According to the Islamic methodologists, the opposite of Ilm علم (knowledge) is Jahl (ignorance). Ignorance is of 2 types. There can be:
1. Simple ignorance- which is the absence of knowledge or to simply not know) or,
2. Multi-layered ignorance- wherein one has a perception opposite of the reality of a certain thing or meaning.
For example, if the question was asked, “What is the capital city of Egypt?”
Knowledge, or Ilm علم, would be to answer, “The capital city of Egypt is Cairo.”
Simple Ignorance would be to say, “I don’t know what the capital of Egypt is.”
Complex ignorance would be to answer: Alexandria is the capital of Egypt.
Ignorance also has degrees, or levels, which are:
1. Al Yaqeen (Certainty): This level combines comprehensive authentic knowledge of something and certainty of belief in it. So, again, referring back to the aforementioned example, certainty would be to answer: No doubt, Cairo is the ONLY capital city of Egypt.
2. Al Dhan (Assumption): In this level, one chooses the most likely conclusion over the less likely. So, for example, to answer: The Capital of Egypt is either Cairo or Alexandria, but most likely it is Cairo.
3. Al Shak (Doubt): At this level, the lack of knowledge causes an inability to choose any conclusion, and must progress to either assumption or certainty, or regress to illusion. For example, to answer: Either Cairo or Alexandria is the Capital of Palestine, but I can’t be sure one way or another.
4. Al Wahm (Illusion): Is choosing the less likely conclusion over the more likely conclusion, based on some preconceived idea or notion. Such as to answer: Either Alexandria or Cairo is the Capital of Egypt, and I would assume it is Alexandria.
