Nidhal Guessoum's Criticism of The I'jaz Approach as A Model for The Integration of Islam and Modern Science

Abstract

This study discusses Nidhal Guessoum's criticism of the I'jaz 'Ilmi approach as a model for integrating Islam and modern science. According to Guessoum, the I'jaz approach is methodologically problematic because it forces a fit between verses of the Qur'an and temporary scientific findings, and stems from a lack of religious and scientific literacy. Supporters of I'jaz often interpret mutasyabihat verses as muhkam verses, resulting in a single claim that precludes multiple interpretations. Guessoum emphasizes that modern science is empirical, falsifiable, and constantly evolving; therefore, it is inappropriate to treat the Qur'an as an encyclopedia of science. As an alternative, Guessoum offers an integration model through the Softly Overlapping Magisteria (SOMA) approach, which sees a flexible connection between the realms of religion and science without negating each other. This model requires a deep understanding of scientific methods, the philosophy of science, and the rules of Qur'anic interpretation. At the same time, he proposes a multilevel reading method for cosmic verses, which allows for a variety of interpretations according to the level of reasoning, scientific development, and scientific authority of the interpreter. Guessoum criticized five major errors in I'jaz, ranging from the inability to distinguish between facts and scientific theories to the tendency to give narrow meanings to the texts of the Qur'an. According to him, healthy integration must be built through a contextual understanding of the Qur'an, the strengthening of a science curriculum based on the philosophy of science, and intensive dialogue between scientists, scholars, and educators. The ultimate goal is to build a harmonious relationship between modern science and Islam, which preserves the sanctity of revelation while supporting the development of knowledge that is beneficial to the people.