Thinking skills &

Intellectual development in the Quran Anwar Yassin

Why learn thinking skills? What do we mean by thinking skills? The Brain How to be a intellectual? Some general skills Thinking skills in the Quran, examples Exercise (extracting skills from the Ayat). Features Of Quranic thinking skills

Content

Humans are thinking Creatures. Allah differentiated between humans and other creatures by their thinking capacity

The Quran came to guide our intellect, as well as our spirits

Thinking skills are crucial to success in our daily lives, excellence in education, creative opinions, and forming appropriate views on various issues

Info revolution -to - info management

Why

The Quranic studies mostly revolved around linguistic and legal interpretation. Few studies on intellectual & thinking development in Quran

Mistakes in thinking skills can have major consequences (Personal, Social, Islamic,…)

Importance of realising & controlling the our thinking process

Why

Many complex def for thinking, simplest is “what goes inside our heads” Or “Extracting the unknown (results-

decisions) from the known (info-data)”. A skill is basically a quick organised

performance.

What is thinking

Thinking is composed of two essential elements: Memory: everything (I mean everything) that

enters our brain through senses (See feel hear smell taste) is data stored and transformed & analysed into opinions, views, interpretations of issues surrounding our lives.

Imagination: is moving beyond the past & present to the future, based on experience of memory. This is the power of expectation, anticipation & ambition.

(Can you think of why you came here? Saw Ad. Thoughts. Decision made).

The Brain

The brain consists of fat and Proteins matter, which weighs approx 1400 Gram = 2% of total body mass.

However, the Brain consumes over 20% of our energy

There are Hundreds of millions of cells networks It is scientifically proven that brain cells enhance

performance by more thinking efforts (i.e. More thinking Better brain functioning).

(This is the creation of Allah . So show Me what those other than Him have created. Rather, the wrongdoers are

in clear error) (Luqman: 11)

The Brain

All people can think, however, there is a difference in thinking patterns

Intellectuals are those who are:1. Able to benefit from past history to

understand the present and explore effective relationships between events and ask questions (esp. How & Why)

2. Make concepts and form views, and diagnose issues, to put forward a suitable cure

How to be an intellectual or thinker?

While National American Space Agency (NASA) was preparing a spaceship crew, a major issue was raised. Crew members will not be able to write due to ink’s inability to flow to pen’s tip caused by loss of gravity. 10 years of research on this issue, cost accumulated to about $12 million to develop a dry ink free pen, not affected by loss of gravity, and can also write on crystal soft surfaces.

However, the Russians faced the same problem and solved it without spending one dollar, they used ?

Case

1) Language: Faith, Intellect (Thinking), and Talking, are three features differentiating mankind from animal. Storing data in the brain is done in a form a language. Retrieving an event from my memory means remembering the words uttered during that situation. When I have an idea I would like to express it (transmit it) in the most accurate words, and here ideas fall into the influence of language. When I am in the process of forming an idea I think in words, through a particular language. Children develop their thinking with increasing vocabulary, because words carry ideas. Major world intellectuals, scholars, writers, poets, and thinkers carry a huge vocabulary of over 20 thousand words on average, while a normal person limited to 5-6 thousand words frequently repeated.

Influences on thinking

2) Emotions: Hadith (Be moderate in Loving whom you love, as he/she might be your enemy one day. Be moderate in Hating whom you hate, as he/she might be your loved one some day). (Narrated by Tirmidhi). Thinking should guide emotions, not the other way around. There is a complex r/ship between them.

Influences on thinking

3) Society (Peers, Family, Organisation…etc.): Humans knowledge, culture and habits are strongly influenced if not unconsciously created by society. Mass’s mind lacks critical thinking as it focuses more on appearing unified, and not show difference on ideas between its members. So in a societal thinking , status will most likely be a condition to gain appreciation of a valuable idea. The Quran deals with issue strictly as we will see. Case: Japanese are hardworking? Social thinking: Yes, but only coz they want to avoid starvation, while our country is full of resources. Answer: There are so many starving nations whom didn’t become hardworking like the Japanese! (Other examples?)

Influences on thinking

Edward De-Bono most famous current writer about thinking skills. Many others wrote on topic as well.

Several professional thinking skills teaching programs, such as CORT

CLIP http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mtc_CBTIeI

Some general skills

There are many thinking skills, we will focus on most important.

Some general skills

Critical thinking known to be (the process of cautious decision making on issues we postpone, accept or reject, with some degree of confidence in that decision). Or it could be defined as (the process of filtering relevant info from irrelevant info). Or (the evaluation of a thinking way through objective and precise analysis of any claim). Basically it is Thinking of our Thinking, evaluating and critiquing it, to find a new

solution.

Critical thinking

Defined as: (those innovative solutions produced without totally relying on given info) Or (Quick problem solving with new solutions).

There is a huge lack in this skill in our world today, due to lack of self confidence. Also, due to inflexible thinking patterns, false beliefs (I am not rich…), over excitement for an idea, single viewpoint, seeking clarity in everything, laziness, fear (job loss etc…), negative thinking, personal conflicts, poor time management, routine tasks…

Innovative thinking

This skill is reached by:

generating testing hypothesis (Multiple choice)

Evaluating evidence (info important, relevant and authentic or not)

Suggesting variable strategies to solve the issue

Problem Solving skills

(Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses (in order) that you might use reason)

Al Baqarah 242

(He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding)

Al Baqarah 269

494 Places in the Quran mentioned related terms to Intellect, thinking, understanding, reason…etc. Hint this is a wide topic can not be totally covered here.

Thinking in Quran

In Surah Fatir (Ayah 27): ومن } ألوانها مختلفا ثمرات به فأخرجنا ماء ماء الس من أنزل الله أن تر ألم

سود ) وغرzابيب ألوانها مختلف وحمر بيض جدد الناس( 27الجبال ومنإن العلماء عباده من الله يخشى إنما zكذلك ألوانه مختلف واألنعام والدواب

غفور ) zعزيز (28الله }.Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and

We produce thereby fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains are tracts, white and red of varying shades and

[some] extremely black. And among people and moving creatures and grazing

livestock are various colors as well. Only those fear Allah , from among His servants, are those who have knowledge.

Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.

Examples ofThinking skills in the Quran

The first thinking skill the Quran instructs is observation to gather & test info.

Observation in previous ayah of: Fruits = agriculture. - Mountains = Geology. - Humans= Health &

Medicine. Animals…etc. Purposeful & systematic observation of phenomena’s & events to

discover rational behind it + laws controlling its movement. (Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created? And at

the sky - how it is raised? And at the mountains - how they are erected? And at the earth - how it is spread out?) -Surah ghashiya-

ayah 17 onward-

So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the chests.

–Surah Haj-

1) Observation skill

Measurement of a quantity as a scientific process to gain knowledge of measurement units (e.g height, weight, temperature, size,…etc.)

( بقدر خلقناه شيء كل (إنا(Indeed, all things We created with measurement) –Surah Qamar

ayah 49-بين من يسلك فإنه سول ر من ارتضى من إال أحدا غيبه على يظهر فال الغيب عالم

كل وأحصى لديهم بما وأحاط ربهم رساالت أبلغوا قد أن ليعلم رصدا خلفه ومن يديهعددا شيء

[He is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] unseen to anyone. Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed, He sends before each

messenger and behind him observers. That he may know that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord; and He has encompassed

whatever is with them and has enumerated all things in number. (Surah Jin ayah 26-28)

2) Quantification

Separating info and data into groups or categories after collecting, based on common features and standards.

أكرمكم إن لتعارفوا وقبائل شعوبا وجعلناكم وأنثى ذكر من خلقناكم إنا الناس أيها ياخبير عليم الله إن أتقاكم الله  عند

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed,

the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. –Al Hujorat 13-

رجلين على يمشي من ومنهم بطنه على يمشي من فمنهم ماء من دابة كل خلق واللهقدير شيء كل على الله إن يشاء ما الله يخلق أربع على يمشي من ومنهم

Allah has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allah creates what

He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent. –Al Nur 45-

3) Categorisation

Is the process of revealing the unknown through clear hard evidence without empirical methods rather only induction(االستقراء) and deduction (استنباط).ربي   إبراهيم قال إذ الملك الله آتاه أن ربه في إبراهيم حاج الذي إلى تر ألم

من مس بالش يأتي الله فإن إبراهيم قال وأميت أحيي أنا قال ويميت يحيي الذيالظالمين القوم يهدي ال والله كفر الذي فبهت المغرب من بها فأت المشرق

Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord [merely] because Allah had given him kingship?

When Abraham said, "My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death," he said, "I give life and cause death." Abraham said, "Indeed, Allah brings up the sun from the east, so bring it

up from the west." So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

–AlBaqarah 258-

4) Inference (االستدالل)

Expressing & transmitting knowledge.ن� ر�و ن�� ن� ن ن ن�ا ن ن�� � م�ا ل� ع� ء� ل� �ن �ن� ر� ��ب ن ن! ع" نو � م#ا ل$ �ن ��ب ن ن� ن%ا ن& ل� ن�� ن�)ا ع(� ع* �ع ن� ر�و ع� ل% ر ن,ا ر- ن.ا ن�� ن)ا نو � ع� ن�0 ن1 ل0 ن2 نو ع* �� ن �ل � ع ب�4 ر�5و ن6ا ر ن�� ن7 ن2ا � ر* ر, لو ن2 ر* ن�5 ن8ا نو

And his people argued with him. He said, "Do you argue with me concerning Allah while He has guided me? And I fear not what you associate with Him [and will not be harmed] unless my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in

knowledge; then will you not remember? –Al a’nam 80-.

In surah Shu’ara ayah 17- 34 ل%ع���� Go to Pharaoh and say, 'We are the messengers of the Lord of the worlds. Send with us the Children of Israel. [Pharaoh] said, "Did we not raise you among us as a child,

and you remained among us for years of your life? And [then] you did your deed which you did, and you were of the ungrateful. [Moses] said, "I did it, then, while I

was of those astray. So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me wisdom and prophethood and appointed me [as one] of the messengers. And is this a favor of which you remind me - that you have enslaved the Children of Israel? Said Pharaoh, "And what is the Lord of the worlds? [Moses] said, The Lord of the heavens

and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced. [Pharaoh] said to those around him, Do you not hear? [Moses] said, Your Lord and the Lord of your

first forefathers. [Pharaoh] said, Indeed, your 'messenger' who has been sent to you is mad. [Moses] said, Lord of the east and the west and that between them, if you were to reason. [Pharaoh] said, "If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned.“[Moses] said, "Even if I brought you proof manifest? [Pharaoh] said, "Then bring it, if you should be of the truthful. So [Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a snake manifest. And he drew out his hand; thereupon it

was white for the observers. [Pharaoh] said to the eminent ones around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician.

5) Communication

Questions are the keys of knowledge and science. Famous saying asking a proper question is half the answer.

In the Quran many examples: “they ask you about alcohol..”

“they ask you about the moons” “they ask you what to spend” ….and many other examples.

6) Questioning

[Joseph] said, "It was she who sought to seduce me." And a witness from her

family testified. "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth, and he is of the liars. But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied,

and he is of the truthful” (Yusuf- 26)

7) Testing Hypothesis

[He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were]

dry - that I may return to the people; perhaps they will know [about you]. [Joseph] said, "You will plant for

seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat.

Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you saved for them, except a little from which you will store. Then will come after that a

year in which the people will be given rain and in which they will press [olives and grapes].“

Yusuf- 46.

8) Adapting to change

“So by mercy from Allah , [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in

speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So

pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah . Indeed, Allah loves those

who rely [upon Him]”. (Al Imran 159)

9) Decision making

“And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the

clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We

developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators. Then indeed, after that you are to die. Then

indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.” (Al Muminun 12).

10) Sequencing

Which thinking skill do these examples of Quran belong to:

1: “And when the caravan departed [from Egypt], their father said, "Indeed, I find the smell of Joseph [and would say that he was alive] if you did not think me weakened in mind.“ (Surah Yusuf -94).

2: “Woe to those who give less [than due], Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full. But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss” (Al Mutaffifin- 1).

3: “So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it” (Az lazalah- 7).

Excercise

4: “The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray” (Fatiha).

5: “[Moses] said, "O Aaron, what prevented you, when you saw them going astray, not following me?! Then have you disobeyed my order? [Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, do not seize [me] by my beard or by my head. Indeed, I feared that you would say, 'You caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not observe [or await] my word.“ (Taha-92).

6: “They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier? He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength; I will make between you and them a dam. Bring me sheets of iron" - until, when he had leveled [them] between the two mountain walls, he said, "Blow [with bellows]," until when he had made it [like] fire, he said, "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten copper. So Gog and Magog were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.” (Kahf 94).

Exercise

Originialty: Authentic ideas can be generated by utilising Quranic thinking skills, that will guarantee authenticity not duplication of ideas.

Flexibility: the ability to see problems from different angles, and using multiple strategies to solve it.

Sensitivity: Ability to sense issues in the environment that other ordinary people unaware of.

Details: Attention to details of problems or solutions suggested.

Features of Quranic Thinking