It is apparent that science is a religious obligation
Astronomy, Geology
Adnan Oktar
In this undated video clip, Adnan Oktar (Harun Yahya) suggests that Islam includes science and art, as well as honesty and truth. The references to science are vague.
Topics: astronomy, conceptualization of Islam, paleontology, geology, art.
The video is in Turkish with English subtitles.
Evaluation:
Although most of the general statements about Islam are within the bounds of what Muslims have historically understood as acceptable, some of the specifics probably are not true. For instance, Oktar says “in hundreds of verses [of the Qurʾān], the necessity of science is emphasized.” It is unlikely, unless one were specifically seeking to dig out such a perspective from scant references, that even a thorough reading of the Qurʾān would provide any such emphasis.
The clip seems to promote engaging in science, although no detailed discussion of the facts of science is included here.
There is insufficient historical material on which to base an evaluation.
About Adnan Oktar
Adnan Oktar, born in Ankara Turkey in 1956, is also known by the name Harun Yahya, which is also used for materials produced by his organizations, Bilim Araştırma Vakfı (“Science Research Foundation”) and Milli Değerleri Koruma Vakfı (“National Values Preservation Foundation”). He is closely identified with creationism in the Muslim world, promoted through the glossy Atlas of Creation, published in 2006-07. His ideas are often close to those of young Earth Christian creationists from the United States. Some have likened his approach to intelligent design, but Oktar himself calls the term “another of Satan’s snares.” He (or his group) has produced numerous written works and videos on i’jāz, the idea that scientific facts may be found in the Qurʾān, proving its miraculous nature.
Oktar has been prosecuted by the Turkish government for “promoting theocratic revolution” (1986), and has been arrested on other charges, although he was later acquitted or the charges were dismissed. On the other hand, since 2007 Oktar has successfully used the Turkish government to block internet sites that he claimed defamed him.
In March 2011, Oktar started broadcasting on the A9 satellite channel. Some of the programming may be found here, but is only available in Turkish.
Selected Bibliography:
“Adnan Oktar” Wikipedia. Accessed 19 April 2015.
His web site: www.harunyahya.com.
Bigliardi, S. (2014). Islam and the Quest for Modern Science: Conversations with Adnan Oktar, Mehdi Golshani, Mohammed Basil Altaie, Zaghloul El-Naggar, Bruno Guiderdoni and Nidhal Guessoum. Istanbul, Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul.
Solberg, A. R. (2013). The Mahdi Wears Armani: An Analysis of the Harun Yahya Enterprise. Stockholm, Södertörns högskola.