Part 12
By Bisham Shaheed
11. Falling Behind in Modern Sciences and the Absence of Advanced Weapons and New Technology
One of the important causes of Muslim weakness in the present age is falling behind in modern sciences and new technology. In earlier times the Islamic education system was such that religious and modern sciences were taught side by side, shoulder to shoulder, and the Islamic madrasas and centers of learning put forward great scholars and renowned thinkers in every field to serve society.
Figures like Imam Razi, Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Rushd, Ibn Sina, Al-Biruni, Al-Farabi, Ibn al-Haytham, Abu Bakr al-Razi, and Ibn Khaldun didn’t just have deep knowledge and mastery in the religious sciences, they were also counted among the world’s outstanding scholars across various branches of the modern sciences.
But today, among Muslims, those who have deep knowledge and expertise in both religious and modern sciences are very few, and only a limited number have reached a high scholarly rank through their own talent, effort, and striving. On the other hand, many of those who graduate from centers of modern scientific education, under the influence of the West’s intellectual and cultural environment, lack sufficient knowledge of the religious sciences. Sometimes these very people, without even realizing it themselves, become tools for achieving the aims and interests of the enemies of Islam.
For this reason, one basic need for Muslims is to build standard educational centers in their own regions where religious and modern sciences are taught together, side by side.
It’s also necessary for every Muslim to stay aware of the needs and changes of their time, and for specialists in modern sciences to be trained in every region. Alongside this, every Muslim who studies any branch of modern science should also be familiar with the necessary religious sciences. Beyond that, the absence of advanced weapons and new technology is also counted among the important causes of Muslim weakness.
In this world, the divine pattern is such that human superiority is, to a large degree, tied to worldly means and capabilities. Whoever has greater strength and more resources can prevail over their opponent, and one of these important resources is possessing new technology. Throughout the progress of human civilization, tools and technology suited to the needs of each age have always been used. But today, one of the great causes of Muslim weakness and backwardness is that they have fallen behind the caravan of new technology and advanced equipment.
When Muslims were at the forefront in strength and technology, no enemy had the power to harm the Islamic world. But today, now that Muslims have fallen behind in this area, the enemy has gained the upper hand over them. This is why Allah (SWT) commands Muslims to strive, with all their strength and capacity, according to the demands of their time and circumstances, to prepare strength and resources:
﴿وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ﴾ [الأنفال: 60]
“And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy…”
Explanation: (Prepare, O believers, whatever numbers and war equipment you are able to, including keeping trained horses to be used in Allah’s path, so you can frighten Allah’s enemies and your enemies…)
The history of Islam also shows this truth, that Muslims have always made use of the most advanced tools of their time. For example, in the Islamic conquests, the catapult, which was an advanced weapon of war at the time, was used for the first time. Likewise, historical sources show that Muslims built warships for the first time and used them effectively against their enemies.
