Nothing is useless in this cosmos

The Arabic word for Science (ilm) in English corresponds to "Knowledge" or "Learning". From the Islamic point of view knowledge means to uncover the truth and strengthen the faith of a believer. Islam is the only religion which has made education obligatory and mandatory for its adherents. Even the first revelation was sent to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by Almighty Allah also indicates towards knowledge.

The holy Qur'an says: "Read in the name of thy Lord Who created- Created man form a clot of blood. Read: Your Lord is the most bountiful. He who taught the use of the pen, taught man that which he knew not" (S.96, A-1-5) 

If we think why God commenced the first revelation with reading, we find that the age in which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent, the age of ignorance and illiteracy. It is obvious that without education ignorance and stagnation cannot be dispelled. 
One of the distinctive features of Islam is that it forged a close and pious link between religion and knowledge. The holy Qur'an carries a number of verses on different branches of knowledge-Cosmology, Astronomy, Astrology, Physics, Mathematics, Geology, Botany, Zoology, Biology, Agriculture, Economics, Anthropology, History and the likes. 
An eminent writer Ahmad Fariruddin writes: "in the Quran matters relating to science have been referred to at 750 places whereas matters relating to law have been mentioned at 250 places". 
Needless to add that the word Earth is mentioned in the Qur'an more than 460 times and it is mentioned in three different contexts. When the Qur'an talks about the earth in comparison with heavens, with the moon or the sun or the stars, it means the whole planet earth. When the Qur'an talks without reference of these planetary bodies it may mean the crust on which we live, the continental masses or what covers that crust of soil. In so doing the Qur'an describes the earth its shape, motions and origin, describes mountains, the origin of the atmosphere and the hydrosphere, the darkness at the bottom of the ocean, the darkness in outer space and many of the phenomena. (Scientific Signs in the Holy Book, p,11) 
Islam says that nothing is useless in this cosmos. The holy Quran says: "Our Lord! Not for naught have thou created all this. Glory to Thee; give us salvation from agony of fire". (S.3, A 191) 
Islam stands for its followers to acquire knowledge and study whatever lies in the heavens and on the earth as stated in the Qur'an: "Say: behold all that is in the heavens and on earth. (S 10, A 101) The holy Qur'an further says: "Behold in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alteration of night and day, There are indeed sings for men of understanding". 
It should be kept in mind that at the very out set due attention was paid to science by Muslims. No doubt, contributions and achievements which Muslims made in the field of science have no parallel in the history of the world. Even caliphs had also shown their keen interest in developing science. Accordingly caliph Al-Mansoor, caliph Haroon Rashid and his able son Al-Mamoon and later other caliphs also played a constructive role in promoting science in various ways. Caliph Al-Mamoon had established a great research centre in the name of Baitul-Hikmah (The house of wisdom). A number of books had been rendered into various languages and brought out from that centre. 
It should be noted that Islam has never been a barrier in progress and development. History can not cite any instance from other religions of the world that has played a leading role in the field of science and technology as Islam did. In the words of noted Islamic Scholar late Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi: "There is not a single sector of European revival which is not indebted to Islamic thought. Islam imparted a new glow of life to Europe"
In his book, Islam at the Crossroads Muhammad Asad has rightly said: "History proves beyond any possibility of doubt that no religion has ever given a stimulus to scientific progress similar to that of Islam. The encouragement which learning and scientific research received from Islamic theology resulted in the splendid cultural achievements in the days of the Umayyads and Abbassides and the Arab rule in Spain. Europe should known this well, for its own culture owes to Islam nothing less than the Renaissance ("re-birth") after centuries of darkness. I do not mention this in order that we might pride our selves in those glorious memories at a time when the Islamic world has forsaken its own tradition and reverted into blindness and intellectual poverty. We have no right, in our present misery, to boast of past glories. But we must realize that it was the negligence of Muslim and not any deficiency in the Islamic teaching which caused our present decay. 
Similar thoughts have been expressed by Maulana S.M. Rabey Hasani Nadwi, Rector Nadwatul-Ulama, Lucknow and President All India Muslim Personal Law Baord:

 "When Europe was passing through darkness and ignorance of the Middle Ages, Muslim world was producing scholars, thinkers, educationists and eminent masters of physical and social sciences. European writers have quite often acknowledged that for six hundred years Europe learnt and benefited from the researches of Muslims before commencing their march to progress." 

In the words of Marquis of Duffering: "It is the Musalman science, Musalman art, and the Musalman literature that Europe has been in large measure indebted for its extrication from the darkness of Middle ages". 

Dr. Robert Briffault has rightly stated that science arose in Europe as a result of new spirit of enquiry, of new methods of investigation, of the method of experiment, observation, measurement, of the development of mathematics in a form unknown to the Greeks, and that spirit and those methods were introduced into the European world by the Arabs (Muslims). 
It goes without saying that the Muslim scientists not only made original contribution to science but also to technology. In other words, they made practical use of their scientific discoveries. They observed the stars, and prepared star maps for navigational purposes. Ibn Yunus made use of pendulum for the measurement of time. Ibn Sina used air temperature. Paper, compass, gun, gunpowder, inorganic examples of scientific and technological developments of Muslim scientists, which brought about an unprecedented revolution in the human civilization. (Islam and Evolution of Science, P,15) 
Strangely despite this genuine fact when we hear the word science our attention is surely be drawn to the west. There are two reasons behind it. One is that biased historians ignored most names of Muslim scientists. Even if they mentioned some of them, that too in distorted form. Take for instance, Abu Ali Sina is known as Avecina , Zakariyyah Al-Razi (Razes), Jabir Ibn Hayyan (Geber) and so on, what to speak of non- Muslims even educated Muslims do not know that Avesina, Razes and Jaber were from Muslim community. 
It is time we must bring contributions and achievements of Muslim scientists in focus so that our new generation may learn of their achievements and derive benefit out of the works of these doyens of science. 
It is unfortunate that today scant attention is being paid to education by Muslims. While other people are being benefited by our ancestors scientific achievements and contributions. The need of the hour is that we must impart our children good education and adorn them with good qualities and sublime norms only then our past glory may again come back. Besides we may act on the first revelation which Allah sent to His last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for creating a new civilization.

 Written by : Obaidur Rahman Nadwi