From Jahiliyyah To Islamic Worldview: In A Search Of An Islamic Educational Philosophy
Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi

Abstract
In solving Islamic-related problems, some Muslims hold to the belief that conventional ideas embedded in unIslamic worldview and philosophical construct can be used as long as they are not contrary to Islamic teachings. Such a stance has become a sort of philosophical underpinnings in Islamic education. One main justification given was the acceptance and adoption of the Jahilliyyah (ignorant) practices by Rasulullah SAW himself during his life time. But the question is, what was the nature of these Jahiliyyah-originated practices adopted and practiced by Rasulullah SAW? Were they adopted and practiced in full without any changes or were they revamped hence the difference? This paper attempts to seek for the answer through two main purposes. Firstly, to identify the Jahiliyyah practices allegedly to have still been accepted and practiced in Islam. Secondly, to analyze the worldview of these Jahiliyyah-originated practices within an Islamic philosophical construct. The analysis will be based on chosen practices of the Jahiliyyah that have been adopted by Rasulullah SAW. This historiography study concludes that the similarities of these practices if any, eventhough seem to be similar to those practiced by the Jahiliyyah, only evolved around their names and terms, while the structures and its roots have been revamped by Rasulullah SAW. The concept of practices in Islam too is vastly different from the Jahiliyyah practices as they have been formed by an Islamic worldview which includes the elements of akidah, ibadah and akhlaq. The revelations received by Rasulullah SAW themselves are the proofs that Islam is absolutely free from Jahiliyyah practices. The arguments that are used by those who advocate the usage of conventional ideas to solve the problems that are related to Islam therefore are incorrect. When their justifications are refuted, then their claims inevitably have to be similarly denied.

Full Text: PDF