Definition and Methodology: Islamic Economics 
CHAPTER ONE
RELEVANCE
DEFINITION AND METHODOLOGY
OF
ISLAMIC ECONOMICS
Dr. MONZER KAHF
This chapter consists of four Sections or sub-chapters. They deal respectively with the issues of relevance, definition, and methodology of Islamic economics and with its relationship with other branches of knowledge.
Section One examines the issue of the relevance of Islamic economics from different angles. First, it will discuss the relevance of economics to religion in general and Islam in specific. Second, it will study the relevance of Islamic economics to the contemporary body of human knowledge, and third, it will consider its relevance to individuals and societies in today 's world at large and to Muslim countries and communities in particular.
Section Two is devoted to the definition of Islamic economics. It will survey different definitions suggested by several Muslim economists, compare them with each other and conclude with a selected definition. This Section will present a brief synopsis that is implied by the definition that we prefer prefers. A brief description of the subject matter of Islamic economics will also be given.
Section Three will analyze the issue of methodology and point out the similarities and differences between the methodology of economics and that of Islamic economics. The methodological question will be studied from the angles of Islamic economic system as well as from the angle of economic analysis.
Lastly, Section Four will focus on the relationship between Islamic economics and other branches of human knowledge including humanities, social sciences and mathematics. It will give special attention to the relationship between
Islamic economics and other branches of Islamic studies such as fiqh, 'usul al fiqh, hadith, tafsir and Islamic history.
SECTION ONE
RELEVANCE OF ISLAMIC ECONOMICS
RELIGION AND ECONOMICS
The domains of religion and economics
Religion in general deals with human beings essentially
RELEVANCE
DEFINITION AND METHODOLOGY
OF
ISLAMIC ECONOMICS
Dr. MONZER KAHF
This chapter consists of four Sections or sub-chapters. They deal respectively with the issues of relevance, definition, and methodology of Islamic economics and with its relationship with other branches of knowledge.
Section One examines the issue of the relevance of Islamic economics from different angles. First, it will discuss the relevance of economics to religion in general and Islam in specific. Second, it will study the relevance of Islamic economics to the contemporary body of human knowledge, and third, it will consider its relevance to individuals and societies in today 's world at large and to Muslim countries and communities in particular.
Section Two is devoted to the definition of Islamic economics. It will survey different definitions suggested by several Muslim economists, compare them with each other and conclude with a selected definition. This Section will present a brief synopsis that is implied by the definition that we prefer prefers. A brief description of the subject matter of Islamic economics will also be given.
Section Three will analyze the issue of methodology and point out the similarities and differences between the methodology of economics and that of Islamic economics. The methodological question will be studied from the angles of Islamic economic system as well as from the angle of economic analysis.
Lastly, Section Four will focus on the relationship between Islamic economics and other branches of human knowledge including humanities, social sciences and mathematics. It will give special attention to the relationship between
Islamic economics and other branches of Islamic studies such as fiqh, 'usul al fiqh, hadith, tafsir and Islamic history.
SECTION ONE
RELEVANCE OF ISLAMIC ECONOMICS
RELIGION AND ECONOMICS
The domains of religion and economics
Religion in general deals with human beings essentially
References: 6 Sayyed Manazir Ahsan Gilani, Islami Ma 'ashiyyat, India, Idara Isha 'at-e-Urdu, 1947, 453 pages to using scarce productive resources to produce goods and services and distribute them for consumption (Economics, New York, McGrow-Hill, 1973, p.3), and Malinvaud puts Elsevier Publishing Co., 1974, p.1]. Economics, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1404 H, pp. 51-53. 9 Zaidan Abu al Makarim, 'Ilm al 'Adl al Iqtisadi, Cairo, Dar al Turath, 1974, P al Fiqhi al 'Amm, Part One, 2nd. Section, Damascus, Syrian University Press, 1958, pp.