Islam's Role in Science & Technology
Islam's Role in Science & Technology
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1. Introduction
The Quran is full of verses focusing on the importance of knowledge, encouraging the
act of thinking and meditation to bring the peace and harmony within self and society.
The Quran taught prophet to pray for increase in knowledge (Al-Quran 20:114) and it
announced that those who know and those who do not know are not equal (Al-Quran
© 2020 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
original author and source are credited.
Saifullah Bhutto, Abdul Rehman Kaloi and Hameedullah Bhutto
39:09). Those who know have privilege over those who do not know (Al-Quran 58:11). We
are living in the age of science and technology and scientific tools and systems have become
inevitable part of life. Technological developments in the world today have brought a lot
of changes to human life. Besides helping with daily life and facilities, the advancement of
technology has also an impact on the dissemination of information & knowledge. This is
because the use of technology greatly helps the public to access information far more easily
and quickly than earlier times. In [1] this article, we have expressed Islamic perspective
regarding the science & technology by shedding light on the significance of knowledge in
Quran & Hadith and contribution of early & contemporary Muslim scholars in the fields
of science & technology.
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Is Islam Against Science & Technology?
the whole books have been written on the issue. We quote some of the Prophet’s sayings
which promote the scientific activity below:
The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: “God, His angels and all those in Heavens
and on Earth, even ants in their hills and fish in the water, pray for those who are busy in
seeking knowledge, a scholar has privilege over a worshipper like moon has privilege over
all stars, scholars are the heirs of prophets as the prophets never leave dinar and dirham
but they leave knowledge in heritance” [5].
Prophet not only encouraged people of his time to seek knowledge, but he interceded in
anticipation for the people of future who would engage themselves in scientific activities
by saying: “When people come to you to seek knowledge, greet them on behalf of me and
teach them” [6].
He also categorized the knowledge into beneficial & harmful and instilled into his
followers a determination and zeal for acquiring beneficial knowledge: “Seek from Allah
useful knowledge and seek refuge in Him from the knowledge which does not benefit”.
He announced that knowledge is beyond the boundaries of countries and cultures and
travelling for the purpose of acquiring knowledge is a desirable act: “Whoever walks a path
in which he seeks knowledge, Allah will ease his way to paradise”. “Whoever goes out to
seek knowledge is in the way of Allah until he returns” [7].
And above all, he considered seeking of knowledge as obligation by saying: “Seeking
knowledge is compulsory on every Muslim, male or female”. That means education is basic
right of everyone and no one should be deprived of it irrespective of gender and race.
4. S
ignificance of Acquiring Scientific and
Technological Knowledge in Islam
As we have mentioned above that in Quran there are many verses that are purely scientific
in nature and hence indicate the tendency and proneness of religion for science and
technology. We will quote some of them as example:
The story of Prophet Solomon is mentioned in detail in different parts of Quran that he
was given the miraculous power over the winds and could make them obey his orders. We
may say the same of airmen of the present day [8].
Exploration of the universe has been clued in verse no. 33 of surah Rahman: “O
assembly of jinns and men! If you have power to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and
the earth, then pass (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority
(from Allah)!”
Verses like this are probably the inspiration source for earlier Islamic scholarship that
majority of ancient Muslim scientists were interested in Astronomy, Physics, & Cosmology.
Similarly, Prophet Solomon was taught to make coats of mail as defensive armor. This
points out to the vocational & technical education. We find the traces of establishment of
polytechnic institutes (Dar al-Funun) in the early 19th century in Iran by Europe-educated
elites, and other courtiers educated in Tabriz dar al-saltana [9].
Allah commands the Muslims to travel throughout the world in order to see the fate of
those who rejected the truth (al-Quran, 29:20). The field Archaeology (The least attended
area by Muslims unfortunately) is clued in this verse.
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5. C
ontribution of Muslims Towards Science and
Technology
A tremendous cultural and intellectual transformation in the history of human civilization
was brought about in early Muslim societies by the Qur’an. It supplied a new basis for
the early Muslims’ efforts in constructing a new civilization [11]. Muslim scientists were
successful in their contributions to science and civilization when they maintained the
nexus between existential reality and its metaphysical dimension, atheo-centric value
order that guided their scientific enquiry, and their quest for knowledge and truth [12].
Influenced and inspired by Quran’s scientific approach towards human problems, Muslims
have contributed actively in all branches of science in every age. We will discuss their role
briefly.
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Is Islam Against Science & Technology?
FIGURE 1. Illustration by Al-Biruni of different phases of the moon from kitab al-Tafhim.
Source: [Link] Accessed on 10/07/2019.
3- Ibn Sina (980–1037 A.D): Commonly known as Avicenna in Western world. The great
physician, philosopher, and author of famous book “al-Qanun fi al-Tibb”. East Ger-
many in 1952 and Hungry in 1987 issued postage stamp in the recognition of services
to science and technology rendered by Avicenna. See Figures 3 and 4.
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Saifullah Bhutto, Abdul Rehman Kaloi and Hameedullah Bhutto
FIGURE 3. Postage stamp issued by East Germany in 1952 in the recognition of services
to science & technology rendered by Avicenna. Source: [Link]
photo-avivcenna-ibn-sina-n980-1037-muslim-philosopher-and physician. Accessed on
10/07/2019.
FIGURE 4. Postage stamp issued by Hungry in 1987 in the recognition of services to sci-
ence and technology rendered by Avicenna. Source: [Link]
4- Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (780–850 A.D): The father of Algebra. An Iraqi
Astronomer and Mathematician who developed a set of astronomical tables. The
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Is Islam Against Science & Technology?
Russian government issued a postage stamp in 1983 in the recognition of services ren-
dered by al-Khuwarzmi. See Figure 5 [15].
FIGURE 5. Postage stamp issued by the Russian government in 1983 in the recognition
of services rendered by al-Khuwarzmi. Source: [Link]
5- Jabir ibn Hayyan also known as Geber (721–815 A.D): The father of Chemistry and
founder of principles of scientific experiments and studies. See Figure 6.
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Saifullah Bhutto, Abdul Rehman Kaloi and Hameedullah Bhutto
7- Abul Qasim al-Zahrawi (936–1013 A.D): Renowned physician and founder modern
day Surgery. Author of the book “kitab al-Ta’rif ” in which he discussed in detail the
process of surgery. Book was part of syllabus in many universities of Europe for centu-
ries. See Figure 8 [16–17].
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Is Islam Against Science & Technology?
The list is very long, but we have cut it short because we think mentioning some of early
Muslim scientists serve the purpose. The works of the above scholars were so qualitative,
research-based and authentic that they were included in the syllabus of many European
universities and were taught for centuries [18].
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Saifullah Bhutto, Abdul Rehman Kaloi and Hameedullah Bhutto
with Tomas Lindahl and Paul L. Modrich for their mechanistic studies of DNA repair
[24].
7- Kerim Kerimov, founder of Soviet space program, a lead architect behind first human
spaceflight (Vostok 1), and the lead architect of the first space stations (Salyut and Mir)
[25].
8- This may seem strange, but it is true that the founder of Apple Steve jobs had
genes of a Muslim father as he was the son of Abdul Fattah (al-) Jandali (Arabic:
( )يلدنجلاحاتفلادبعb. 1931), grew up in Homs, Syria, and was born into an Arab
Muslim household. The biological parents of Steve Jobs put him up for adoption and
he was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs.
These are not fairytales, but the established fact and many non-Muslim intellectuals
have admitted the rich contribution of Muslims and their influence on western nations.
For example, Gustave Le Bon writes in his book La Civilisation des Arabes that in Europe
Some inclination to science did not occur until the eleventh and twelfth century when some
people realized that they should lift their heavy paws of ignorance, so they got attention of
Arabs who were leader’s alone [26]. He quotes Monsieur Leprey as “if the Arabs did not
appear on stage of History; Europe’s renaissance in literature would have been delayed for
several centuries”. No doubt that there has been an ambivalence or resistance to technology
in the view of some Islamic figures. But that ambivalence can be attributed to factors above
or beyond technology. An objection to technology for some religious figures, for example,
has been objection to an entity called “the West.” Another factor could be the arrival of
science in the form of secular education and curriculum. However, the figures approving
and accepting scientific and technological advancement have been in the majority [9].
Muslims already have a rich tradition of their involvement in and contribution to science
and technology throughout the history, only thing they require now to regain their lost
place is the process of social and economic liberalization that can provide a natural driver
for innovation and competition [27].
6. Conclusion
The above discussion suggests that Islam has never ever been against the advancement
of science and technology rather it encourages its followers to actively participate in the
scientific activities and ultimately play a role in the social and spiritual development
and wellbeing of humans. The earlier and contemporary followers of Islamic doctrine
have proven it to be true by contributing in the multidimensional fields of science and
technology. The role of Muslims in the fields of science and technology cannot be ignored
and overlooked as the history is witness of it. The youth of today should come forward as
the heirs of golden history of Muslims in science and technology and make the world feel
their presence through their contribution in various fields of science and technology. That
is the only way by which Muslims can regain their lost dignity and prestige among the
nations of the world.
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Is Islam Against Science & Technology?
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