Science and Islam

Science and Islam

For centuries, science and faith have been portrayed as rivals locked in perpetual conflict. Science and Islam challenges this narrative by re-examining the historical, philosophical, and intellectual relationship between Islamic thought and the scientific enterprise, presenting a model in which reason and revelation operate not as adversaries, but as complementary paths to truth.

About the Book Science and Islam explores the foundations of scientific inquiry within the Islamic worldview, grounding its discussion in the Qur’an, prophetic teachings, and the intellectual legacy of Muslim civilization. The book argues that Islam does not merely accommodate science but actively encourages systematic observation, rational analysis, and the pursuit of knowledge as acts of devotion.

Central to the work is the Qur’anic conception of the universe as a coherent, purposeful creation governed by divinely established laws (sunan ilāhiyyah — divine patterns). The author demonstrates how this worldview fostered confidence in causality, order, and intelligibility—key prerequisites for the rise of empirical science. Rather than separating the sacred from the natural, Islam presents the cosmos as a domain of signs (āyāt — indicators pointing to God), inviting reflection and investigation.

The book also surveys the historical contributions of Muslim scholars in disciplines such as astronomy, medicine, mathematics, physics, and philosophy, emphasizing that their scientific achievements were deeply rooted in a religious ethic that valued knowledge, accountability, and intellectual humility. These scholars did not view science as a secular activity detached from faith, but as a means of fulfilling humanity’s moral and intellectual responsibility.

In addressing modern debates, Science and Islam critiques both scientism—the belief that science alone explains all reality—and anti-intellectual religious attitudes that dismiss empirical knowledge. The author calls for a balanced approach in which scientific findings are respected within their proper methodological limits, while metaphysical and ethical questions remain informed by revelation.

By carefully distinguishing between science as a method and materialism as an ideology, the book clarifies many misunderstandings that dominate contemporary discussions on religion and science.

What You Will Discover

• The Qur’anic foundations for scientific reasoning and observation.
• Historical examples of scientific advancement in Islamic civilization.
• The difference between scientific methodology and philosophical materialism.
• An Islamic framework for integrating faith, reason, and empirical knowledge.
• A critical response to the “science versus religion” conflict narrative.

About the Author The author is a scholar of Islamic thought with a focus on the philosophy of science and the intellectual history of Muslim civilizations.

Who Is This Book For? This book is for readers seeking a clear, historically grounded, and intellectually rigorous understanding of how Islam engages with science without reducing either to the other.