Some ill-informed and prejudiced sections of people have long maintained that the Islamic religion was an obstacle to scientific progress. During the Middle Ages, the history of  Islam was the history of civilization itself. From the eighth to the fourteenth centuries, the Muslims alone were the torch-bearers of the sciences and philosophy. The Islamic sciences formed the link between the old and the modern worlds. In Europe they influenced the first Renaissance which heralded the era of modern civilisation.

 A few extracts of the opinions of outstanding Western scholars on Islam will establish that fact. Dr. Gustave Ie Bon wrote in his monumental work, “La Civilisation des Arabes”, “Islam is among religions the most compatible with the discoveries of sciences…”.

 The Americans scientist Draper, in his “History of the Intellectual Development of Europe”, deeply deplored “that European literature had systematically endeavoured to make the West forget its scientific debt to the Muslims and that it was certainly time to recognise that”.

 Even Comte de Gobineau, who was not too sympathetic in his views towards Islam, wrote in his work, “Les religions at les philosophies dans l’Asia Centrale”, “It is difficult to share the opinion of those who want to see in the Muslim dogma a direct obstacle to intellectual development. The contrary seems to be more defendable. A religion that pronounced this formula: ‘The ink of the servants is more precious than the blood of martyrs’,  a religion which assures that everyone, at the Last Judgment will be examined strictly according to the use which he had made of his allotted intelligence …could not be considered with justice as being contrary to intellectual labours … What is certain, is that the spirit of criticism, of research and of  discussion which had begun from the very first by Muhammad himself was never lost’.

As Paul Cassanova remarks: “The taste for science and intellectual speculation in all its aspects … the acute curiosity for matters of nature and the intense desire to raise the curtain which covers them, were the true characteristics of the Arab soul”.

 Islam from its dawn encouraged the pursuit of science and advocated progress. The teachings of the Quran and the preachings of the Prophet bear ample testimony to this. We find in the Quran: “O my Lord! advance me in Knowledge”. (xx:114) “But those among them who are well grounded in knowledge … to them We soon give a great reward” (iv:162) “Say: Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?” (xxxix:9) “And he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing”. (ii:269). The very first revelation from God to Prophet Muhammad started with the words “IQRAA” meaning “read” or “recite”. In a similar way, the Quran repeatedly praises knowledge.

 The Prophet exhorted Muslims to seek knowledge. Some of the Prophet’s sayings on acquiring science and knowledge is stated here: “To seek knowledge is a duty for every Muslim, man and woman”. “Seek knowledge even though it be to China”.  “He who teaches it fears God, he who seeks it adores God, he who possesses it becomes an object of veneration and benevolence”. The literary assemblies are paths of paradise and one should gain benefits from them”.

 The Prophet said: “Acquire knowledge, for acquisition of it is Divine worship and to discuss knowledge is like discussing the sanctity of God. To use knowledge at a proper time is a merit. Knowledge is the means of knowing the permissible and prohibited.

 The Prophet said: “Knowledge is the milestone of the pious and worthy of Paradise. Knowledge is the companion of solitude and a friend in poverty. In solitude knowledge is the talking partner and a guide both in poverty and abundance. It is a powerful weapon against the enemy, an

ornament among friends. Through knowledge God elevates the downtrodden people and make them leaders and followers. Men follow men of learning and walk in their footsteps and imitate their actions. Nations on the lower level gain a status through knowledge whereby their judgment is considered final. Knowledge raises the hearts from the death of ignorance to the life of honour. Knowledge serves as a light and torch in darkness”.

 The Prophet said: “Knowledge elevates men to the status of the most respectable people and gives them a high position in this world and the next. To give thought to a matter of knowledge has a merit equal to fasting and to learn and teach knowledge is like Divine worship in the night”. “Knowledge shows the man the manner of service to relations. It guideth to happiness”. “Action is subservient to knowledge and knowledge is the leader of action”.

The Prophet said: “Excessive knowledge is better than excessive praying”. It is better to teach knowledge one hour in the night than to pray the whole night”. “An hour’s contemplation and study of God’s creation is better than a year of adoration”. One learned man is harder on the devil than a thousand ignorant worshippers”.

 The Prophet said: “He who leaveth his home in search of knowledge, walketh in the path of Allah”. If a student dies while engaged in acquiring knowledge he is a martyr. Every act of a student, whether putting on socks or shoes or clothes, God forgives his sins”. “Verily the superiority of a learned man over an ignorant worshipper is like that of the full moon over all the stars”. “Lo! The angels offer their wings to the seeker of knowledge”. He dieth not who taketh to learning”.

 The Prophet said: “The first thing created was reason”. “Allah hath not created anything better than reason. The Benefits which Allah giveth are on account of it and understanding is by it; and Allah’s displeasure is caused by it, and by it are rewards and punishments”. He said: “To listen to the words of the learned and to instill into others the lessons of science is better than religious duties, but he will be rewarded only in proportion to the sense which he employs”.

 It was this natural and reasonable basis of Islam which made the greatest German poet, Goethe, exclaim thus after reading a translation of the Quran, “If this is Islam, then every thinking man among us is, in fact, a Muslim”.