This book examines how seven major classical Islamic thinkers, from Abū Manṣūr al-Māturīdī to Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya, developed distinctive metaphysical and theological worldviews that continue to shape how Muslims might engage questions of science and religion today. Each thinker represents a unique school within the broader Islamic intellectual tradition, from the rationalism of the Muʿtazilīs and the philosophical vision of Ibn Sīnā to the mystical cosmology of Ibn ʿArabī and the realist theology of Ibn Taymiyya. Through a shared analytic framework, the chapters present how these figures understood God, causality, nature, chance, miracles, and human uniqueness, highlighting their enduring insights and divergences. The result is a coherent and accessible comparative study that bridges classical kalām, falsafa, and Sufism with contemporary discussions in science and theology. This volume is written for researchers, educators, and students of theology, philosophy, and science and religion, and for anyone seeking to understand how classical Islamic thought can offer fresh resources for engaging contemporary science.
The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. The Māturīdī Tradition: Abū Manṣūr al-Māturīdī 2. The Muʿtazilī Tradition: Qāḍī ʿAbd al-Jabbār 3. The Falsafa Tradition (Neoplatonism): Ibn Sīnā 4. The Ashʿarī Tradition: Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī 5. The Falsafa Tradition (Aristotelianism): Ibn Rushd 6. The Sufi Theosophical Tradition: Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn ʿArabī 7. The Ḥanbali/Atharī Tradition: Ibn Taymiyya
About the Author :
Shoaib Ahmed Malik is Lecturer in Science and Religion at the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh.
Review :
“This remarkable edited volume brings together leading scholars to demonstrate how seven classical Islamic traditions can shed fresh light on some of the most pressing questions in science and religion. Combining historical depth with conceptual clarity, it offers exceptional resources for engaging modern scientific debates through the enduring insights of great classical thinkers.”
- Yujin Nagasawa, Professor of Philosophy and Kingfisher College Chair of the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, University of Oklahoma, USA
“A well-developed series of chapters that present a perceptive account of major thinkers in the Islamic world. Difficult topics are dealt with clearly and accurately, and anyone interested in Islam and Science will find a good deal to intrigue them here.”
- Oliver Leaman, Professor of Philosophy and Zantker Professor of Judaic Studies, University of Kentucky, USA
“It is intriguing to see how over the past couple of decades Islamic scholars have started to retrieve classical ways of theological and metaphysical thinking in their tradition in order to integrate the methods and results of modern science in their worldview. From a Christian perspective, I can only affirm that such moves make great sense. This groundbreaking volume shows how no fewer than seven Islamic traditions can be brought into fruitful interaction with the basic assumptions of modern science. The authors nowhere use these traditions to evade or shortcut complex scientific questions, but show how they provide tools for addressing such questions from a broader, encompassing framework. Complex notions like causality, contingency/freedom and (divine) action are carefully navigated from perspectives richly informed by philosophy, theology, and the empirical sciences alike. The result is a wonderful conceptual map that shows how committed and diverse (!) the Islamic engagement with modern science currently is.”
- Gijsbert van den Brink, Professor and Chair of Theology & Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
“The chapters in this book provide lucid entry points into the ideas and convictions of seven major intellectual traditions in Islam. Focusing on the relation of religion and science, they also work well for those wanting to find out more about Islam’s intellectual diversity. This is a solid introduction to theology and philosophy in Islam and a book about the various positions on Islam and Science.”
- Frank Griffel, Professor of the Study of Abrahamic Religions, University of Oxford, UK
“Seven Classical Perspectives for Islam and Science surveys how major thinkers of classical Islam—spanning kalām, falsafa, Sufi theosophy, and traditionalist theology—approached questions of knowledge, causality, and the natural world. By examining figures such as al-Māturīdī, Ibn Sīnā, al-Rāzī, Ibn ʿArabī, and Ibn Taymiyya, the volume offers readers a clear map of diverse traditions and their continuing relevance for discussions of Islam and Science. Accessible and authoritative, it serves as a valuable resource for students and scholars exploring the field.”
- Ebrahim Moosa, Mirza Family Professor in Islamic Thought & Muslim Societies, University of Notre Dame, USA
“This volume provides a refreshingly pluralistic and mature intervention into the Islam and Science conversation. Thorough analyses of seven of the greatest Sunnī theologians and philosophers make this volume a solid introduction to classical Islamic thought. The careful reflections on the resources these figures provide for modern philosophy of science are an invaluable bonus promising a richer and more balanced discussion of the issues going forward.”
- Jon Hoover, Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Nottingham, UK
