With this aspiration to better know their Lord...

With this aspiration to better know their Lord, Muslim scientists ranging from Jabir bin Hayyan to Avicenna have pioneered their respective fields with studies of both the physical and metaphysical. Through their studies of creation they intended to better understand the Creator, especially given His invitation to do so.22 Thus, the Islamic sciences not only gathered information of their surroundings, from earthly minerals to cosmic patterns, but also interpreted them through a sacred lens.

Following this Islamic outlook, one greatly valuable aspect of science is its study of the Signs of God embodied in all phenomena. Such signs are pervasively provided throughout each person’s self and surroundings so that people may come to better know God. Thus, all phenomena of all kinds hold lessons for those who seek them.

This notion is reflected within all aspects of the Islamic religion and is further alluded to in the Arabic vocabulary; there is a shared linguistic consonantal root between the Arabic words for knowledge, science, and world: ‘ ilm, ‘ulūm and*‘ālam* , respectively. It can thus be concluded that a great aspect of science is its development of people’s knowledge of the world around-and within-them so that they may better know God.

By studying the virtually infinite signs that symbolize His attributes, humanity can see that He is Allah al-Khāliq ar-Rahmān, God the Creator the Infinitely Merciful. Furthermore, science is viewed as a process of innovatively developing the appropriate means to a God-pleasing end. With such an understanding, the use of creative and non-traditional methods to maintain harmony between humanity and the God-given natural environment is not just permissible but encouraged as well.

The same applies to all innovations made for any good purpose. This is reflected in the historical contributions of Muslim scientists to the realm of science, as well as in the innovative works of Muslims today. Previous…