INSHA-ALLAH

the misconceptions

will be removed.

CHECK THE ‘FACTS-DATA’ PRESENTED

Source and veracity?

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It is important to check the ‘data’ or ‘facts’ which usually is being

presented as though representing Islam which has led to the

misconception.

Opinions or interpretations (which they use to fault Islam) are usually

opinions, customs or practices of certain Muslims which may not

necessarily be authoritative to represent that of Islam.

Even purported Hadith quoted sometimes may be unverified or

worst, from that which has been rejected (MAR-DUD) categories viz.

‘fabricated’ (MAUDHU’) or ‘weak’ (DHA-IF) , unknown (MAJ-HUL)etc.

CHECK THE ‘FACTS-DATA’ PRESENTED

Source and veracity?

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Even among difference of opinions (IKHTILAF) regarding a certain

subject amongst Islamic scholars, those who try to attack Islam would

nit-pick and select only the ‘odd’ (SHADZ) or controversial views of

past Islamic scholars which had already been criticized and refuted,

while purposely ignoring to highlight and present the conclusive

opinions already agreed to by consensus of Islamic scholars (RAJIH).

Partial or complete?

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CHECK THE ‘FACTS-DATA’ PRESENTED

Another deceptive method which led to misconception is when the

information or data presented is incomplete or partial – ‘cherry

picking’- which thus projected a false image of what Islam is.

Quotations even from Qur’an sometimes are partially presented as

though that was all there is. Those who do not understand the

Qur’anic sciences (ULUM-AL-QUR’AN), usually attempt at trying to

interpret its teaching by such selective (nit-picking) hoping that

people believe their assertion – totally disregarding issue of ‘NASAKH-

MANSUKH’; ‘TAFASEER’; ‘ASBAAB-AN-NUZUL’ etc.

What is the context?

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CHECK THE ‘FACTS-DATA’ PRESENTED

Sometimes, a data or information or statistics etc. has been taken out

of its context, such that a selective ‘interpretation’ (different from

what it was originally meant) is then mischievously asserted.

Although the information, example a quotation may be correct yet its

true intending meaning is purposely suppressed so that it still remains

ambiguous needing ‘interpretation’ designed to put Islam in a bad

light. Only by knowing the context of the quotation can we know what

was intended, thereby exposing the purported ‘flaw’.

Consistency or with possible discrepancy?

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CHECK THE ‘FACTS-DATA’ PRESENTED

Sometimes a ‘fact’ may be inconsistently applied to suit their

suggestion of defects or negativity about Islam. Whereas in other

times the same ‘fact’ has been used which suggest positivity.

Example:

“In the Qur’an, preserving life is so sacred that ‘to kill a person without justification is

like killing all mankind”

In the Qur’an Muslims are instructed to ‘kill all the unbelievers wherever they can be

found.’”

CHECK THE ARGUMENT OR REASONING USED

Fallacious arguments?

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Fallacies are defined “as mistakes in belief based on an unsound argument”.

DEFINITION:

There are many different types of such mistakes that can occur.

The following are common types – examples of fallacies, just to

give you an idea.

Types of Fallacious arguments

Appeal to Ignorance

An appeal to ignorance occurs when one person

uses another person’s lack of knowledge on a

particular subject as evidence that their own

argument is correct.

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Example:

“Do you know any Hadith or verses from Qur’an that contradict my

opinion on this? So far from my extensive reading and research on

Islam, I have never come across any.”

Appeal to Authority

This type of fallacy is also referred to as argumentum ab

auctoritate (argument from authority). In this case, rather

than focusing on the merits of an argument, the arguer will

try to attach their argument to a person of authority in an

attempt to give credence to their argument.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Example :

“MUIS and the Mufti has not objected to this, so who are you to say

that this is ‘Haram’ (forbidden)?”

Appeal to Popular Opinion

This type of appeal is when someone claims that an idea or

belief is true simply because it is what most people believe.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Example :

“Don’t be a fanatic fundamentalist ! All my Muslim friends, comrades

and colleagues are not so strict about observing Islamic rules, so why

are you Muslims now so strict?”

Red herring fallacies

 A red herring fallacy is an error in logic where a proposition is,

or is intended to be, misleading in order to make irrelevant or

false inferences. In the general case any logical inference based

on fake arguments, intended to replace the lack of real

arguments or to replace implicitly the subject of the discussion.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Attacking the Person

 One example of a ‘red herring’ type fallacy, also known as simply

‘Ad Hominem’ or Argumentum ad Hominem (argument against the

man) this is quite a common occurrence in debates and refers to a

person who substitutes a rebuttal with a personal insult.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Example :

“Although he argues his case well, but he was rude and 

confrontational and projected very bad Adab.”

Begging the Question

This type of fallacy known as ‘petitio principii ‘ is when what is

essentially the conclusion of the argument is presented as a

premise itself.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Example :

“The reason (of our policy) why female Muslim nurses must remove 

their ‘Tudung’ (head scarf -Hijab) is because it is our hospital policy.”

Circular Argument

Like “Begging the question”, this is referred to as Circulus in 

Probando, this fallacy is when an argument takes its proof from a

factor within the argument itself in a round about reasoning, which

begins and ends on the same point .

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Example :

Q: How do you know that your doctrine is true?

A: Because it is written in this Book! …..

Circular Argument

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Q: What makes you believe that that Book is truly from God?

A: Because I have faith in it!

Q: How do you get that faith?

A: Because I read that (same) Book!

Q: But how do you know that that Book is truly from God!?

A: Because I have faith!

Q: But how do you get that faith?

A: I read the Book!!……?

‘Straw man’ Argument

It is when someone presenting the other person’s view dishonestly

(in an argument) through distortion by adding untruth and lie,

suggesting it to be so in a subtle way that it resembles the view, and

then go on to demolished that implied ‘weakness’ in the other

person’s view (which he in fact had added). What he is attacking is in

fact a “straw man” which he himself had created, not the other

person’s view.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

‘Correlation Implies Causation’ Fallacy

 Otherwise known as Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, this is a

fallacy in which the person making the argument connects two

events which happen sequentially and assumes that one

caused the other.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Example:

“When the rooster crows, the sun rises.  Therefore, the rooster 

causes the sun to rise.”

False Dilemma/Dichotomy

 Sometimes referred to as Bifurcation, this type of fallacy

occurs when someone presents their argument in such a way

that there are only two possible options.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Example:

“If you are not supporting us, then you must be against us.”

“We are not discriminating against Muslims studying here. Parents who 

wish to send their girls to our schools must have their ‘Tudung’ removed. If 

they refuse they will be expelled, it is they who is depriving their child from 

benefiting from our school system.” 

Non Sequitur

  A fallacy wherein someone asserts a conclusion that does not

follow from the propositions.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

Example:

“ I don't care what you say.  We don't need any more bookshelves.  As 

long as the carpet is clean, we are fine.”

Slippery Slope

  Assuming that a very small action will inevitably lead to

extreme and often ludicrous outcomes.

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Types of Fallacious arguments

And many more ….

Example:

“ If we allow Muslims girls to wear the ‘Tudung’ in our schools, what 

else in future are they  going to then request from us ? Also it will 

invite other religious groups to make their demands on religious 

grounds too.”

CHECK THE ARGUMENT OR REASONING USED

Alien standard used?

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  Today, many values and standards conveniently accepted by people

(especially the liberal West and mainstream media) are assumed to be

‘universal’ and they insist must be used to judge Al-Islam.

Whereas Islam and many traditional religions held differing values

with its own rationale, philosophy and arguments, but the humanist-

secularist blatantly ignored and suppress from the masses.

Thus when any teachings which are opposed to their standards and

value, they will be seen as wrong or evil whereas firstly, are these

alien standards they held correct? They have to be checked first.

CHECK THE ARGUMENT OR REASONING USED

Relevance?

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  So, we have to always be mindful of the relevance in their use of

arguments, their cherry-picking of so-called ‘facts’ of ‘evidence’ or

‘teachings’ etc.

Sometimes these are deceptively design to deflect us from the issue at

hand. When they are unable to respond to our exposure of their

erroneous assertion, they would then try to cause confusion by

introducing irrelevant issues sometime interjected like bullets hoping

that it would silence us. So we have to be alert, sharp and patient in

exposing these – with trust in Allah SWT as our Helper and protector.

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TOPIC S : GROUP ASSIGNMENT FOR CLASS PRESENTATION

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TOPIC S : GROUP ASSIGNMENT FOR CLASS PRESENTATION

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TOPIC S : GROUP ASSIGNMENT FOR CLASS PRESENTATION