Islam for Critical Thinkers is a transformative 2-day workshop that develops practical critical thinking skills that bridge Islamic principles in navigating modern challenges. It combines a weekend retreat with online learning and webinars, designed for students and professionals seeking to better understand and apply Islamic principles in their life.

Whether you're facing professional dilemmas, personal questions, or seeking a more intellectually grounded spiritual practice, this course provides the tools to approach faith critically while staying true to authentic Islamic teachings.

Who Should Apply?

This course welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to intellectual growth within an Islamic framework.

• IIIT sponsored students at IIUM
• IIUM students and academic staff

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Apply Quranic principles of critical reasoning to personal and professional challenges
• Navigate different scholarly opinions on contemporary issues with confidence
• Evaluate information sources within the Islamic tradition with discernment
• Develop structured approaches to problem-solving using Islamic frameworks
• Research and verify Islamic guidance on modern matters
• Apply fundamental principles of Islamic law to contemporary contexts
• Engage respectfully with differing viewpoints while maintaining authenticity
• Make evidence-based decisions that honour both religious principles and modern realities

Topics

• Purpose, Virtue and Knowledge: An Islamic Teleological Framework

• Faith & Reason

• Decision-making: The Village and the Sick Cow

• Core Islamic Critical Thinking Tools

• The Schools of Thought

• Triangulation in Evidence-Based Rulings

• Critical Thinking in Islam

• Knowledge Pursuit in Islamic Tradition

• Six-Step Critical Thinking Model

• Muslim Jurist’s Toolbox

• Emotional Intelligence in Decision-Making

• Mindsets and Blackbox Thinking

• Five Diseases & Cures of the Heart

• Constructive Discontent & Inclusive Consultation (Shūrā)

• TREES Operational Principles

• Practical Framework for Knowledge Integration

• Practical Tools Beyond Fiqh

• The Six Thinking Hats

• Thinking Skills in the AI Era

• Personal Action Plan