Scholars

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Towards the Construction of a Contemporary Islamic Educational Theory 
Fathi Malkawi     
  
Islamization of Knowledge: Conceptual Background, Vision and Tasks       
Salisu Shehu

Economic Guidelines in the Qur'an  
S.M. Hasanuz Zaman    

Contribution of Islamic Thought to Modern Economics  
Misbah Oreibi    

An Introduction to Islamic Economics       
Muhammad Akram Khan

Islamic Thought and Culture       
Isma'il R. al Faruqi

Islamization of Knowledge: Background, Models and the Way Forward
Malam Sa'idu Sulaiman

More books... 

Revelation and Political Philosophy: What Is Islamization of Knowledge? PDF Print E-mail

Charles E. Butterworth

This is a "work in progress" presentation based on research I am now conducting about the development of Islamic political philosophy during the classical period of Islam. My contention is that a better understanding of that tradition puts the current debate about Islamic fundamentalism or resurgence into a new perspective. Behind the sensational, popular demands for greater adherence to the strictures of the revealed law of Islam lies an issue of fundamental importance: how divine revelation is to be understood and interpreted for political guidance. Those who developed Islamic political philosophy spoke directly to this issue and did so in a manner that merits the attention of contemporary Muslim activists, scholars interested in Islam, and thoughtful human beings in general. They thought clearly about the relationship between religious belief and political practice because they addressed the issue directly and without preconceptions. Consequently, whatever our religious and cultural origins, we can benefit greatly from their teaching.

One of my goals is to refocus current social science scholarship while engaging Muslim scholars in debate on topics they deem urgent. Lately, there have been many, perhaps too many, reports and prognostics concerning the success of resurgent Islam as well as the challenges it poses to Middle Eastern and western regimes. Such studies invariably talk about, rather than with, those calling for greater attention to Islamic precepts and practices; they presuppose and reinforce an attitude of "us" and "our valued' versus "them" and "their values." Such a posture not only fosters antagonism and misunderstanding, it also ignores the way Muslims are now addressing this complex phenomenon.

Indeed, for almost a decade, Muslims trained in the West have been investigating how western learning, especially the social sciences, illuminates traditional Islamic sciences and vice versa. This task addresses, at the highest level, the issue behind the call for application of the Shari'ah and offers the best Contemporary possibility of achieving some kind of intercultural understanding. It offers those interested in western and Islamic culture a unique opportunity to delve mare deeply into another culture and thereby understand the other and their own culture better.