Alawi Shahrin & Iznan Tarip
Abstract
Critical thinking is often misunderstood negatively as the unending pursuit of faults for criticism. Instead, it is a performative practice to develop critical judgements and produce impactful outcomes. In this paper, we will first argue that critical thinking is a religious obligation. Then, we propose that the foundation of these skills must form within early religious education to complement the existing rote-learning methods. We found that an Islamically-oriented critical thinking analytical framework entails the methodological examination of the Qur’ān and the Sunnah and the wisdom of the ‘Ulamā throughout the Muslim history, the sourcing of expert opinions in specific fields, and extensive consideration of social benefits and local customs. Critical thinking also requires development that does not focus solely on developing intellectual capabilities but their character and skill-sets alongside society to manifest personal and social justice. We conclude with a call for more critical thinkers for the Islamic system of governance.
Keywords: Critical Thinking, Islamic Governance, Muslims Polymath, Early Religious Education Societal Justice
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