Western Knowledge, Civilization, and the Claim of Deriving Principles from the Qur'an
Written by: Dr. Muhammad Dīn Johar
Questioning the Claim: Western Civilization and Qur'anic Principles
In contemporary times, this has become a widespread academic and intellectual issue. Many people hold the belief that the West’s modern advancement was actually inspired by the Qur'an, and the misfortune of Muslims is that they failed to benefit from the knowledge found in their own sacred book.
Key Points
➊ The Idea That the West Derived Progress from the Qur’an
It is now commonly believed that the West adopted principles of science, sociology, politics, and economics from the Qur’an. Among Muslims, it is also widely accepted that many modern scientific discoveries made by the West were already mentioned in the Qur’an, but Muslims, due to their negligence, failed to recognize them.
➋ The Claim That Western Scholars Uncovered Qur'anic Secrets
It is said that Western researchers have discovered hidden scientific truths within the Qur'an—truths that Muslims were unable to perceive. This highlights the intellectual weakness and shortcomings within the Muslim scholarly tradition.
➌ The Reality of Western Civilization and Islam
To link Western civilization with Islamic principles is to imply that a society which considers blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ a form of free speech, is somehow a manifestation of Qur'anic teachings.
This is a serious misconception and a grave intellectual error, because the foundations of Western social and intellectual systems are based on principles that directly conflict with the teachings of Islam and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Critical Questions
◄ If the West truly derived its principles from the Qur’an, which interpretation of the Qur’an enabled them to build a society where the Prophet ﷺ is afforded no respect?
◄ Is it true that Muslims’ understanding of the Qur’an has become subservient to Western intellectual influence?
The Need for Intellectual and Religious Re-Evaluation
This approach—of viewing modern Western civilization through the lens of the Qur’an—demands fundamental reform within the Muslim intellectual and religious framework.
As ʿAllāmah Iqbāl (RA) pointed out, if interpreters of the Qur’an become corrupted, even the truth of Divine commandments can be twisted:
❝Your commandments are indeed true—but your interpreters, through misinterpretation, can make even the Qur’an appear like a corrupted Pāzand.❞
Summary
Modern Western civilization is not derived from the Qur’an; rather, it has evolved on principles that are rooted in opposition to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Muslims must re-evaluate their current understanding of the Qur’an, so they can break free from Western intellectual dominance and return to the authentic Islamic worldview.
