The Classification of Knowledge Based on Al-Ghazali's Perspective and Its Relevance to Qur’anic Exegesis
Keywords:
Classification of Knowledge, Al-Ghazali, Islamic Epistemology, Quranic Exegesis, Fard Kifayah
Abstract
This article studies Al-Ghazali’s system of knowledge classification and its relevance to Qur’anic exegesis within the framework of classical Islamic epistemology. The focus of this study is to explain the structure of Al-Ghazali’s epistemology, which includes the sources of knowledge, methods of acquisition, and legal-ethical rulings on seeking knowledge, while positioning tafsir as an integral part of this framework. This research employs a qualitative approach through library research, focusing on Al-Ghazali’s major works, such as Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn and al-Risālah al-Ladunniyyah. The findings indicate that: (1) Al-Ghazali classifies knowledge based on its sources into revelatory knowledge (‘ilm al-shar‘i), rational knowledge (‘ilm al-‘aql), and intuitive knowledge (‘ilm al-kashf); (2) based on its method of acquisition, knowledge is divided into ḥuḍūrī (immediate) and ḥuṣūlī (acquired through learning), incorporating approaches such as bayānī, burhānī, ‘irfānī, and tajribī; (3) in terms of legal rulings, knowledge is categorized as farḍ ‘ayn, farḍ kifāyah, mandūb, mubāḥ, or ḥarām; and (4) Qur’anic exegesis is positioned as a shar‘i science, falling under the category of farḍ kifāyah, specifically within the subcategory of al-mutammimāt, developed through ḥuṣūlī methods and integrating several epistemological approaches.
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Soleh, A. K. (2017). Epistemologi Islam Integrasi Agama, Filsafat dan Sains dalam Perspektif Al-Farabi dan Ibn Rusyd. Ar-Ruzz Media.
Soleh, A. K. (2022). Al-Ghazali’s Concept of Happiness in The Alchemy of Happiness. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, 12(2), 196–211. https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.122.14
Soleh, A. K. (2024). Al-Ghazali on The Method of Achieving Happiness. Psikoislamika: Jurnal Psikologi Dan Psikologi Islam, 21(1), 729–742. https://doi.org/10.18860/psi.v20i2.89946
Sutoyib, N., & Soleh, A. K. (2023). Epistimologi Burhani Al-Ghazali dan Ibnu Rusyd: Studi Komparasi. Refleksi: Jurnal Filsafat Dan Pemikiran Islam, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.14421/ref.v23i2.5118
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Akbar, Y. M., & Soleh, A. K. (2024). Epistemologi Islam Irfani: Komparasi Al-Ghazali dan Al-Jabiri. Kuttubkhanah: Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Keagamaan, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.24014/kutubkhanah.v24i1.29549
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (1929). Misykah Al-Anwar. Dar Al-Qaumiyah.
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (1961). Mi’yar Al-’Ilmi. Dar Al-Ma’arif.
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (1987). Jawahir al-Qur’an. Dar Ihya’ al-’Uum.
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2005). Ihya’ Ulum ad-Din. Dar Ibnu Hazm.
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2014). Al-Risalah Al-Ladunniyyah. Dar Al-Muqattam.
Amrullah, A. M. K. (1989). Tafsir Al-Azhar, Jilid 1. Pustaka Nasional.
Ashimi, T. A. (2022). The Classification of Knowledge in Islam by Imam Al-Ghazali and Al-Farabi: A Comparative Study. International Journal of Advanced Research in Islamic and Humanities, 4(3), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.55057/ijarih.2022.4.3.7
Asnawi, A. R., Affani, S., & Hakamah, Z. (2021). Scientific Qur’Ānic Exegesis in Indonesia: Contributions By Scholars, Institutions, and the Government. Australian Journal of Islamic Studies, 6(4), 25–46. https://doi.org/10.55831/ajis.v6i4.401
Bakar, O. (1997). Hierarki Ilmu Membangun Rangka-Pikir Islamisasi Ilmu (Purwanto, Trans.). Mizan.
Gusmian, I., & Abdullah, M. (2023). Criticism of Social, Political, and Religious Problems in Indonesia: A Study on. Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 18(1), 215–230. https://doi.org/10.22452/JAT.vol18no1.18
Hardani, Andriani, H., Ustiawaty, J., Utami, E. F., Istiqomah, T. R., Fardani, R. A., Sukmana, D. J., & Auliya, N. H. (2020). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif & Kuantitatif. Pustaka Ilmu.
Hasanudin, A. S., & Zulaiha, E. (2022). Hakikat Tafsir Menurut Para Mufassir. Jurnal Iman Dan Spiritualitas, 2(2), 203–210. https://doi.org/10.15575/jis.v2i2.18318
Hurin’in, I. N. M., & Soleh, A. K. (2023). Al-Ghozali and Hasan Al Bashri’s Concept of Happiness to Improve Psychological Well Being. El-Hekam: Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.31958/jeh.v7i2.8528
Khasanah, N., Hamzani, A. I., & Aravik, H. (2020). Klasifikasi Ilmu Menurut Ibn Sina. SALAM: Jurnal Sosial Dan Budaya Syar-i, 7(11), 993–1008. https://doi.org/10.15408/sjsbs.v7i11.17739
Kheilmi, M., Suteja, S., & Nurlela, N. (2024). Konsep Pendidikan Intuisi Perspektif Imam Al-Ghazali. JIIP - Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan, 7(2), 1819–1826. https://doi.org/10.54371/jiip.v7i2.3965
Khoirudin, I. A. (2021). The Classification of Knowledge According to Imam Al-Ghazali. Tasfiyah: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.21111/tasfiyah.v5i1.5223
Laylia, N., Hadi, M. N., & Syaifullah. (2020). Klasifikasi Ilmu Dalam Islam Perspektif Imam Al Ghozali. Jurnal Mu’allim, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.35891/muallim.v2i2.2276
Naurah, S., Rhain, A., Dahlania, Y., Nugroho, K., Azizah, A., & Nirwana, A. (2024). Peran Tafsir Dalam Mendukung Program Moderasi Beragama. AL-AFKAR : Journal for Islamic Studies, 7(3), 998–1020. https://doi.org/10.31943/afkarjournal.v7i3.1575
Rahmadi. (2011). Pengantar Metodelogi Penelitian. Antasari Press.
Rosidah, U., Nurhakim, N., & Khozin, K. (2024). Thinking of Moral Education According To Al Ghazali and Al Zarnuji Perspective on Epistimology and Axiology. Jurnal Konseling Pendidikan Islam, 5(1), 203–216. https://doi.org/10.32806/jkpi.v5i1.131
Rozi, A. B. (2020). Hierarki Ilmu Pengetahuan Al-Ghazali: Suatu Tinjauan Filosofis. Tafhim Al-’Ilmi: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pemikiran Islam, 75(17), 399–405. https://doi.org/10.37459/tafhim.v12i2.4453
Saleh, S. Z., Taqiyuddin, M., & Hidayatullah, R. A. (2022). On Imam Ghazālī’s Farḍ ‘Ain and Farḍ Kifāyah: An Epistemological Approach. Jurnal Ushuluddin, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.24014/jush.v30i1.14661
Salim, A. (2022). Dikotomi Ilmu Perspektif Imam Ghazali dan Pengaruhnya Terhdap Kebijakan Pendidikan Di Indonesia. Kariman: Jurnal Pendidikan Keislaman, 10(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.52185/kariman.v10i1.208
Shihab, M. Q. (2007). Membumikan Al-Quran. Mizan Pustaka.
Siddiq, S. M., & Siregar, M. (2024). Pemikiran Ibnu Sina Tentang Pendidikan Dan Relevansinya Dengan Pendidikan Islam Kontemporer. Rayah Al-Islam: Jurnal Ilmu Islam, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.37274/rais.v8i3.967
Sobirin, S., & Mahrus, E. (2023). Pembelajaran Fardu Kifayah dalam Materi PAI: Tinjaun atas Manuskrip Risālat Al-Tahjīz Karya H. Muhammad Jabir Sambas (1872-1947). Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 14(3), 99–110. https://journal.uhamka.ac.id/index.php/jpi/article/view/13386
Soleh, A. K. (2013). Teologi Islam Perspektif al-Farabi dan al-Ghazali. UIN Maliki Press.
Soleh, A. K. (2017). Epistemologi Islam Integrasi Agama, Filsafat dan Sains dalam Perspektif Al-Farabi dan Ibn Rusyd. Ar-Ruzz Media.
Soleh, A. K. (2022). Al-Ghazali’s Concept of Happiness in The Alchemy of Happiness. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, 12(2), 196–211. https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.122.14
Soleh, A. K. (2024). Al-Ghazali on The Method of Achieving Happiness. Psikoislamika: Jurnal Psikologi Dan Psikologi Islam, 21(1), 729–742. https://doi.org/10.18860/psi.v20i2.89946
Sutoyib, N., & Soleh, A. K. (2023). Epistimologi Burhani Al-Ghazali dan Ibnu Rusyd: Studi Komparasi. Refleksi: Jurnal Filsafat Dan Pemikiran Islam, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.14421/ref.v23i2.5118
Syihabuddin, M., Manggala, K., Mahfudhoh, R., Nurul Huda, L., & Tara Nisawanda Duha Alfani, A. (2023). Implementasi Pemikiran Integrasi-Interkoneksi Keilmuan Ibnu Sina dalam Pendidikan Islam. SETYAKI : Jurnal Studi Keagamaan Islam, 1(4). https://doi.org/10.59966/setyaki.v1i4.626
Taqiyuddin, M. (2021). Tradisi Intelektual Fardhu Ain dan Fardhu Kifayah Pesantren dalam Menanggulangi Terorisme. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Islam, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.36667/jppi.v9i1.543
Wardani. (2020). Integrasi Ilmu Tafsir Dan Ilmu Sosial: Sebuah Catatan Awal Tentang Sosiologi Al-Qur`An. Ilmu Ushuluddin, 19(2), 147–168. https://doi.org/10.18592/jiiu.v19i2.4000
Wisudaningsih, E. T. (2023). Klasifikasi ilmu Al-Ghazali (dimensi epistemologi filsafat ilmu). BAHTSUNA: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Islam, 5(1), 22–28. https://doi.org/10.55210/bahtsuna.v5i1.389
Published
2025-10-29
How to Cite
Akbar, Rizamul, and Achmad Soleh. FiTUA: Jurnal Studi Islam 6, no. 2 (October 29, 2025): 218-228. Accessed November 23, 2025. http://ejournal.stitbima.ac.id/index.php/fitua/article/view/1066.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Rizamul Malik Akbar, Achmad Khudori Soleh
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