The Notion of Philosophy in Islam: An Analysis

The philosophical study of scholarship from Islamic perspective must understand the concept of the essence of human beings as the best creation of Allah with a set of potentials. Therefore, there needs to be an integrated of philosophy with the values of Islamic teachings. In contemporary time, the Western intellectual tradition perceives erroneously that Islamic Philosophy is a borrowed ideas and perceptions, which have been transmitted from Greek philosophy. However, the Islamic philosophical study by the Islamic intellectuals shows that it is deeply rooted in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). Islamic philosophy has been developed gradually by the potential Muslim scholars with its concepts, ideas, principles, and many of the questions derived from the original sources of Islam. In this context, the study aims to explore the role of the Qur’an and Sunnah in the formulation, elucidation, and integration of the major philosophical traditions and thoughts cultivated by noted Islamic philosophers from al-Kindi onwards. Applying qualitative thematic analysis, we argue that, with a deep knowledge of the Qur’an and Sunnah, these Muslim philosophers over the centuries established a strong connection between philosophy and the revealed sources of Islam. Therefore, a philosophical hermeneutics of the Sacred Text is an authentic source of Islamic philosophy. The study also examines the influence of Islamic philosophy on Western philosophy and the influence of Western philosophy on Islamic philosophy. Lastly, the paper postulates that an integrated approach, bridging revelation and philosophic gap, may potentially have a significant impact on community development in society by safeguarding people's faiths (Aqidah) and encouraging the growth of sustainable knowledge, which is a gift that elevates humanity towards achieving divine guidance from Allah for the entire human race.