Indonesian Journal of Islamization Studies

The Islamic Golden Age: The Myth of Lost Knowledge

Jon Burke — 2025-08-06

It has been claimed that European scholars lost nearly all the Greek and Latin protoscientific, mathematical, and philosophical texts after the fall of the Roman empire. Alison Abbott, Senior European Correspondent for the scientific journal Nature claims that by the fifteenth century “Many Arabic works had by then been translated into Latin, but the sources themselves were neglected”. This has become entrenched in pop history.In reality, the Greek sources of those Arabic translations were not neglected. Most of the Greek knowledge which has been preserved was maintained independently of the Muslim world. Even without the help of the Muslim scholars who curated, studied, critiqued, and developed the Greek knowledge tradition, the modern knowledge of Greek mathematics and science would be virtually the same as it is now

A Brief History of Observatories in the Islamic World (800-1600)

Zakaria Virk — 2025-08-06

This paper examines the historical and philosophical role of observatories in the Islamic world (800–1600 CE). More than scientific centres, these institutions embodied Islam’s metaphysical commitment to knowledge (ʿilm) and cosmic order. Under leaders like Caliph al-Ma’mun, observatories became state-sponsored platforms for studying celestial bodies not only as physical objects but as divine signs (āyāt). Using classical sources and modern scholarship, the study situates these observatories within Islam’s unified worldview, where science and spirituality were intertwined. It argues that Islamic scientific progress must be understood within its civilisational and theological framework.

The Medieval Islamicate Terms in Science

Ömer Faruk Yıldız — 2025-08-06

The medieval Islamicate world (8th–15th centuries) experienced a profound expansion of scientific knowledge and terminology, driven by the translation of Greek, Persian, and Indian works into Arabic and later Latin. This process generated technical terms in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and optics—such as al-jabr, sifr, al-kuḥl, and azimuth—that embodied conceptual advances by scholars like al-Khwarizmi, Ibn al-Haytham, and Avicenna. These terms functioned not merely as linguistic borrowings but as markers of theoretical innovation, blending empirical observation with philosophical inquiry. Through intellectual exchanges in Andalusia, Sicily, and the Crusader states, many Arabic-derived terms entered European scientific discourse, retaining their phonetic form. The persistence of words such as “algorithm,” “zenith,” and “nadir” illustrates the enduring legacy of medieval Islamicate scholarship. This study investigates the etymology, semantic development, and disciplinary contexts of selected terms, revealing their significance in cross-cultural knowledge transmission and the historical continuity between language and scientific advancement.

An Introduction to Ibn al-Haytham's Contributions to the Field of Optics

Muhammad Taqiyuddin — 2025-08-06

The work of Muslim scientists has always attracted attention. Uniquely, the work became widespread and known through its critics, the majority of whom were orientalists. Here are the historians in the field of science. One of the favorite Muslim scientists to study his work is Ibn al-Haitsam. This study with this model of literature seeks to specifically reveal some aspects of optics developed by Ibn Haitsam after the introduction of Islam with previous civilizations. The data revealed focuses on Ibn Haitsam's literature obtained from oriental studies; which specifically discusses optics. This study finds that various works of Ibn Haitsam that have been edited, commented on, and translated by orientalists have a high level of complexity. Therefore, it is necessary to be given a structured advance in understanding it. Moreover, with a concise purpose; namely to know the role of Ibn Haitsam from one of the branches of his various works, namely Optics. The results of the critical analysis say, that Ibn Haitsam's scientific ethos is so high. Because, he honestly acknowledges that his knowledge can evolve through the contributions of previous scientists. Even further, he reached a critical level of study and revised his previous views on the concept of human vision.

Education and Civilisational Worldviews: A Comparative Study of Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas and John Dewey

Zaki Abdul Muhaimin — 2025-08-06

This paper offers a comparative analysis of educational philosophies as articulated by Syed Muhammad Naqib Al-Attas and John Dewey, representing the Islamic and Western intellectual traditions respectively. Al-Attas conceives education as ta’dīb—the cultivation of ethical character and spiritual discipline—anchored in Islamic metaphysics. He views education as a holistic process aimed at the recognition of divine order, the refinement of the soul, and the realisation of man’s purpose in the cosmos. Conversely, John Dewey, a leading figure of Western progressivism, promotes a pragmatic, experience-based model centred on the learner. Dewey’s framework is secular, focusing on adaptation, problem-solving, and the development of democratic citizens, detached from any transcendental aim. By juxtaposing these two paradigms, the essay underscores the ontological and epistemological divergences between Islamic and Western views of education. While limited to these two thinkers, it calls for further research into broader educational traditions to affirm the enduring relevance of Islamic educational philosophy.

Islam, Theocratic Republicanism, and Governance in Iran

Farhang Morady — 2025-08-06

Iran represents a unique theocratic republic that integrates Islamic governance with republican principles. The political system is based on the concept of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), at the core of its political system, which grants significant authority to Islamic scholars. This doctrine asserts that in the absence of the Hidden Imam, a qualified Islamic jurist should lead the state and society to ensure adherence to Islamic law. This system is designed to combine Islamic principles with modern governance; it simultaneously generates ongoing debates and tensions regarding the balance between religious authority and democratic processes. Through an analysis of Shia political thought and its manifestations within the Islamic Republic, this paper evaluates the adaptability and flexibility of Islamic principles to modern governance structures.