Knowledge and Scientific Research: an Islamic perspective

Importance of knowledge in Islam:

Islam provided great impetus for the human pursuit of knowledge. The first verse that descended on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Was Iqra, meaning "read,” opening the door to read, write, and ponder. The Quran urges the mankind to think, ponder, reflect and acquire knowledge that would bring them closer to God and his creation. 

The Quran uses repetition to embed certain key concepts in the consciousness of its listeners. Allah (God) and Rab (the Sustainer) are repeated 2,800 and 950 times, respectively, in the Quran; Ilm (knowledge) comes third with 750 mentions.

The Quran lays so much importance on knowledge that God commanded his Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to pray for increase in knowledge:

...say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."

-Quran (20:114)

Categories Of knowledge:

Knowledge is divided into two categories: 

a. ‘Ilm e Naafi’ – Beneficial knowledge 

b. ‘Ilm e Ghair Naafi` – Non-beneficial knowledge. 

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Ask Allah for beneficial knowledge and seek refuge in Allah from knowledge without benefit.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 3843 (Grade: Hasan)

Nabi ﷺ himself used to do Du’aa for ‘Ilm e Naafi`:

“Oh Allah! I ask you for beneficial knowledge”. -Ibn Majah

And he ﷺ sought refuge from ‘Ilm e Ghair Naafi’: 

“Oh Allah! I seek your protection from non-beneficial knowledge”. -Sahih Muslim

It's to be noted that Islam includes both the worldly knowledge and the religious knowledge in both the above categories. So beneficial scientific knowledge and research is included in the first category of desirable beneficial knowledge.

So our learning and research efforts should be only in those things which are beneficial and constructive and not of a purposeless or destructive nature.

Research as perpetual charity:

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

“When a man dies, his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge (he leaves behind), and righteous offspring who will pray for him.” (Muslim)

So, doing research and leaving behind knowledge which is beneficial for mankind will keep on multiplying one's good deeds even after one's death.

The aim of research:

The most important goal of studying and researching the creation is to know the reality and attain the knowledge of the Creator. The Quran says,

"We shall show them Our signs in the universe and within themselves, until it becomes clear to them that this is the Truth". -Quran (41:53)

"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding." -Quran (3:190)

Secondly, our research efforts should be to benefit the humanity and to attain the pleasure of God through it.

This is amply demonstrated in a prayer the prophet ﷺ taught us to pray to God not to make the worldly material gains as the ultimate goal of gaining knowledge:

اللهم لا تجعل الدنيا أكبر همنا ولا مبلغ علمنا ولا غاية رغبتنا

"O Allah!  let not worldly affairs (Dunya) be our principal concern (greatest aim), nor the ultimate limit of our knowledge nor the limit of our aspiration."

-Tirmidhi & Nasai 

Islamic concept of knowledge is unique as it is fundamentally based on a form of humility that one will be inspired by truth only when one turns to the Creator of knowledge (God) whilst demonstrating to Him the effort one has exerted in attaining it! My Lord increase me in knowledge!

One of the all time great scientists and the greatest medieval physician- Ibn Sina never slept the night fully in the period he was busy with ilm. His days were exclusively reserved for studying. When an issue emerged which he couldn't make sense of, he would make wudhu, go to the mosque, pray and make dua to Allah that he makes that issue easier for him and open to him the elusive details of the issue. He was among the leading scholars in knowledge, intellect, and productivity.
-Safahat min Sabri'l Ulama, p. 131.

Today all the misuse of science and technology occurs due to pursuing knowledge for purely materialistic or narrow nationalistic or capitalist purposes, removing God and humanity from the equation.