Islamic approach to technological development

Abstract

The Islamic Shari'ah has given us guide lines in all spheres of human needs for the prosperity and betterment of the life of its followers both in this world and the world hereafter. Keeping in view the values of Islam the followers of the Shari'ah are required to strictly adhere to the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah specially in, the domain of science and commerce. These teachings are obviously of general character. Science and Commerce both being practical and empirical have highly been left to the discretion of the individuals of the Muslim society. Both the themes are subject to experiments and development and hence, they can evolve a number of methods in many ways, in different times and regions, in different climate and conditions to satisfy human needs and requirements. Broadly speaking Science in our discussion means 'systematic and formulated knowledge; pursuit of this or principles regulating such pursuits, as is indicated by the expression 'man of science'; and obviously it does not only mean 'natural or physical sciences'. It may also mean an organized body of the knowledge that has accumulated on a subject. Similarly, it would be convenient to determine at the very outset the meaning of commerce as 'exchange of merchandise or services, especially on a large scale'.