The Light of Science and Knowledge

Seeking knowledge is a valued effort in the Islamic history. There are many hadith that encourage acquiring knowledge while Qur’an makes references to intellect and research in many verses. For this reason in Islamic civilizations there was never a clash between religion and science unlike the Western experience in the dark ages.

There are many reasons as to why there has been no conflict between science and religion in the muslim experience. One of the many is the emphasis on rational faculty of the soul or aql in Arabic. Verses like “this way we explain our signs for a Nation who use their intellect” or ^[1] other verses ending in the same way calling people to use their intellect: “Will you then not use your intellect?” ^[2] strongly indicate that intellect or “aql” is left free in the material realm. s.

Articles of faith such as belief in oneness of Allah or afterlife are offered to the intellect of individual with evidence based on observing the universe. For example in chapter 67 it says “He Who has created seven heavens in harmony. You do not see any fault or incongruity in the creation of the All-Merciful. Look yet again: can you see any rifts?”^[3] or in chapter 21 it says “And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play”^[4]. Clearly Allah is talking to the “aql” of the people calling them to think about the creation, look for clues in the universe and observe creation to see signs of God’s oneness and greatness.^[5]

Having intellect is what makes human beings responsible for their actions in material realm as well as the metaphysical realm. Responsibility is conditioned on the presence of a functioning intellect. Mentally disabled people are not held accountable for their deeds. Religious responsibility such as praying and fasting begins with the puberty, when the individual enters the adulthood with a developed mind that can make rational calculations. With such an emphasis on intellect and rational observation it is clear that Islam can not allow repression of scientific research. Indeed such research is encouraged since it will lead to exploring the greatness of Creator. So throughout the ages muslims had no major issues with the scientific research unlike the dark ages of Europe. It is a well known fact that Greek classics survived because of translation to Arabic first by Muslim scholars, whose translations were later translated into Western languages later on in the ages of enlightenment.

In Fethullah Gulen’s words “ Science means comprehending what things and events tell us, and what the Divine Laws prevailing over the universe reveal to us. It means striving to understand the purpose of the Creator…Science, with all its branches such as physics, chemistry, astronomy, medicine and so forth, is at the service of humanity, and every day brings new gains which may also be gifts of hope.” Gulen well summarizes the muslim approach to intellect and science strengthening our position that Islam has no problem with science.

As prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him, puts it “wisdom is the lost property of the believer, so wherever he finds it then he has a right to it.” Although muslim societies are not leading scientific research or technological innovation in today’s world, islam certainly encourages its followers to take the lead.