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What is the ruling on studying philosophy, given that it is compulsory in Algeria?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Philosophy is defined as a Greek word meaning "love of wisdom." Its meaning has evolved to include rational inquiry unfettered by constraints, which has led it to clash with wisdom in its Islamic sense, encompassing the Sunnah, ethics, and self-restraint. The Imams viewed philosophy as dangerous because it combats faith and uses logic to distort truths. The majority of jurists, such as Ibn Nujaym, Al-Dardir, Zakariyya Al-Ansari, and Al-Bahuti, have explicitly prohibited the study of philosophy. However, an exception is made for specialists to study it in order to expose its deviance and refute its falsehoods. If studying philosophy is compulsory, one must be cautious not to believe in any of its falsehoods and strive diligently to seek Islamic knowledge to strengthen one's creed and protect oneself from doubts.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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