Our flagship courses
We host courses exploring contemporary issues from an Islamic perspective. Our courses aim at the development of thinking Muslims that meet the ideological challenge of liberal thought with insight, thought and a critique founded on depth of thinking.
For over two centuries, the Muslim Ummah has been the target of a liberal inquisition. Many have responded in one of two ways, either to absorb elements of liberal thought into their own thinking or by refashioning Islam as a response to liberalism. We maintain both approaches to be erroneous. Our courses aim to reach out to the Muslim community and place our faith in its rightful place, the timeless revelation of Allah Almighty.
Comparative Thought - Liberalism and Islam
Organised by The Thinking Muslim together with the Islamic Societies at Edinburgh University and SOAS, as well as the Muslim Student Association at University of California San Diego.
Topics covered in the extended 11 week version of the course:
Islam and the West:
For over two centuries Islam confronted an assertive liberal west and it's claims to universal truth. How we responded to and continue to respond to liberalism impacts how we conceptualise Islam. This first session sets out the debate.
Liberalism & Human Nature:
Rights, freedom, individualism, equality. Looking at the social contract theory of Hobbes and Locke, the revolutions in America and France and how liberalism defines natural rights.
Islam and the Human Disposition:
Looking at the Qur'anic concept of fitrah, how Islam views human nature and our starting point when developing thought.
Liberalism and Society:
Classical liberalism viewed society as a place for individuals and individuality to flourish. Modern liberalism placed a greater emphasis on 'civil society' but remained wedded to individualism over community. This has given way to modern atomised and hyper consumerist societies. We consider the implications of this unhealthy model of human community.
The Islamic Society:
What exactly is the Islamic society? We often fail to appreciate the different Ahkham Shariyyah and how they interact to project a unique conception of an 'Islamic society'.
The Capitalist economy:
Capitalism makes exaggerated claims, from the 'invisible hand' to modern compassionate capitalism and its claims to poverty reduction, yet theorists argue we live today in the most unequal world where 40 people have the same wealth as the bottom 50%.
Towards an Islamic Economy:
What is Allah (swt)'s model of economy? Some claim it is modelled on capitalist free markets, others draw parallels with socialism. In reality, Islam's economic precepts can neither be described as 'left' nor 'right'.
The Liberal State:
Liberal democracies claim to have formulated the ideal government, with checks and balances and popular sovereignty, democracies thrive. Yet the democratic model is today in retreat and with it a commitment to liberal norms. We consider the theory and practice of liberal democracy and why we have ended up with Trump and Orban.
Islamic Governance:
Does Islam have a defined system of governance? If Islam's founding moment was inherently political, with the Prophet (saw) a leader of a state, then what can we take from his sunnah to model a modern political system? How do we prevent monarchical rule, a system that blighted Islamic history and authoritarianism? Too many modern Islamic movements conceptualise an 'Islamic state' that can easily descend into tyranny.
The Decaying Liberal World Order:
Since 1945, America created what became known as the Liberal World Order, built on American power and institutions. Today, this order is crumbling under its own contradictions. We take a look at the fault lines within this order and the rise of an authoritarian China.
The Islamic world order:
The Prophet of Islam (saw) established the groundwork of an Islamic world order. We look at the facets of this order and how the Sahabah expanded its influence through hard and soft power.