Summary of Pervez Hoodbhoy’s Book

“Islam and Science: Religious Orthodoxy and the Battle for Rationality”

By Shariq Ali
Valueversity

This book is a bold intellectual critique focused on a fundamental question:
“Is harmony between Islam and modern science possible?”

The author highlights that there was a time when Islamic civilization was a torchbearer of knowledge and science. The establishment of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, and the contributions of towering scientists like Ibn Sina, Ibn al-Haytham, and Al-Razi, are shining examples of that golden era.

However, according to Hoodbhoy, today’s reality stands in stark contrast.
He writes:
“Among all the world’s civilizations, science is currently the weakest in the Islamic world.”

He attributes this decline primarily to religious orthodoxy, a rigidly imitative mindset, and a deep-seated fear of critical inquiry—barriers that obstruct intellectual and rational progress.

In the final section of the book, he critically examines so-called “Islamic science conferences” where claims are made about extracting energy from jinn, the structure of Paradise, the velocity of the heavens, and deriving direct scientific conclusions from the Qur’an.
He raises the question:
“Is this really science—or merely a pseudo-scientific form of religious devotion?”

A central theme of the book is:
“Science is a secular enterprise—not based on denial of God, but on observation, experimentation, and reason.”
In science, truth is not determined by religious authority, but by evidence.

The author concludes with a call:
If the Muslim world seeks scientific advancement, it must embrace rationality, critical thinking, and intellectual tolerance—rather than fearing them.