The Golden Age of Islam in Science

The Golden Age of Islam in Science

The golden age of Islam where science, technology and inventions thrived has long passed leaving Muslims in the ‘catch-up’ state. It would be an understatement to say Muslims are backward in science and technology as statistics show that 41 out of the 57 OIC member states account for less than 5% of the world technological output. What went wrong? Bad leadership, unnecessary conservatism and lack of fore-sight on the part Muslim scholars. These and the likes were among the issues touched when 150 fellows along with 30 scientists from Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Egypt, Oman, India, Jordan, Morocco and Malaysia met in Kwala Lumpur Malaysia on a five-day event jointly organized by the Mustafa (PBUH) Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF)and the University of Putra Malaysia (UPM). It was the first edition of the Science and Technology Exchange Program (STEP). The organizers of the event said STEP was created to serve as a platform where Muslim scientists can meet and share scientific views and experiences. The MSTF is contributing its cota to the Muslim dream by giving the Mustafa(PBUH) prize worth $500,000 to an outstanding Muslim scientist every year. The winner of the prize in 2015 who was also a guest speaker at this year’s event, Professor Umar Yaghi was quoted to have said, “We are here to solve peoblems and not to complain about them.” The STEP forum which began on 19^th December ended on the 22^nd of December with a scientific tour of Kwala Lumpur. The organizers posited that the main aim of the event was to bring back the Golden Age of Islam in science.