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A CASE FOR WORLDWIDE MUSLIM COMMUNITY BASED ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND UNITED MUSLIM SCIENCE FUND

Dr. Mohammad Bilal Malik

A great deal of socio economic and political difficulties of the Muslim nations in this age in time can be explained, partially or wholly, on bases of underdeveloped science and technology ( S & T). To insure sustained and long term growth in S & T, Muslim society must promote and incorporate proper foundations for advancement of science such as self reliance, volunteerism, institutional competition, public understanding and involvement, intellectual interaction, industrialization and adequate funding. It is proposed that a worldwide community based organization of scientists and scholars should be formed to promote science. For this purpose a fund named "United Muslim science Fund" may be established.

INTRODUCTION

It is undeniable fact that underdeveloped S & T are one of the major reasons for various socio-economic setbacks of Muslim Ummah at present. Be it may colonialization of Muslim lands and fall of Usmania empire historically or present crisis of starvation, persecution and neo-colonialization, these are directly or indirectly related to neglect in advancement of science. Muslim nations are so much pre-occupied with short-term problems, that long-term issues are being overlooked. Value of science is generally underestimated in the Muslim society. Even basic education, which is an essential pre-requisite for development of S & T, is being neglected as evidenced by widespread illiteracy.

WHY MUST SCIENCE BE PROMOTED

The God Almighty, in the Quran, prescribes us to study nature by observation and reasoning, and benefit from it. The blessed Prophet has urged mankind to seek knowledge. It is a miracle of Islam that widely prevalent myth was discarded in the medieval ages. Muslim scientists, in the Golden days, introduced experimental method of study of natural phenomenon. Another major reason for promotion of science is socio-economic well-being, quality of life, true political independence, and dignified living, all of which are closely related to S & T. Scientific research is a powerful tool for industrial competition and the most sophisticated knowledge is often kept secret by the nations for this reason. Western civilization nowadays has over-shadowed entire world because socio-economically underprivileged nations have become vulnerable to economic hegemony and foreign culture. For these reasons, S & T must be promoted to preserve one's own culture in this competitive world. The Muslim nations can not Alfred to dismiss national superiority in socio-economic well-being as simply unworthy worldly perusals. The Quran discourages asceticism and urges a balance ill the pursuit of this world and the world hereafter. Dominant attitude of Muslim society, including government's, at present is that of indifference to advancement of science. As far as technology is concerned, there is greater emphasis on importing manufactured products, which can only satisfy short-term needs at the expense of long-term economic stability.

ISLAMIC RENAISSANCE AND INSTITUTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

In recent years, there has been some resurgence in the Muslim society, but there is no evidence of serious attempt for Islamic renaissance. Without Islamic renaissance, with meaningful literacy and advancement in science as its essential ingredient, however, Muslim nations will continue to trail behind other nations socio-economically. History tells us that European renaissance in the middle ages was the result of various factors Most significant among those being intense scientific activity in their universities and institutions of higher learning. Without this, the renaissance would not have started. Most universities in Muslim nations at present are legacy of colonial rule and are nothing more than colleges for teaching. Unless they engage in substantial scientific research activity, our universities can not lead our nations to renaissance.

FOUNDATIONS OF SCIENCE AND LESSONS FROM HISTORY

One must study history of science, both in Muslim and non-Muslim world, to look for remedies for the underdeveloped science in the Muslim world. We need to identify factors which led to Muslim superiority in science in the golden days of Islam. One must utilize self-critical approach and identify causes of failure of science. Methods of advancement of science in the Western nations should be analyzed and its positive elements should be adopted. One can identify at least seven factors, which a society must incorporate to promote science. These are industrialization, institutional competition, intellectual interaction, public understanding and involvement, principal of self-reliance and volunteerism. In addition, science could not have reached at its present advanced status without strong leadership of scientists and the modern science must be sponsored and adequately funded. These factors can be termed foundations of science. Strong foundations of science in a society should lead to long-term and sustained growth in science Each of these factors will be discussed briefly. Later a worldwide association of scientists and scholars will be proposed based upon such principles.

Industrialization and technology

Science and technology are interdependent for growth. This was true historically and is true now. Need for mass production and efficient and quality products demand better technology which ill turn requires better understanding of science. It should be noted that it is indigenous technology and reliance on one?s own skills, rather than importing technology, which stimulates the science. At present there is undue emphasis on imported products, by the Muslim nations from countries outside Muslim commonwealth, which has produced pseudo-prosperity and has discouraged indigenous technology. Existing industries are not required to sponsor scientific research in the universities. In other words there is no direct industries-institutions link. The implication is that Muslim nations must strive for self-reliance in industrialization and indigenous technology and be competitive at the world market. Towards this goal, scientific research and development can be very useful. As is the case in Western nations, industries should be required to sponsor research in the universities where multidisciplinary approach can be applied for the promotion .6f science.

Institutional Competition

Competition between institutions is a proven method of productivity. Competition can bring the best among people. In productive institutions and universities, as is the case in west, there exists a fair and just system of compensation and accountability (?publish or perish?) among researchers, which results in competition within institution (internal competition). There also exists competition within various institutions nationally and internationally, which results in external competition. In Muslim nations, at present, scientists are usually paid according to number of years spent in service rather than productivity which is an inefficient system. There is need for fair system of payment and reward and accountability in Muslim institutions and universities. Grant system by which researchers are allowed to compete for funds are a proven efficient method and could be persuade. Muslim nations must compete with other nations for intellectual manpower by offering adequate incentives.

Intellectual interaction

Free exchange of ideas is essential for innovative thought process in scientific research. To achieve maximum benefits, global interaction between scientists is essential. Probably the best and easiest way to facilitate cooperation would be to seek cooperation within the commonwealth. Multinational cooperation can reduce the cost of expensive and major projects. Intellectual interaction between Muslim nations has just begun through various internationals organization, but a lot more efforts are needed if meaningful results are sought. International cooperation through community (non-governmental) science organizations can be complimentary. It is suggested that a global system of intellectual interaction at the community level should include scientists working in the western institutions and by doing so the problem of ?brain drain? would be reduced. Examples of the interaction include regular scientific meetings in specialized fields, seminars, summer jobs, joint projects and consultation.

Public understanding and involvement

One of the most important factors for long term growth of science is the public understanding for advancement of science. This provides fertile ground and develops a scientific culture in a society. Scientific organizations in the west have made conscious effort for this purpose. Public understanding leads to public support and adequate funding of science. Politicians can become more receptive to the cause of science if public plays a role. For these reasons, scientists and scholars must educate citizens and get involved at the community level. One of the mission of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AMAAS), for last century, has been public involvement and understanding. At times, scientific theories may superficially conflict with the religious beliefs and a segment of society becomes intolerant to the scientific ideas. Through public involvement, scientists can educate them that scientific views are subject to change with time and science is a limited knowledge. Hence, there can be no fundamental conflict between science and religion. Some of the methods utilized for public understanding and involvement for science are mass media, public seminars, science museums and individual contacts. Children?s education to cultivate innovative thought process in science and questioning dogma is another aspect of advancement of science.

Self reliance and volunteerism

While no one nation can be fully self-reliant in science and technology in this age in time, one can utilize one?s abilities in maximum possible way towards this goal. This aspect should be looked in a broader context of society, and not only institutions but industries also need to strive for self-reliance for proper growth of science and improvement in socio-economic status. Self-reliance in institutional productivity is essential for true socio-economic and hence political independence. Volunteerism, by way of both material and human resources, should be encouraged for the advancement of science. Individuals initiated carnage and Smithsonian institutes and many similar science foundations in the USA because of voluntary contributions. At present, tendency is to blame governments for inadequate funding for scientific research and community resources are not being utilized in the Muslim nations. This is because of years of feudal and colonial rule by which people have not been made responsible for important social issues. Communities need to realize self-reliance and volunteerism a great deal can accomplish that. Muslim scientists residing in the advanced countries should be persuaded to do voluntary work in the Muslim institutions to facilitate intellectual interaction.

Leadership by scientists

History tells us that in middle ages scientists and scholars played an important role in forming organizations and professional societies for the promotion of science. Scientists provided strong leadership and solicited support from industries, governments and citizens. In modern times, organizations like AMAAS live provided leadership for the ?business? or ?politics? of science. A system of scientific research organized by scientists themselves can be more efficient and productive and can be free of bureaucratic roadblocks. In Muslim nations, bulk of scientists need to provide leadership for the politics of science, both at community and government levels.

Adequate funds

Modern scientific research is highly specializes and very expensive. Billions of dollars are spent by industrialized nations. As compared to this, Muslim nations spent far less and this is not going to bridge the gap in scientific and technological know-how. Muslim nations must realize that knowledge and education is the best investment for the well being of its future generations. As mentioned above, leadership by scientists is necessary for seeking adequate funds from industries, governments and individuals.

PROPOSAL OF AMAAS

It is proposed that a worldwide association of scientists from Muslim nations and communities be formed for the advancement of science. Such an organization should be community based and should strive for strong foundations of science in the society. Being a worldwide system should insure international intellectual interaction including scientists in the west. A suggested name of the proposed organization is All Muslim Association for the Advancement of Science (AAIAAS). It is hoped that AMAAS would promote science in the Muslim world in a similar way, as done by AMAAS iii the USA it should complement and cooperate with the existing scientific and professional societies. There are several professional Muslim organizations in the Muslim world at present. The scope of most of these societies is focused at the profession level rather than activity at the level of community and public level. They play important role in presentation of scientific findings but seldom motivate society including industries and governments for increased funding for the advancement of science. It is suggested that AMAAS would work at a much broader spectrum in society than these. Many of these societies are regional and hence can not serve an important element of advancement of science that is universal interaction among scientists.

Mission of AMAAS

Mission of should be to: 1) Actively promote science in the Muslim society by raising awareness at the community level. 2) Advocate and impliment self reliance, volunteerism, public understanding and involvement, intellectual interaction, direct industry-university link, strong leadership by scientists, efficient system of scientific research, and adequate funds. 3) Seek and extend cooperation with existing national and regional science organizations.

Organizational structure of AMAAS

It is proposed that should have a central office where all international activities can be coordinated. National and regional chapters should be established in all the nations with significant Muslim population.

Mechanism of promotion of science by AMAAS

The proposed should: 1) arrange regular meetings for both professional and community activities, at all levels (international, national, and regional) to discuss and impliment the ideas in reference to the promotion of science, 2) utilize mass media and other methods of communication to educate public, industries and politicians for the need of advancement of science and education, 3) organize specialty research seminars and workshops, 4) work for an efficient, productive and competitive model of scientific inquiry, 5) Arrange summer jobs and visits for the scientists from the advanced nations to less developed nations and vice versa.

Members of AMAAS

Membership of such a community-based organization should be wide and should include a large number of scientists, social scientists, and science professionals and interested individuals. Membership of educators, ulema, and politicians should be actively sought to interact with society. Various existing science organizations whether regional or international, could be invited to become member have and interact to promote science.

Funding for the activities of AMAAS

It is proposed that a fund named ?United Muslim Science Fund? (UMSF) should be established to award grants for scientific research and higher education in the Muslim institutions. Since the research is expensive in this age in time, goal should be to raise millions of dollars. This goal is not unrealistic since Muslim nations are blessed with substantial natural resources. However, there is need for emphasis on useful expenditure within Muslim community rather than wasteful expenditure within or outside the community. Education is probably the most important and productive investment a society can make for socio-economic well being of its future generations. To insure long term stability, UMSF should be in the form of a trust/endowment fund. It is hoped that UMSF would play a role in the Muslim society as done so by community based organizations like United Negro College Fund in the USA Contributions should be solicited from all possible sources including individuals, industries, and governments. Major portion of the fund could be spending in the same region where it is raised and a smaller portion should be pooled for common projects. NOTE: The writer wishes to have input from interested readers regarding proposed and UMSF specifically, and about science in the Muslim nations generally. Please write at the Address given above or call 501-534-4522. A short survey form can be mailed to someone who might be interested.

SCIENCE AND LEARNING AMONG MUSLIMS

Dr. Ghulam Haniff

(Published in HIKMA Vol. 1, No.1; October 1, 1997)

It is ironic that at the beginning of this millennium Muslims were pioneers in science and technology but at the end of it they find themselves at the nadir of their scientific achievements. Muslims excelled in learning in producing new knowledge, and in carrying on intellectual discourse on a vast array of subjects. The use of intellect was the brilliant civilization. Their discoveries, in fact set in motion the Copernican revolution which radically transformed the world and ultimately propelled the dominance of the West in every sphere of human activity. Unfortunately Muslims in the contemporary times have been content to be led and dominated by the Western entrepreneurs in the scientific arenas. They have been and continue to be passive observers of the drama of the scientific breakthroughs unfolding right before their eyes. This is underscored by the fact that in the Islamic lands only a deafening silence reigns in the lecture halls of scientific discourse and Muslim contribution to the cumulative human knowledge are negligible at the best. It is difficult to believe, when scientific enterprise is such an alien concept in the Islamic dominion that ancestors of today's Muslim were intellectual giants who set the stage for modern empirical science. Muslim constitute about 22% of the world's population or almost a fifth of the human race. Yet Muslims account for less then 1% of all the scientific and scholarly papers presented and published. Until a decade or two ago the Muslim contributions were so meager that it did not even register on the screen. Even today Muslim authors account for less than 1% of all the books published in the world. At the moment there are no world-class internationally renowned Muslim scientist or scholars in any field. Muslim have not attained distinction in any area of accomplishment with one or two minor exceptions such as in American sports if that accounting. All the world's leading experts in every field of endeavor are non-Muslims including on Islamic subjects. The world's authority on Islam for example is not a Muslim but a Western scholar named Bernard Lewis who while not too friendly to the subject of his study has done prodigious amount of research from primary sources in languages spoken by Muslims. No Muslim scholar has done comparable work on the topic of Islam. Similarly the experts on Arabic, Urdu, Turkish or Farsi the languages of the Muslims are largely non-Muslims. The experts or scholars who have written extensively on Muslim countries whether Iran, Turkey, Egypt or Pakistan are also non-Muslims who have thorough intimate and detail knowledge of those nations even though they reside in the West. One could endlessly continue with this list but the point is that Muslims are hopelessly behind the rest of the world in their accomplishment. Before Muslims can move ahead they to acquire basic education and become proficient in reading, writing and arithmetic. Unfortunately today in 1997 almost at the turn of the millennium almost two thirds of the Muslim worldwide are illiterate. Even worse less than 50% of the school age children are enrolled in schools. The Muslim ummah is therefore producing yet another generation of illiterates. In an age of radical change when the external world is increasingly impinging upon the family the Muslim women with their illiteracy rate around 80% are finding it difficult to cope with the changed environment. It is most unfortunate that only 27% are currently attending school in the Muslim World. Perhaps through this shortsighted action an impending disaster at this most turbulent of times. During the last half of the 20th century the world has rapidly become knowledge centered. We are living in an information age and working within knowledge based industries. There is no place for the illiterate, unskilled worker and would be even less so in the future. Only the educated will be able to acquire decent jobs and move up the social ladder. Muslims have still to be convinced of this phenomenon in the most crass of utilitarian terms. Nevertheless they have to be provided with opportunities for basic education and beyond. The anti-intellectual under current continues to be a strong force among the Muslims. Its purveyors have been pseudo religious figures at the local level attempting to keep the populace under their control. Unfortunately in the past and even today it virtually paralyzed the Muslim ummah from embarking on the path of progress. Even such Islamic luminaries as Jamal-uddin-Afghani and Muhammed Abduh were unable to overcome it despite their preaching and repeated exhortations. Muslims must create a system of values conducive to learning and showing respect for intellectual traditions. Indeed in our communities acquisition of knowledge must becomes a positive force as it was laid down in the Quran: "Read in the name of your Lord who created ?.." and exhorted by the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Seek knowledge even unto China." The Muslims world will never be able to better itself until it has educated its people. In the world community only those nations are at the top which have the most educated people and therefore the best standards of living the best quality of life the most stable political system and the most empowered citizens. Education is the key to fulfilled life a sense of power and a dignified living. Muslims need to create a culture of learning both for a better life in this world "dunya" and for the hereafter "deen". We must recapture the spirit of the early Muslims through a value system which honors intellectual efforts so that science and scholarship could be made the centerpiece in the renewal of the Islamic civilization.