Islamization of knowledge

This article is about Islamization of Knowledge. For the 1981 book, see Islamization of Knowledge (book).

The Islamization of Knowledge (also abbreviated as IoK) is a conceptual framework that originates from Islamic philosophy, advocating for the integration of Islamic teachings with modern academic disciplines, such as the social sciences, management sciences, humanities, sciences, engineering, and technology. This model posits that all knowledge and science should be consistent with the principles of Islam, aiming to foster a holistic understanding of the world through an Islamic worldview.

Origins

This initiative traces its roots to the 1977 Makkah conference, an influential event that triggered a dialogue among Islamic intellectuals regarding the role of Islam in shaping knowledge and understanding in the modern world. Among these intellectuals, Isma'il Raji al-Faruqi played a pivotal role in formalizing and articulating the concept. Al-Faruqi expressed his concerns about the secularization of knowledge in Muslim societies. He discussed "the malaise of the ummah" (the faithful) and argued that the reliance on Western secular tools, categories, and analytical methods led to a disconnect with the ecological and social realities of Muslim nations, and often resulted in the overlooking of breaches of Islamic ethics.

Al-Faruqi advocated for the revival of methods used in early Muslim philosophy, the restoration of ijtihad (independent reasoning), and the integration of scientific methodologies within the boundaries of Islam. His theoretical framework and work plan for this concept were outlined in his 1982 book, "Islamization of Knowledge: General Principles and Work Plan," which continues to be a seminal reference for this project.

Principles and approach

The Islamization of Knowledge proposes an integrated approach to education that combines Islamic teachings with modern academic disciplines, including scientific, social, and humanistic fields. This concept involves critiquing and re-evaluating these disciplines through an Islamic perspective.

Abdullah Berghout, a contemporary scholar, has developed a framework that adapts a quality-management system model for the Islamization process. This framework aims to incorporate Islamic perspectives into modern academic disciplines and focuses on the development of educational policies, curricula, and continuous improvement.

Frameworks and Implementation Steps

Al-Faruqi’s 12-step work plan and Berghout’s framework are two models discussed in the context of Islamization. Al-Faruqi's framework involves integrating Islamic principles with modern disciplines by becoming proficient in modern science, understanding Islamic knowledge in those fields, and demonstrating the relevance of Islam to these disciplines. The goal is to compare and relate Islamic values and ethics with modern social sciences and introduce an Islamic perspective that aligns with Muslim values.

Berghout’s framework emphasizes the development of educational policies, curricula, and continuous improvement processes to ensure the effectiveness of Islamization. This model views Islamization as a quality process involving input, procedure, output, and feedback, integrating Islamic perspectives into all stages of the educational process. Berghout's approach focuses on three essential domains of learner progression: intellectual, psychomotor, and affective, with particular emphasis on the affective domain.

The implementation steps include becoming proficient in modern disciplines, providing an overview of disciplines including their history, approach, and primary contributors, mastering the Islamic legacy through anthology and analysis, establishing the significance of Islam to various disciplines, critically evaluating modern disciplines from an Islamic perspective, creatively examining and synthesizing the Islamic legacy with modern disciplines, and recasting these disciplines within an Islamic framework.

Reception and critiques

Supporters of this concept argue that it allows Muslims to maintain their religious identity in a secular world while simultaneously benefiting from modern scientific and technological advancements. Critics, however, express concerns over the potential conflation of religion and science and its impact on free inquiry, as well as the risk of imposing a single interpretation of Islam on diverse Muslim societies.

Impact and legacy

The concept of the Islamization of Knowledge has significantly influenced the establishment of various academic institutions, leading to the establishment of institutions such as the International Institute of Islamic Thought, which focuses on intellectual development and research inspired by the principles of the Islamization of Knowledge.

See also

• Islamization
• Islamic advice literature
• Islamic revival
• Early Islamic philosophy
• Islamic philosophy
• Torah Umadda, a philosophy concerning the interrelationship of secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge

External links

• Ibrahim Ragab, The Islamization of Social Sciences
• Alan Godlas, Liberal and progressive Islam, University of Georgia
• Imtiyaz Yusuf (ed.), Islam and Knowledge: Al Faruqi's Concept of Religion in Islamic Thought (2012)