ISLAMIC EPISTEMOLOGICAL WORLDVIEW AND ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Keywords:
Epistemology, Worldview, compatibility, Knowledge, Self consciousness, Sense-perception, IntellectAbstract
An attempt has been made in this paper to discuss the epistemology of research in Islamic perspective of expanding knowledge with regard to worldview and its compatibility with invariable change in the advancement of scientific knowledge. The universe and all being including human were created wisely and in a well planned fashion with perfection; then Allah (SWT) has given a portion of knowledge to man and He has absolute knowledge. The knowledge of sciences are invariably changing; once theories are accepted, but due to paradigm shift the same is modified or rejected. Therefore, scientific claims need to substantiate by the revealed knowledge, because there cannot be any conflict between the word of Allah, and the work of Allah, and hence the religion (Deen) and sciences can work in harmony with each other if, scientific facts are compatible with Qu’ran, and Qur’an endorse it .
Islamic epistemological worldview is based on “Tawheedic Paradigm of Ulu al-Albab” (the people of sound reason who belief in the philosophy of oneness of God), for integration of knowledge with reasoning and systematic approach of scientific methods for conducting research. However, revealed knowledge offers infinite opportunities to do research from the provided signs in the universe .
Since antiquity research has been a subject of criticism and not free from falsification. Time and space variables challenged men to reason, rationale, logic and eventually the Muslim scholars arrive at the concept of reformation to integrate knowledge- a way forward .
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