THEOLOGY

Arabic al-ʿIlmu ʾl-Ilāhī ( العلم الالهى‎ ), “The Science of God.” In the Traditions, the term ʿIlm , “knowledge,” is specially applied to the knowledge of the Qurʾān. Shaik͟h ʿAbdu ʾl-Ḥaqq, in his remarks on the term ʿIlm , says religious knowledge consists in an acquaintance with the Qurʾān and the Traditions of Muḥammad. Muḥammadan theology may be divided into :— (1) ʿIlmu ʾt-Tafsīr , a knowledge of the Qurʾān and the commentaries thereon. (2) ʿIlmu ʾl-Hadīs̤ , a knowledge of the Traditions. (3) ʿIlmu ʾl-Uṣūl , a knowledge of the roots, or of the four principles of the foundations of Muslim law, being expositions of the exegesis of the Qurʾān and the Ḥadīs̤, and the principles of Ijmāʿ and Qiyās. (4) ʿIlmu ʾl-Fiqh , Muslim law, whether moral, civil, or ceremonial. (5) ʿIlmu ʾl-ʿAqāʾid , scholastic theology, founded on the six articles of the Muslim creed, the Unity of God, the Angels, the Books, the Prophets, the Resurrection, and Predestination. [ ʿILM .]