‘Islamic Epistemology’ in a modern context: anatomy of an evolving debate

• Main Authors: Mohamed Zacky, Mohamed Fouz, Moniruzzaman, Md
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2023
• Subjects: H61 Theory. Method
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/106006/1/106006_%E2%80%98Islamic%20Epistemology%E2%80%99_In%20Press.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/106006/2/106006_%E2%80%98Islamic%20Epistemology%E2%80%99_SCOPUS_In%20Press.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/106006/; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02691728.2023.2227945

This paper critically analyses how Islamization of Knowledge (IOK), Radical Reform (RR), and Maqasid Methodology (MM), three distinct Islamic intellectual projects, attempted to develop discourses of Islamic epistemology in facing contemporary developments of natural and social sciences. Mainly, the paper focuses on the similarities, differences, and potential contributions of all three projects. Initially, this paper observes that IOK, RR, and MM have solid agreements among themselves in defining the core crisis of the modern Islamic intellectual tradition, as well as in highlighting the importance of including Islamic primary sources and their normative guidance in reorienting modern knowledge. Equally, each project presents itself as a new reflection of Islamic primary texts considering current intellectual challenges. Nevertheless, this paper further finds that all three projects have deep disagreements in defining the scope of epistemic authority of revelation, reason, and spirituality and thereby offer three different visions of Islamic epistemic schema in facing modern knowledge. Finally, this paper reflects on how these differences could potentially impact visions of an alternative education system from an Islamic worldview.