This paper attempts to analyze the important contributions of Ismail Raji al-Faruqi(1921-1986) in founding the International Institute of Islamic Thought in 1981. This effort was part of his significant project to lead unprecedented movement of Islamization of knowledge and advocating modern and progressive Islamic worldview. The constructions of ideas were well articulated through publications and programs of the Institute. The professors and students at IIIT has rigorously taking part in this project and published over 150 books that critically advocate IOK's aspirations and address significant Muslim issues. This study was conducted through extensive library research by analyzing basic supports, resources and activities of IIIT and in-depth interview with former students of al-Faruqi and the founding members of IIIT such as Prof. Dr. Abdul Hamid A. Abu Sulayman, ShaykhTaha Jabir al-Alwani, and Dr. Jamal Barzinji.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Objective of the study
3. Literature Review
4. Research method
5. Data analysis
6. Discussion
6.1 Background
6.2 Islamization of Knowledge
6.3 Al-Faruqi’s Influence
6.4 Method of Teaching and Research
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This study aims to examine the foundational role and intellectual influence of Ismail Raji al-Faruqi in the establishment and development of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). It explores how his vision for the Islamization of knowledge and structural reform shaped the Institute's academic trajectory and its broader impact on modern Islamic intellectual life.
- The historical establishment and structural evolution of IIIT.
- Ismail Raji al-Faruqi's philosophy and the Islamization of Knowledge movement.
- Methodologies of teaching and research fostered by IIIT.
- The impact of al-Faruqi’s legacy on contemporary Islamic intellectual discourse.
Excerpt from the Book
Background
The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) was founded in 1981 (1401 H) in Herndon, Virginia. It was located in the suburbs of Washington D.C., USA, as its main headquarters with other branches and offices established in other countries. It was run as a private, non-profit, academic, and cultural institution that was “independent of local politics, party orientations and ideological biases” (Muslih, 2006). The Institute was set up as a result of the International Conference on Islamic Thought (Nadwah al-Fikr al-Islamiyy) in Lugano, Switzerland, organized by the Association for Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS) in 1977 that insisted that “reform in Islamic thought should be carried out and that a specialized body should be established to conduct research in those areas.” (AbdulHamid A. AbuSulayman, 1995). This important result was revealed by Al-Faruqi and AbuSulayman claiming that “the participants [of the Lugano conference] unanimously agreed that the contemporary crisis of the Ummah was intellectual – a crisis of thought – and that the remedy was to be sought within that framework” (Muslih, 2006).
The first official meeting of the Board of Governors of IIIT was held in Lanhan, Maryland on Oct 8, 1980. In this historic meeting, AbdulHamid A. Abu Sulayman was elected as its President and al-Faruqi as the Secretary-Treasure and Director. Its second official meeting takes place in al-Faruqi’s house on December 7, 1981, in which the Board of Trustees drafted and unanimously adopted its constitution. It was registered to the Department of State, the Corporation Bureau of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on February 3, 1982 (Shafiq, 1994). The inauguration of IIIT presented a major hope for the resurgent of Islamic intellectual revival in the Muslim world.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of Ismail Raji al-Faruqi’s role in establishing the IIIT and his initiative to transform Muslim education through the Islamization of knowledge.
Objective of the study: Defines the research focus on analyzing al-Faruqi’s impact on the structural planning and programmatic direction of the IIIT.
Literature Review: Evaluates existing scholarly works regarding the history, influence, and ideological legacy of the IIIT and the Islamization of knowledge project.
Research method: Details the analytical and descriptive approach used to interpret al-Faruqi’s contributions and the historical development of the Institute.
Data analysis: Outlines the methodological framework, utilizing inductive and deductive reasoning to study al-Faruqi’s worldview and seminal academic works.
Discussion: Examines the historical background of IIIT, the conceptual basis of Islamization of Knowledge, the personal influence of al-Faruqi, and the Institute's educational methodologies.
Conclusion: Summarizes the study’s findings, highlighting al-Faruqi’s pivotal role in institutionalizing his vision for Islamic intellectual reform.
Keywords
Ismail Raji al-Faruqi, IIIT, Islamization of Knowledge, Islamic intellectual reform, Muslim education, Tawhid, Islamic worldview, academic institutionalization, Islamic revivalism, Muslim scholarship, pedagogy, cultural studies, social science, epistemological framework, intellectual legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the historical establishment and intellectual contributions of Ismail Raji al-Faruqi to the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) since its founding in 1981.
Which thematic areas are central to this work?
The key themes include the Islamization of knowledge, Islamic intellectual reform, educational methodology, and the structural development of the IIIT as an academic institution.
What is the primary objective of the study?
The primary objective is to analyze al-Faruqi's impact on the structural planning and programming of the IIIT and his role in the global movement for the Islamization of knowledge.
What research methodology does the author employ?
The study uses an analytical and descriptive method, incorporating library research, textual analysis of al-Faruqi’s seminal works, and interviews with key founding figures of the IIIT.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the Institute's background, the philosophy of Islamization of Knowledge, al-Faruqi's professional and personal influence, and the development of IIIT's teaching and research curricula.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
Keywords include Ismail Raji al-Faruqi, IIIT, Islamization of Knowledge, Islamic intellectual reform, and Islamic worldview.
What was the role of the Lugano conference in the formation of IIIT?
The 1977 Lugano conference was crucial, as participants identified a contemporary crisis of the Ummah as fundamentally intellectual, leading to the consensus that a specialized institution was needed for research.
How does the work explain al-Faruqi's specific contribution to the Institute's structure?
The work highlights his role in drafting the constitution, securing significant financial support from the Saudi Islamic Development Bank, and directing the Institute's foundational development.
Why is the "Cultural Atlas of Islam" considered important in this study?
It is analyzed as a seminal work that reflects al-Faruqi’s comprehensive worldview and his application of a phenomenological approach to the study of Islamic civilization, art, and philosophy.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Ahmad Nabil Amir (Author), Tasnim Abdul Rahman (Author), Zuriati Mohd Rashid Rashid (Author), Wan Sabri Wan Yusof (Author), 2013, Isma'ilal-Faruqi´s Contributions to the International Institute of Islamic Thought. An Overview, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/946879
