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Islam and Pseudoscience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2025

Stefano Bigliardi
Affiliation:
Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco

Summary

Pseudoscience includes any practice or argument that is presented as scientific but systematically violates criteria that distinguish science, particularly experimental verification. This Element discusses, in critical fashion, different ideas and approaches that combine pseudoscience and Islam. It begins by historically reconstructing the debate on Islam-related pseudoscience developed by Muslim and non-Muslim critics. It then analyzes three areas which these critics have identified as pseudoscience: iʿjāz ʿilmī or the “miraculous scientific content of the Qur'an”; Islamic creationism; ideas and approaches related to hygiene, nutrition, health, and illness. Each area is dissected, identifying the exact reasons that characterize some of its versions as pseudoscientific. After a section discussing other malpractices and erroneous approaches, which do not strictly qualify as pseudoscience but accompany and foster it, the Element ends with the discussion of overarching questions constituting an agenda for future discussions of Islam-related pseudoscience.
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Islam and Pseudoscience
  • Stefano Bigliardi, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco
  • Online ISBN: 9781009608237
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Islam and Pseudoscience
  • Stefano Bigliardi, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco
  • Online ISBN: 9781009608237
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Islam and Pseudoscience
  • Stefano Bigliardi, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco
  • Online ISBN: 9781009608237
Available formats
×