Where Has The Ghost Of The Islamisation Of Knowledge Gone?
By
Dr. Mohammad Ghitreef, New Age Islam
18 August
2022
Main
Thrust of Religion, Per Se, Is the Moral Purification of Human Society and
Inculcation of Higher Human Values in It
Main
Points:
1. Muslim
educationists and theorists, Naqib Al-Attas, based in Malaysia, came up with
the concept of Islamisation of knowledge.
2. It seems
that the stalwarts of Islamisation of knowledge have some grudge and
reservations toward modern social sciences and natural science as well!
3. Idea of the Islamisation
of knowledge is based on the premise that Islam instructs us on everything and
informs us of every facet of life.
------
The
occasion was an international conference on Islamic Economy: Challenges Ahead,
held in 2012, I believe, by the Institute of Objective Studies in New Delhi.
The inaugural session was presided over by an economist, the late Dr. Ausaf
Ahmad, and Professor Mohammad Umer Chapra, the recipient of the Faysal Award,
gave the keynote address. "There is no need to term it an Islamic Economy;
it may simply be called an Interest-free Economy, said Arab economist Dr.
Munzir Qahaf in his speech. Because the term "Islamic Economy" is a
misnomer and may be misleading to the world audience." As a conference
organizing committee member, I was also there, and his idea immediately struck
me.
In the
twentieth century, one of the tallest Muslim educationists and theorists, Naqib
Al-Attas, based in Malaysia, came up with the concept of Islamisation of
knowledge. In fact, he thinks that secularism and secularization are the
biggest challenges Muslims face in the twentieth century. And knowledge being
the biggest and most formidable tool in the hands of Westerners, it becomes
imperative to give Muslims an alternative theory of knowledge. First, Al-Attas
wrote a critique of Secularism and Islam. Which is otherwise a seminal work in
this regard, and has been translated into several languages: Turkish, Arabic,
Persian, Malay, and Urdu. I have also read this book, and notwithstanding an
appreciation of his critical approach, I could not subscribe to his fundamental
ideas on Secularism and Islam. Yet here, I do not intend to discuss or examine
this book. Instead, here I would like to briefly discuss the Islamisation of
knowledge.
In this
context, I mentioned Secularism and Islam as a point of reference. Al-Attas put
forward this idea to open a detailed discussion on it, yet for unknown reasons,
he could not pursue this project ahead. Then a Palestinian Arab American
scholar Ismail Raji Al-faruqi picked the simple idea and promoted it. At least,
that is what Al-Attas claims. Anyway, in due course of time, Raji Al-Faruqi
with the help of some of his fellow Arab scholars developed the idea and built
upon it a whole movement. It is known in Muslim academic circles as the Islamisation
of knowledge basing at the International Institution of Islamic Thought
Washington DC and has several branches in the UK, Malaysia, Turkey, Pakistan,
and India.
This
movement was launched decades ago. Thousands of books, booklets, and research
papers have been published on the theme and its related subjects. International
conferences, seminars, and symposia have been held, and many resources have
been expended. What is the end consequence of all these enormous efforts when
one considers the recent past in this context is the question that arises in
retrospect?
Decades
have been passed on this superb call to Islamisation of knowledge, yet we see
no good result of all this in Muslim societies. So far as a new anticipated
renaissance of knowledge is concerned in these societies, there is no progress.
No palpable promotion in natural and social sciences is to be seen. Somewhat
strangely, an ignoble treatment and sheer negligence towards these sciences are
perceived and demonstrated everywhere on the part of Islamists and from those
who bear the flag of Islamisation of knowledge.
It seems
that the stalwarts of Islamisation of knowledge have some grudge and
reservations toward modern social sciences and natural science as well! Or else
they should have given a damn attention to them. Muslim religionists of
different hues and colours have a deep animosity towards secular knowledge.
Their writings are mostly anti-science, anti-scientific temper, and
anti-rationality in general. This explains the lack of interest in Muslim
societies towards scientific subjects and an apathy toward knowledge producing mind-set.
The main
thrust of religion, per se, is the moral purification of human society and
inculcation of higher human values in it. Of course, there are certain rules
and regulations religion gives to regulate society. Islam gives, for that
matter, general rules and basic ideas, and considering them to be fair enough,
it leaves it up to the human mind and intellect to invent all necessary details
and particularities of life. That is why the concept of all-encompassing and
incomprehensible religion promoted by Islamists, seems problematic to me.
One of the
problems with this concept of religion is that the captive man searches blindly
for religious answers to all of the world's problems and the questions of
culture and civilization. While religious teachings, most of which are not
divine but a result of human interpretations. He resides in the dome of
parochial, religious dogmas. Secondly, this concept is also against the
religion itself because the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has clearly said:
"you
people know better about your mundane issues and affairs." (انتم اعلم باموردنیاکم (Therefore, to try to find a
solution to everything in religion in its strict sense is also against this
clear hadith.
In fact, in
this Hadees, the prophet referred to a case of palm pollinating prevalent in
Arabia, particularly among the farmers of dates. Once he had suggested to his
Companions, who were palm farmers, not to pollinate, which they followed
wholeheartedly, but the result turned out to be wrong. They mentioned this
matter to him, then he commented on the situation and said what is mentioned
above.
In fact,
the Idea of the Islamisation of knowledge is based on the premise that Islam
instructs us on everything and informs us of every facet of life. And because
modern knowledge is thought to promote irreligiosity, at least in the eyes of
religious Muslims, it needs to be corrected and transformed to adhere to
religious truths. Islamisation of knowledge is therefore essential for Muslims.
Hence, this concept of Islamisation of knowledge is justified for them.
Islamisation
of knowledge was a slogan that attracted a strong initial reaction and had an
immense impact. It drew a lot of brilliant minds from Muslim societies who
supported the notion and its consequences. For instance, renowned futurologist
Ziauddin Sardar, a thinker of Pakistani descent, endorsed the notion and
proposed the concept of Islamic Science as an add-on. However, Sardar has now
abandoned this utopian notion after recognizing his folly.
The Aligarh
school of Islamization of Science quickly emerged due to the spread of the
idea. Now this school is also reflecting on its imagination and taking an
introspective approach to evaluating what it accomplished and what it lost in
the past.
I now have
some important queries pertaining to the theme. Is it necessary for Muslims to
live in a segregated and secluded environment? Why do we want to call
everything Islamic? Such as Islamic Science, Islamic Finance, Islamic
Economics, Islamic markets, Islamic attire, Islamic food, Islamic cities, and
even an Islamic bomb.
Are we
foreigners and aliens on this planet? Does Islam demand that we do this? Does
the history of Islam sustain this isolation and alienation? Did Muslims attempt
this back then, when Islam was at the pinnacle of its cultural advancement and
political hegemony? If not, why do they require it now? The prophet and his
persecuted little community of believers did not change their place of worship
from Kaaba to some other spot during their 13-year long stay in Makkah amid the
pagan Makkan Arabs on the excuse that Kaaba being housing 360 stoned Deities
became polluted. What is an acceptable explanation?
It's important to remember that the natural
sciences, the humanities, and civilizational advancements all belong to the
humanity as a whole. Beginning in Greece, wherein science and philosophy initially
developed. Arabs, Indians, and Egyptians all made major contributions to and
took part in this human legacy. It was actually the Arabs who most
significantly contributed to the growth of modern science and Western culture,
as acknowledged by European academics. Why should a community be so hostile to
science that it seeks to have its own distinct ideas from others in every
sector and painfully fails? Scientific and civilized sciences are the shared
capital of everyone. So why need an Islamization of knowledge at all?
-----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Dr.
Mohammad Ghitreef is a Research Associate with the Centre for Promotion of
Educational and Cultural Advancement of Muslims of India, AMU Aligarh.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/ghost-islamisation-knowledge-muslim-religionists/d/127737
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