Importance of religion, man and knowledge in civilizational development: Views of Malik Bennabi and Sa‘id Nursi

This article examines the views of both Malik Bennabi (1905-1973) and Sa‘Êd NËrsÊ (1878-1960) on the importance of religion, man and knowledge in civilizational development. Despite the different backgrounds, approaches, contexts and conditions the two scholars brought home the fact that these three elements make the core foundations of civilizational development. As for Malik Bennebi, this article selected the role of religion and human factors in the process of civilizational development. To him these two foundations are crucial in any developmental activity leading to progress and transformation of society. He tried to prove that religion and man are the essential foundations of human progress. As for Sa‘Êd NËrsÊ, this article selected his view of knowledge as one important foundation of civilizational development. The article concludes that, religion, man and knowledge are crucial foundations of civilizational development. It showed that both Bennabi’s and NËrsÊ’s approach to the study of the foundations of civilizational development is very much Islamic in nature. Malik Bennabi dan Said Nursi adalah tokoh pemikir Islam yang terkenal dalam sejarah Islam terkini. Pandangan mereka terhadap kepentingan agama, manusia dan pengetahuan dalam pembangunan ketamadunan adalah teramat signifikan. Kedua-dua ulama nyatakan hakikat bahawa ketiga-tiga elemen (agama, manusia, dan ilmu) mejadi asas-asas teras pembangunan ketamadunan. Bagi Malik Bennebi, artikel ini memilih peranan agama dan faktor manusia dalam proses pembangunan ketamadunan. Bagi beliau kedua-dua asas adalah penting dalam mana-mana aktiviti pembangunan yang membawa kemajuan dan perubahan masyarakat . Beliau cuba membuktikan bahawa agama dan manusia adalah asas penting bagi kemajuan manusia. Bagi Said Nursi, artikel ini memilih pandangannya terhadap ilmu sebagai salah satu asas penting dalam pembangunan ketamadunan. Artikel ini menyimpulkan bahawa agama, manusia dan ilmu pengetahuan adalah asas-asas penting dalam pembangunan ketamadunan; dan bahawa pendekatan Bennabi dan Nursi untuk kajian asas-asas pembangunan ketamadunan amatlah mulia secara semula jadi