A Critical Survey of Islamization of Knowledge

This is basically an annotated bibliography of the literature on the Islamization of Knowledge project launched in the 1970s by Ismail Raji al-Faruqi. The compiler has done a good job in providing first an overview of this ambitious project by way of spelling out the “what”, “why” and “how” of this project. He has done this with pointed reference to the sources and major writings on the project. More interesting is the section recounting its extensive critique by some “opponents”. (pp.42–44) The Islamization of economics, in particular, and of knowledge, in general, are examined at some length (pp.49–90 and 91–146 respectively). One notable omission is the coverage of language literature and linguistics as part of the IOK project, carried out by Faruqi and Syed Muhammad Sayeed. In sum, This is a useful work for obtaining a clear idea of the main contours of an important and ambitious Islamic scholarly enterprise of our times.