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, 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. About a thousand years ago, the great universal Muslim scientists 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 Muslim scientists to seek and advance knowledge. Hence they achieved all these without any conflict with religion. Today many western educated Muslims follow the path of the west of separation of religion from science. On the other hand, those Muslims trained in Islamic theology have refrained from modern sciences.
Muslims moving away from an in-depth study of the Qur’an have lost the golden opportunity of many a scientific discovery and advancement of knowledge. Western people moving away from their Scriptures made many scientific discoveries and inventions. 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 famous book ” The Bible, Qur’an, and Science.”
Science is not a divine revelation. It provides a means for man’s welfare and a better understanding of the creation of Allah(SWT), the natural phenomena, and their purpose. In most straightforward terms, science means knowledge, and Islam encourages its followers to pursue knowledge relentlessly. 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 (peace be upon him) has 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 a 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.
There is no conflict between science and Islam. Many chapters in my book, The Quranic Inspirations, have been based on the author’s inspirations 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. 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.
(Immediate Past President,Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc., Louisville, KY 40242-6462, USAE-mail: [email protected])
Kwa sasa, wanadamu wako kwenye kizingiti cha karne ya 21 katika suala la enzi ya kawaida. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Enzi ya Habari"" ni ile ya kompyuta, barua pepe, biashara na biashara, na mtandao na kurasa za wavuti." Kwa wasomi wengi, dini ni kigeni kwa sayansi. Sayansi humaanisha tu tawi maalumu la maarifa. Katika Kiarabu, inaitwa ‘Ilm. Mwanasayansi katika Kiarabu huitwa ‘Alim. Magharibi ni makosa katika kutenganisha Sayansi kutoka Dini. Karibu miaka elfu moja iliyopita, wanasayansi wakuu wa Kiislamu walikuwa katika mstari wa mbele wa maarifa, hasa katika sayansi na teknolojia, bila kamwe kuacha dini yao. Kwa kweli, Uislamu kwa ujumla na Qur'ani, hasa, ziliwahamasisha wanasayansi Waislamu kutafuta na kuendeleza maarifa. Kwa hiyo walifanikiwa kufanya mambo hayo yote bila kupingana na dini. Leo, Waislamu wengi waliosoma katika nchi za Magharibi hufuata njia ya Magharibi ya kutenganisha dini na sayansi. Kwa upande mwingine, Waislamu hao waliozoezwa katika theolojia ya Kiislamu wamejiepusha na sayansi ya kisasa. Waislamu wanaopuuza utafiti wa kina wa Qur'ani wamepoteza fursa ya dhahabu ya uvumbuzi mwingi wa kisayansi na maendeleo ya maarifa. Watu wa Magharibi waliojitenga na Maandiko yao walifanya uvumbuzi na uvumbuzi mwingi wa kisayansi. Kwa sababu ya ukandamizaji na upumbavu uliotumiwa na Kanisa dhidi ya wanasayansi na wasomi katika siku za nyuma. "Hata Maandiko yenyewe yalikuwa kizuizi kwa sababu ya kutafuta ukweli kupitia uchunguzi na majaribio, kama vile Dk. Maurice Bucaille alivyosema waziwazi katika kitabu chake maarufu zaidi ""Biblia, Qur'ani, na Sayansi"" Sayansi si ufunuo wa kimungu." Inatoa njia ya ustawi wa binadamu na uelewa bora wa uumbaji wa Allaah (s.w.t.), matukio ya asili, na kusudi lao. Kwa maneno ya wazi, sayansi inamaanisha maarifa, na Uislamu unawatia moyo wafuasi wake kufuatilia maarifa bila kukoma. "Mungu aliwaamuru waja wake katika Qur'ani Tukufu: ""Mola wenu!" "Na mniongezee maarifa."" (20:114) Inasemekana kwamba Mtume wa Allaah (s.a.w.w.) alisema: ""Ujuzi una nyumba za hazina ambazo funguo zake ni maswali"" (Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Bukhari, al-Bukhari, al-Bukhari, al-Bukhari)." "Mmoja wa aya za Qur'ani zilizo na msukumo mkubwa ni hii: ""Na amekujifungulia kila kilicho mbinguni na katika ardhi kama kwamba ni kutoka kwake; hakika katika hayo zipo ishara kwa wenye kufikiri"" (Sura ya 45:13)." Allah (SWT) anaongoza juhudi za wanasayansi kwa madhumuni yenye maana. Kadiri mtu anavyochunguza, ndivyo anavyojua zaidi kuhusu Allaah (s.w.t.) na muundo Wake wa ulimwengu. """Kuzingatia ni juu ya kufikiri ambayo inaongoza njia ya utunzaji wa Allaah ili kuanzisha vitu vyote katika asili kwa huduma kwa manufaa ya wanadamu." Allah (swt) ametuwezesha na kutupa uwezo wa akili na akili za kufanya hivyo. "Msuliani hapaswi kamwe kuiona elimu ya sayansi ya asili kama ""haram"" au ""haram"" kulingana na mapokeo ya Kiislamu, yule anayetafuta maarifa ni mwenye baraka, lakini yule anayetafuta ambaye pia anapata mafanikio ni mwenye baraka mara mbili." Wasomi wa Kiislamu wamethibitisha hili katika siku za nyuma, na tayari wameweka mwelekeo. Hakuna mgogoro kati ya sayansi na Uislamu. Sura nyingi katika kitabu changu, The Quranic Inspirations, zimetokana na msukumo wa mwandishi kutoka kusoma Ayat (Vitabu) tofauti. Hata katika mwanzo wa karne ya 21 ya M.K.W. Waislamu wanaweza kupata msukumo kutoka kwa utafiti wa kina wa Qur'ani na kufanya uvumbuzi mpya wa kisayansi na kusukuma mbele mipaka ya maarifa. Naamini kwa unyenyekevu kwamba kizazi kipya cha Waislamu kitapata msukumo kutoka kwa ufunuo katika Qur'ani na kuchunguza na kuchangia benki ya maarifa. "Mwanzoni mwa mwaka huu, Rais wa zamani wa Shirika la Utafiti wa Kiislamu la Kimataifa, Inc., Louisville, KY 40242-6462, USAE, aliandika: ""Mimi ni mshiriki wa Shirika la Utafiti wa Kiislamu la Kimataifa."