Journal of Islamic Studies > Volume 7, No. 1, 1995

Mental Processes in the Holy Qur'an and their Educational Implications / Abdul-Rahman S. Abdullah

This study aimed 10 examine the major mental processes in the Holy Our'an and to identify their educational implications. Eight mental processes were identified:
 (1) Sensory perception.  (2) Cognitive perception.
(3) Remembering (tadhakkur).  (4) Analogy (qiyas) .
(5)  Deduction (istiq'ra). (6)  Induction (istinbat).
(7)  Evaluation (taqwim). (8)  Reflection (tafakkur) .
These processes could be arranged in a pyramid-like manner where sensory perception lies at the bottom of the pyramid and tafakkur lies at its top. The very last process in the Holy Qur'an is confined to believers in Allah. Non-believers can never reach the stage of tafakkur. Education should aim at developing thinking at all levels. The content of the curriculum. methods of teaching and methods of evaluation should be geared towards achieving this aim.