ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (IUT)

THE ORGANISATION OF THE ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC)

DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTOR TRAINING AND GENERAL STUDIES (ITS)
Course: ITS 4749
Credit Hours: 2:00
Subject: Science, Technology and Islam
Contact Hours: 2-0-0
Course Teacher: Md. Mokhter Ahmad
Associate Professor
International Islamic University Chittagong, Dhaka Campus
Cell: 01712540089; mokhter_ahmad@yahoo.com

1. Course Description
This Course enriches the students knowledge about the concepts, growth and contributions of
Science and Technology throughout human history. It also helps the students explore the background
and development of Islamic Science and Technology; the contributions the Muslims made in the field
of modern Science and Technology and the traces of borrowings by the Westerners from Islamic
Sciences, the reflection and/or germination of the modern scientific discoveries in the Qur'an and
Sunnah; the fundamental areas of Science and Technology developed exclusively under the Muslims;
and the characteristics and distinctions of Islamic Science and Secular Science. The course also
highlights the fundamentals tenets of the major world religions including Islam, Christianity, Judaism,
Buddhism, and Hinduism, and basic differences among these religions.

2. Objectives of the course

At the end of this course the students will be able to:

Familiarize with the basic concepts of science and technology and their evolution since the
dawn of human civilization on earth
Know the contributions the Muslims made in the field of science and technology, and that
the foundation of today's scientific and technological revolution was is based purely on the
Muslims' contributions
Aware the Ummah to understand the importance of science and technology and their
Islamization as part of the whole life; and Stimulate the Ummah to be self-dependent,
based on their acquired knowledge of science & technology, from the influence of Western
concept
Promote the need to construct the ideal strategy for development of science and
technology anew for the future Ummah; and Provide correct information about science and
technology related to Islam that may lead to increase the quality of faith (Iman) of Ummah
Know the basic tenets of major world religions (Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism &
Hinduism), their approaches to science & technology and objective investigation of the
fundamental flaws in those religions; the basic differences between those religions & Islam

3. Course contents=

Week/
s
Week 01
Week 02
Week 03

Area/s
Basic
Concep
ts of
Scienc
e and

Topics

Units

Conceptualization of Science and Technology (from Secular and

Islamic Perspective); Principles followed for scientific and
technological investigation.
History of the Development of Science and Technology: A Brief Unit 01
Sketch since the dawn of human existence to date
Importance of acquiring knowledge, knowledge of Science and

Technol
ogy

Week 04

Islamic
Scienc
e

Week 05
Week 06

Muslim
Contrib
ution
to
Scienc
e&
Technol
ogy

Week 07
Week 08

Week 09
Week 10
Week 11

Muslim
Contrib
ution
to
Scienc
e&
Technol
ogy
Islam
vs.
Other
Religio
ns

Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18
Week 19

Technology, Relation between Science & Technology and Islam

Origins of Islamic Science: Scientific indications in the
Quran
Water: properties of water, origin of life in water, water cycle,
blessings of rainwater, proportionate raining, seas not
intermingling
Big bang- Expansion of the Universe, Formation of the
Unit 02
Universe, The Sun & Moon and Their Orbits, The light year
Scientific indications in the Holy Quran (cont.):
Embryology, Dual Nature of Iron, Atom, Geology, Human
Anatomy, and other issues
Muslim Contribution to all branches of Science (physics,
chemistry, mathematics), Medicine and Technology
Muslim Contribution to all branches of Science (physics,
chemistry, mathematics), Medicine and Technology (cont.)
Unit 03
Muslim Contribution to Arts, Crafts and Architecture; and the
characteristics of Muslim Arts, Crafts and Architecture

Mid Term Examination (08 March 14 March, 2012)

Muslim Contribution to Philosophy and Theology
Middle Eastern Origins of Modern Sciences and Transfer of
Islamic Technology to the West
Middle Eastern Origins of Modern Sciences and Transfer of Unit 03
Islamic Technology to the West (cont.)
What the West has learnt from Islamic Civilization
Factors behind the decline of Islamic Science after 16th century
Case Study: Islamic Science at the Time of Jabir ibn Hayyan
Fundamental Beliefs and Practices of Major World Religions
Approaches of Major World Religions to Science/Technology
Difference between Islam and other Major World Religions
Semester Final Examination (05 May 17 May, 2009)

4. Instruction Methodology:
5.1: Teaching Method:
o
o
o
o
o

Lecture
Question-answer
Class Test and Assignments
Library work
Group Discussion etc.

5.2: Quizs/Class Tests:

There will be four quiz/class tests:
o 1st Quiz: After 03 weeks

Unit 05

o 2nd Quiz: After 07 weeks

o 3rd Quiz: After 11 weeks
o 4th Quiz: After 15 weeks
5.3: Assignments/Term Papers:
The Students will have to submit one Assignment and one Term Paper. The Assignment
should be submitted before the Mid-Semester Exam while the Term Paper should be submitted
before the Semester Final Exam. The topics of the Assignments and Term Papers will be
decided by the Course-Instructor.
5.4: Evaluation

Mid semester Examination

Semester final examination
Quizzes
Assignments
Regular attendance & participation
Total:

25% (50)
50% (100)
25% (50)
(Attendance 10%+Quiz 15%) =25%
100% (200)

5. Reference Books
4.1 Reference Books:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

M. H. Syed, Islam and Science, Anmol Publications Pvt., Ltd., New Delhi, 1st Edi., 2003
Captain Anas Abdul Hameed Al- Qoz, Men and the Universe, February 2000, Darussalam
Publication, Jeddah
Board of researchers, Scientific Indications in the Holy Quran, Dhaka, Islamic Foundation
Bangladesh, (1995)
Board of researchers, Muslim contribution to Science and Technology, Dhaka, Islamic
Foundation Bangladesh, (1996)
John L Esposito, The Oxford History of Islam, Oxford University Press, 1999
M Basheer Ahmad & Others, Muslim Contributions to World Civilization, IIIT, USA 2005
Ismal Rj al-Frq, Al-Tawhid: Its Implication for Thought and Life, The International
Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)
Ismal Rj al-Frq, Historical Atlas of the Religions of the World,
Shabeer Ahmad, Development of Science & Technology In Islamic History, Darussalam
Publishers

j.
k.
4.2 Other References:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Jeffry Lang, Losing My Religion, Amana Publications, USA

Muhamamd Abul Asad, Islam at the cross road