Research Methodology in the Human Sciences

Martyr Sadr, an Islamic luminary and foundational figure in the discipline of Islamic economics, delineated his economic theories by distinguishing between religion and science. However, his various formulations regarding the nature and ontology of Islamic economics have given rise to ambiguity concerning his perspective on this field. Through a comprehensive analysis of his writings, this study endeavors to elucidate and evaluate the relationship between science and Islamic economics within his intellectual framework. According to the research findings, Martyr Sadr adopts two approaches to Islamic economics: (1) the economic reality that is realized, or assumed to be realized, within Islamic society and in accordance with the framework of the Islamic economic madhhab; and (2) the economic reality that is inferred from the exclusive Islamic sources, namely the Qur'an and Sunnah. Sadr categorizes economic science into two types: natural and social. Theories within natural economic science are universally valid across societies and are not contingent upon human will or social madhhab. Conversely, Islamic social economics possesses the capacity for realization, and it can be argued that its subject matter is currently realized. In Sadr's view, Islam does not bear the responsibility of elaborating scientific theories per se, yet, in practice, elements of economic realities are embedded within the divine traditions (sunan) as articulated in transmitted evidence (dalīl naqlī).