Technology & Science

ISLAM AND TECHNOLOGY

Modern technology and Islam are sometimes seen as two opposites. Being Islamic is wrongly thought to mean that we can’t drive good cars, live in nice houses and use computers. What does Islam have to do with In-vitro fertilisation, the dynamics of nuclear technology, cloning and Star Trek style military technology?

Islam is not a religion like that of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and the like, who don’t have any solutions for the various problems of life. Allah (Exalted He) has given us rules for all the problems that we face whether in the 21st century CE or in the future, as He (Exalted He) is the all knowing and the Qur’an is for all time until the Day of Judgement.

Allah says:

“And we have sent down the book as an explanation for everything, a guidance, a mercy and glad tidings for those who submitted themselves to Islam.” [Quran 16:89]

Allah allowed for us to use various types of technology as long as it is in a halal way

“He it is Who created for you all that is on earth.” [Quran 2:29]

This includes cars, mobile phones, the Internet, satellites, missiles and DVD’s. The Messenger of Allah utilized the various technologies at his time, he even used the style of digging a trench which taken from Persians, in the Battle of the Ditch. Technology can be used for halal or haram, it is not the thing which is haram it is what you do with it. As an example, the Internet and DVD’s can be used for haram such as promoting indecency or can be used in a halal way to promote Islam.

Islam demands that we become leaders in science; we will have to run the Islamic State which must lead the world, economically, militarily and politically. This is why we find that in Islamic history the Muslims were the most advanced in the fields of science including optometry, biology and mathematics.

During the time of Khaleefah Haroon al-Rashid [169-194 AH] the Islamic State developed mobile clinics and hospitals and many schools of pharmacy and chemists were established. In 318 AH [931CE] Baghdad alone had 860 registered physicians.

Zakariya Razi is a great name in mediaeval chemical science. Born in 850 C.E, he is known as one of the greatest physicians of all times. He wrote Kitab al-Asrar a chemistry book dealing with the preparation of chemical substances and their application.

Abu Yusuf ibn Ishaq, known as al-Kindi was born in Kufa in the middle of the 9th Century. He is one of the greatest scholars of physics. Over and above this, he was an astrologer, alchemist and optician. He wrote more than 265 books, of these fifteen are on meteorology, several on specific weight, on tides, on optics and on reflection of light. He wrote several books on iron and steel.

‘Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn al-Baytar, was the greatest botanist and pharmacist of Spain. He travelled the world in search of plants and herbs, from Spain to Syria. He wrote books described more than 1400 medical drugs and compared them with the records of more than 150 ancient and Arabian authors.

Abu’l ‘Ali al-Husayn ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Sina, called Avicenna in the West, was one of the greatest scientists in history. At the age of 21 he wrote a twenty volume book on science called Kitab al-Hasil wa’l-Hahsul dealing with all sciences. He also wrote Kitab al-Majmu’ on mathematics.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2013

QUR'AN AND SCIENCE

Mankind is at the threshold of the 21st century in terms of the common era. This age is rightly called the information age with computers, electronic mail and business and commerce and the Internet with WEB pages.  To many thinkers religion is alien to science.  Science simply means a specialized branch of knowledge. In Arabic it is called 'Ilm.  A scientist in Arabic is called an 'Alim.  The west is wrong in separating Science from Religion. The great universal Muslim scientists about thousand years ago were at the forefront of knowledge particularly in the sciences and technology without ever giving up their religion. In fact Islam in general and the Qur'an in particular inspired the Muslim scientists to seek and advance knowledge. Hence they achieved all these without any conflict with religion.  Today many western educated Muslims follow the western path of separation of religion from science.  On the other hand those Muslims trained in Islamic theology have refrained from modern sciences.

By moving away from the reading and in depth study of the Qur'an Muslims have lost the golden opportunity of many a scientific discovery and advancement of knowledge.  By moving away from their Scriptures the Western people made many scientific discoveries and inventions. This is because of the suppression and obscurantism practiced by the Church against the scientists and intellectuals in the past. Even the scriptures themselves were a hurdle to the cause of seeking the truth through observation and experimentation as lucidly pointed by Dr. Maurice Bucaille in his most popular book " The Bible, Qur'an and Science."

 Science is not a divine revelation but it provides a means for the welfare of man and to better understanding the creation  of Allah(SWT), the natural phenomena and their purpose.  In simplest terms science means knowledge and Islam exhorts its followers to relentlessly pursue knowledge. The Noble Qur'an, Allah (SWT) ordained His servants to pray to Him thus:

  " O Lord! Increase me in knowledge." (20: 114)

 It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (SWT) peace be upon him to have once said," Learning comprises treasure houses whose keys are queries."  Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) encouraged the spirit of investigation and analysis of facts.  One of the most inspiring Ayath (verses) in the Qur'an is the following:

" And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: behold, in that are signs indeed for those who reflect."   (45: 13)

     To reflect is really the scientific spirit, which leads to understanding and discoveries about Allah's (SWT) creation and natural phenomena.  Allah (SWT) guides the efforts of the scientists to meaningful purposes.

The more one investigates the more one knows about Allah (SWT) and His design of the universe.  The emphasis is on thinking which leads the way to the cherishing care of Allah to establish all things in nature to service for the benefit of mankind.  Allah (SWT) has given us the faculties and the intellectual genius for this purpose.  The Muslim should never regard the study of natural sciences as forbidden territory or "haram".   According to the Muslim traditions he who seeks knowledge is blessed, but the seeker who also attains success is twice blessed. The Muslim intellectuals have proved this in the past and they already set the trend.

 This work was undertaken to prove there is no conflict between science and Islam and many chapters in this book have been based on the Qur'anic inspirations the author derived from reading different Ayath (Verses). Even at the dawn of the 21st century of the CE, the Muslims can derive inspiration from the in depth study of the Qur'an and make new scientific discoveries and push forward the frontiers of knowledge.  Many of the Chapters in the book were published as articles in many Muslim magazines and intellectual journals throughout the world. At the urging of many of my friends and Muslim scholars I have collected them in these two volumes titled " The Qur'an and Science."  I humbly believe that the younger generation of Muslims will get inspiration from the revelations in the Qur'an and do investigate and contribute to the bank of knowledge.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS OF QUR'AN AND SCIENCE

Chapter   1. The Honey Bee

Chapter   2. Qur’an and Science: The Origin of Life

Chapter   3. Science and Sunnah: The Genetic Code

Chapter   4. Qur’an and Science: All Things in Pair
Chapter   5. Jinn- A Scientific Analysis Chapter
Chapter   6. Qur'an and Science
Chapter   7. Mysticism and Quantum Physics: Their Relevance to Islam
Chapter   8. Qur’an and Science on Swine Flesh
Chapter   9. Extension of Halal Concepts to the Personal Habits of Muslims
Chapter 10. Coronary Heart Disease
Chapter 11. Obscurantism
Chapter 12. Beneficial Effects of Lightning
Chapter 13. The Grand Unification Theory (GUT): Its Prediction in Al-Qur’an
Chapter 14. Cosmology: Man Finds Today What Qur’an Said    1,400 Years Ago
Chapter 15. The Qur’anic Foundations of the Anthropic Principle
Chapter 16. Hoopoe: A Bird of Elegance and Intelligence
Chapter 17. Islamic Medicine: 1,000 Years Ahead of Its Times
Chapter 18. Calamities: Scientific Explanations
Chapter 19. The Concept of God: A Scientific Analysis
Chapter 20. Notes on the Education of the Muslim Children
Chapter 21. The Thinking Process
Chapter 22. Qur’an and Science: Water
Chapter 23. The Nature of Soul: Islamic and Scientific Views
Chapter 24. Learning to Respect Allah’s Laws of Nature: Hurricanes
Chapter 25. Islamic Science: Past, Present and the Future
Chapter 26. Alcohol: Prohibited to Muslims, Jews and Christians
Chapter 27. Smoking is Unlawful in Islam
Chapter 28. The Pleasures of Learning
Chapter 29. The Muslim Belief in Angels
Chapter 30. The Alphabets of Success From the Noble Qur’an
Chapter 31. Qur’an and Science: Pollution
Chapter 32. Qur’an and Science: Six Days of Creation
Chapter 33. Islam and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
Chapter 34. The Qur’an and Modern Science: Breast Feeding.
Chapter 35.  Why Surah 29 is titled “ Spider” in the Noble Qur’an

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