# What is Islamic apologetics?

**Author:** Dr. Hatem al-Haj
**Series:** Basic Lessons from Islamic Apologetics
**Published:** 2020-07-08
**YouTube:** https://youtu.be/wNCqq5vDOVk
**URL:** https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/lecture/what-is-islamic-apologetics
**Topics:** Methodology (usul), Sharia

## Description
What is Islamic Apologetics? What does the term “apologetics” mean?

## Transcript
**[0:00]** I want you first to understand that apologetics is not about apology. It is not about apologizing on behalf of God or on behalf of Islam. This is not what the word means. Apologetics basically means systematic argumentative discourse in defense of a doctrine.

**[0:23]** It is the systematic argumentative discourse in defense of a doctrine or a practice. It just comes from the word apologia in Greek. Probably I'm mispronouncing it.

**[0:39]** But it comes from the word apologia in Greek and was first introduced by, in this sense, systematic argumentative discourse in defense of a doctrine by Plato in his writings about

**[1:02]** Socrates' apologia, where Socrates basically put together a defense of his doctrines, of his teaching, his positions to basically answer the charges or category of the prosecutors.

**[1:23]** So the word apologetics does not mean that we are apologizing. God does not need our apology on his behalf. Islam does not need apologies on his behalf. It just means that we are putting together this sort of systematic defense of our doctrines

**[1:44]** and practices.

## Other Episodes in "Basic Lessons from Islamic Apologetics"
- [FAQs with Islamic Apologetics - Part 2](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/faqs-with-islamic-apologetics-part-2.md)
- [FAQs with Islamic Apologetics - Part 1](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/faqs-with-islamic-apologetics-part-1.md)
- [General Guidelines of Islamic Apologetics - Part 2](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/general-guidelines-of-islamic-apologetics-part-2.md)
- [General Guidelines of Islamic Apologetics - Part 1](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/general-guidelines-of-islamic-apologetics-part-1.md)
- [Limitations of Islamic Apologetics](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/limitations-of-islamic-apologetics.md)
- [Concerns and Pitfalls of Islamic Apologetics](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/concerns-and-pitfalls-of-islamic-apologetics.md)
- [Introduction to Islamic Apologetics](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/introduction-to-islamic-apologetics.md)
- [Which team of apologists will best connect with people?](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/which-team-of-apologists-will-best-connect-with-people.md)
- [How do we navigate between liberalism and conservatism?](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/how-do-we-navigate-between-liberalism-and-conservatism.md)
- [Can you cross an ocean without getting wet?](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/can-you-cross-an-ocean-without-getting-wet.md)
- [Are generic answers to doubts enough?](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/are-generic-answers-to-doubts-enough.md)
- [Why do we call it Islamic apologetics?](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/basic-lessons-from-islamic-apologetics/why-do-we-call-it-islamic-apologetics.md)