Journal of Islamic Sciences
  • Science
    • Conversations
    • Epistemology
    • History
    • Philosophy
  • Origins
    • Cosmos
    • Life >
      • Creation
      • Evolution
  • Qur'an
    • Qur'an and Science
    • Qur’anic Studies
    • Qur'anic Worldview
  • Islam
    • Economics
    • Education
    • Islamic Studies
    • Environment
  • Reflections
    • Shudhur
    • Obituaries
  • Scholars
  • About
    • Editors & Editorial Board
    • Authors
  • Subscribe
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Science
    • Conversations
    • Epistemology
    • History
    • Philosophy
  • Origins
    • Cosmos
    • Life >
      • Creation
      • Evolution
  • Qur'an
    • Qur'an and Science
    • Qur’anic Studies
    • Qur'anic Worldview
  • Islam
    • Economics
    • Education
    • Islamic Studies
    • Environment
  • Reflections
    • Shudhur
    • Obituaries
  • Scholars
  • About
    • Editors & Editorial Board
    • Authors
  • Subscribe
  • Current
  • Archives

Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī on Physics and the Nature of the Physical World: A Preliminary Survey​

Picture

Fakhr al-Din al-Razi's conception of physics and of the nature of the physical world is explored here through a preliminary survey of a number of his early and late works. Al-Razi defines the three grades of meanings of the term "nature". His definition is similar to the general consensus in Ash'arite kalam which rejects the Avicennan notion of tabi'ah as an effective causal principle inherent in natural phenomenal processes. He also explores the notion of the existence of a multiverse in the context of his commentary on the Qur'anic verse, All praise belongs to God, Lord of the Worlds. He raises the interesting question of whether the term "worlds" in this verse refers to multiple worlds within this single universe or cosmos, or to many other universes or a multiverse beyond this known universe. Based on primary classical Islamic source texts, this survey provides an insight into the classical Islamic view of nature as expressed by one of its most important representatives.
​​
Keywords: Universe and multiverse; cosmic structure of the world; Fakhr al-Din al-Razi; al-mawjudat; al- ilm al-tabi'i; tabi'ah; alam; falsafah, hikmah; al-Razi's concept of nature; physics; nature; falak; harakah; sukun; jism; jawhar; arad.

Journal of Islam & Science, Vol. 2 (Winter 2004) No. 2

PDF
Picture

Adi Setia

Adi Setia is the founding director of IGE Advisory, which is dedicated to consulting, teaching and researching in the Islamic Gift Economy framework. He is also the co-founder of the Program for Ethical, Appropriate & Regenerative Livelihoods (PEARL).

Picture
© Center for Islamic Sciences. All Rights Reserved.
​​
Designed and Developed by Crescent Marketing Solutions