The Re-emergence of Islamic Enlightenment — Page 43
AHMADI MUSLIM RESEARCHERS - RESTORING ISLAM’S GOLDEN AGE 43 of innovation and discovery, the period of Muslim academic enlightenment drew to an end and the Muslims relied on the discoveries and modern technologies made by others. Instead of being those who gave to the world, the Muslims became those who only took. As a result, where the world recognises the outstanding historic contribution of Muslims to science and learning, it considers the intellectual status of the modern- day Muslim world to be woeful. The truth is that, generally speaking, the Muslim world has lost its passion for education and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. Muslim nations have become immersed in the luxuries and comforts of the world and so they no longer have the drive or motivation to toil in the pursuit of knowledge or to reflect upon the universe. The failure of the contemporary Muslim world to excel in science and learning has been discussed by Hillel Ofek, a Research Fellow at the Clements Centre for National Security in the United States, in an article titled “Why the Arabic World turned away from Science”. He describes how Muslims have gone from leading the world in science and the development of human civilisation to a state where their contributions are now mocked amongst the academic community. He quotes a professor of history who notes that until around the year 1600, “nothing in Europe could hold a candle” to the intellectual advancement made by Muslim scientists and scholars. Furthermore, he notes how many scientific and mathematical terms, such as algebra, algorithm, alchemy and alkali derive from Arabic and reflect Islam’s contribution to the world. Yet he goes on to paint