ISLAMIC INTELLECTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE: THE LEGACY OF AL-KHWARIZM, AL-BIRUNI, AND IBN AL-HAYTHAM
Date Published : 6 December 2025
Contributors
Syamzan Syukur
Author
Rahmawati
Second Author
Muhammad Arif
Third Author
Ahmad Yani
Fourth Author
Naeha Bil Bina Huzaymi
Fifth Author
Keywords
Islamic intellectual
Al-Khawarizmi
Al-Biruni
Ibn al-Haytham
Islamic science
Proceeding
Track
General Track
License
Copyright (c) 2025 International Conference on Cultures & Languages
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Abstract
This article explores the contributions of three classical Muslim scholars—Al-Khawarizmi, Al-Biruni, and Ibn al-Haytham—as representations of Islamic intellectualism in the fields of science and technology. Using a historical and descriptive-analytical approach, the study traces the pivotal roles these figures played in laying the foundations of various modern scientific disciplines, including mathematics, astronomy, optics, and the scientific method. Al-Khawarizmi is recognized as the pioneer of algebra and algorithmic thinking; Al-Biruni as a forerunner of empirical research and intercultural religious studies; and Ibn al-Haytham as the founder of experimental methodology in optics. The findings demonstrate that all three exemplified a distinctively Islamic model of knowledge—one that harmonizes rational inquiry with spiritual consciousness. Their intellectual legacies affirm that scientific achievement in Islam is inseparable from ethical values and transcendent goals. This article advocates the revitalization of classical Islamic intellectualism within contemporary science education to cultivate a humanistic, Tawhid-based scientific paradigm. The study also critiques the persisting dichotomy between religious and scientific knowledge that continues to hinder the development of an integrated Islamic epistemology.
References
Abdurrahman, D. (2011). Metodologi Penelitian Sejarah Islam (1st ed.). Penerbit Ombak.
Ahmad, R. (2010). Al-Bîrûnî: A great Muslim scientist, philosopher and historian (973–1050 AD). Pakistan Vision, 10(1). https://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/studies/PDF-FILES/Artical%20-%2010.pdf
Andriani, H., Rahmawati, R., & Syukur, S. (2024). Sejarah Intelektual Islam di Bidang Tasawuf: Imam Al-Ghazali, Ibnu Arabi, dan Mulla Shadra. Al-Qalam: Jurnal Kajian Islam Dan Pendidikan, 16(2), 395–402. https://doi.org/10.47435/al-qalam.v16i2.3376
Ataman, K. (2013). Understanding “Others” in Islamic Thought: The Example of Al-Biruni. Milel ve Nihal, 10(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17131/MILELNIHAL.66062
Dahlan, M. (2014). Sejarah Sosial Intelektual Islam. Alauddin University Press.
Dahlan, M. (2018). Kontribusi Peradaban Islam terhadap Peradaban Barat; suatu Tinjauan Historis. Rihlah: Sejarah Dan Kebudayaan, 6(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24252/rihlah.v6i1.5453
Ernawati, Aderus, A., & Amri, M. (2024). Tektualisasi dan Kontektualisasi Ajaran Islam Dalam Al-Quran/Hadis. Journal Education and Government Wiyata, 2(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.71128/e-gov.v2i3.110
Fahmi, A. (2024). Harmonisasi Filsafat Islam dengan Tasawuf dan Agama. Indonesian Research Journal on Education. http://irje.org/irje/article/view/1405
Gaudah, M. G. (2007). Abaqirah Ulama’ Al-Hadharah wa Al-Islamiyah (M. M. Rida, Ed.). Pustaka Al-Kautsar.
Hakim, M. R., & Rezi, M. (2023). Modernisme Islam dan Perkembangan Intelektualisme Islam. Al Ashriyyah. http://alashriyyah.stai-nuruliman.ac.id/index.php/alashriyyah/article/view/153
Harahap, R. M. (2019). Pendidikan dan peradaban dalam narasi sejarah Islam klasik: korelasi dan koneksi. Idrak: Journal of Islamic Education, 9(1).
Hardika Saputra. (2024). Al-Khawarizmi dan Warisan Ilmiahnya: Membangun Dasar-Dasar Komputasi Yang Kita Kenal Hari Ini. Jurnal Arjuna : Publikasi Ilmu Pendidikan, Bahasa Dan Matematika, 2(2), 410–418. https://doi.org/10.61132/arjuna.v2i2.726
Hogendijk, J., & Sabra, A. I. (2024). Ibn al-Haytham (d. ca. 432/1040) on Vision. Handbook of Oriental Studies. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/94508/1/9789004515932.pdf#page=272
Ibrahim, S. (2017). Pemikiran Ibnu Haitsam dalam Ilmu Optik dan pengaruhnya terhadap perkembangan ilmu optik modern. IAIN Syekh Nurjati.
Ikhsan, M. (2015). Jejak Kegemilangan Intelektualisme Islam dalam Pentas Sejarah Dunia (Kontribusi Ilmiah Kaum Mawali Persia pada Periode Klasik). Al-TA’DIB: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Kependidikan, 8(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31332/atdb.v8i1.397
İskenderoğlu, M. (2023). S. Frederick Starr, The Genius of Their Age: Ibn Sina, Biruni, And the Lost Enlightenment. dergipark.org.tr. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/kitabiyatilahiyat/issue/83437/1447930
Isman, N., & H, L. H. (2023). Ilmu Pengetahuan Dalam Perspektif Al-Quran Dan Pentingnya Menjadi Penuntut Ilmu. Al FAWATIH:Jurnal Kajian Al Quran Dan Hadis, 4(1), 30–42. https://doi.org/10.24952/alfawatih.v4i1.6861
Jailani, I. A. (2018). Kontribusi Ilmuwan Muslim Dalam Perkembangan Sains Modern. Jurnal Theologia, 29(1), 165–188. https://doi.org/10.21580/teo.2018.29.1.2033
Kamiar, M. (2008). Brilliant Biruni: A Life Story of Abu Rayhan Mohammad Ibn Ahmad. Scarecrow Press. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=AJa6S1rRp5EC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=biruni&ots=6rcCJGYCVT&sig=iJcRAtWl7i4TYuIoQr_S3COFT7E
Karimullah, K. (2025). Value in Medieval Islamic Science: Ptolemy and Ibn al-Haytham. Arabic Sciences and Philosophy. https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publications/value-in-medieval-islamic-science-ptolemy-and-ibn-al-haytham
Kartodirjo, S. (1993). Pendekatan Ilmu Sosial dalam Metodologi Sejarah (II). Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
Muhtar, F. (2014). Abu Abdullah Ibn Musa al Khawarizmi (Pelopor matematika dalam Islam). Beta: Jurnal Tadris Matematika, 7(2).
Mulyadi, A. (2018). Pemikiran Al-Khawarizmi dalam Meletakkan Dasar Pengembangan Ilmu Astronomi Islam. International Journal Ihya’ ’Ulum al-Din, 20(1), 63–86. https://doi.org/10.21580/ihya.20.1.2782
Mundzir, C., Arif, M., & Syatar, A. (2021). The Integration of Islam with the Local Culture of Tanete Kingdom (a Cultural Approach to the Historical Study). KURIOSITAS: Media Komunikasi Sosial Dan Keagamaan, 14(2), 137-160. https://doi.org/10.35905/kur.v14i2.2120
Mundzir, C., & Jusmiati. (2024). The Influence of Greek Philosophy to the development of Islamic Thought. Tumanurung: Jurnal Sejarah Dan Budaya, 4(1).
Nashiri, A. (2019). Pustaka Hadis : Ensiklopedi Hadis Sunni - Syi’ah (1st ed.). Sadra Press.
Rahmawati, L. T., Munjidah, M., Khoirunnis, F., Sari, P. A., & Lailia, S. N. (n.d.). Matematika Dalam Era Keemasan Islam: Kontribusi Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Biruni, Dan Omar Khayyam.
Rashed, R. (2022). Ibn al-Haytham: between Mathematics and Physics. Mathematics and Physics in Classical Islam. https://brill.com/downloadpdf/edcollbook/title/62067.pdf#page=55
Razi, M. (2005). Ilmuwan Muslim Populer.
Rosyidi, I. (2015). Komunikasi Dan Dakwah: Ihtiar Integrasi Keilmuan Dan Urgensi Kekinian. Madania: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, 5(1). https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.24014/jiik.v5i1.4790
Saputra, H. (2023). Al-Khawarizmi: A Muslim Scientist Who Discovered Algorithms And Their Influence In The Development Of Modern Computation. Journal of Multidisciplinary Science. https://jurnal.institutsunandoe.ac.id/index.php/prevenire/article/view/186
Senin, N., Grine, F., Wan, R. W. A., Hambali, K., & Ramlan, S. F. (2019). Understanding the ‘other’: The case of Al Biruni (973–1048 AD). International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 35(2), 392–409.
Sholeh, K. (2007). Pokok Pikiran tentang Paradigma Integrasi Ilmu dan Agama dalam Intelektualisme Islam: Melacak Akar-akar Integrasi Ilmu dan Agama. LKQS UIN Malang.
Sjamsuddin, H. (2005). Metodologi Sejarah. Penerbit Ombak.
Spremich, M. A. (2024). From Pythagoras to Ibn Al-Haytham: The importance of abstractionism within the evolution of science, a multicultural perspective. search.proquest.com. https://search.proquest.com/openview/9710a2fcf70509b48a7c9cdbfa38c727/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
Syaifuddin, H., & Mustafa, M. L. (2006). Intelektualisme Islam Melacak Akar-akar Integrasi Ilmu dan Agama. Malang: Lembaga Kajian al-Qur’an Dan Sains UIN
Tbakhi, A., & Amr, S. S. (2007). Ibn Al-Haytham: Father of Modern Optics. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 27(6), 464–467. https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.2007.464
Yatim, B. (2014). Sejarah Peradaban Islam. Rajawali Press.
Zahroya, I. U., & Syarif, M. R. (2021). Kodifikasi historis ilmu falak pada abad pertengahan. ELFALAKY, 5(2), 179–191. https://doi.org/10.24252/ifk.v5i2.31337
Downloads
How to Cite
Syamzan Syukur, S. S. (2025). ISLAMIC INTELLECTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE: THE LEGACY OF AL-KHWARIZM, AL-BIRUNI, AND IBN AL-HAYTHAM. International Conference on Cultures & Languages, 47-63. https://conferences.uinsaid.ac.id/iccl/paper/view/748