Postgraduate Course: Islam and Science (DIVI11089)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This postgraduate course explores the dynamic interaction between Islamic thought and science, critically examining their historical evolution and contemporary relevance. It offers an avenue for understanding how scientific advancements continue to inform and shape modern Islamic theology, philosophy, and jurisprudence. |
| Course description |
Academic Description
This course offers a rigorous and interdisciplinary exploration of the relationship between Islam and science, examining how Muslim scholars both classical and contemporary have engaged with scientific thought in response to modernity, colonialism, and philosophical challenges. It critically analyses how scientific advancements have shaped theological discourse, ethical reasoning, and epistemological frameworks within Islam.
The first part of the course focuses on historical and intellectual movements, assessing key responses to modern science, such as the Islamisation of science movement, which emerged as an effort to reorient modern scientific knowledge within an Islamic epistemological framework. Advocates of this movement argue for a method of scientific inquiry that is not only technically rigorous but also aligned with Islamic metaphysical and ethical principles, seeking to critically assess and, where necessary, refine or reinterpret aspects of modern science that are perceived to carry philosophical assumptions at odds with an Islamic worldview. Similarly, the course examines the scientific miracles discourse (i'jaz 'ilmi), which interprets Qur'anic verses as containing prefigured scientific discoveries, positioning the Qur'an as a source of scientific insight. Students will evaluate these movements within the broader context of Islamic theological and philosophical traditions, interrogating their epistemological foundations, strengths, and limitations.
The second part of the course explores major theological and ethical dilemmas posed by contemporary science. It examines how Muslim theologians have understood causality, miracles, and divine action in relation to natural laws, questioning whether scientific explanations undermine or reinforce theological commitments. The debate on evolution is given particular attention, assessing theological perspectives on human origins, species development, and the possibility of non-human rational beings, including extraterrestrial life. The course also critically engages with Islamic bioethics, addressing issues such as organ transplantation, genetic engineering, and the impact of neuroscience on concepts of selfhood and moral responsibility. Islamic bioethics further exposes the jurisprudential angle, exploring how legal reasoning (fiqh) interacts with scientific advancements.
The course concludes by engaging with Islamic psychology and theological anthropology, both of which explore human nature and uniqueness through an Islamic lens in response to modern scientific developments. Islamic psychology examines the intersection of mental health, neuroscience, and spiritual traditions, assessing how contemporary science interacts with Islamic conceptions of the soul (nafs), intellect ('aql), and moral responsibility (taklif). A possible case study is demonic (jinn) possession, exploring how it has been understood in Islamic thought and when it is interpreted as a supernatural affliction versus a psychiatric disorder, providing a lens for examining the relationship between religious epistemology and psychological frameworks. Theological anthropology, meanwhile, interrogates how AI, human evolution, and extraterrestrial life challenge traditional metrics of human uniqueness. As advancements in cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and genetics reshape understandings of intelligence, agency, and consciousness, the course examines whether Islamic theology must adapt or reaffirm its frameworks for defining what it means to be human.
Throughout the course, students will analyse primary and secondary sources, critically evaluate competing arguments, and develop the skills necessary to engage with contemporary scientific and theological discourse. By integrating theological, philosophical, and scientific perspectives, this course equips students with the analytical tools to critically assess the evolving intersections of Islamic thought and scientific inquiry, providing a nuanced and historically grounded understanding of one of the most pressing intellectual challenges facing contemporary Muslim discourse.
Outline Content
The course begins by examining how Muslims in the modern era, particularly from the mid-19th century, responded to modernity, colonisation, and imperialism, shaping their approaches to science and knowledge. It explores key movements like the Islamisation of science and the role of Qur'anic exegesis in engaging with scientific discoveries. The course then shifts to foundational theological discussions, including divine action, the nature of the cosmos, and the role of miracles in Islamic thought. It also delves into speculative and contemporary topics such as the possibility of extraterrestrial life, debates on evolution, and pressing ethical challenges in bioethics. Finally, the course examines Islamic psychology and theological anthropology, concluding with reflections on humanity's role and purpose in light of science and Islamic theology.
Student Learning Experience
This course is delivered through weekly lectures and seminars, providing a structured yet interactive learning environment. Lectures introduce key themes, offering students a comprehensive foundation in the relationship between Islam and science, while seminars foster active engagement through discussions, student presentations, and case study analysis. Students will engage with curated readings and independent research, analysing primary and secondary sources to develop a nuanced understanding of how Islamic thought interacts with scientific inquiry. Seminars serve as interactive spaces where students present ideas, critically evaluate different perspectives, and refine their arguments through peer and instructor feedback. Formative feedback is provided through seminar discussions and the oral presentation (10 minutes + 5-minute Q&A), which allows students to develop their communication and analytical skills. The summative assessments include a 3,000-word essay (85%), developing research and argumentation skills, and a 1,000-word reflection essay (15%), enabling students to critically analyse their learning experience. By the end of the course, students will have developed a critical, interdisciplinary approach to Islam and science, equipping them to navigate complex theological, philosophical, and ethical debates in both historical and contemporary contexts.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 11,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
173 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
85 %,
Practical Exam
15 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. Coursework (Essay, 3,000 words) A critical essay on a chosen topic, demonstrating engagement with course themes, evidence of independent research, and the ability to synthesise theological, philosophical, and ethical perspectives.
2. Practical Exam (Reflection Essay, 1,00 words) A written reflection based on the oral presentation and subsequent discussion. This assessment evaluates the ability to critically analyse how initial perspectives on the topic evolved through engagement with peers and course materials. While the oral presentation serves as formative feedback, only the reflection essay is formally assessed.
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| Feedback |
Students will receive formative feedback on their oral presentation (10 minutes + 5-minute Q&A) to enhance their communication and critical engagement skills. The reflection essay (1,000 words, submitted after the seminar) will be formally assessed, allowing students to critically analyse their learning process and engagement with the discussion. These opportunities provide constructive guidance throughout the course, supporting student learning and development.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically analyse how Islamic thought has interacted with science in response to modernity, colonisation, and imperialism, evaluating key intellectual movements and debates.
- Examine and assess the contributions of major scholars and movements, including the Islamisation of science and the discourse on Qur'anic scientific miracles (i'jaz 'ilmi), in shaping contemporary Muslim engagements with science.
- Engage in informed discussions by constructing and presenting well-reasoned arguments on theological, philosophical, and ethical issues arising from modern scientific advancements in an Islamic context.
- Apply interdisciplinary methodologies to evaluate how Islamic theology addresses contemporary scientific challenges, including evolution, extraterrestrial life, bioethics, and theological anthropology.
- Critically assess real-world applications of science within Islamic theological and ethical frameworks, including AI in Qur'anic studies, medical ethics, and contemporary debates in science and religion.
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Reading List
Reading List (corresponds with the weekly breakdown mentioned later)
A representative reading list could include:
Week 1 Elshakry, Marwa. "Theologies of Nature." In Reading Darwin in Arabic, 1860-1950, 131-160. University of Chicago Press, 2013; Dallal, Ahmad. Islam, Science, and the Challenge of History. Yale University Press, 2010.
Week 2 Stenberg, Leif. The Islamization of Science: Four Muslim Positions Developing an Islamic Modernity. Lund Studies in History of Religions, 1996.
Week 3 Guessoum, Nidhal. Islam's Quantum Question: Reconciling Muslim Tradition and Modern Science. I.B. Tauris, 2011.
Week 4 Moad, Edward Omar. Coherence of the Incoherence: Between Al-Ghazali and Ibn Rushd on Nature and the Cosmos. Gorgias Press, 2023.
Week 5 Altaie, Basil. God, Nature, and the Cause: Essays on Islam and Science. Kalam Research and Media, 2016.
Week 6 Lazzari, Edmund Michael. Miracles in Said Nursi and Thomas Aquinas: Non-Noninterventionist Approaches to Divine Action and the Sciences. Routledge, 2024.
Week 7 Abdullah, Faisal. "Classical Muslim Thought and the Theological Implications and Possibility of Non-Human Entities Bearing Higher Intelligence." In Islamic Theology and Extraterrestrial Life: New Frontiers in Science and Religion, edited by Shoaib Ahmed Malik and Jörg Matthias Determann, 202-220. London: I.B. Tauris, 2024.
Week 8 Malik, Shoaib Ahmed. "Defending 'Islam and Evolution: Al-Ghazali and the Modern Evolutionary Paradigm'." Theology and Science 21, no. 4 (2023): 453-466.
Week 9 Ali, Mansur. Organ Transplantation: Islamic Ethical Perspectives. Journal of Islamic Ethics 4 (2020): 63-88.
Week 10 Rassool, G. Hussein. Evil Eye, Jinn Possession, and Mental Health Issues: An Islamic Perspective. Routledge, 2021.
Week 11 Çelik, Yusuf. "Answering Divine Love: Human Distinctiveness in the Light of Islam and Artificial Superintelligence." Sophia 2023.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course contributes to the University of Edinburgh's Graduate Attributes by fostering critical thinking, research, and communication skills while introducing a minority perspective on science and its relationship with Islam. Students will explore issues of modernity, colonisation, and decolonisation, encouraging enquiry and lifelong learning through engagement with underrepresented viewpoints. Reflective assignments and discussions help develop intellectual autonomy, personal effectiveness, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly. The course also broadens global perspectives, equipping students to engage ethically and respectfully with diverse cultural and intellectual traditions.
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| Keywords | Islam,history,theology,natural sciences,decolonisation |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Shoaib Malik
Tel:
Email: shoaib.malik@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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