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Islam is based on naql (texts) and ‘aql (intellect). Some people just have the texts – we call them naql-heads.
Hamza Yusuf
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the balance between textual knowledge and intellectual reasoning in understanding Islam.

Hamza Yusuf's quote emphasizes that true comprehension of Islam involves both the study of texts (naql) and the application of intellect (aql). While some individuals may focus solely on the texts, neglecting the use of reasoning, a holistic understanding requires integrating both components to truly grasp the essence of the faith.

Themes

IslamKnowledgeIntellectTextsUnderstandingReason

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about religious education, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of integrating critical thinking with scripture.

More from Hamza Yusuf

And that is the secret of this world. If you remove love of dunya from your heart, the dunya is yours for the taking. You can have the dunya because it's in your hand and not in your heart
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People say to you, 'you've changed', or something like that, well, I hope, for the sake of God, that you have changed, because I don't want to be the same person all my life. I want to be growing, I want to be expanding. I want to be changing. Because animate things change, inanimate things don&'t change. Dead things don't change. And the heart should be alive, it should be changing, it should be moving, it should be growing, its knowledge should be expanding.
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Hypocrisy is wretched because the hypocrite says with his tongue what is not in his heart. He wrongs his tongue and oppresses his heart. But if the heart is sound, the condition of the tongue follows suit. We are commanded to be upright in speech, which is a gauge of the heart's state.
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The weak are dominated by their ego, the wise dominate their ego, and the intelligent are in a constant struggle against their ego.
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Opinion is not knowledge. You're entitled to your own opinion but you're not entitled to your own facts.
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Why do we need to justify God's existence? He exists. We need to justify our own existence.
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Quote by Hamza Yusuf | QuoteProject