Do you think that independent thinking is allowed/encouraged in Islam? What is your understanding of the term ‘independent thinking’?
wud ur view of 'independent thinking' mean 'thinking that is independent of Islam"????
u have to tell us what u mean by the term so we can argue on whether it is allowed in Islam or not....
Army See this "What is your understanding of the term 'independent thinking'?"
^
perhaps then u shud have ordered ur questions in the right manner....
anyway i gave u my understanding of it, but cant continue until i have urs....
Can a Muslim think independent of Islam? What does independent of Islam mean?
depends on what he is thinking about....
i am thinking on a way to increase the cpu speed....
surely thats independent of islam.... :p
There is a saying, I am not sure but most of the people give its refrence to Hazrat Ali 
it goes like this
ÑÇÓ ÇáÍßãÉ ÝÆ ãÎÇÝÉ ÇááÉ
Ras ul hikma fi Makhafat Allah
The base of Wisdom is in Fear of Allah
What I understand out of this is that ISlam encourages independent thinking, but reminds us that if we don’t have fear of Allah (in other words believe in the day of judgment) in our hearts there are chances that we will be lead astray by our thoughts and ultimately in our actions.
I understand 'independent thinking' to be the pursuit of knowledge through research that is not constrained by any doctrine; religious, social or political.
IMO, Islam gives full permission in pursuit of such knowledge but warns individual to hold ‘takwa’ [which I define to be fear of Allah & a unbiased heart] near & dear. This doesn’t translate into holding Imams or Mullanas opinion near and dear or to fear them but to keep a check on your own-self that you do your work in all honesty and not with an intent of rebellion.
The classic examples of independent thinking in today’s contemporary world would be a research on ‘capital punishment’ .. does it reduce crime, or does it increase it, how many innocent get victimized by it and how many are truly guilty, so on and so forth. And the study can only be considered independent if you do not have a prior firm belief in it’s outcome.
A similar example would be a study on gay behavior and genetic makeup.
Sure, Islam promotes independent thinking... but one thing to always keep in mind is that in quest of knowledge and independent thinking we are not violating the basic rules/aqeeda...
the "aqeeda" is in fact a direct anathema to "independent thinking".. if your "aqeeda's" are strong and true and based on the right 'faith'.. u shouldn't fear subjecting them to "independent thinking".
I think that is one of the beauties of Islam… it not only allows but encourages “independent thinking,” the attainment of knowledge, and furthering one’s life experiences within limits of Islam. This is one of the reasons why in the heydey of Islam there existed so many Muslim philosophers, scientists, mathematicians, etc. They acquired knowledge via their own experiences and via help from their ancient predecessors (ie. the Greeks and Romans).
Ahmedjee’s description is correct
[quote]
I understand 'independent thinking' to be the pursuit of knowledge through research that is not constrained by any doctrine; religious, social or political.
[/quote]
Independent thinking means starting off a clean slate. In case of Islam or any other religion for that matter, you are not independent really…no matter how you twist your words. The replies above have a constraining clauses e.g. aqeeda, within limits of islam etc…
If there was room for thinking independently in Islam then it would have been termed as a weak religion. Islam is a complete religion and supposedly you should get all your answers within the confines of Islam. You should think independently prior to embracing Islam rather than after…
Thinking and pondering are encouraged in Islam,,
isnt it in the quran '.....but those who understand/think' (cant remember the verse)..
and there are other places where it is mentioned.
A muslim is one who submits to Allah.
Independent of islam would mean, outside islam.
I wonder how Salman Rushdie would answer this question.
^ Do we care how that a$$ thinks on this topic?
^ Obviously not, which answers the question "Do you think that independent thinking is allowed/encouraged in Islam?" without any further discussion necessary.
^ Absolutely Seminole, question answered, we don't care. No go ahead and pull that Habanero out.
Don't you guys realize that Islam when first introduced to the Pagan Arabs; it was obviously so radical in comparison to their belief that only an 'independent thinker' would believe in it.
ahmadjee, bhaijaan point taken, but what is the point of bringing Rushdie in this? Knowing fully well that no one here wants to hear what that a$$ has to say about Islam.
I know you did not bring it up, but i just lumped my reply to seminole in this post.
While most Muslims consider Salman Rushdie writings blasphemous more than anything else, most of the Western world probably considers him in the category of 'independent thinker' and thus fatwas of him being 'wajib-ul-qatal' ... makes them believe that any radical thought has a death threat in Islam.
I personally consider Rushdie is wayyy too over rated in both camps, i.e. those who hate him and those who love him.