A reader from a non-Islamic background might think that critical and creative thinking would be alien concepts in Islamic countries. Some might think that religion could stand as a barrier to this type of thinking. At one of the conferences where I presented my project, a member of the audience asked: “Why did you choose to examine critical thinking in your country, which is religious? Why did you not try something else?” The purpose of this section is to demonstrate that the concepts of critical and creative thinking do exist in Islam, and to rectify misconceptions about Islam in relation to critical and creative thinking. During periods when Islam was flourishing, it did in fact open doors to critical thinking and creativity, and claims that this type of thinking is limited to Western contexts are grossly exaggerated. The following discussion explores how critical and creative thinking are viewed in Islam and Islamic culture.
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One has only to read the verses of the Quran or the Islamic instructions that are based on the Prophet's sayings to see that they encourage both critical and creative thinking. Alkharasneh and Saleh (2010) argue that in His words to them, Allah (God) encourages people to use their creative thinking. These authors (ibid.) classify the methodologies by means of which the Quran tries to promote creative thinking. Owing to limitations of space, I will only briefly mention some of these methodologies. One method of encouraging creativity is travelling. “Say: Travel through the earth and see how Allah did originate creation; so will Allah produce a later creation, for Allah has power over all things” (Quran 29: 30). The word ‘travel’ here bears two meanings: literal (going around the world) and symbolic (thinking and imagining) (Alkharasneh and Saleh, 2010). The verse means that Allah wants people to think deeply in order to recognise His power. Another methodology is seeing. “Do they not look at the camels, how they are made? And at the sky, how it is raised high? And at the mountains, how they are fixed firm? And at the earth, how it is spread out? Therefore do thou remind for thou art one to remind.” (Quran 88: 17-21). This verse describes reflection on Allah’s creation, which demonstrates His existence and power. I would add that recognising Allah’s existence by examining evidence of His power requires analysis, synthesis and reflection, which are features of critical thinking. The concept of reflection (yatafakkaroun, or 'thought' as in the following quotation), which is another methodology, is clearly referred to in the Quran (ibid.). “It is He Who sends down rain from the sky: from it ye drink, and out of it (grows) the vegetation in which ye feed your cattle. With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes, and every kind of fruit, verily in this is a sign for those who give thought” (Quran 16:10- 11). This is a message to people to use their reflective skills to recognise Allah’s existence.
Islam has been open to applying notions based on critical and creative thinking. Muslim scholars have been allowed to practise ijtihad. Ijtihad refers to the finding of creative solutions by Muslim scholars to any kind of problem an Islamic society might face as a result of social and economic changes (Alkharasneh and Sale, 2010; Manji, 2009). The initiation of new solutions requires the analysis of solutions
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currently operating, which again involves critical thinking. However, in recent years the practice of ijtihad has been limited to particular scholars, as religious authorities think that it might lead to differences of opinion and might break the unity of Muslims (ibid.).
Critical thinking and creativity were evident in all aspects of the life of Muslims
during the heyday of Islam. Another demonstration of the way in which Islam
encourages creativity may thus be seen in the development of the Islamic world
during the early years when Islam was flourishing. The Islamic empires: the Abbasid
(750-945 AD), Andalusian (756-1492 AD), Ottoman (1453-1922) and Persian (224-
1979 AD) empires, developed remarkable civilisations over the centuries, although
the Persian civilisation had begun before the spread of Islam. During these periods,
all aspects of life: art, education, architecture and scientific and medical inventions,
were flourishing (Morgan, 2007).
The first word that the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) received from Allah was “Read” (Quran 96: 1-3). During the Prophet’s time many people were illiterate and they started to learn to read and write in order to study the Quran. During the Abbasid empire, Muslims found Greek philosophy appealing and they translated Aristotle and Plato’s work into Arabic. Also, the writing of fiction became popular and stories such as The Thousand and One Nights were translated from Arabic into other languages (ibid.). The first universities in the Islamic world: Dar Alhekmah in Bagdad and Alqairawan in what is now known as Morocco (ibid.), were also built at this time.
Muslim scientists have contributed to the development of medicine and science. For instance, the supply of blood to the heart through vessels was first explained by Al- Nafis (1213-1288 AD). The 200 publications on chemistry by Jabir ibn Haiyan (721- 815 AD) enriched this field. Al-Kindi (801-873AD) continued ibn Hayan’s work and contributed additional works on the creation of perfumes and aromatic oils.
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However, the influence of Islam started to decline after the fall of the Ottoman empire. Various parts of the empire declared their independence. Wars broke out between countries and this had a negative influence on the level of education in most parts of the Islamic world. It could be said that wars, economic decline, politics and a lack of freedom all led to the decline of creativity in Islamic countries.
In summary, the points made above indicate that in every culture, whether Western or non-Western, one can find aspects of creativity and critical thinking, and that these concepts are not to be associated with any particular race or ethnicity. The next section introduces critical thinking in the Saudi higher education sector.