ISLAM & SCIENCE - falsafah ilmu islam

mbhcsf

Religion The Key To Scientific Debate                                               

                                                Ditulis oleh Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen Shaikh Mohd Salleh. Posted in The Star

                                                                                                               

As I write this article, I am reminded of Allahyarham Professor Dr. Khalijah Mohd Salleh of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). I have known her since the late 1990’s, and each time we met, we would have an engaging discussion on Islam and science.

Allahyarham Professor Khalijah was a physicist. However, her interest went beyond the realm of fundamental and applied physics. On various occasions, in particular in the last few years of her life, she spoke of popularising science to the masses.

One of the key things that she said has stuck in my mind till this very day: “Science is a social endeavour”.

It is not wrong to say that many of us hold to the popular belief that science is an exclusive endeavour of scientists. Scientists are people who conduct their studies in laboratories.

The perception is such that what are done in the laboratories are strictly in the realm of science, and has nothing to do with the society at large.

This perception brings an elitist and exclusivist image to science and scientists. This perception is partly due to our tendency to classify knowledge into the pure sciences, the social sciences and the theological sciences.

This classification, while helpful, may not necessarily paint the true picture. It is as if these three sciences are separated and has nothing to do with one another.

In reality, all these “sciences” are inter-related and intertwined with one another. Whatever discovery in science would have an impact on society and religion.

This “symbiotic relationship” has been in existence for as long as there has been science. Unfortunately, this relationship has largely been ignored.

It is not just science that is viewed in this light. Technology is also the same. We can choose to discuss any technological advancement in isolation within its scientific and technological boundaries, or, we can choose to engage discussions on technological advancement with other stakeholders outside the scientific community.

The mindset of “developing science for the sake of science” is essentially an antithesis to “science as a social endeavour” mentioned earlier.

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Science and technology should be focused towards the aim of solving problems in society. This is especially true if we want to ensure that science and technology bring forth benefits to the masses.

The proverb “necessity is the mother of invention” certainly rings true in this instance. There is certainly a pressing need to solve many problems in our society and world today.

Just to take an example, food security is an issue that can certainly benefit from advancements in science and technology. Agroscience and biotechnology in particular can be of great assistance in helping to solve problems of food security.

While scientists and technologists may not want to dabble in the realms of societal and religious discourse, the fact remains that whatever development in science and technology will impact the society and religion.

For instance, with regards to utilising agroscience and biotechnology to increase crop yield, safety issues will always be the utmost concern for many in the society, while the permissibility of biotechnological products will always be of concern to Muslims.

These issues will have to be addressed. To do this, there must be a platform for discussion involving scientists, technologists, religious scholars, ethicists, as well as other stakeholders in the society.

Scientists and technologists can use this opportunity to enlighten others as to the benefits that the advancements have, while religious scholars can explain the religious concerns involved.

Such an exchange and deliberations should be held at regular intervals. Not only will these discussions be useful for scientists and religious scholars to interact, they will also serve to increase interest and awareness of the society on scientific and technological matters.

During a flight to Tokyo in 2010, I was seated next to a microbiology professor who claimed to be agnostic. He was of the opinion that religion hinders the progress of science.

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He said that discussing science in the light of religion did not help at all. In fact, he was of the view that religion (any religion for that matter) “stains” scientific discourse, hence hindering scientific and technological progress.

While it is his own right to choose to be agnostic, the fact remains that society at large (if one is referring to Malaysia at least) is very much a religious one. People who hold firmly to religious beliefs would always view scientific and technological progress using a religious lens.

This is especially more so when today, people are becoming more concerned and sensitive to ethical issues. In the context of Malaysia, ethical deliberations would include religious ethics.

For the past few years, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) has been actively involved in ethical deliberations of science and technology which engage various stakeholders including scientists, technologists and doctors as well as religious scholars, lawyers, policy-makers and ethicists.

These discussions are pertinent not only to address scientific and technological progress, but also to provide religious ethical guidelines for the benefits of the masses.

In many of these programmes, the ethical discourse that took place is inter-religious in nature that included other major religions in the country.

Since religion is an integral part of Malaysian society, we cannot take the simple way out by making science and technology as being the exclusive rights of scientists just for the sake of progress.

We must not forget that whatever is discovered on a petri dish in a laboratory can have a great impact on society.  

That is why the society (a religious one at that) must be engaged in any discourse on science and technology. As Allahyarham Professor Khalijah rightly observed, “science is a social endeavour.”

If I be allowed to extend that idea a little bit, “science is also a religious endeavour and responsibility.”

mbhcsf

source :

http://www.ikim.gov.my/index.php ... o-scientific-debate

mbhcsf

Assalamualaikum kepada  para pembaca dan asatizah berfikrah Islam,


Saya sangkutkan dan paparkan  article  yg ditulis oleh  salah seorang Pegawai IKIM di bawah Divisi  - Kajian Sains dan Alam Sekitar ( Centre for Science And Environment Studies ) yang memaparkan kebersangkutan antara sains dalam kandungan ilmu dan Islam itu sendiri. Implikasi dapatan dan penemuan sains dalam pelbagai bidang perlu diikuti oleh  merek ayg berfikrah Islam agar kemaslahatan umat senantiasa terjamin dan segala aspek yg menyentuh Kepentingan dan etika terutamanya dapat dikaji dan dirungkai dan harapnya penyelesaian dapat dicari.


Lagi satu pada siapa yg pencita ilmu dan berfkrah Islam nama tokoh akemik ( bless her ) yg dinyatakan di atas  yakni Dr  Khalijah Muhd Salleh  -memang tidak asing lagi kot pada siapa yg pernah berdamping dengan beliau. Saya terus terangnya tidak tapi setelah menghadiri majlis ilmu yang penuh manfaat yg membicarakan aspek tauhidik dalam Sains , masya ALLAH , impak gagasan pemikiran hero akademik berfikrah Islam ini harapnya diiiringi dngan segala rahmat dan pahala di barzah.

amat penting akan kesepaduan sains dan sistem nilai.


dan bagi para pendidik yg menacri redha ALLAH, dalam erti kata sebenar dan  genuine dan memegang nilai nilai Islam , tauhid , akhlak yg baik selaras dengan pengetahuan kita sebagai makhluk Allah dan semua yg ada pada kita hanya pinjaman dan tak ada masa pun berbuat fasad, maka tanamkanlah sistem nilai yg murni dan kebersangkutannya dalam ilmu . Sebab ? Ilmu dari yg  ESA dan semestinyalah sifat tawaduk dan myrni itu mendekatkan kita pada yg SATU.


i mean the late prof tu dah menyampaikan bibit gagasan yg baik dalam menghubungkaitkan kepentingan ilmu dan islam. satu mujahdah yg baik.

hidup memanfaatkan orang.

mbhcsf

kalau  ada permintaan untuk alih bahasa saya sudi lakukan jika ada  kelapangan.

zamzarai

mbhcsf replied at 15-3-2016 09:49 PM
kalau  ada permintaan untuk alih bahasa saya sudi lakukan jika ada  kelapangan.

Boleh juga kalau xkeberatan.

mbhcsf

zamzarai replied at 16-3-2016 12:57 AM
Boleh juga kalau xkeberatan.

bahagian tertentu atau ada kosa kata yg anda perlukan penterjemahan

i am happy to entertain.

sebab , i buat sambil sambil je.

just  cut and paste memana yg u need  penjelasan makna terjemahan.

thanks

monyet_2015

mbhcsf replied at 15-3-2016 11:11 PM
bahagian tertentu atau ada kosa kata yg anda perlukan penterjemahan

i am happy to entertain.

Kenapa kamu suka tulis Bm dan bi campur campur?  mak kamu omputeh ayah kamu org melayu ker?.entah cikgu mana kamu yang ajar kamu menulis.

mbhcsf

monyet_2015 replied at 16-3-2016 08:35 AM
Kenapa kamu suka tulis Bm dan bi campur campur?  mak kamu omputeh ayah kamu org melayu ker?.entah  ...

sebab ikut mood apa yg ada dalam kepala. selagi tak berdosa dan dalam konteks santai . tak faham tanya aje which bit.

alaaaa BM and BI  saye teruk tau sikit je awak dapat masa SPM dulu , hmmm....tak dapat Dua  dapat satu je

hahahaa

mbhcsf

monyet_2015 replied at 16-3-2016 08:35 AM
Kenapa kamu suka tulis Bm dan bi campur campur?  mak kamu omputeh ayah kamu org melayu ker?.entah  ...

so, apa jadi thread you yg lain ? dah dapat jawapan dah ???