In his lecture on “Islamisation of Knowledge: In the Light of Science” at a programme organised under the aegis of Idara-e-Tahqeeq-o-Tasneef-e-Islami, Aligarh on Oct 16, Dr. Zaki Kirmani said the term ‘Islamisation of Knowledge’ was coined by some Islam-loving people in America some 50 years ago, however the actual act of Islamising knowledge started way back in the 12th century.
The major credit for the start of this Islamisation goes to Al-Farabi, while Shah Waliullah Dehelvi, in the 18th century is the last one who contributed to Islamisation. But in the 20th century the terminology again returned and was used by many with much zeal and enthusiasm. The prominent personalities who revived this term include Sayyed Husain Nasr, Ziauddin Sardar, etc. The ideology of Islamisation was found in many of the founders of the influential Islamic movements namely Syed Abul A’la Maudoodi of Jamaat-e-Islami and Syed Qutb of Egypt’s Ikhwanul Muslimeen (Muslim Brotherhood).
Dr. Kirmani clarified that Islamisation can be done in a much organised way in the field of social sciences and substantial attention has been given to it in Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan. In the field of natural science the interaction takes place between man and matter, hence its effects take a bit longer time to come into picture, which is the reason why Islamisation in the field of natural sciences remains very slow.
With the exception of Iran, where we see some confidence boosting efforts in the field of social sciences, the whole of the Muslim world and its universities have not done anything concrete. He said the present century’s environmental pollution and the decline in general public health have forced the scientists to question their self proclaimed claim “everything can be controlled”, and it is at this point that the act of Islamisation steps in.
Dr. Zaki said the act of incorporating scientific discoveries, knowledge of universe and life into Islamic beliefs and integrating them together is Islamisation of knowledge.
The crux of the talk was that the present science is only limited to the things and studies which can be proved rationally, and science rejects totally anything that is beyond it. Hence science completely negates and disbelieves in all forms of revelation and other spiritual aspects that govern human life and reconciliation of such knowledge with Islam is impossible.
He said with the Islamisation of knowledge we want to develop a culture in which the spiritual aspects become the part of discussion and debate. He lamented that none of the universities in the Muslim countries has made these studies as part of their syllabus and curriculum.
Students and teachers of various departments and faculties of the Aligarh Muslim University were present for the lecture, which lasted for around 3 hours. Dr. Riyaz Kirmani presided over the programme, which had commenced with the recitation of the Holy Qur’ān by Maulana Shahid Madni.
The dignitaries who attended the programme included Professor Abdul Mateen, Professor Abdul Majeed Khan, Professor Waseem Ahmed, Mufti Mohd. Zahid Ali Khan, Professor Afzal Ahmed, Professor Mohd. Idrees, Maulana Jarjees Kareemi, Zaid Arif, etc.
Dr. Riyaz Kirmani, in his presidential speech, said Islamisation of knowledge is an attempt to purify the knowledge and make it more useful, the foundations of which were laid by Ibn Rashid Qurtubi. He said in order to Islamise natural sciences, it is imperative to take help from social sciences. In the end the secretary of Idara-e-Tahqeeq, Dr. Safdar Sultan Islahi, gave vote of thanks and said the best part of the programme was that the professors shed light on many different and new fields of study.