Series of Answers by the Eminent Scholar Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah, Ameer of Hizb ut-Tahrir, to the Questions of his Facebook Page Followers
Answer to a Question
To Atmani Atmani Atmani
Question: Assalamu Alaikum, our virtuous Sheikh: What is the difference between previous opinions and previous information in the method of thinking? Knowing that thought, perception, or the intellect cannot occur except through the four components: reality, sensation, previous information, and a brain capable of linkage, what is the difference between previous opinions and previous information related to interpreting reality?
Answer: Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
As stated in the question, the intellect, perception, or thought is the transmission of the sensation of reality via the senses to the brain, along with previous information through which this reality is interpreted. This means that the rational process is not complete until the four elements are provided: the reality, the sensation of the reality (the senses), a brain capable of linkage, and previous information about or related to the reality.
In order for thinking to exist for man on this earth, Allah (swt) provided Adam (as) with the previous information that explains the current realities on earth which were the subject of thought. It is stated in Ash-Shakhsiyyah (The Islamic Personality), Volume 3:
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا
"And He taught Adam the names - all of them." (QS Al-Baqarah [2]: 31)
"What is meant by this is the names of things, not languages. That is, He taught him the realities and properties of things; meaning, He gave him the information he would use to judge things. Sensory perception of reality alone is not sufficient to judge it and perceive its reality; rather, there must be previous information through which the reality is interpreted. Thus, Allah taught Adam the names, meaning the names of things, and gave him information by which he could judge the things he sensed..." End quote.
Consequently, thoughts emerged and followed one another since the first instance of thinking occurred when Allah provided Adam with previous information, which he then used to interpret the reality being thought about along with the other two elements present with him (the brain and the senses). Life continued to be filled with vast fields of thinking. Thus, the correct perception of how the first rational process occurred for man inevitably leads to belief in Allah (swt). Therefore, disbelieving movements that deny the existence of the Creator define the mind or thought by omitting "previous information"! Even though thought about reality cannot occur without previous information that interprets that reality—and this is known by necessity—disbelieving movements like the Communists deny previous information so that it does not lead them to belief in the Creator who provided Adam (as) with the previous information to establish the first thought in this life, from which the process of thinking then continued. This is because the sensation of reality along with the brain does not produce thought without previous information to interpret the reality being thought about. Sensation of reality, plus a second sensation, plus a million sensations—no matter how many types of sensation—only results in sensation, and no thought occurs at all. Rather, there must be previous information present with the person through which he interprets the reality he has sensed for thought to occur. Consequently, the sequence of thoughts, especially the first thought, leads to belief in Allah, who provided Adam (as) with the previous information.
This concerns previous information. As for previous opinions, they are judgments on reality that a person has previously issued, either by performing the rational process himself and judging the reality, or by receiving those judgments from others through instruction, reading, etc. Thus, previous opinions are thoughts about reality.
Accordingly, the difference between previous information and previous opinions can be summarized in two main points:
First: Previous opinions are the previous thoughts a person has which constitute a judgment on the researched reality, whether totally or partially. As for previous information, it is that which can interpret the reality without judging it, but rather only to explain it; it is one of the factors of thinking without which thinking cannot be completed.
Second: A previous opinion is a pre-judgment on the reality intended to be thought about, in order to find the correct judgment in the view of the thinker. Therefore, it is not correct to use it in the rational process. What must be used is only information, while preventing the presence of the previous opinion during the process and preventing its interference. If a previous opinion is used, it may cause an error in perception because it might dominate the information and interpret it incorrectly, leading to an error in perception. Therefore, one must note the distinction between a previous opinion and information; only information should be used, and previous opinions regarding the reality to be researched should be excluded. It is stated in the book At-Tafkeer (Thinking), pages 21-23:
"However, in defining it, a distinction must be made between previous opinions about a thing and previous information about it or related to it. What is essential in the rational method is not the existence of an opinion or previous opinions about the reality, but rather the existence of previous information about it or related to it. Therefore, what must be present is information and not opinion..."
- Below are two examples to clarify the above:
a. If you give a person—any person—a Syriac book, and he has no information related to Syriac, and we let his sensation fall upon the writing through sight and touch, and we repeat this sensation a million times, it is impossible for him to know a single word until he is given information about Syriac and what relates to Syriac. Only then does he begin to think about it and perceive it. It cannot be said that this is specific to languages and that they are man-made conventions and thus need information about them; this cannot be said because the subject is a rational process, and the process is one of the intellect, whether in establishing a judgment, understanding an indication, or understanding a reality. The rational process is a single process in everything.
b. If you want to research a political issue to reach the correct opinion on it—for example, the issue of Turkey's intervention in the events in Libya, sending mercenary fighters, and supporting Sarraj and the Government of National Accord with weapons and information—and there was a previous opinion that Erdogan's support for the Government of National Accord forces is due to his love for Muslims, his concern for the people of Libya, and because he supports armed Islamic movements and provides them with support... etc. This opinion is a judgment on the issue you want to research and not merely previous information about it. The correctness of the research requires you to abandon this previous opinion and study the issue within the available political evidence in an objective study... and then reach the correct opinion on the matter.
I hope this clarification is sufficient, and Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise.
Your brother, Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah
04 Ramadan 1442 AH Corresponding to 16/04/2021 CE
Link to the answer from the Ameer's Facebook page Link to the answer from the Ameer's website