Science of the Quran: Definition of Science

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

We typically always hear in schools that science should means something like physics, chemistry, biology or mathematics. We were told about Ismai'ili Shi'a Muslim achievements such as of Ibnu Sina without being told that he is a Shi'a Muslim and many people do not really like Shi'a Muslims here though they never befriend one.

It is not that I am an opponent to these sciences but I found that last time it was so intense and we as religious studies students were down-graded to the level that we feel like we were not human and we must be another person which was not us as the result to fit in. I became like I am now because of the situation in society that I have to live in. 

Now, let us see what is meant by science according to Quranic knowledge explanations. Actually this is the introduction of a kitāb that I read titled "The Sciences of Quran" written by Ustad Asmawi Eḥsan. I made notes out of what I had read and listened from teachers so it would not be a stiff translation but from what I understood in those things that I had read. It is actually a habit since I was a young kid...

There are many definitions according to fields of specialization such as philosophy, uṣūl, linguistics and religious studies. I wish beloved brother Idris could access this. I am doing this apart of it for brothers and sisters in China and those in areas with less Muslim population. I feel that I did not function well because I refuse to speak about religious studies in front of people of diverse background but that does not mean that we leave behind da'awa mission. It is in our blood and heritage.

Definitions

Philosophers

Defined science as a picture which exists or sparked from the mind of human-being in their assumption of a particular thing, event, situation or anything which he founds or faced. Some philosophers defined it as something which controls the soul and the mind of man-kind in their quest to explore a particular thing.

Uṣūluddin Specialists

They defined the term science as a nature which a human could achieve the highest position in his life and his affairs if he acquires it. Some defined it with a nature which would possibly determine a person to choose and deciding on something without any doubt though it is only through the usage of common-sense.

Materialists

Science is defined by these people as something that would be believed and detected through the senses such as being witnessed by physical eyes. If it is not through this way such as the belief on supernatural matters and things that we listened or sam'iyyat could not be assumed as a science. Why? Because these things could not be touched, tasted, watched or witnessed and achieved by human senses. This is the view that we had been taught in schools in our country. It is intensely being focused by government policy in education in order to be a developed country though I fail to see what kind of development being brought so far. A body or a mass without soul has no value at all. It is not a holistic one. How about others in other parts of the world?

Linguists

Their opinion is that science means the knowledge which is possessed by someone that with it a person could get to know something in the universe.

Religionist

Define the science as the ability of a person in his quest to know His Creator and in the quest to prove His existence, His deeds to His creations and firming it in their heart.

Summary

Basically, these definitions mean that science is an ability on human-being granted by the God which could be used to make assumptions, to discuss and to argue something which has been faced by human-kind in the Earth. In Arabic, it is known as 'Ulūm which is the plural for 'Ilm. It means branches of knowledge since there are many subjects being discussed in the scientific arguments.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!   

Recap: In Bangkok, I had no idea about it at all!!!

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

continue...

Before we could see proper Bangkok, we could also see uneven underdevelopment and development around Dusit area. I read about Dusit too while doing some research and planning the trip, but I don't know how to return to the area after I reached Bangkok Hualampong station. 

In simple word, pembangunan tak sekata at suburban area... Houses like setinggan along the railway and the roof of people's houses even scrapped the train's window, lol! The train stopped at few minor stations too and there are people selling food like fruits, coffee, and kueh coming in and out the train. Out of the window, I saw people sleeping, having meals, and sitting on newspaper spread over the floor along the rail way side. I saw a monk having his meal on a newspaper under trees too, funny... ahaha.

It reaches Hualampong Station in Bangkok around 12:00 mid day. I just proceed to the information counter and getting the map for the city because I was totally clueless. It is my first time there anyway. And I have to pay 50 bhat for the map. Then I just said to the lady at the counter, "fiuhhhhh, thamrai pud thai nyuung maaaq neee ur." (I can't really speak proper Thai, so difficult!). She just chuckled at my face. 

A canal not far from Hualampong Station.

The couple from Mauritius had approached a travel agent at the station, but I avoided them because I am on tight budget and, alone... I think for a moment and begin to realize that I need to perform Dzuhr prayer so I went up at the left side of the information counter. They have a musalla up there for Muslim and there I met few Muslims waiting for Dzuhr. I didn't notice that there is an automatic clock showing the prayer times. So I asked an uncle in Malay but he thought that I am a Thai so I just talk to him in Thai. 

I felt quite weird because we are from neighboring states, where they perhaps come from Pattani, Yalor (Yala), Naro, or Senggoro (Songkhla) who supposedly to talk in Tani Malay. I regret I didn't take the picture at the musalla, it looks classic with Jawi Malay written in Thai sounding Malay with alphabet ha at a vowels. Then we performed Dzuhr prayer jama' with 'Asr because everyone are in travel. Jama' is a simplified prayer where we combine two prayer times into one. There is a specific topic about this.

Streets sign, and I was actually at China Town area while snapping this.

After the prayer, I began to walk out of the station and thinking on the next step. What should I do in a city I had never been before and it is a foreign city. I have no slightest idea about the city. Should I also change my SIM card by buying a new pack for Thai number? But I am not sure how many days I would be there and my budget is quite limited. It would be different if I work or live there. I just bought some water from a convenient store which costs me around 10 bhat. They also have grilled pork in the convenient store. Never thought that it would be sold... openly but that is Thailand, haha.

 Wat Traimitr, Yaowarat. Non Thai have to pay entrance fee to enter the temple maintenance but it is free for locals.

Then I walked and looking around Hualampong Station. I could see Yaowarat which is their China Town. I saw Wat Traimitr and walked in because I didn't know what to do. Then I walked out after noticing that they demanded non-Thai to pay the entrance fee when looking around the temple complex. I didn't intend to look around the temple complex or any places yet since I didn't have any accommodation. The first thing that I should do is to get some rice because I was so hungry and I ate just scarcely after buying those expansive loaves of bread in Padang Besar.     

Wat Traimitr temple complex from a chinese hardware shop.

Then I made up my mind to return to Hualampong station but I don't want to take the bus because I don't know the roads or areas in Bangkok yet. It would be dangerous if we don't know where we are about to bound and not all of the people are well-versed with the city because we are also like that here, ha ha ha. I decided to take Metro Rail Transit Authority and I choose to go to Silom after I checked my notebook and that is the only area that I had read about before which fit the destination stated at the computer. Silom is the area where red shirts protesting for Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra to be returned to Prime Minister's seat.

 On my way to MRT station.

They have security check where people have to go through scanner and also checking the bag and I am giving full cooperation to this because I know that it is for people's benefit. It is a bit fussy but I think that is good to ensure the security and tourists would feel safe.  But the guard refused to check my bag as I approached him trying to open up my own bag for him to check.

The guards who checked my bag or people in the underground train station are quite friendly and they treated me nicely. So, please don't worry if our brothers and sisters wanted to visit the city. I paid 30 bhat for Silom road in the machine and it gave me a coin to be touched at the gate. 

to be continued...