The Qur'an and Modern Knowledge

Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful. He Who taught (the use of) the Pen, taught man that which he knew not (Al'Alaq 96:3-5)

حکمت دنیا فزاید ظن و شک
حکمتِ دینی برد فوق فلک
(رومی)

The wisdom of the world brings increase of supposition and doubt; The wisdom of the religion soars above the sky. (Rumi)

(Translated by Reynold Nicholson)

The Qur'an and Modern Knowledge OR Revival of the wisdom of the Deen

by Dr. Muhammad Rafi-ud-Din

M.A., Ph.D; D.LITT

Dedicated to the man of the future who will regard every view of the universe other than Qur'anic view of it as the ignorance of the ancient times!

The Quran and Modern Knowledge is the English rendering of the Urdu book Quran aur ilm-i-jadeed authored by Late Dr, Mohammad Rafi-ud-Din. The author was no doubt an accompalished scholar-well-versed both in Western thought and Islamic literature. In particular he was a keen student of the Quranic wisdom and believed that the core teachings of Islam enshrined in the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Prophet (SAW) can meet the intellectual challenges of all ages. Living in active years in the first half of the 20th Century as he did. Dr. Rafi-ud-Din critically studied the major anti-religious ideologies of this period and convincingly established the veracity of Islamic doctrines. The author had a rare and rich gift for both precision and thoroughness. I have found the book an immensly rewarding read. Comparison of Islamic precepts with the thought-systems of major twentieth century Western intellectuals adds an edge to the author's assertions. Arguments are put across forcefully and convincingly.

Late Dr. Rafi-ud-Din firmly believed that we Muslims should not be bowled over by all things and thoughts emanating from the West. Rather we should challenge and meet them with out own logic and religio-cultural sources. After all logic and reasons are as much a part of Western civilization as of any other. The author has exposed the flaws and errord of major Western thinkers and shows the strength of being rooted in his own indigenous tradition. Darwin, McDougall, Freud, Adler and Karl Marx were the most influential thinkers who helped shape the mind of modern man not only in the West but also of those with western-obsessed thinking across the globe.

Having penned down in mid-fifties of the last century, the work of Dr. Rafi-ud-Din is no doubt dated now. But I am sure and I assert this with confidence that the contents of the book hace perennial value and have the potential of satisfying the enquiring minds and yearning hearts. Moreover, at the begining of the third millennium, men and women are in a much better position to appreciate and acknowledge the truths of authentic religion (i.e., Islam). This is so because Western natural scientists have reversed most of the Enlightenments's founding assumptions - its optimism, faith in human reasoning, materialism, and its faith in unlimited progress. This in effect means that being uptodate in this post modern world does not mean subscribing to an already outdated modernism: rather it means subscribing to the current wave of spirtualization of knowledge. Thus the task before us, is Dr. Rafi-ud-Din's view, is a re-Islamization of knowledge. This amounts to a triumphant vindication of Islam's world view. And the book under review is a landmark in this venture.

Dr. Absar Ahmed

Formerly Professor & Chairman

Deptt. Of Philosophy

University of the Punjab

Lahore