In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE) organized a symposium discussing critical thinking at Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Official Languages School. The symposium entitled "Critical Thinking and Protecting Youth,” coming under the umbrella of “Know More” initiative, aimed at raising awareness among school students.
The symposium focused on two main aspects, as follows:
1- “Intellect” as the Essence of Human beings
The researchers from AOCE pointed out that critical thinking means to apply reasoning to the information acquired, emphasizing that the genuine teachings of Islam praise the use of reason, and reminding attendees that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) forbade blind imitation. The speaker cited Quranic verses that advocate for reflection and contemplation, and quoted Imam al-Ghazali's description of reason as “a reflection of Allah's light.”
2- Information Analysis and Objectivity as Key Skills of a Critic
The researchers from AOCE delineated the distinction between stereotypical thought, which uncritically accepts prevailing trends, and critical thinking, which is predicated on the analysis of information and its origins while assessing it with impartiality and objectivity. They explained that critical thinking necessitates using intellectual skills to improve the thinking process itself, to develop effective solutions to problems, presenting the most important criteria of a critical thinker, among which are: Clarity, Precision, Fairness, and Integrity.