Page 7 - Issue-24

Vol.1 Issue 24, October 2020
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Soffar to Nassar : " Recent Studies show that Although

Ibn Khaldun was not a sufist , he was linked to sufi

circles"

civilisation upon which the transition from the med ieval state
is why he nullified philosophy and rebelled against it. In that,
to modernity could be established. I believe this i s the main
he surely exemplifies a continuation to Al-Ghazali ’s stance.
thesis of the book.
Whether Ibn-Khaldun ’s theses relating to the criticism of
The issue here is that modern studies show that, th ough he was
philosophy were authentic or not –as you stated before- they
not a Sufi himself, Ibn-Khaldun had close contact t o the Sufi
define his stance about philosophy.
circles. It is to my knowledge that you the attribu tion of
“Remedy of Questioner in Search of Answers ” book
2018-2020
2018-2020
Prof. Nassar:
I am not familiar with Mohammed Iqbal ’s thought on Ibn- [SHIFAA ’ AL-SA'IL LI-TAHDHIB AL-MASA'IL] to Ibn-
Khaldun, basing this rejection on Taha Hussien ’s view.
Khaldun, therefore, I cannot comment on it. However , I can
However, it can be said that Taha Hussien ’s opinion was
say that for Ibn-Khaldun, the pillars of historical
prejudiced as his Doctorate ’s thesis shows his predisposition
consciousness were rooted in the Arab-Islamic cultu re.
against Ibn-Khaldun seeking to demeanandbelittle hi m. This is
Nonetheless, this did not hinder him from employing what he
apparent through both; the text of his study, and S atea Al-
learnt fromGreek philosophy towards his rational an d
Hosary ’s display of and reading into TahaHussien ’s study
scientific development.
about Ibn-Khaldun. Despite stating the different ph ases in Ibn-
Khaldun ’s life, you did not refer to his practice of Sufism
Prof.Soffar:
during his isolation. He used to retreat into seclu sion in Abu
The point that I eagerly want to know our opinion a bout
Maydan Al-Ghawth ’sMosque/ Shrine [Maqam] and practice
concerns the internal aspect for Ibn-Khaldun –using the terms
different spiritual exercises. This also led him to send his
coined by the late Egyptian philosopher Othman Amin . My
brother in his stead for political missions in orde r not to come
belief is that the entirety of your book is seeking this internal
out of his retreat.
aspect rather than the partial and external details in the
Moreover, in your presentation of the works of his youth, you
“Introduction ” or in the other works of Ibn-Khaldun. This
merely passed through Ibn-Khaldun ’s explanation of “Al-
leads me to ask you about Ibn-Khaldun ’s stance from Sufism.
Burda ”, although this explanation is one about a Sufi pie ce
In fact, I have sensed on your part an avid persist ence on
that tackles the theory of Mohammadian light which is of
distancing Ibn-Khaldun from all matters spiritual i n Islam in
extreme importance to Philosophical Sufism. There a re many
order to solidify your thesis concerning Ibn-Khaldu n’s
historical evidence that appeared recently such as Ibn Qonfod
realisation of a rational and practical base in the Islamic
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Vol.1 Issue 24, October 2020