Revisiting the intellectual vision of liberation in the thought of Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas

Muhsin, Sayyed Mohamed (2026) Revisiting the intellectual vision of liberation in the thought of Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas. IIUM Today, NA (NA). pp. 1-4.

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Abstract

A central concept in al-Attas’s intellectual project is the de-Westernization of present-day knowledge. According to him, knowledge is not neutral; rather, it is always shaped by the worldview, cultural assumptions, and philosophical orientation of the civilization that produces it. Modern Western knowledge therefore, carries within it the intellectual vision and psychological orientation of Western civilization. Al-Attas extended this critique to the structure of modern universities. In his view, the contemporary university often reflects an intellectual environment in which uncertainty, relativism, and conjecture are elevated as legitimate epistemological tools. He described the modern university as an institution that may perpetuate intellectual imbalance when knowledge becomes detached from its moral and spiritual foundations. This condition, in his terminology, represents a form of ẓulm—an injustice or disorder in the proper placement of knowledge. For this reason, al-Attas insisted that the Islamization of Knowledge cannot be realized without first addressing the epistemological foundations of modern disciplines. De-westernization, therefore, becomes a necessary preliminary step. It involves critically examining the philosophical assumptions embedded within contemporary fields of knowledge and identifying elements that conflict with the Islamic worldview. At the same time, it is important to emphasize that de-westernization does not imply rejecting modern knowledge altogether. Rather, the objective is to engage critically with contemporary disciplines and to integrate beneficial ideas, research methods, analytical tools, and scientific discoveries within a framework guided by Islamic principles. He left us with a legacy whose relevance is as profound today as it was when he first articulated it, perhaps even more necessary in our present context. His vision calls for a renewed effort to rejuvenate this intellectual project and to translate it into meaningful change for the better. This is not an exclusivist undertaking. While its immediate concern is the well-being and reform of the ummah, its benefits are not confined to Muslims alone. Once the intellectual and moral order of the ummah is restored, the positive impact naturally extends to the wider human community and, ultimately, to the well-being of humanity and the planet as a whole.

Item Type:	Article (Electronic Media)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Attas, De-westernisation, Islamization
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr. Sayyed Mohamed Muhsin
Date Deposited:	17 Apr 2026 16:14
Last Modified:	17 Apr 2026 16:14
Queue Number:	2026-04-Q2854
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/128363

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