Ziauddin Sardar: A Critical Mode of Rational Ethics by a Muslim Polymath

Abstract

The article presents an overview of the ethical discourse of the contemporary English-speaking Muslim intellectual Ziauddin Sardar. While Sardar grew up in the UK in the family of immigrants from Pakistan and received his education in Europe, he continues to consider himself not only European and British, but also Pakistani and Muslim. His interests vary in a wide spectrum of topics and include Islam in the contemporary world, philosophy of science, “Islamic science,” sociology, education, etc. Sardar’s writings and public presentations follow the classical Islamic tradition, i.e., he does not designate ethics into a separate sphere, but integrates ethics into his every reflection. Based on the reviewed works and on a personal interview with Sardar, the author concludes that the ethical discourse of the modern Muslim intellectual is deeply grounded in Islam and its values. At the same time, this discourse utilizes new rational tools as a necessary value-added component that helps critically rethink the ancient heritage of Islam and correlate it with today’s world.