Al-Attas' Psychology

by Muhammad Zainiy Uthman

Al-Attas' Psychology Muhammad Zainiy Uthman Himpunan Keilmuan Muslim (HAKIM) 9789671403181 2022 English 177 520 g This book looks at al-Attas’ contribution in the reformulation of the concept of the human soul, the intellect, the heart as an organ of spiritual cognition, prophecy, and happiness. Ibn Sīnā’s ability to formulate arguments, develop ideas and weave differing opinions into a fabric of new ideas that presents a new outlook strikes a remarkable resemblance to al-Attas as can be gleaned from his works. As early as his Some Aspects of Ṣūfīsm as Understood and Practised Among the Malays, followed by his Mysticism of Ḥamzah Fanṣūrī, and later his Commentary on the Ḥujjat al-Ṣiddīq, to cite a few, al-Attas has been consistent in the triangulation of ideas from the faylasūf, the mutakallimūn and the Ṣūfīs on key ideas of philosophy, theology, and metaphysics in Islām; a counter-thesis to the image which more often than not portrayed the three groups of thinkers as mutual adversaries. He has done so not to establish an artificial coherence amongst them and their ideas, but more importantly—and indeed this is quintessentially his—to put major ideas in their proper places, based on hierarchy and benefits to man, to commensurate the ranks and degrees of authorities in knowledge of reality and that is adab towards knowledge.

Genres: Islam

177 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Professor Dr. Muhammad Zainiy Uthman, a professor at the Center for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (CASIS), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, obtained his B.Sc. (1986) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (U.S.A.). After having completed his M.A. (1990) from the University of Chicago, he joined the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) in 1991 as Junior Research Fellow at the invitation of Professor al-Attas. Upon the completion of his Ph.D. at ISTAC in 1997, he served as Research Fellow, then Senior Research Fellow. He was an Associate Professor and Curator of ISTAC Library from 2002-2003 and was awarded the British Chevening Fellowship (2003-2004) where he spent an academic year at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. In 2005-2006 he returned to Oxford as Visiting Fellow at the same center. He translated al-Attas’ “The Meaning and Experience of Happiness in Islam” into Malay (ISTAC, 2002).

Reviews

[S.M.Y Kayseri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The existence of man, is known to be problematic to the common men, as long as he does not partake upon himself the Herculean tasks of answering two pertinent questions; that is of ontology and existentialism.

Ontology examines the question of Being as related to existence of man. It provides intensive analysis to the nature of man in both macro and micro level. At macro or transcendent level, the ontological model as proposed by al-Attas as well as previous Sufi metaphysicians served as the only robust idea that simultaneously includes two indubitable facts: that of the Absoluteness of God and the existence of the world. In short, the world is the image formed in the mirror, whose nature is ultimately contingent or even non-existent when in related to the Gazer.

At the micro level, man possessed of the heart, the qalb, the spiritual organ of cognition that al-Attas brought to spotlight. It is not merely a receptacle of feelings, but also capable to cognize the intelligible truths. It is from the heart, not the intellect, man can capture the eternal truths and thus resides in eternal contentment of certainty; the only true definition of happiness.

Existential question, on the other hand, are mere perspiration of daily living. It relates to the everyday sturm and drang experienced by the common man; circular introspections deriving its inevitable biased conclusions from learned helplessness and gross generalisations. Thus arised, the questions of meaning of life, love, happiness, sadness and truth, its discussions more often than not are mere rhetorical circus served to deliver the speaker’s loaded thesis. Kierkegaard’s whole life is the exemplar of the existential man; a man who rejects the love of his life, just because he is haunted by his own existential phantoms! It is Kierkegaard himself that stated that the knight of faith could not be distinguished from other man; he might even be a common butcher! That is; the knight of faith is just a man who embraced life in its totality. Repetition, instead of remembrance and recollection guides his life. Repetition is his daily bread; his modus operandi, and thus the ups and downs of life he faced squarely, instead of retreating to the nostalgia of remembrance and recollection. For he knows the wiles of life would chase him even deep in the tundra of Siberia; might as well he lives his life; only in its entirety, with modest feast of repetition daily.

Thus the book explores the ontological and existential worldview as presented by al-Attas. Maximum benefit to people who actually read al-Attas works first.

[Juris Arrozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great work in explaining and summarizing Prof. Al-Attas' ideas related to the nature of man.

However, in my opinion you can only access the full benefit of this book after first being familiar with and actually read Prof. Al-Attas' works (Prolegomena esp. ch.2-4, On Justice, Islam and Secularism, etc.). At least it's how I feel because I have been able to at least follow (albeit slowly and still struggling) the author's exposition on the human intellect (ch.1) and happiness (ch.3).

On the other hand, ch.2 (on the heart and spiritual cognition) is particularly difficult to grasp for me. But that's because I have not familiarize myself with the last 3 chapters of Prolegomena and other Sufi philosophical literatures, in which this book make a reference to.

And lastly, although I have officially "read" this book from cover to cover, this book -- like Prof. Al-Attas and his other students works -- is not the "read once then never read again" type of book. I will for sure go back and re-read this great piece of work from time to time.

[Rivan Akhsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genius..

Such a beautiful work by Muhammad Zainiy Uthman.

The book contains various ideas regarding western philosophy, Islamisation of knowledge, thinking framework, qalb (the heart), Sufism and happiness.

In my opinion, the author has successfully distilled the most precious ideas from the works of professor Al-Attas.

Genius..

It was written in the most intense and “comforting” way. In addition, academic explanations and different perspectives are incorporated to support every idea/arguments in this book that help the reader gets new insights and references through data triangulation.

Bravo…

[Mohd Jamizal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The breakthrough in understanding metaphysics especially in the function of Qalb as one mode of the soul.