This study explores the Islamic normative and historical tradition for the articulation of an 'Islamic Theory of Development'. It is interdisciplinary bringing together elements of history, literature, religion and development. It demarcates a paradigm shift in knowledge that is relevant not only to understanding the role of religion in modern public life but also to Islamic thought in very wide fields of knowledge. The study begins with an appraisal of conventional secular concepts and theories of development including beliefs, habits, ways and institutions that seemingly represent the...