Publication: Scientific worldview and pessimism : an Islamic critique
| dc.contributor.author | Hasan, Md Maruf | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Muhammad Mumtaz Ali | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Adibah Abdul Rahim | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-24T04:06:24Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-24T04:06:24Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | If science is defined as established scientific facts agreed upon by the majority of the current scientific community, and the scientific worldview is defined as interpreting scientific facts to mean that the entirety of life has no value, interest, or usefulness except as understood by scientific facts, then, it follows that science and the scientific worldview are not the same. In addition, if pessimism is defined as the negative outlook about the religious worldviews having no basis of revealed knowledge in light of the scientific worldview, then, there is serious polarisation in thought patterns, and pessimism can arise among contemporary Muslim Youth. There is no problem with science; however, the scientific worldview causes pessimism, which ultimately can lead to Dawkins� version of new atheism among youth worldwide. Muslim youth are not exempt from this problem, which ultimately leads to growiIf science is defined as established scientific facts agreed upon by the majority of the current scientific community, and the scientific worldview is defined as interpreting scientific facts to mean that the entirety of life has no value, interest, or usefulness except as understood by scientific facts, then, it follows that science and the scientific worldview are not the same. In addition, if pessimism is defined as the negative outlook about the religious worldviews having no basis of revealed knowledge in light of the scientific worldview, then, there is serious polarisation in thought patterns, and pessimism can arise among contemporary Muslim Youth. There is no problem with science; however, the scientific worldview causes pessimism, which ultimately can lead to Dawkins’ version of new atheism among youth worldwide. Muslim youth are not exempt from this problem, which ultimately leads to growing pessimism in their mind. There is a contemporary trend of Islamophobia and apostasy within the Muslim community. With the development of science and technology, the scientific worldview is also developing. Scientific worldview is vehemently advocated and popularised by New Atheist academicians like Lawrence Krauss, Richard Dawkins, and others. Consequently, some Muslim Youth are vulnerable to the scientific worldview. This research uses the qualitative methodology to understand the link between the scientific worldview and pessimism among Muslim youth. Descriptive as well as normative methods are used for this thesis. This research explores firstly the philosophical scopes of Pessimism and the impact of the scientific worldview on pessimism. Then, the thesis examines the works of Richard Dawkins, propounding New Atheism, and Ibn Warraq’s case study on apostasy among Muslim youth due to the influence of modern science. The research further examines the writings of Imam Ghazali and Muhammad Iqbal to find some answers against the scientific worldview. This research also investigates the Quranic teaching. Lastly, the thesis shows the contemporary relevance of studying pessimism among Muslim youth to encounter the possible threats within Muslim societies. The research finds that due to science-based education within Muslim countries, the scientific worldview is gradually affecting some Muslim youth with a sense of pessimism, thinking Islam is not the true revealed religion coming from a divine source. Rather it is a man-made, organised religion like other world religions. Hence, the notion that the existence of Allah is purely fictional to these vulnerable Muslim youth. They become Islamophobic and apostate as a consequence of their pessimistic mindset about Islam. This research is significant because it will help governments of Muslim countries to address Islamophobia and apostasy among Muslim youth by changing education policy based on the Islamisation or Integration of Knowledge model. This thesis suggests that, along with science education, empowering Muslim students with proper Islamic education and helping them develop critical thinking skills can help to prevent Islamophobia and apostasy among Muslim youth. By changing educational policies based on the Islamisation of Knowledge, Muslim countries can encounter this specific type of pessimism coming from the scientific worldview. ng pessimism in their mind. There is a contemporary trend of Islamophobia and apostasy within the Muslim community. With the development of science and technology, the scientific worldview is also developing. Scientific worldview is vehemently advocated and popularised by New Atheist academicians like Lawrence Krauss, Richard Dawkins, and others. Consequently, some Muslim Youth are vulnerable to the scientific worldview. This research uses the qualitative methodology to understand the link between the scientific worldview and pessimism among Muslim youth. Descriptive as well as normative methods are used for this thesis. This research explores firstly the philosophical scopes of Pessimism and the impact of the scientific worldview on pessimism. Then, the thesis examines the works of Richard Dawkins, propounding New Atheism, and Ibn Warraq�s case study on apostasy among Muslim youth due to the influence of modern science. The research further examines the writings of Imam Ghazali and Muhammad Iqbal to find some answers against the scientific worldview. This research also investigates the Quranic teaching. Lastly, the thesis shows the contemporary relevance of studying pessimism among Muslim youth to encounter the possible threats within Muslim societies. The research finds that due to science-based education within Muslim countries, the scientific worldview is gradually affecting some Muslim youth with a sense of pessimism, thinking Islam is not the true revealed religion coming from a divine source. Rather it is a man-made, organised religion like other world religions. Hence, the notion that the existence of Allah is purely fictional to these vulnerable Muslim youth. They become Islamophobic and apostate as a consequence of their pessimistic mindset about Islam. This research is significant because it will help governments of Muslim countries to address Islamophobia and apostasy among Muslim youth by changing education policy based on the Islamisation or Integration of Knowledge model. This thesis suggests that, along with science education, empowering Muslim students with proper Islamic education and helping them develop critical thinking skills can help to prevent Islamophobia and apostasy among Muslim youth. By changing educational policies based on the Islamisation of Knowledge, Muslim countries can encounter this specific type of pessimism coming from the scientific worldview. | |
| dc.description.abstractarabic | إذا تم تعريف العلم على أنه الحقائق العلمية الراسخة المتفق عليها من قبل غالبية المجتمع العلمي الحالي، وتم تعريف النظرة العلمية على أنها تفسير الحقائق العلمية لتدل على أن الحياة بأكملها لا قيمة لها أو لافائدة أو نفع منها إلا كما تفهمه الحقائق العلمية، ثم يظهر أن العلم والرؤية العلمية ليس لهما نفس المعنى. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، هناك تعريف للتشاؤم على أنه النظرة السلبية تجاه وجهات النظر الدينية التي لا تستند إلى المعرفة الموحاة في ضوء النظرة العلمية للعالم. هناك استقطاب خطير في أنماط التفكير، ويمكن أن ينشأ التشاؤم بين الشباب المسلم المعاصر. لا توجد مشكلة في العلم ذاته؛ ومع ذلك فإن النظرة العلمية للعالم تسبب التشاؤم، مما يمكن أن يؤدي في النهاية إلى النسخة الجديدة من الإلحاد التي طرحها دوكينز بين الشباب في جميع أنحاء العالم. والشباب المسلم ليس استثناء من هذا الطرح الذي قد يؤدي في النهاية إلى تزايد التشاؤم في عقول الشباب. يلاحظ كذلك اتجاه معاصر للإسلاموفوبيا والردة داخل المجتمع المسلم. ومع تطور العلوم والتكنولوجيا، يتطور أيضًا العالم العلمي. يتم الترويج للرؤية العلمية بشدة من قبل الأكاديميين الملحدين الجدد مثل لورانس كراوس، وريتشارد دوكينز، وآخرين. وبالتالي، فإن بعض الشباب المسلم عرضة لهذه النظرة العلمية للعالم. تستخدم هذه الدراسة المنهج النوعي لفهم العلاقة بين النظرة العلمية للتشاؤم بين الشباب المسلم. كما تستخدم الأساليب الوصفية وكذلك المعيارية في هذه الأطروحة. تستكشف هذه الدراسة أولاً النطاقات الفلسفية للتشاؤم وتأثير النظرة العلمية على التشاؤم. ثم، تفحص الأطروحة أعمال ريتشارد دوكينز التي تدعو إلى الإلحاد الجديد، ودراسة ابن وراق حول الردة بين الشباب المسلم بسبب تأثير الإلحاد الجديد، ودراسة ابن وراق حول الردة بين الشباب المسلم بسبب تأثير العلوم الحديثة. تبحث الدراسة أيضًا في كتابات الإمام الغزالي ومحمد إقبال للعثور على بعض الإجابات ضد النظرة العلمية للعالم، كما تبحث هذه الدراسة أيضًا في التعاليم القرآنية. أخيرًا، تُظهر الأطروحة الأهمية المعاصرة لدراسة التشاؤم بين الشباب المسلم لمواجهة التهديدات المحتملة داخل المجتمعات الإسلامية. تجد الدراسة أن التعليم القائم على العلوم في الدول الإسلامية يؤثر تدريجياً على بعض الشباب المسلم بإحساس التشاؤم، معتقدين أن الإسلام ليس الدين الحق المنزل من مصدر إلهي. ومع ذلك، فهو دين من صنع الإنسان ومنظم مثل الأديان العالمية الأخرى، لذلك أصبحت فكرة وجود الله خيالية بحتة لدى هؤلاء الشباب المسلم الضعفاء. فيصبح الشباب معاديا للإسلام ومرتدا نتيجة لعقليتهم المتشائمة تجاهه. هذا البحث مهم لأنه سيساعد حكومات الدول الإسلامية على مواجهة الإسلاموفوبيا والردة بين الشباب المسلم من خلال تغيير سياسة التعليم بناءً على نموذج إسلامي أو تكامل معرفي. تقترح هذه الأطروحة أنه، إلى جانب تعليم العلوم، يمكن أن يساعد تمكين الطلاب المسلمين من التعليم الإسلامي المناسب ومساعدتهم على تطوير مهارات التفكير النقدي في منع الإسلاموفوبيا والردة بين الشباب المسلم. ومن خلال تغيير السياسات التعليمية بناءً على إسلامية المعرفة، يمكن للدول الإسلامية مواجهة هذا النوع المحدد من التشاؤم القادم من الرؤية العلمية للعالم. | |
| dc.description.callnumber | et BPB 145 H37S 2025 | |
| dc.description.cpsemail | cps2u@iium.edu.my | |
| dc.description.degreelevel | Doctoral | |
| dc.description.funder | IIUM SEJAHTERA AWARD | |
| dc.description.identifier | Thesis : Scientific worldview and pessimism : an Islamic critique / by Md Maruf Hasan | |
| dc.description.kulliyah | AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (AHAS) | |
| dc.description.notes | Thesis (Ph.D)--International Islamic University Malaysia, 2025. | |
| dc.description.physicaldescription | 1 online resource (xii, 195 leaves) ; color illustrations. | |
| dc.description.programme | Doctor of Philosophy of Usul al-Din and Comparative Religion | |
| dc.holds | JOINTLY OWNED WITH A THIRD PARTY(S) AND/OR IIUM | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://studentrepo.iium.edu.my/handle/123456789/33624 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kuala Lumpur : AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, 2025 | |
| dc.subject | Scientific Worldview;Muslim Youth;Pessimism | |
| dc.subject.icsi | Islam and reason | |
| dc.subject.icsi | Islam and science | |
| dc.title | Scientific worldview and pessimism : an Islamic critique | |
| dc.type | Doctoral Theses | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication |
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