Oversacralization: Nasr, Ibn Khaldūn, and the Idea of Sacred Science

This paper introduces the notion of oversacralization—a process in which the realm of the sacred, based on metaphysical assumptions, is extended into domains that historically operated in non-religious terms. The concept highlights a recent discourse in which some modern Muslim intellectuals seeking to counter secularizing modernity began to sacralize the secular, especially the scientific discourse. They claim to represent premodern Muslim scholarship and make a case for what they call sacred science. The present investigation argues that their narrative is inaccurate as a universal claim and contradicted by those they claim to represent. This argument is substantiated in three parts: In the first part, the ideas of Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the most influential modern Muslim intellectuals who propagate sacred science, will be presented. The second part will focus on Ibn Khaldūn as an example of a premodern scholar who discusses the scientific discourse of his time and gives his verdict. He treats various sciences Nasr considers important, giving us the means to compare and evaluate Nasr’s claims. The final part concludes that Nasr oversacralizes the scientific domain due to his metaphysical commitments, which are denied by Ibn Khaldūn.