Mohammed bin Salman and the restoration of the glory of science and civilization

 

Mohammed bin Salman and the restoration of the glory of science and civilization

Written by: Nasser Al-Salmouni 🇪🇬

Since the revelation of the first word of the Holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): "Read," the message of Islam has been linked to knowledge. Reading was the first divine call to establish a civilization based on knowledge and reflection. The Prophet's directives affirmed this approach, urging people to learn and expand their horizons, even requiring that each prisoner of the Battle of Badr be given the responsibility of teaching ten Muslims to read and write. This was the first seed that planted within the nation a profound understanding of the value of knowledge and launched an intellectual and cognitive journey that changed the course of history.

As the Islamic state expanded and its peoples and cultures diversified, the need arose to transfer the knowledge of previous nations. The Abbasid era witnessed a major scientific renaissance, manifested in the translation movement into Arabic, which flourished during the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid and his son, al-Ma'mun. The House of Wisdom in Baghdad was a shining example of a global library and advanced research center, housing thousands of books from diverse civilizations and becoming a meeting place for scholars and thinkers from across the globe. From there, the spark of creativity was ignited, placing Muslims at the forefront of nations in science and civilization.

Muslim contributions were not limited to religious sciences such as jurisprudence, hadith, and interpretation, but extended to various fields of human knowledge. In medicine and philosophy, Ibn Sina excelled; in mathematics and algebra, al-Khwarizmi was prominent; in surgery, al-Zahrawi excelled; in optics, Ibn al-Haytham excelled; and in medicine and chemistry, al-Razi left his mark. These illustrious names, and many others, not only established an Islamic renaissance, but also paved the way for the renaissance of Europe itself, as the West relied on their scientific heritage in its first universities. Thus, Muslim sciences formed the foundation upon which modern civilization was built.

In parallel, Islamic universities emerged as beacons of learning, beginning with the Zaytuna Mosque in Tunis and Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, and extending to the universities of Andalusia, which reached the height of their glory in Cordoba and Granada. Islamic civilization in Andalusia reached such a level that the sons of European kings would send their children to Muslim lands to receive education and knowledge, and to learn Arabic, which had become the world's foremost language of learning and thought at the time.

However, this renaissance did not last long. The West, backed by the Jews, conspired to overthrow the Islamic Caliphate, occupy Arab lands, plunder their wealth, and destroy their libraries and academic centers. With the fall of Baghdad, the loss of Andalusia, and the subsequent dismantling of the Ottoman Caliphate, the Muslim world lost its cultural leadership. Meanwhile, the West invested in Muslim science, embracing it and advancing it, until we later became dependent on it, importing technology and medicine from it, having previously been its source to the world.

Today, with the emergence of Saudi Vision 2030, ambitions are once again being set to revitalize the nation. The vision has placed education, scientific research, and the healthcare sector at the core of its objectives, as the fundamental pillars of any true renaissance. It seeks to develop Saudi universities to be among the best in the world, establish advanced research institutes, and attract international students and academic talent from various countries. It also aims to increase spending on scientific research and link it to national development needs, and establish innovation centers in renewable energy, future technologies, and space. In the medical field, the Kingdom seeks to build world-class medical centers, develop comprehensive healthcare, and invest in the latest medical technologies, making it a leading destination for medical tourism.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has played a pivotal role in bringing these goals to fruition. He launched the Human Capability Development Program to prepare the Kingdom's citizens to meet future challenges and granted universities academic and administrative independence to enhance their flexibility and competitiveness. He also established major projects such as NEOM to serve as a laboratory for future technologies and launched major medical initiatives such as the King Salman Medical City in Riyadh, in addition to supporting international partnerships with major universities and research centers. The Crown Prince has not overlooked the importance of modern technologies, and has been a prominent supporter of the development of artificial intelligence and big data through advanced national initiatives such as SDAIA.

The nation's past scientific renaissance is the greatest evidence of its ability to regain its former glory. Today, the Kingdom's vision, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, represents a historic opportunity to rebuild a global cultural center, positioning Saudi Arabia as a scientific, medical, and economic beacon. This will restore the Arab and Islamic nation's leadership and standing among nations, allowing it to once again become a source of intellectual and cultural radiance for the entire world.