Selected Aspects of Islamic Worldview

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Islamic Worldview
SELECTED ASPECTS OF ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW
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Islamic Worldview
Islamic Worldview
Introduction
A worldview is a compilation of beliefs regarding central issues of reality which inform and
impact on ones perceptions, thoughts, knowledge and deeds. It is s a perspective of life, a
revelation of the world, more literally it is a way of viewing life, a philosophy that regarding life.
Also it is a belief of life held by a group or an individual. A worldview therefore is a general
understanding of the mature of the world especially in the context of a set of values or principles.
From the theoretical components of a worldview, the practical consequences of the same are
derived. The said system of values and principles may derive its basis from the tenets of a
religion or a moral philosophy not related to any religion. The Islamic worldview is a blend of
theistic and ethical philosophies (Shakir 2015, p. 311). It obtains from the central belief that all
forms of life were made out of the will and desire of Allah and that any discourse on the nature
of the world and how man interacts with it must be preceded by the Islamic acknowledgement of
God. According to Islamic worldview, there is no duality of the universe. These beliefs derive
authority form two primary sources, the Quran (the word of God) and the Sunnah (a
documentation of the teachings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad).
Islamic Theology (theism)
Islam recognizes Allah as the one and only God and acknowledges him as having the created the
universe and as such is its master. This is evidenced in the Islamic declaration of faith which says
sys “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadu Rasool Allah, to mean; there is no God but Allah and
Muhammad is his Prophet (Shakir 2015, p. 311). Islamic theology derives from the Quran which

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Islamic Worldview
is considered the Holy Book of Islam. According to Islam, the Quran is the spoken word of Allah
and a compilation of his revelation to mankind as he did through his Prophet Muhammad.
Unitarian Theism
Islam holds that there is only one God Allah. Consequently it departs from the Christian belief in
the existence of the Trinity of God (God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). They do not
approve of the deity of Jesus Christ. In Islam this is an unforgivable sin called Shirk; associating
God with partners. It is only equated to a belief in polytheism which is strictly forbidden in Islam
because it is a monotheistic religion (Annalakshmi & Abeer 2011, p. 720). God in Islam is
supreme above all creation and human beings. Christians hold a similar view hence the discourse
on the relationship between the sovereignty of God and his expectation of human responsibility
Islam also holds that angels exist. In the same vein it acknowledges the existence of jinn (evil
spirits made from fire). The religion further posits that the angels occupy hierarchical position
predetermined by God (Schirrmacher 2018, p.38). This is a point of convergence with
Christianity. Christianity too believes in the existence of angels and records to that effect are
found in the bible e.g. in Luke 1:25-56, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary the mother of Jesus
in her sixth month of pregnancy (Talbot 2011, p. 301). Islam esteems angel Jibril (Gabriel in
Christianity) as occupying the highest position among angels. In Christianity however the
archangel is believed to be Michael. Muslims popularly believe that every individual is assigned
two angels that watch over them. A similar view is held in Christianity. A slight difference
though is that Islam believes one of the angels records one’s good deed while the other records
the good deeds.