The space for rational science in Islam is shrinking in contemporary times as the faith becomes more inflexible, renowned historian S. Irfan Habib says, advocating a more pro-active approach to science in Islam.
‘In developing economies like India, where most Muslims are part of the economy of the marginalised, thinking against science is encouraged, resulting in superstition,’ Habib said.
‘Islam, which has become inflexible and rigid in contemporary times, needs to engage more with the spirit of science. Earlier, it could accommodate all knowledge systems,’ Habib said in an interview at the launch of his new book, ‘Jihad, Itjihad: Religious Orthodoxy and Modern Science in Contemporary Islam’. ‘For me Islam, as it is now, is the problem. The idea of the book is to engage with people (Muslims) who define science differently in Islam,’ Habib said.
‘They say modern science is Eurocentric... I have written five other books on science. We often see modern science as part of a colonial imperialistic project. Who can agree with an Islam-centric science?’ the historian said. ‘For me, there is no separate science for different religions. Islam should not look for a science compatible with Islam,’ Habib said.
He referred to former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as an example, saying: ‘Abdul Kalam believes in Islam, but is open about science.’ According to Habib, believers of Islam need not look at modern science as something alien but as part of Islamic civilisation.
‘In developing economies like India, where most Muslims are part of the economy of the marginalised, thinking against science is encouraged, resulting in superstition,’ Habib said.
‘Islam, which has become inflexible and rigid in contemporary times, needs to engage more with the spirit of science. Earlier, it could accommodate all knowledge systems,’ Habib said in an interview at the launch of his new book, ‘Jihad, Itjihad: Religious Orthodoxy and Modern Science in Contemporary Islam’. ‘For me Islam, as it is now, is the problem. The idea of the book is to engage with people (Muslims) who define science differently in Islam,’ Habib said.
‘They say modern science is Eurocentric... I have written five other books on science. We often see modern science as part of a colonial imperialistic project. Who can agree with an Islam-centric science?’ the historian said. ‘For me, there is no separate science for different religions. Islam should not look for a science compatible with Islam,’ Habib said.
He referred to former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as an example, saying: ‘Abdul Kalam believes in Islam, but is open about science.’ According to Habib, believers of Islam need not look at modern science as something alien but as part of Islamic civilisation.