For
centuries, the Ummah's achievement in science and technology outpaced European
nations. However, this progress was only possible when Islam was
comprehensively implemented. The current state of the Ummah is due to the fact
that Muslims are governed by the Capitalist system. Once the Khilafah is
re-established, the Ummah will once again, by Allah's (swt) leave, lead the
world in all matters - including technological advancement.
Islamic
Aqeedah: The Role of the Mind
In
Islam, the issue of science and technology has not been a controversial one.
Belief in Islam is based on rational thinking - a Muslim comes to believe in
Allah (swt) by examining the world and arriving at the firm conclusion that the
world could not exist without the intervention of Allah (swt). Many ayat in the
Quran challenges man to think and ponder about the world:
"Behold! In the creation of the heavens and
the earth and the alteration of night and day, these are indeed signs for men
of understanding." [TMQ 3: 190]
"Will they not look at the camels, how they
are created! And the heaven, how it is raised! And the mountains, how they are
set up! And the earth, how it is spread!"
[TMQ 88: 17-20]
Allah
(swt) also sent His Messengers with miracles to give people clear signs that
they were indeed from Allah (swt). Prophet Muhammad's (saw) proof of
Prophethood is the inimitability of the Quran. Allah (swt) has revealed:
"If you are in doubt as to whether the revelations which We have
sent to Our servant (Muhammad) are from Us or not, then produce one Surah like
this; and call your witnesses besides Allah to assist you, if you are right in
your claim." [TMQ 2: 23]
Allah
(swt) made our rational intellect the tool for embracing Iman. However, this does
not mean that we must rationally understand why each law was revealed. Instead,
we believe each law is correct because that law is from Allah (swt); the
All-Knowing and All-Wise.
Shariah's
Ruling on Science
In
all matters we must refer to the Quran and Sunnah for guidance. Science and
technology is no different. It was narrated that the Prophet (saw) said about
the matter of manual pollination of date trees: "You are more aware of the routine issues of your daily life (amr
dunyakum)." [Ahmad] It is also narrated that the
Prophet (saw) sent two of the Muslims to Jurash of Yemen to learn weapons
manufacturing.
As
a result, the Ummah has always understood that in matters of the Deen (ibadat,
politics, economics etc) we must extract solutions from the Quran and Sunnah
only. However, when it comes to matters of science and technology - Allah (swt)
has given us permission to use our knowledge to investigate the mechanics of
the world that surrounds us. As a consequence, the Islamic Ummah has never
found science and wahy (revelation) to disagree with one another. This is due
to the fact that Islam is the Haqq (Truth), which does not contradict reality.
Furthermore,
the scientists that lived during the time of Islamic rule found the ayat of
Quran to be a source of inspiration that motivated them to investigate the
universe. Allah (swt) revealed:
"For sure, in the creation of the heavens and
the earth and the alternation of the night and the day there are signs for men
of understanding. Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying
on their sides, and meditate on the creation of the heavens and the earth, then
cry out: ‘Our Rabb! You have not created this in vain. Glory to You! Save us
from the punishment of Fire.'"
[TMQ 3: 190-191]
Therefore,
pondering and investigating the laws that govern the universe is a way to
reflect upon the creation of Allah (swt) and become closer to Him.
Islamic
State: A Leader in Science
When
Islam was implemented, a number of academies were established in many places in
the Muslim world to translate the scientific works of the Persians, Greeks,
Indians, and others. During the rule of the 'Abbasi Khulafa'a (particularly al-Mansur
and al-Ma'mun), an enormous amount of effort was invested in preparing and
translating scientific works. The translators belonged to different ethnic and
religious groups. For instance, Naubakht was of Persian origin. Muhammad ibn
Ibrahim al-Fazari was an Arab. Hunain ibn Ishaq was a Nestorian Christian.
Muslim
scientists recognized the physical/qualitative and the
mathematical/quantitative aspects of science. For instance, Ibn Khurdadhbeh
determined the latitudes and longitudes of various places in the Muslim world.
Al-Biruni ascertained the specific gravity of a number of substances.
Islam
also has had a lasting influence in the field of medicine. For example, Ibn
Sina (known in the West as Avicenna) is renowned as one of the greatest
thinkers and medical scholars in history. His most important medical works were
the Qanun (Canon) and a treatise on Cardiac drugs. Under the leadership of Banu
'Umayyah, the Muslims developed the institution of hospitals. During the time
of the Khalifah Harun al-Rasheed, a hospital was built in Baghdad, which was
the first in the history of the city. Many new hospitals were established
shortly afterwards. Some of them had their own gardens in which medicinal
plants were cultivated. The larger hospitals had medical schools attached to
them.
Under
Islamic rule, scientists did not leave their discoveries to exist in textbooks
only, but also applied them to reality. They observed the stars, and prepared
star maps for navigational purposes. Ibn Yunus made use of the pendulum for the
measurement of time. Ibn Sina used air thermometers to measure air temperature.
Paper, compass, gunpowder, inorganic acids and alkaline bases are some of the
most important examples of scientific and technological developments of Muslim
scientists, which brought about an unprecedented revolution in human
technological progress.
Muslim
scientists made algebra a permanent branch of mathematics. The word 'algebra'
is derived from its original Arabic root "Jabr". Muslim scientists
also evolved plane and spherical trigonometry, and applied it to astronomy.
The
numerous Arabic words and scientific terms currently being used in European
languages are living monuments of the Islamic State's contributions to modern
science. Some examples of words derived from Arabic include:
§ "cipher"
(English) and "chiffre" (French), derived from the Arabic word
"sifr" (meaning empty or nil), describing a number written at the
right of another numeral to increase its value ten times
§ "alkali"
in chemical terminology, used for particular substance which produces a salt
when combined with an acid, is a modified form of the Arabic word
"al-qali"
§ "squadron"
(English) and "escadre" (French) for a section of armed forces, were
derived from the Arabic word "'askariyyah" used in the same sense
§ "Admiral"
is derived from "amir al-rahl".
Islamic
Science: Celebrating our Islamic Heritage
When
reviewing these achievements we should be careful to ensure that they are
attributed to Islam and not a particular race. Often Orientalists attempt to
paint such achievements as "Arab". The reality is that they occurred
under the implementation of Islam. Consequently, we as an Ummah should
recognize these achievements as part of our Islamic heritage and not as the
achievements of a race or a particular nation-state.
Khilafah:
Key to Scientific Advancement
Another
important issue to remember is the role that the implementation of Islam plays
in attaining such achievements in the fields of technology and science. The
West often attempts to gloss over the role that the Islamic Aqeedah played in
the governance of society in an attempt to sell secularism to the Muslim Ummah.
Europe resorted to secularism due to the harsh reaction of the Church to
science. However, the revelation of Allah (swt) does not contradict reality and
therefore it was able to motivate Muslims to excel in the fields of science and
technology.
As
a result, the Khulafaa' were big supporters of science and technology. The
development of naval technology was launched during the Khilafah of 'Umar ibn
al-Khattab (ra). The Khalifah Harun al-Rashid gave a clock as a gift to
Charlemagne (Christian Emperor of Rome) to demonstrate the level of expertise
that the Islamic State had in the field of science.
We
should also recognize that science and technology are not ends in and of
themselves, but that they are only tools to be used to accomplish the
objectives of the Aqeedah of one's civilization. For example, the West excelled
in technology, but it has failed to eliminate global poverty. However, this is
due to the fact that Capitalism has no vision for society. Its main objective
is to allow man to pursue his desires as he sees fit. Therefore, we have mp3
music players, flat panel TVs, nuclear weapons - and over a billion people living
on less than $1 a day. Islam, on the other hand, uses science and technology to
serve Allah (swt) and the objectives that He has laid down for us in the Shari’ah.
For example, hospitals in the Islamic State are built for all - regardless of
whether the patient is rich or poor.
Present
Malaise: Decline in the Ummah's Thinking
The
decline of science and technology in the Muslim world came about as a result of
complacency in the understanding and implementation of Islam. Study and
understanding of Arabic was allowed to decline, ijtihad was abandoned and the
doors were opened for the missionary, cultural and political invasions of the
West. These factors effectively sealed the fate of the Islamic State itself,
and by the turn of the 20th century CE, the Islamic State was no longer in a
position to protect itself against the European onslaught.
No
nation can progress, scientifically or otherwise, if it does not adopt a
comprehensive way of life that is based on a rational Aqeedah, and the Muslims
are no exception to this rule. For the Ummah to progress, we must implement
Islam to excel first and foremost in the spheres of civilization (ibadat,
governance, economy etc) and secondly in the spheres of science and technology.
Advances
in science and technology are a by-product of believing in Allah (swt), Prophet
Muhammad (saw) and the Last Day. Furthermore, without the implementation of
Islam there can be no structure to harness the creative energies of this Ummah.
May
Allah (swt) guide the minds and hearts of this Ummah and bless us with the
Khilafah so that we may rule by what He (swt) has revealed and once again lead
the world in deen and dunya.
"And We sent down iron, in which is great might, as well as many
benefits for mankind." [TMQ 57: 25]
Or,
See
this Link:
No comments:
Post a Comment