Thinking Styles in the Quran

I picked up this book from the library:

Creative Thinking: An Islamic Perspective by Jamal Badi, Mustapha Tajdin

It covered pretty much higher thinking thought processes that we as students undergo in schools and universities. It aims basically to align our thoughts towards Allah via understanding the contents of the Quran that adress approaches to thinking and learning.

One fascinating chapter, "Thinking Styles in the Quran" explains that different thinking styles used in the Quran is a mode of expressing it's true message to reach out to a wide scope of intellectual cultures. These thinking styles are also used to fulfil certain objectives to widen the scope of human perception to have a much better understanding of the Quranic message.

In addition to this, thinking styles of the quran is complementary to, but not limited to, learning about the world around us via (1) our five senses and (2) moral intuition or conscience.

Anyway the first thinking style mentioned in the book was:

(1) Inquisitive thinking style of asking questions getting people to think and question the world around them.

Surah Al-Tur Ayat 29-43

29: So exhort (reasons from them and clarify their doubts and clear their minds of ignorance) O Prophet, for by your Lord's Grace, you are neither a madman nor a soothsayer.

30: Or do they say: "He is a poet for whom we await an adverse turn of fortune".

31: Tell them: "Wait, I too am waiting with you."

32: Do their minds prompt them to say such things, or are they a people immersed in transgression?"

33: Do they say: "He has himself fabricated the Quran?" No; the truth is that they are altogether adverse to believing.

34: (If theyare truthful in this), then let them produce a discourse of similar splendour,

35: Did they come into being without any creator? Or were they their own creators?

36: Or is it they who created the heavens and the earth? No; the truth is that they lack sure faith.

37: Or do they have your Lord's treasures in their keeping? Or have absolute authority over them?

38: Or do they have a ladder whereon they can climb and attempt to listen (to what is transpiring in the Higher Realm)? Then, let any one of them who has listened to it produce a clear proof of it.

39: Or does Allah have daughters whereas you have sons?

40: Or is it that you ask of them any recompense so that they should fear to be weighed down under the burden of debt?

41: Or is it that they have access to (the Truths in) the realm beyond sense-perception which they are writing down?

42: Or are they contriving a strategem against you? If so, that strategem will rebound against the unbelievers.

43: Do they have any god other than Allah? Exhalted be Allah above whatever they associate (with Him in His Divinity).

Other surahs that cover inquisitive thinking styles:

Surah An-Nisa Ayat 97

Surah Al-Kahf Ayat 49

Surah Al-Isra' Ayat 40

Surah Al-A'raf Ayat 172 & 155

Surah Fatin Ayat 3 & 44

Surah Al-Baqara Ayat 28, 255, 258

As-Saffat Ayat 95

Surah Yunus Ayat 35 & 42

Other thinking styles found in the Quran:

(2) Objective thinking style
(3) Positive thinking style
(4) Hypothetical thinking
(5) Rational thinking
(6) Reflective thinking
(7) Visual thinking
(8) Metaphorical thinking
(9) Analogical thinking
(10) Emotional thinking
(11) Perceptual thinking
(12) Conceptual thinking
(13) Intuitive thinking

InsyaAllah I'll type out what was stated in the book, together with Quranic translations and commentaries. One last bit of information to ponder about:

The very first word that was reveal to Muhammad through the angel Jibril was "Iqra", which can be translated into "read!" or "recite or rehearse!" or "proclaim aloud!" Allah's message.

This was message for Muhammad, but for us, (in my own words) in following his benovelent example, has at least 3 meanings:

(1) Seek true knowledge that would reaffirm your faith
(2) Apply that knowledge into your daily lives and dealings with others
(3) venture forth to share this knowledge with others.

All quranic translations taken from:

The Holy Quran: Text, translation and commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
& Towards Understanding the Quran, Abridged version of Tafhim al-Quran by Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi. Translated and Edited by Zafar Ishaq Ansari