Why Muslims Do Not Produce Scientists Anymore?

In the modern age of science, we constantly hear about new inventions of machines and gadgets but have we ever wondered why haven’t we heard any Muslim scientist’s name associated with them? Till date, there are only 12 Muslim names who have been awarded with the noble prizes. However, with the exclusion of literature and peace, only three names are left i.e., Ahmad Zewail (Egypt), Azeez Sankar (Turkey) and Dr. Abdus Salam (Pakistan), who have been awarded for their noticeable contribution in the field of chemistry and physics respectively. Well, the constitution of Pakistan does not consider Dr Abdus Salam as Muslim so technically, there are only 2 names in 120 years who have been acknowledged for their work in science. This fact is no less than a slap on the face of Muslim nation that we have always been extremely superstitious. Moreover, we have always been resistant to change and therefore, today, we are far away from the scientific world. There was a time when Muslims had displayed their prowess in diverse fields of science, whereas the West was underdeveloped. That golden age of Muslims gave birth to the names like Ibn ul Khayyam, Al Beruni, Al Khwarizmi, and Jaber bin Hayyan. Undoubtedly, it was the time when Muslim scientists were celebrated. Since the 13th century, Muslims have witnessed a downfall in science and modernization. What could be the possible reasons? Why have we stopped following the footsteps of our ancestors? Why don't we get tired of bragging about them? We bluntly claim that the west has adapted methods of Muslim scientists and researchers for knowledge and technological advancement, but why can’t we put an effort to do the same? One of the major reasons for this downfall is the regressive attitude of Muslims. Science prevails in those societies that believe in experimentations and observations. But Muslims have projected all this responsibility to God. No one bothers to research about anything beyond their understanding, and leave it by simply stating it as a miracle of God. If this is all that He wanted why would He be so generous to bless us with heart, brain, ability to think and particularly the free will. Even God tells us through his words that we are here to discover the underlying mysteries of nature to find traces of his tremendous creations.

And in Surah Al-Jathiyah, the thirteenth verse, God says.

These verses make it clear that God is asking us to think, observe and explore everything and its functioning. Everything includes science, whether it is the creation of the universe, growth of the trees and crops, change of weather, birth of a child, or fragrance of a flower. Every natural phenomenon includes a scientific reason behind that we don’t bother to in- spect anymore by naming it as “Allah ki Qudrat” or “Allah ki Karni” and move on. This fading curiosity and discouraging ability to question among the Muslims is serving as a major reason for their regression in science. Another cause of this is the unnecessary resistance of the Muslims towards the change. With the passage of time, nature evolves, and we must go with it. But unfortunately, we are stuck to the old traditions and customs. We do not like the idea of exposure to new thoughts and ideologies. One who questions is considered as a mutant by the orthodox Muslims. The modern concepts of science are always declined by the radicals of respective times. The procedure of surgery and making cuts to the body was sentenced as witchcraft by the mullahs of the time of the Persian physician Ibn-e-Sina. Even the ill king of that time was cured by his surgery. His book “The Canon of Medicine” was translated to English and French, and still, western physicians consider that book as a roadway towards the treatment of contagions and many surgical procedures. But Muslims could not get any of that light only because of their unadaptability. Not looking so far back, the time of Sir Sayyed Ahmad Khan is a perfect example of this case. Khan, a positivist, faced severe criticism from fanatics because he urged Muslims to pursue modern scientific education to meet the pace of the world. History ensures that the unacceptance and abnegation of Muslims towards the evolution of science and technology has always held them behind. The third important reason for Muslim devastation is the dispersion of knowledge. We have separated science and religion. The golden age of Muslims had madrassas where students were educated in various fields of science through religious perspectives and by the examples and signs in the Holy Book. The statements from the Book were acknowledged, understood, and then experimented with. They knew that everything evolving in modern science could be verified and help could be sought through the Book. Gradually, this practice vanished, and religion was handed over to the mullahs as if it only belongs to them. And over the course of time, we preferred to memorize the words exclusive of their meaning behind the verses. The perspective changed, and the Muslims got stuck in the tussle of “Deeni aur Duniyavi” that the modern languages and science are worldly knowledge they do not need, but only the religious one which will help them in akhirah. And, alas, we no longer have any of them. We have put on a blindfold pretending we can’t see our disastrous future, but it is clear if we, Muslims, kept sitting on our hands then surely we are doomed.

“Pakistan used to have an advanced scientific establishment, Nobel Prize laureates. Now science has virtually disappeared from the educational system of Pakistan. Pakistan has no future if it is going to live in a world of religious superstitions.”

- Noam Chomsky