Introduction
This collection of articles on Research Methodology in Islamic Perspective aims to explore research methodology in different branches of social sciences in the framework of Islamic values and goals. The need of such a methodology arises in view of the contemporary attempts of Islamization of Knowledge and the claims that Islam offers the best solutions to the problems confronting the modern world. This kind of activity requires an UpToDate understanding of the world ideologies and a command over Islamic sources.
The selection of articles is made in view of approaching the problem in two distinct ways, (i) a research methodology for the development of Islamic disciplines such as Islamic Economics, Islamic Sociology, Islamic Education and so on, (ii) an Islamic research methodology for studying Economics, Political Science, History, Anthropology, etc. The later approach underlines the way a modern student of Islam should adopt with reference to Social Sciences, Philosophy and Ethics, etc. The motif is to demonstrate the scope of scholarly work in all these disciplines and such efforts are imperative for the enhancement of Islamic thinking and reformulation of Islamic principles or theories with reference to various aspects of life.
The Islamic research methodology may also be used to spell out the larger implications of Divine Guidance in the context of present-day problems unlike the scientific methodology currently in fashion. Most of us do not have a clear perception of what constitutes Islamic research methodology and in what respects it is distinct from others? And what is the philosophy that underlies it? With this end in view, we should focus our efforts to understand its general approach, its value parameters, its possible flexibility to employ different tools of analysis and its rationale.
The present volume is a product of the papers presented in a seminar on 'Research Methodology in Islamic Perspective' held at Aligarh Muslim University in 1991 under the auspices of the Institute of Objective Studies and Department of Philosophy, A.M.U., Aligarh. In addition, some relevant articles found in the files of Islamic Thought (Aligarh) and the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (U.S.A.) have also been included so that, as far as possible, many important areas of the subject may be covered. In its present form the compilation is expected to be more useful.
This collection, it is hoped, will encourage more intensive studies to define and specify the issues in Islamic research methodology. The initial impulse definitely came from the demand of publishing the proceedings of the seminar.
The articles taken for publication in this volume from the Islamic Thought, Aligarh, the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, U.S.A., the MAAS Journal of Islamic Science, Aligarh and Taha Publications, U.K. are duly and gratefully acknowledged.
Rafiuddin's Meaning and Purpose of Islamic Research is a comprehensive and thought provoking exercise. He defines Islamic research and proceeds to examine the nature of research that Islam intends. Islamic research is a response of Islam to the intellectual challenges of contemporary issues and problems of every age. Such research invalidates wrong theories which are against humanity and Islam. He has attempted to relate the purpose of Islamic research with interpreting Islam in new situations. This definition of Islamic research is simple that flows from his under-standing of Islam. Islam is the final message of God and "embodied in the Quran and Hadith". Islamic research, according to him, must centre around the contents of these sacred books in order to make them intelligible. sudan mellanalom
In the Nature and Scope of Islamic Research, Abdul Haque Ansari is basically concerned with presenting Islam as an alternative to the modern ideologies of the world. He remarks that for doing so an Islamic researcher would first require to understand the modern world as well as the current ideologies on the one hand and the Islamic message on the other. Any one embarking on such an endeavor would face a host of problems which Dr. Haque has aptly and precisely dealt with in his contribution. Though not directly concerned with developing an Islamic research methodology his exposition would be helpful in evolving the one.
In his lucid style M.N. Siddiqi in Islamic Research and Spiritual Content of Islam, has emphasized the need for striking a balance between spiritual and material spheres of human existence and activities. The achievement of such a balance, in his view, would be the hallmark of a Social Science from an Islamic point of view.
After explaining the significance and relevance of the spiritual aspect of an Islamic research, Siddiqi has specially dealt with the subject of economics. Although it is not a full-fledged discussion on Islamization of economics or any other Social Science subject it brings home the importance as well as the need of developing a proper methodology to study and analyze the social phenomenon in an Islamic perspective.
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