Why does Islam Encourage Science and Advancement? (2/2)

Secondly, Tawheed (the worship of Allah Alone) is the essence on which Islam is built. It rejects all types of myths and superstitions, since they are the greatest enemies of science. Tawheed refers all aspects of causality to Allah. Therefore, scholars should be able to investigate and discover these relationships, know them, and then put them to the use of humanity.[1]

After the long and bitter struggle between science and other religions, Islam came to bring harmony between the religion of Allah and science in this century of science. In this regard, the Muslim World League has established a commission that is specialized in investigating the scientifically proven facts as described in the Our'an and Sunnah (teachings of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him)).[2]

In summary, other ways of life (Christianity, Buddhism, Capitalism, Communism and Hinduism) have never come to a unified understanding of Allah, man or nature. Thus, their views of science have been fallacious. The unity of Islam allows a proper scientific perspective, which promotes advancement and development in the fields of science and technology. Such understanding of reality and the relation between the human being and nature in addition to the role Muslims should play in science is clearly illustrated in this quote from Dr. Mahathir Mohammed's speech at the Oxford Islamic Forum:

In this modern world Muslims have a real mission.

They must bring back the spiritual values to a world that is fast becoming Godless and thoroughly materialistic, so arrogant that it thinks it knows all the answers to everything; a world which will develop the ultimate means of destruction and place it on the hands of irresponsible and insane individuals; a world tittering in the brink of a man-made Apocalypse.

Presently, people want to create a world according to their wishes. They forget that for all their brilliance, they can hardly answer the "why" questions. They cannot answer why it works the way it does, why the universe operates in the way it does, why matter acts in the way it does, why oxygen and hydrogen form water, etc. Our scientific endeavor may provide different mechanisms to achieve adequate observation of and descriptive laws of the universe. Adequate explanatory ability will remain most of the time beyond the reach of purely human science. If any answers would emerge, they would only be conjectural.

The 21st Century is insignificant to the Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It is just a period in time, which will see many changes to which Muslims will be part of, regardless of their stand towards them. It is better if they faced it with their eyes wide open and with a clear vision of what they want to do and the role they wish to play. And if they chose to play a constructive role while retaining their faith, the spiritual values and brotherhood, they would be able to contribute positively to the development of humankind.[3]

I think it is appropriate to conclude this chapter with the words of the great historian of sciences, V. Robinson, in describing the situation of Muslim Spain during the Dark Ages in Europe. It is a reminder regarding the function of Islam as a genuine drive for guiding and benefiting science which its aim should be for the benefit of humanity:

Europe darkened at sunset, Cordova shone with public lamps; Europe was dirty, Cordova built a thousand baths; Europe was covered with vermin, Cordova changed its garments daily; Europe lay in mud, Cordova's streets were paved; Europe's palaces had smoke-holes in the ceiling, Cordova's arabesques were exquisite; Europe's nobility could not sign its name, Cordova's children went to school; Europe's monks could not read the baptismal service, Cordova's teachers created a library of Alexandrian dimensions.[4]

This conclusion leads to the fourth principle towards which the universality of Islam points - that it provides the best solutions to the problems facing humankind rather than creating new ones.