Empiricism as a Branch of Philosophy and Its Influence on the Development of Science and Technology in the Islamic World
Article Sidebar
Page Numbers:
2477-2490
Digital Object Identifier:
10.58578/alsys.v6i5.11692
Viewed: 0 times
Downloaded: 0 times
LYAS Publisher cordially invites qualified professionals to serve as Editors or Reviewers. Your expertise will make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the academic quality of our publications. Interested applicants are kindly requested to complete the application form at the following link: Editors & Reviewers
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information about the submission process or if you have any additional questions.
Authors:Firdaus1*, Abdul Muid Nawawi2
Copyright :Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Main Article Content
Google Scholar
Abstract
Empiricism constitutes a major branch of epistemological philosophy that emphasizes observation, experimentation, induction, and verification as foundations of knowledge; however, its relationship with scientific development in the classical Islamic world requires further systematic examination. This study analyzes the principles of empiricism and their contribution to the advancement of science and technology in the classical Islamic intellectual tradition. Employing a qualitative descriptive-analytical library research design, the study examines primary texts by Western empiricist philosophers, Qur’anic and hadith-based epistemological sources, and the works of classical Muslim scholars, supported by relevant secondary literature. The findings indicate that the core principles of empiricism were reflected in the scientific practices of Ibn al-Haytham, Al-Biruni, Jabir ibn Hayyan, Al-Razi, Ibn Sina, and other Muslim scholars. Their contributions to optics, astronomy, chemistry, medicine, and mathematics demonstrate a systematic reliance on observation, experimentation, and empirical verification rather than speculative reasoning alone. The analysis further shows that Islamic epistemology provides a compatible foundation for empirical inquiry by integrating revelation, reason, and sensory experience. This synthesis enabled Muslim scholars to develop a distinctive scientific tradition characterized by methodological rigor and spiritual orientation. The study concludes that the historical legacy of Islamic empiricism offers a relevant framework for revitalizing contemporary science and technology in the Muslim world. Its principal contribution lies in demonstrating that the renewed application of observation, experimentation, and critical verification within an Islamic epistemological framework may strengthen scientific development while maintaining ethical and theological coherence.
Keywords: Classical Islamic Science; Empirical Inquiry; Empiricism; Epistemology; Islamic Intellectual Tradition
Citation Metrics:
Downloads
Citation Metrics & Similar Scopus Articles
-
Khabiyev A.T. (2027)Use of Industrial By-products from Metallurgical Production for the Development of Heat-Resistant Building Mixes and their Molding in an Improved DeviceKompleksnoe Ispolzovanie Mineralnogo Syra, 341(2), 16-26
-
Urazkeldiyeva D.A. (2027)Development of technology for obtaining high-purity sodium chloride with induced impurity removal and process modelingKompleksnoe Ispolzovanie Mineralnogo Syra, 342(3), 56-64
-
Wu Y. (2027)Strategies of Designing High-Efficiency Electrolyte Additives for Aqueous Magnesium Batteries: A ReviewNano Micro Letters, 19(1)
Article Details
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Adji, T. P. (2024). Desain Penelitian Kualitatif. In M. G. Indrawan (Ed.), Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. CV Gita Lentera. https://gitalentera.com/book-published/metode-penelitian-kualitatif/
Ariani, R., & Anwar, A. (2023). Integrasi Ilmu Pengetahuan dalam Islam: Kasus Psikologi Islam. Jurnal Sains dan Teknologi, 5(2), 731–738. https://doi.org/10.55338/saintek.v5i2.2386
Creswell, J. W. (2012). Research Design: Pendekatan Kualitatif, Kuantitatif, dan Mixed. Pustaka Pelajar.
Erasmus, A. (2024). The kindness of God? A critical analysis of Janet Soskice’s metaphorical theology [Master’s thesis, Stellenbosch University]. https://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstreams/d8463b60-d417-410a-985f-1d5b54803518/download
Fahman, A. F. N., Derajat, F. S., & Suyuti, N. A. (2025). Aliran-Aliran Modernisme: Rasionalisme, Empirisme, dan Materialisme. AL-MUSTAQBAL: Jurnal Agama Islam, 2(1), 33–45. https://doi.org/10.59841/al-mustaqbal.v2i1.49
Fahrudin, F., Mulyadi, H. D., & Ichsan, A. S. (2020). Islamisasi Ilmu sebagai Identitas Keagamaan: Telaah Kritis Syed Naquib Al-Attas. Alfuad: Jurnal Sosial Keagamaan, 4(1), 67–79. https://doi.org/10.31958/jsk.v4i1.2099
Fauzi, N., & Chudzaifah, I. (2019). Pandangan dan Kontribusi Islam terhadap Perkembangan Sains. Al-Fikr: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 5(1), 1–8. https://jurnal-tarbiyah.iainsorong.ac.id/index.php/alfikr/article/view/12
Ferdino, M. F., Haryati, M., Ibrahim, D., & Syarnubi. (2024). Tantangan dan Relevansi Filsafat Ilmu Pengetahuan Barat dalam Perspektif Pendidikan Islam. Ulumuddin: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, 14(2), 375–392. https://doi.org/10.47200/ulumuddin.v14i2.2665
Fitroh, I., Amanullah, M. A., Putro, R. W. S., & Chalimi, I. R. (2026). The relevance of John Locke’s thoughts to the development of empiricism-based history learning in the era of independent learning. Journal of General Education and Humanities, 5(4), 4679–4690. https://doi.org/10.58421/gehu.v5i4.1515
Hidayat, R., & Rijal, S. (2024). Konstruksi Ilmu dan Metodologi Pengetahuan di Barat serta Pengaruhnya dalam Pendidikan Islam di Indonesia. Jumper: Journal of Educational Multidisciplinary Research, 3(1), 99–116. https://doi.org/10.56921/jumper.v3i1.177
Ichsan, A. S., & Fathurrahman. (2019). Reviewing the Islamic education curriculum in the perspective of the Khilafah state system: Study of Al Syakhsiyah Al Islamiyah by Taqiyyuddin An Nabhani. Al-Furqan, 8(1), 1–14. https://ejournal.kopertais4.or.id/sasambo/index.php/alfurqan/article/view/3653
Ichsan, A. S., Samsudin, & Yunianta, R. D. (2023). Contextualization of Fazlur Rahman’s thought towards the curriculum of Merdeka Belajar in primary education. Syekh Nurjati International Conference on Elementary Education, 1, 171. https://doi.org/10.24235/sicee.v1i0.14569
Ichsan, S. M., & Taran, J. P. (2023). Masuk dan Berkembangnya Filsafat di Dunia Islam. Jurnal Ekshis, 1(2), 15–27. https://doi.org/10.59548/je.v1i2.50
Ihsanuddin, M., Akhrima, N., Hadida, V. S., & Subarkah, M. A. (2024). Perkembangan Filsafat Ilmu dalam Persepsi Islam: Tinjauan Historis dan Logika Penalaran. Nautical: Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin Indonesia, 3(1), 32–40. https://doi.org/10.55904/nautical.v3i1.1240
Kadir, S. (2024). Comparative study of Al-Ghazali thought and Ibn Rushd in the perspective of Islamic theology. International Journal of Health, Economics, and Social Sciences, 6(3), 895–903. https://doi.org/10.56338/ijhess.v6i3.5840
Karimaliana, Zaim, M., & Thahar, H. E. (2023). Pemikiran Rasionalisme: Tinjauan Epistemologi terhadap Dasar-Dasar Ilmu Pendidikan dan Pengetahuan Manusia. Journal of Education Research, 4(4), 2486–2496. https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v4i4.768
Khan, M. A., Raza, F., & Khan, I. A. (2015). Ibn Sina and the roots of the seven doctrines of preservation of health. Acta Medico-Historica Adriatica, 13(Suppl. 2), 87–102. https://ojs.srce.hr/amha/article/view/19249
Lesmana, A. N. R., Natasya, F. P., & Nasution, R. A. (2025). Perkembangan Filsafat Ilmu dan Relevansinya terhadap Filsafat Islam. Jurnal Sains Student Research, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.61722/jssr.v3i1.3522
Nurhuda, A., Hariyadi, M., Aziz, T., & Lathif, N. M. (2026). Cosmos as a divine text: Reconstruction of the epistemology of Qur’anic interpretation based on modern astrophysics. Jurnal Studi Al-Qur’an, 22(1), 101–120. https://doi.org/10.21009/JSQ.22.1.06
Pakpahan, J. D., Heryanto, G. S. C., Hadiwidjaja, M. E., & Gunawan, M. F. (2024). Teori Empirisme dalam Filsafat Hukum. Praxis: Jurnal Filsafat Terapan, 1(1). https://journal.forikami.com/index.php/praxis/article/view/567
Razali, G., Syamil, A., Hurit, R. U., Asman, A., Lestariningsih, Radjawane, L. E., Bagenda, C., Falasifah, N., Amane, A. P. O., Tingga, C. P., Saloom, G., Sumarni, S., Gultom, N. B., Fadhilatunisa, D., Fakhri, M. M., & Rosidah. (2023). Metodologi Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan Kombinasi (S. Bahri, Ed.). CV Media Sains Indonesia.
Safarudin, R., Zulfamanna, Kustati, M., & Sepriyanti, N. (2023). Penelitian Kualitatif. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 3(2), 9680–9694. https://j-innovative.org/index.php/Innovative/article/view/1536
Sari, N., & Sirait, S. (2021). Metodologi David Hume (Empirisme) dalam Pemikiran Pendidikan Islam. Heutagogia: Journal of Islamic Education, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.14421/hjie.2021.11-06
Sheikh, M. A. K. (2024). The role of scientific inquiry in Islamic intellectual traditions: A study. Tanazur Research Journal, 5(4). https://tanazur.com.pk/index.php/tanazur/article/view/497
Sugiyono. (2019). Metode Penelitian Pendidikan: Pendekatan Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.
Syarip, S., Zuhdiyah, & Maryamah. (2026). Epistemological foundations of science and technology in Islam: A literature review. Academia Open, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.21070/acopen.11.2026.13128
Syauqi, M. L. (2023). Merunut Empirisme, Islam, dan Modernitas dalam Relevansinya pada Masa Kekinian. Ushuluna: Jurnal Ilmu Ushuluddin, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.15408/ushuluna.v9i01.31633
Taqiyuddin, M., & Nasution, A. (2025). An introduction to Ibn al-Haytham’s contributions to the field of optics. Indonesian Journal of Islamization Studies, 3(1), 77–95. https://doi.org/10.21111/injas.v3i1.14662
Wijaksono, A., & Ichsan, A. S. (2022). Pendidikan Gender dalam Buku Perempuan, Islam, dan Negara Karya K. H. Husein Muhammad. AN NUR: Jurnal Studi Islam, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.37252/annur.v14i2.380
Yusuf, A. M. (2016). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, & Penelitian Gabungan. Prenada Media.