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Is an Islamic Scientific Study of Religion Possible? A Preliminary Discourse with Reference to the Muslim Scholarship in Religionswissenschaft

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Islamic perspectives relating to business, arts, culture and communication

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Abstract

This paper discusses the possibility of the Islamic scientific study of religion in the academia. In the Muslim scholarship of religionswissenschaft, many scholars had emerged and contributed to this particular field. Many international scholars, Muslims or non-Muslims alike, recognized Muslim scholarship in religionswissenschaft. However, no scholars ever acknowledge Muslim scholarship in religionswissenschaft as an Islamic scientific study of religion due to the issue of the relationship between religion and science, philosophies of science, as well as the demarcation theory. This paper suggests that the Islamic scientific study of religion is possible based on the justifications highlighted by a number of scholars on the possibility of the Islamic science. In simulating the actual model of Islamic scientific study of religion, this paper highlights preliminary and precursory samples found in the works of Al-Biruni and Ibn Khaldun on religions, altogether with the acknowledgements they received by modern readers of their epoch-making works.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Akidah and Religion Studies Program, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, USIM, Nilai, Malaysia

    Wan Mohd Fazrul Azdi Wan Razali

  2. Department of Theology and Philosophy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia

    Jaffary Awang

Authors
  1. Wan Mohd Fazrul Azdi Wan Razali
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  2. Jaffary Awang
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Correspondence to Wan Mohd Fazrul Azdi Wan Razali .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universiti Teknologi MARA, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia

    Roaimah Omar

  2. Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

    Hasan Bahrom

  3. Universiti Teknologi MARA, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia

    Geraldine de Mello

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Razali, W.M.F.A.W., Awang, J. (2015). Is an Islamic Scientific Study of Religion Possible? A Preliminary Discourse with Reference to the Muslim Scholarship in Religionswissenschaft. In: Omar, R., Bahrom, H., de Mello, G. (eds) Islamic perspectives relating to business, arts, culture and communication. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-429-0_2

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