Islamic Ethics in Engagement with Education, Economics, and Politics
An Overview of the Attempts of Fazlur Rahman (1919-1988)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52541/isiri.v64i3.7244Keywords:
Islamic ethics, Fazlur Rahman, applied ethics, Qur’ānic moral framework.Abstract
This article examines the ethical thought of Fazlur Rahman (1919–1988), focusing specifically on how his views on ethics in Islam are applied to the practical domains of education, economics, and politics. Although he is widely recognized for his role in Islamic modernist thought, his efforts to integrate ethical principles into these applied fields remain underexplored systematically and holistically. This study aims to fill that gap by unearthing, classifying, and analysing his writings, policy interventions, and theoretical contributions across these key sectors of Muslim public life. Methodologically, this article undertakes a critical textual analysis of Fazlur Rahman’s primary works, as well as his lesser-known articles, policy recommendations, and public addresses. These texts are analysed thematically to identify the normative ethical assumptions that undergird his intellectual agenda. The study also situates his ideas within the broader landscape of modern Islamic thought, including his dialectical engagement with both secular ideologies and traditionalist religious interpretations. The key argument advanced is that Fazlur Rahman’s project represents a deliberate and coherent attempt to operationalize Islamic ethics in concrete sociopolitical and institutional contexts. In education, he emphasizes the integration of religious and secular knowledge as a means of cultivating ethical character and social consciousness. In economics, he critiques both capitalist and socialist frameworks, advocating instead for a ṣadaqah-based system of cooperative justice grounded in the principles of tawḥīd and zakāh. In politics, he proposes a Qur’ānically inspired democratic ethos rooted in shūrā (consultation), moral leadership, and public accountability. Ultimately, the article aims to demonstrate that Fazlur Rahman’s ethical vision is not limited to theoretical moral reasoning but is deeply concerned with constructing a just and morally meaningful social order. His integrative approach offers a model for contemporary Muslim societies to rethink the role of ethics in addressing modern challenges.
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