Nizham Journal of Islamic Studies
Vol 14 No 02 (2026): Nizham: Jurnal Studi Keislaman

Majid and Aljunied's Criticism of Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas' Islamization of Knowledge

Evi Nurdiana (Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim)
Achmad Khudori Soleh (Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim)
Herlina Yunita Amroin (Mataram State Islamic University)



Article Info

Publish Date
15 Sep 2026

Abstract

The Islamization of Knowledge (IoK) pioneered by Al-Attas since 1977 remains debated among Muslim intellectuals. Majid and Aljunied argue that IoK rests on unfounded assumptions of civilizational difference and produces only secularism-in-reverse. However, this critique targets the IoK movement collectively, not Al-Attas’ philosophical construction specifically. This article analyzes the validity of Majid-Aljunied's critique against Al-Attas' IoK concept. Using qualitative library research and content analysis of Al-Attas' primary works and the Majid-Aljunied article, three findings emerge. First, Al-Attas' IoK holds that knowledge is never value-free, requiring worldview reorientation through de-Westernization and Islamization, with adab and ta'dib at its core. Second, of four Majid-Aljunied criticisms, only the first targets Al-Attas; the remaining three address the IoK movement broadly. Third, the critique is conceptually limited, strong in historiographical correction but failing to engage Al-Attas' core framework, which rejects the veneer approach and claims no civilizational purification. This article offers a more balanced reading of Majid-Aljunied's critique of Al-Attas' Islamization of Knowledge.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

nizham

Publisher

Subject

Religion Education

Description

Jurnal Studi Keislaman merupakan terbitan berkala ilmiah yang diterbitkan oleh Pascasarjana IAN ...