Seven Classical Perspectives for Islam and Science

This book examines how seven major classical Islamic thinkers, from Ab¿ Man¿¿r al-M¿tur¿d¿ to Taq¿ al-D¿n 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 Mütazil¿s and the philosophical vision of Ibn S¿n¿ to the mystical cosmology of Ibn ¿Arab¿ 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 kal¿m, 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.

List of contents

Introduction 1. The M¿tur¿d¿ Tradition: Ab¿ Man¿¿r al-M¿tur¿d¿ 2. The Mütazil¿ Tradition: Q¿¿¿ ¿Abd al-Jabb¿r 3. The Falsafa Tradition (Neoplatonism): Ibn S¿n¿ 4. The Ash¿ar¿ Tradition: Fakhr al-D¿n al-R¿z¿ 5. The Falsafa Tradition (Aristotelianism): Ibn Rushd 6. The Sufi Theosophical Tradition: Müy¿ al-D¿n Ibn ¿Arab¿ 7. The ¿anbali/Athar¿ Tradition: Ibn Taymiyya

About the author

Shoaib Ahmed Malik is Lecturer in Science and Religion at the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh.

Product details

• Assisted by: Shoaib Ahmed Malik (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 27.03.2026
• EAN: 9781032009858
• ISBN: 978-1-032-00985-8
• No. of pages: 376
• Weight: 453 g
• Illustrations: schwarz-weiss Illustrationen, Zeichnungen, schwarz-weiss, Tabellen, schwarz-weiss
• Series: Routledge Science and Religion Series
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Other religions; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; Islam, RELIGION / General, RELIGION / Islam / General, RELIGION / Islam / Theology, Theology, Islamic Theology, Religion and science, Religion & science