Analysis of the Incorporation of Islamic Values into the Economic Policymaking of Science and Knowledge

Extended Abstract
 
Introduction and Objectives: In recent decades, the examination of the influence of values on the economic policymaking of science and knowledge has shifted from a marginal theoretical concern to one of the core themes in the field of the economics of science and technology.
Contrary to conventional views that portray science policymaking as a technocratic and value-neutral process, a growing body of theoretical and empirical literature demonstrates that policy decisions in this domain are deeply shaped by ethical, cultural, and normative assumptions.
In this regard, Islamic teachings, by offering a distinct framework of humanity, science, and development, provide the capacity to shape the economic policies of science from the perspectives of justice, the public good and social responsibility.
This study aims to explicate the mechanisms through which Islamic values are incorporated into the economic policymaking of science and knowledge. It seeks to demonstrate how Islamic value-based principles can influence the theoretical, structural, and institutional dimensions of science policy and replace the utilitarian orientation of conventional economics with an ethics-centered and justice-oriented model.
Accordingly, the main research question is formulated as follows: At which conceptual, analytical, and institutional levels do Islamic values influence economic policymaking for science, and what implications do these influences have for the design of financial and policy systems for science?
Method: This study adopts an analytical–conceptual methodology based on a comparative examination of positive and normative propositions in conventional and Islamic economics. First, the methodological structure of positive and normative inquiry in conventional economics is outlined, drawing on the views of philosophers of science and contemporary economists such as Popper, Blaug, and Friedman.
Subsequently, the ethical principles underlying economic policymaking in conventional economics-namely utilitarianism, commodification, and efficiency—are selected as the three main axes of analysis.
These principles are critically examined and reinterpreted within the framework of Islamic policymaking ethics in order to identify the pathways through which Islamic values enter the process of economic policymaking for science.
Data analysis is conducted using a deductive–analytical approach through the extraction of key concepts from theoretical texts and Islamic sources. From the comparative analysis between positive and normative economics, three levels for the incorporation of Islamic values into the economic policymaking of science are identified:

Theoretical level (redefining the concepts of humanity and science);
Analytical level (revisiting the principles of efficiency and utilitarianism);
Institutional level (designing hybrid models for financing science).

Rather than proposing a purely empirical or quantitative model, the study aims to develop a conceptual framework for rethinking the economic policymaking of science based on Islamic values.
Results: The findings indicate that Islamic values provide both theoretical and practical alternatives across all three axes of utilitarianism, commodification, and efficiency.
With respect to utilitarianism, conventional economics prioritizes individual profit and personal utility, thereby marginalizing social justice. In contrast, from an Islamic perspective, science and knowledge are regarded as a public good and a divine duty, and the goal of policymaking is not merely to increase economic returns but to realize justice and serve society. Therefore, in Islamic science policies, priority is given to addressing the essential needs of society and supporting research for the public benefit, even when such research lacks short-term financial returns.
Regarding commodification, conventional economics relies on market-based valuation mechanisms and the principle of scarcity, which leads to the transformation of science and knowledge into marketable commodities, access to which depends on purchasing power. In contrast, the Islamic approach does not consider science to be an exchangeable commodity; rather, it views it as a public good and a form of social capital. Accordingly, financing science within this framework should be grounded in state support, the participation of endowment and civil institutions, and ethical considerations.
Unregulated commodification undermines scientific independence, eliminates non-profitable fields of knowledge, and exacerbates epistemic inequality.
By contrast, the Islamic model emphasizes epistemic justice and equal access to knowledge and stresses the reproduction of science as a collective social duty.
With regard to efficiency, the Pareto criterion in conventional economics emphasizes maximizing individual welfare without intervening in resource distribution. However, from an Islamic perspective, efficiency must be integrated with justice and social responsibility.
Accordingly, economic policymaking for science within an Islamic framework seeks to allocate research resources based on their social and ethical impact rather than solely on their economic returns. This approach ensures justice in access to knowledge and sustained support for basic sciences and the humanities alongside technical sciences.
Discussion and Conclusion: This study demonstrates that an Islamic approach to the economic policymaking of science, by moving beyond the market-centered framework of conventional economics, is characterized by three core features: justice-oriented policymaking, a combination of financial resources, and the preservation of scientific independence.
Based on this perspective, the optimal system for financing science is conceptualized as a hybrid model nourished by three main sources:

The state, to guarantee distributive justice and support basic sciences and the humanities;
Civil and endowment institutions, to ensure financial sustainability and preserve ethical motivations;
A limited and regulated market, to support the development of applied sciences while observing religious and ethical constraints.

This model helps balance efficiency, justice, and sustainability and prevents knowledge from becoming dependent on capital domination and political power. In this approach, the value of science is assessed not on the basis of market price but according to its degree of social impact, epistemic independence, and ethical orientation.
The results indicate that incorporating Islamic values into the economic policymaking of science is not confined to the theoretical level but can also be realized in institutional design, budgeting criteria, and support systems.
Thus, economic policymaking for science grounded in Islamic teachings can contribute to the realization of epistemic justice, enhanced scientific independence, the promotion of research ethics, and the expansion of the public good.
Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge the scientific and spiritual support of the Research Institute of Hawzah and University and the cooperation of the respected faculty members of the Department of Islamic Economics during the various stages of this research.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that there is no financial or organizational conflict of interest in the conduct and publication of this research.