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Philosophy vs. Mysticism: an Islamic Controversy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2010

Oliver Leaman
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Extract

Islamic philosophy makes a sharp distinction between different categories of believers. Some, and indeed most, believers follow Islam in an unquestioning and natural manner. They adhere to the legal requirements of the religion, carry out the basic rules concerning worship, pilgrimage, charity and so on, and generally behave as orthodox and devout Muslims. Some are more devout than others, and some occasionally behave in ways reprehensible to the teachings of Islam, but on the whole for the ordinary believer Islam presents no serious theoretical problems. There may well be practical problems in reconciling what they wish to do with what Islam instructs them to do, but this for most people is not something which leads them to question their faith as such. It merely leads them to wonder how to reconcile in a practical way the rival demands of religion and their personal wishes.

Type
Papers
Information
Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements , Volume 32 , March 1992 , pp. 177 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Philosophy and the contributors 1992

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