Repetition As The Cornerstone of Science and a Means of Acquiring Knowledge: Perspectives From Islamic Jurisprudential Maxims

Abstract

This article addresses the historical recognition of repetition in knowledge acquisition, as expressed in Islamic jurisprudential maxims, which has often been overlooked in discussions of scientific methodology. It fills a significant gap in contemporary literature regarding this topic. The objective is to identify the earliest known documentation written by humankind that highlights the importance of repetition, its requirements, and elaboration, and to examine its reflection in later works on the history of science. The method consists of reviewing prominent texts on Islamic jurisprudence and conducting a comprehensive literature review along with searches in databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed. Findings indicate that the maxim “Al-'Ādah muḥakkamah” (Custom is a basis for judgment) not only underscores the significance of repetition in jurisprudence but is also applicable to modern scientific principles.  Besides mentioning and recording the importance of repetition in gathering knowledge, the explanatory maxims explicitly emphasize the necessity of continuity and prevalence, for validating repeated observations concepts that resonate deeply with contemporary scientific methods, such as many  statistical methods, reference ranges, and meta-analysis.  Although repetition does not yield absolute certainty, it approximates it, much like science does, and it is a cornerstone of science. The essential function of repetition in knowledge acquisition -far from being a modern scientific discovery- was systematically recognized, rigorously documented, and refined with specific prerequisites in Islamic jurisprudential maxims over a centuries ago. The history of science and scientific methodology have largely overlooked this fact. The research explains the enduring impact of Islamic jurisprudential maxims on the improvement of scientific inquiry and  principles of modern science.