❖ Summary
- The critique of science and modern technology is not a rejection of material advancement, but a call to assess its purposes and impacts in light of Islamic values.
- Fast travel and technological speed do not represent moral superiority in Islam unless they serve religious objectives.
- Science and technology should be viewed as means, not ends.
- The Shari‘ah mandates that anything conflicting with religious goals should be abandoned, regardless of its material benefits.
❖ Misunderstanding Criticism of Modernity
When critics of modern science and technology raise concerns, they are often met with mockery like:
“Do you want us to go back to riding donkeys and horses?”
This emotional response misses the point entirely. The real critique is not against convenience or development, but against blind imitation of a materialistic and exploitative worldview.
❖ Science in a Capitalist Framework
Modern science and technology are embedded within a capitalist system, primarily geared towards economic profit and material gain.
Critics challenge this utilitarian use of science, arguing instead that technology should align with ethical and religious values.
Development must be questioned not just for its utility but also for its purpose and consequences.
❖ Speed and Superiority: A Misleading Standard
Arguments like “cars are better because they’re faster” reduce progress to mere efficiency and time-saving.
But does Shari‘ah ever mandate speed as a moral value?
Islam measures value through how well something serves its Divine objectives — not through speed, convenience, or modern standards.
❖ Science and Technology: Means, Not Ends
The problem arises when science and technology become ultimate goals.
In Islam, they are tools to achieve higher objectives:
- Akhirah (afterlife) success
- Human well-being guided by Divine purpose
If science contradicts these, Islam demands reconsideration or even rejection — no matter how advanced or efficient it may seem.
❖ Double Standards and Modern Intolerance
It is ironic that Islam and the Qur’an can be freely criticized in academic circles under the name of “open-mindedness”,
yet questioning science or modernity is seen as heresy.
This shows that science has become a sacred cow — above scrutiny — and has been fused with ideological dogma in modern society.
❖ Shari‘ah Methodology and Material Progress
The methodology of Shari‘ah teaches that:
- No tool is sacred in itself
- Its worth is judged by its alignment with Maqāsid al-Sharīʿah (objectives of the Shari‘ah)
- If a tool — even science — hinders Islamic goals, it must be rejected
Thus, a blind chase of material ease can lead to spiritual decline, if not measured by Divine purpose.
✿ Summary
❶ The goal is not to reject science, but to evaluate it through Islamic ethics.
❷ Speed and convenience do not inherently signal progress in Islam.
❸ Science is a means, not a life purpose — its legitimacy depends on how well it serves Deen.
❹ Shari‘ah demands rejection of anything — even technology — that contradicts its principles.
❺ Modern intolerance to critiques of science reveals its ideological entrenchment, contradicting its own claims of neutrality.
