Is Nidhal Guessoum’s Theory of Science and Religion Innovative?

Is Nidhal Guessoum’s Theory of Science and Religion Innovative?

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

Among contemporary Muslim scholars, Nidhal Guessoum's ideas concerning the relationship between science and religion and his efforts to harmonize the two stand out as particularly prominent. As such, he is today considered one of the most significant representatives of Muslim thinkers in this domain. This article aims first to present a clear and structured account of Guessoum’s theory of science and religion. It then briefly reviews critical perspectives on his ideas to address the question: to what extent are Guessoum’s views innovative and effective in resolving key issues? In other words, despite the wide dissemination of Guessoum's ideas, how impactful are they in practice? The conclusion drawn from this study is that, while Guessoum’s approach includes certain novel elements, especially in framing the discourse, ultimately—particularly in addressing the relationship between science and the Qur'an—it does not significantly advance the discussion. Many of the longstanding challenges in this area remain unresolved, even in Guessoum’s framework. But his works are outstanding because of his method to approach to the problems concerning religion and science. Guessoum shows one of the best examples of moderate and rational approaches to such problems.

Keywords

Nidhal Guessoum

Islam

Science and Religion

Science

Subjects