Present work is a critical appraisal of Muslim modernist appropriation of modern science, largely from perennialist traditionalist perspective. It argues against the current usual thesis amongst most Muslims that modern science is compatible with Islam, and that latter provided inspiration for it and that one could graft modern scientific enterprise to traditional Islam. Certain postmodernist insights are juxtaposed with perennialist approach in our critique of modernist thesis which is basically the thesis that Islam and modern science are compatible and that modern science could be relevant and must be appropriated in reinterpretation and reconstruction of traditional religious thought in Islam. Foregrounding the perennialist critique of modern science for its commitment to reductionist, naturalist, demythologizing, evolutionist, empiricist, rationalist methodology and world-view it critiques most forms of modernist appropriations of Islam and the pleas for reinterpretation / reconstruction of traditional religious thought in Islam in the light of modern scientific developments. Rejecting the metanarrative of modern science and its epistemic chauvinism on postmodern and perennialist grounds, it argues for return to traditional metaphysical perspective as it highlights the divergence between epistemic and cognitive universes of traditional Islam and modern science. Iqbal is discussed as representative modernist voice and in the context of other modernist voices. His credentials as representative of consistent modernist approach to problem of modern science are fore grounded. Conceptual confusions and operational anomalies of modernist approach are highlighted. Present work is also a contribution to the debate on Islamization of knowledge also. It is primarily a contribution to perennialist approach to modernism and modern science. Certain postmodernist insights are juxtaposed with perennialist approach our critique of modernist thesis which is basically the thesis that Islam and modern science are compatible and that modern science could be relevant and must be appropriated in reinterpretation and reconstruction of traditional religious thought in Islam. Certain popular modern works on Islam and science also come under critical scrutiny. Works of Harun Yaha, Zakir Naik, Fatehullah Khan, Wahidudin Khan, Abdul Bari Nadvi, Ziaudin Sardar, Maurice Boccaile, I.R. Faruqi and others provide a context to present work and have been discussed vis-a-vis Iqbal. Present work opens new vistas on Iqbal studies and more specifically on Reconstruction studies.
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