The `Aql-Naql Theory of Human Symbols and the Making of Cultural Sociology

Abstract

This paper uses both reason (`aql) and Qur’an-based knowledge (naql) to establish my `Aql-Naql Theory of Human Symbols (ANTHS) and explain its relevance to the formulation of cultural sociology. In it, I argue that human individuals are by nature users of human symbols, based upon the following five observations/concepts: (1) the process of the human body’sgrowth and maturation is very slow when compared to that of other living beings; (2) humans have a longer lifespan than many other species; (3) the human race has a dominant role in running this world; (4) humans are distinct due to their use of human symbols (HS), which comprise spoken and written language, thought, religion, knowledge/science, laws, myths, cultural values and norms, and so on; and (5) human identity is made up of two parts, the physical body and human symbols, and is thus fully dualistic. This theory explains that human symbols (4) play a principal role in enabling humanity to occupy the central place in the world (3) as well as in the making of features 1, 2, and 5. The person’s slow bodily growth and maturation are explained by the fact that humanity’s global growth and maturation involve two fronts: those of the body and of human symbols. While the growth and maturation of non-human species is unidimensional (the body), those of their human counterparts are bidimensional (the body and human symbols. The human ability to think and reason (`aql) gives credit to human symbols’ centrality to the human identity. The Qur’an also stresses these symbols’ core importance for human identity. As a classical Islamic method, this essay will show that the use of `aql and naql in the process of knowledge making makes a major contribution to the development of cultural sociology.