The Insight Interviews Ep. 18 | The Use of Reason in Islamic Theology: An Exploration of Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
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Nov 20, 2024 
Dr. Saiyad Nizamuddin Ahmad, a scholar of Islamic philosophy and theology at Florida International University, takes us on a captivating journey through his academic path. He shares insights into his translation of Nasir al-Din al-Tusi's influential work, Tajrīd al-Iʿtiqād, emphasizing the importance of reason in Shia theology. The conversation touches on Tusi's role as both a philosopher and a Sufi, the necessity of commentaries to grasp complex ideas, and the modern relevance of Tusi's thoughts across Sunni and Shia lines. It's a rich exploration of faith and intellect.
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From Engineering To Islamic Scholarship
- Saiyad Nizamuddin Ahmad describes switching from engineering to mathematics and then to Arabic and Islamic studies driven by curiosity and library access.
- He used interlibrary loans and language study in Saudi Arabia to teach himself classical texts and built a personal Arabic library.
Immersion In Cairo's Scholarly Life
- He recounts studying at the American University in Cairo and attending Al-Azhar classes unofficially while exploring Maliki law and Sufi texts.
- Ahmad collected books, studied privately, and immersed himself in Arabic scholarship and Sufi writings.
Dissertation On Fatwas Of Condemnation
- For his PhD at Princeton Ahmad originally wanted to study Ibn al-Arabi and later considered usul al-fiqh before writing on fatwas of condemnation.
- His dissertation became a book analyzing historical fatwas that condemned people, practices, and ideas.
