The Landscape of the Interplay between Religion and Science: The Experience of Islamic Discourse

Abstract

This study explores current viewpoints on how science and Islam can coexist in the Islamic context, delving into the dynamic conversation at the intersection. It discusses key figures and occasions influencing the interaction between religion and science in Islam, following the dynamic interplay from the modern to post-modern periods. One of the findings is that scholars who initially brought these discussions to the forefront in the modern age, such as Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, and Muhammad Abduh, coincided with the rise of nation-states and the dissolution of the caliphate in 1924. The paper also delves into the ideas of Tantawi Jawhari’s “scientific miracle” and Naquib al-Attas’s “Islamization of science and knowledge.” It also sheds light on the ongoing discourse that aims to synthesise these domains and promote interdisciplinary convergence, particularly in the areas of religion and science.