On the Me~hodology of Islamizing the Social Sciences. .

It is argued in this paper that the Islamization of the social sciences should be seen-for conceptual and for pragmatic reasons-as the heart of the Islamization of Knowledge (IOK) movement. If that position is accepted, the importance of efforts to clarify the specific methodology for the Islamization of the social sciences becomes self-evident. An attempt is made here to su$gest an outline for such a methodology, building on the pioneer work of Ismacfl al-Faraqf and on mainstream writings on IOK. The issue of the starting point for actual efforts at the Islamization of the social sciences is discussed in detail, particularly along with two major phases of this work, i.e., (a) generating an integral theoretical that combines insights gleaned from Islamic revealed knowledge and from the human sciences; and (b) validating that theoretical framework in well-designed research projects and professional practice field demonstrations. The implications of the suggested methodology for research and for theory building are discussed. It is almost self-evident that the Islamization of the social sciences-for a number of important epistemological and methodological reasons and for practical operational considerations-should be seen as the heart of the Islamization of Knowledge movement. This is attested to by the thrust of work of the pioneers of the movement since the 1977 International Conference on Islamic Education in Makkah and even, informally, decades prior to that important gathering.! Unfortunately, however, the literature in the last few years has seen some confusing