A Study of the Development of Islamic Thought from the Classical to the Modern Era

Abstract

Islamic thought from the classical to the modern era reflects the dynamic intellectual development of the Muslim community in response to the changing times. During the classical period, the Islamic world experienced a golden age of knowledge across various disciplines, including philosophy, medicine, astronomy, Quranic exegesis (tafsir), hadith, and jurisprudence (fiqh), supported by a strong scholarly tradition under the Abbasid Dynasty. This period produced many great scholars who made significant contributions to world civilization. As it entered the medieval period, the Islamic world experienced decline due to political conflict, colonialism, and the weakening of ijtihad. In the modern era, various Islamic reform movements emerged with the aim of aligning Islamic teachings with advances in science, technology, and globalization. This study employs a library research method with historical and conceptual approaches. The findings indicate that Islamic thought is adaptive and rational in character, continuously evolving to address social challenges and modern civilization without abandoning the fundamental values of Islamic teachings. The novelty of this article lies in its integrative analysis of three periods of Islamic intellectual development as they relate to the context of globalization and the digital era.