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Science and the Muslim Ummah 3 - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief Science and the Muslim Ummah 3 2021-06-24 420 Views Muslim Ummah , Islamic Sciences In this part of the topic “Science and the Muslim Ummah,” we shall look at the primary objective of learning, which is obtaining proximity to Almighty Allah.

Contents Endeavours to Obtaining Closeness to Almighty Allah Proposals Endeavours to Obtaining Closeness to Almighty Allah Evidently, there are various dimensions to endeavour for obtaining closeness to Almighty Allah and His good pleasure.

These include the obligatory worship, acquaintance with Divine teachings, refinement of one’s inner self, recognition and understanding of the signs of Almighty Allah and service of His creatures.(1) In this context attention is drawn to the following conclusions: 1.

When considered in the context of what we have mentioned above, all theological sciences are means for obtaining proximity to Almighty Allah, and the natural Sciences-since they also reveal the truth- are sacred as long as they play this role.

However, this sanctity is not intrinsic as Martyr Dr Beheshti has pointed out: “Any area of knowledge as long as it does not become an instrument in the hands of taught (non-Almighty Allah or anti-Almighty Allah) is a means of enlightenment; otherwise, knowledge may also become a means of misguidance.” 2. Viewed in this perspective, there can be no separation or alienation between various sciences.

On the other hand, they help us in deciphering the book of creation, as the great mystic Shaykh Mahmud Shabistari has said: “To him whose spirit is enlightened – The entire universe is a sacred book of the Most High; – Every sphere of universe is a different chapter, – One is the Opening Surah, and another the Surah of Ikhlas.” In the pages of this Divine book, some chapters may have prece­dence and priority over others, but nevertheless, all of them are essential for the appreciation of Almighty Allah’s signs in (horizons) and anfus (souls), that is in the universe without and within.

In the early centuries of Islamic civilization, when it was at its peak, the Muslim intellectuals approached the question of learning with a vision similar to the one discussed above. Different sciences were seen in a single perspective and considered interrelated as branches of the `tree’ of knowledge. The goal of all sciences was seen as the discovery of unity and coherence in the world of nature.