Logic and Critical Thinking: Sharh al-Sullam · Sep 22, 2026
Lecture 3: Logic as a Tool: Definitions, Limits, and the Ruling on Studying Mantiq
Key takeaways
- Logic is traditionally introduced through the mabadi al-ashara, the ten foundations of any science.
- Mantiq is commonly defined as a rule-governed tool that protects the mind from error when its rules are properly observed.
- Logic studies relations among concepts and propositions, but it does not by itself guarantee that the content of the premises is true.
- A valid argument can still have a false conclusion if one or more premises are false.
- Logic is narrower than thinking in general: thinking includes memory, imagination, comparison, and interpretation.
- Falsafa is a broader worldview-building project, while mantiq is a tool for checking definitions, inferences, and consistency.
- The major debate over studying logic concerns especially logic mixed with Greek philosophical assumptions, not purified logical tools.
- Adab, humility, sound intention, and tarbiya are essential so logic is used to seek truth, not to inflate the ego or win arguments.
This lecture situates mantiq (منطق), classical logic, within the traditional framework of the mabadi al-ashara (المبادئ العشرة), the “ten foundations” by which scholars introduce any science. The first concern is definition: what is logic? One definition says logic studies known tasawwurat (تصورات, concepts) and tasdiqat (تصديقات, judgments or affirmations) insofar as they lead us to unknown concepts or judgments. Another definition, associated with Ibn Sina and others, says logic studies secondary intelligibles: not things directly, like “tree” or “human,” but mental relations such as “species,” “subject,” “predicate,” and “definition.”
Text references covered
- Al-Akhdari, al-Sullam al-Munawraq, opening lines: 'Wa ba'du fa-l-mantiq lil-janani / nisbatuhu ka-l-nahwi lil-lisani.'
- Al-Akhdari, al-Sullam al-Munawraq, lines on the benefit of logic: 'Fa-ya'simu al-afkara an ghayyi al-khata / wa an daqiq al-fahmi yakshifu al-ghita.'
- Al-Akhdari, al-Sullam al-Munawraq, lines: 'Fa-haka min usulihi qawa'id / tajma'u min fununihi fawa'id.'
- Al-Akhdari, al-Sullam al-Munawraq, title explanation: 'Sammaituhu bi-l-Sullam al-Munawraq / yurqa bihi sama'a ilm al-mantiq.'
- Al-Akhdari, al-Sullam al-Munawraq, section: 'Fasl fi jawaz al-ishtighal bihi.'
- Al-Akhdari, al-Sullam al-Munawraq, permissibility lines: 'Wa-l-khulf fi jawaz al-ishtighal bihi ala thalathati aqwal.'
- Al-Akhdari, al-Sullam al-Munawraq, lines naming Ibn Salah and al-Nawawi as prohibiting it and another group as requiring it.
- Al-Akhdari, al-Sullam al-Munawraq, lines giving the mashhur sound position: permissibility for one of sound capacity who upholds the Sunnah and the Book.
- Ibn Taymiyya, al-Radd ala al-Mantiqiyyin, mentioned as an external critique of the logicians.
- Al-Ghazali’s reported statement: 'Whoever does not know logic, his knowledge is not trusted,' cited in discussion of the view that logic is necessary.
Questions to think about
- Why is it important to distinguish between the form of an argument and the truth of its premises?
- How does the comparison between logic and grammar help you understand the role of mantiq in the Islamic sciences?
- In what ways can logic protect faith from shubuhat, confusions or doubts, without becoming a replacement for revelation?
- Why might some scholars object to logic when it is tied to Greek philosophical assumptions?
- How does the category of secondary intelligibles help explain what logic studies?
- What are the dangers of using logic or jadal without adab and tarbiya?
- How can a student cultivate the humility needed to benefit from debate and correction?
- Where do you see the difference between seeking truth and trying to win an argument in your own discussions?