{"id":296,"date":"2022-05-31T18:36:19","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T18:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/allmuslim\/?p=296"},"modified":"2022-05-31T18:36:19","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T18:36:19","slug":"islamic-exotheology-viewpoints-on-extraterrestrial-intelligence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/allmuslim\/2022\/05\/islamic-exotheology-viewpoints-on-extraterrestrial-intelligence\/","title":{"rendered":"Islamic Exotheology: Viewpoints on Extraterrestrial Intelligence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

By Layla Azmi Goushey <\/em><\/p>\n

\u02bfIlm*: Religious and Scientific Knowledge<\/strong><\/h2>\n*** University scholars in the Arabian Gulf region recently convened the Online Conference on Islamic Perspectives on Exotheology<\/a>, Muslim theological viewpoints regarding extraterrestrial intelligence. According to one of the co-organizers, the conference had more than 50 registered participants from at least 18 different countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Participants were affiliated with a variety of Islamic, Christian, and secular institutions, including the Vatican Observatory<\/a>.\u00a0 Experts on Islam, science, history, and popular culture presented their findings.<\/p>\n The Islamic Perspectives on Exotheology conference was organized by Dr. Shoaib Malik<\/a>, Assistant Professor in the College of Natural and Health Sciences at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Dr. J\u00f6rg Matthias Determann<\/a>, Associate Professor of History at\u00a0 Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Doha, Qatar. While exotheology has more often been a discussion in Christianity<\/a> and Judaism<\/a>, this conference expanded opportunities for the academic development of Islamic frameworks for science and religion. As Dr. Malik explains, \u201cOn the academic plane, the wider field of science and religion is largely Christian-centric. Muslims are still developing the field of Islam and science, with many publications coming out in the past few decades.\u201d Dr. Malik also notes that \u201cContributors have written about quantum mechanics, evolution, miracles, the relationship between reason, science, and scripture, exotheology, and medical developments and jurisprudence.\u201d This list of diverse subjects provided by Dr. Malik is a reminder of the Muslim-Arab concept of knowledge. Dr. Determann explains, \u201cThe Arabic language\u00a0does not draw a sharp distinction between religious and scientific knowledge.\u00a0\u02bfIlm<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>can refer to knowledge of God as well as of nature. An\u00a0\u02bf\u0101lim<\/em>\u00a0(plural\u00a0\u02bfulam\u0101\u02be<\/em>) can be learned person in theology or in astronomy or both.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Malik\u2019s academic work demonstrates his ability to competently discuss religious and scientific \u02bfIlm<\/em>, or knowledge. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in The Philosophy of Science and Religion.\u00a0 Dr. Determann, a historian and author of the recent book Islam, Science Fiction and Extraterrestrial Life: The Culture of Astrobiology in the Muslim World<\/em><\/a>, notes \u201cIslamic history is full of polymaths who excelled in, and combined, different disciplines. Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Ibn Rushd (Averroes) are among the best-known figures from the Middle Ages. In contemporary times, we still have geniuses like them. One of them is my colleague (and co-organizer of the conference) Dr. Shoaib Ahmed Malik, a philosopher, theologian, and natural scientist.\u201d<\/p>\n Coinciding with the emerging discussion of Islamic frameworks for science and religion are scientific projects such as the Mars Hope Probe, launched by the United Arab Emirates in 2020 and which went into orbit around Mars in 2021. The Emirates\u2019 Mars Mission is part of the Mars Exploration Program Advisory Group (MEPAG).\u00a0 As Dr. Malik explains, the United Arab Emirates\u2019 Hope Mars Probe is a clear case of \u201ca Muslim society doing its utmost best to become a scientific innovator.\u201d One of MEPAG\u2019s goals is to \u201cDetermine if Mars ever supported life, or still supports, life.\u201d While the Mars Hope Probe mission is geared toward discovery of microbial evidence of life, astrobiologists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), another member of MEPAG, are considering all options regarding life in the universe. In October 2021, NASA scientists called for a framework<\/a> for reporting evidence for life beyond Earth. This call corresponds with NASA\u2019s statement about current conversations within the U.S. government that seek to clarify the origins of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). A statement currently on the NASA website<\/a> says \u201cWhile NASA doesn\u2019t actively search for UAPs, if we learn of UAPs, it would open up the door to new science questions to explore. Atmospheric scientists, aerospace experts, and other scientists could all contribute to understanding the nature of the phenomenon.\u00a0 Exploring the unknown in space is at the heart of who we are.\u201d As for the possibility of extraterrestrial life, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson says, \u201cAre we alone? Personally, I don\u2019t think we are.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n Islam, Science, and Extraterrestrial Culture<\/h2>\n***** ** \u201cMuslims have generally had and want to have a positive relationship with science.\u201d Says Dr. Malik. \u201cScholars of the past wanted to know of the world to see what God instilled in creation, which is what drove them to do and learn about science.\u201d Dr. Determann, adds \u201cExotheologians ask how beliefs on Earth might be influenced by contact with extraterrestrials or what religious views the inhabitants of other planets may have. Most of the data we have to study such questions are the products of human minds, whether the imagination of exegetes\u00a0(interpreters of holy texts) or science-fiction creators.\u201d<\/p>\n ** One of those exegetes is Dr. Faisal Zain Abdullah, who recently earned his Doctorate in Islamic Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. At the conference, Dr. Abdullah demonstrated through careful analysis of Quranic\u00a0verses\u00a0and Islamic\u00a0scholarly discussions that existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life does not pose a theological conflict for Islam. Dr. Abdullah explained that pre-modern Islamic thought was able to conceive of sentient life here and elsewhere. The Quran offers verses that leave room for the discovery of the unknown. \u00a0For example, Surat An-Na\u0125l (The Bee) states, \u201cand (He created) horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and use for show, and He creates other things which you know nothing about.\u201d Dr. Abdullah also noted several verses in the Quran that refer to God as \u201cLord of the Worlds.\u201d\u00a0 He explained that historical, Islamic scholarly texts demonstrate \u201cthe views of early Muslims on how many \u201cworlds\u201d or \u201cuniverses of existence\u201d are out there.\u201d\u00a0 He said that while these views may sometimes differ from each other, Islamic scholarly opinions hypothesized how many worlds or domains existed and even included the characteristics of the inhabitants, such as their appearance and clothing. Dr. Abdullah also demonstrated that \u201chumans are not necessarily superior to all other creatures from a Muslim theological perspective; and that Muslims do have theological and legal ideas that can help them maintain the relevancy of Islam should other intelligent beings be discovered.\u201d<\/p>\n ** Dr. Mir Baiz Khan, Former Head of the Research and Knowledge Mobilization Department, Ismaili Tariqa and Religious Education Board, Canada, contributed his analysis based on Shi\u2018i Ismaili theological and philosophical literature. He noted that the Qur\u2019an is the primary source for the interpretation of the Muslim faith, and theologically speaking, the Creation, \u201cwhether visible or nonvisible, terrestrial or celestial, material or spiritual it is entirely a single act under the Command of God, the uniquely One and above His creation.\u201d Dr. Khan further explained, \u201ccreation is perpetual and limitless, and human beings are encouraged to reflect on it with knowledge and wisdom. Given the universality of Islamic principles, humanity\u2019s continued advancement in knowledge will offer exciting possibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n ** Art and the humanities are important contributors to how societies conceptualize scientific possibilities, discoveries, and advancements.\u00a0 In the case of extraterrestrial life, Dr. Determann says \u201cSo far, telescopes and space probes have not detected clear and direct evidence of life elsewhere in the universe. We can only confirm definitively that aliens reside in the human imagination.\u201d\u00a0 At the conference, Dr. Determann noted the cultural presence of imagined extraterrestrial beings in Qatar\u2019s popular culture. He presented photographs that depict extraterrestrial culture in Doha: a PlayStation advertisement that says: \u201cThis Ramadan venture to new worlds;\u201d A school bag with a flying saucer and an alien on display at a Monoprix supermarket; an Ooredoo advertisement with the footballer Lionel\u00a0Messi\u00a0and a UFO on the fa\u00e7ade of the City Center shopping mall.<\/p>\n ** *****Dr. Malik explains, \u201cThe fact that we can see cultural engagements with aliens without any strong or worrying concerns from the scholarly community goes a long way to show how people, at least the laity, are comfortable with the idea. Cultural representations give us sociological cues into the mind of the Muslim psyche, or at least the communities that are overtly exhibiting these ideas in various forms, in\u00a0some\u00a0relation to their background religious commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n As for other cultural representations, Muslim science fiction writer and Islamic Exotheology conference presenter Emad El-Din Aysha adds his thoughts to Dr. Determann\u2019s examination of cultural artifacts of the scientific imagination by saying, \u201cThere is no harm in dreaming.\u201d Aysha is an\u00a0author<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0editor<\/a>\u00a0of several science fiction stories and essays rooted in Islamic perspectives. He says, \u201cI\u2019m concerned with the applicability of Islamic law in a futuristic setting, Islamic economics, the feasibility of them and what they even may look like.\u201d<\/p>\n While Aysha provides imaginative scenarios about Islamic beliefs in futuristic settings, the questions apply to real world experiences of Muslim astronauts. \u00a0In 2007, Cosmonaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor<\/a> of Malaysia sought advice on how to practice his Muslim faith in space. One hundred and fifty scholars were commissioned by Malaysia to study the issue and it was decided that a Muslim should turn as accurately as possible toward Mecca and at least toward the Earth, and to use a prayer schedule based on the time zone of the area where the cosmonaut lifted off from the Earth. A booklet<\/a> has since been developed titled \u201cA Guideline of Performing Ibadah at the International Space Station (ISS)\u201d that contains a range of advice for Muslims who work in space exploration.<\/p>\n Aysha explains the importance of representing scientific exploration in Muslim settings.\u00a0 He says, \u201cThe glory days of Islam, particularly in Baghdad and in Andalus, were the glory days of science so I always want to recapture that in my writing and make the Western reader aware of this, how different our history is as Muslims than European history which had Dark Ages that sadly saw the rise of (institutionalized) religion and decline of science.\u201d<\/p>\n Aysha\u2019s work has some similarities to theory fiction as described by Dr. Carool Kersten of the Department of Theology & Religious Studies at King\u2019s College, London, who explained that\u00a0\u200btheory fiction\u00a0fits under the broader concept of the scientific imagination offered by Dr. Determann.\u00a0\u200bIt\u00a0differs from science fiction in that it places more emphasis on the imaginative use of philosophical ideas. At the conference, Dr. Kersten presented an analysis of\u200bthe Iranian-born\u00a0philosopher Reza Negarestani\u2019s\u00a0Cyclonopedia: Complicity with Anonymous Material<\/em><\/a>s<\/em>, a book where one character declares that the Middle East possesses sentience.\u00a0 Dr. Kersten made the point that\u00a0\u200bin Negarestani\u2019s philosophy, sentience refers to an embodied or natural category of intelligence, whereas\u00a0sapience\u200b is a generic, functional category of intellect.\u00a0\u00a0He explained \u201cThis distinction between\u00a0sapience\/sentience\u00a0is particularly germane for understanding human distinctiveness through the lens of Reza Negartestani:\u00a0Only to the extent that we possess sapience are we critically aware of ourselves as sentients among other\u00a0sentient beings.\u201d<\/p>\n These profound conversations about extraterrestrial life are happening in several areas of the globe and in the realms of government, academia, and religious study. As Dr. Determann explains, \u201cThe sky above us is, indeed, a space shared by all humanity. Hence, people of many faiths and none have long wondered about whether there are other creatures in the heavens. Because extraterrestrials are perhaps the ultimate Other for our species, scholars interested in this topic are especially open to, and tolerant of, different cultures.\u201d<\/p>\n It is worth remembering that, as Dr. Abdullah noted, Muslims do have theological and legal ideas that can help them maintain the relevancy of Islam should other intelligent beings be discovered. This openness to discovery, science, and the Other will help Muslim societies maintain a sense of stability during current and future challenges of this decade and beyond. Dr. Malik invites other scholars to join the conversation.\u00a0 He says, \u201cthere is still a lot of work to be done in this area, which is why I am so driven to making these conversations more accessible to the wider community. If I had to share one message with the wider world, it would be: join the conversation and contribute to the field.\u201d<\/p>\n Just as Muslims have always pursued science to see what God instilled in creation, we are now in a new phase of an Islamic intellectual awakening along with other theologies and cultures around the world. Space exploration by the United Arab Emirates and other countries will provide new opportunities for scientific discovery and will deepen our \u2018Ilm<\/em>, or knowledge, of the limitless wonder of the universe.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Layla Azmi Goushey \u02bfIlm: Religious and Scientific Knowledge University scholars in the Arabian Gulf region recently convened the Online Conference on Islamic Perspectives on Exotheology, Muslim theological viewpoints regarding extraterrestrial intelligence. According to one of the co-organizers, the conference had more than 50 registered participants from at least 18 different countries across Africa, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":245,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nIslamic Exotheology: Viewpoints on Extraterrestrial Intelligence<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Art and the humanities are important contributors to how societies conceptualize scientific possibilities, discoveries, and advancements.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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