Since the development of meaningful civilisations, religion, in one form or another, has been found in all human societies. It is embedded deep in the human psyche.
Even today, a great number of the world population is, in one way or the other, associated with religion. Almost every nation possesses some sort of a belief system.
In the modern society, religious faith has sustained all efforts of erasing it and has survived a great deal of ebb and flow. According to The Economist’s analysis, “a number of films broach the subject of faith in the 21st century”.
Many researchers and scholars claim that the number of believers are constantly decreasing, meanwhile the portrayal of faith and belief is being presented as a powerful force in various plays and movies.
Straightforwardly speaking, religion and belief is a fundamental fragment of human conscience and it can never be separated or removed from the soul and spirit of mankind.
Proof, you ask? The entertainment industry that played a huge role in depriving the society of God is now having to resort in giving back what it owed to the modern-day generations.
Birthday of Periodic Table
The periodic table is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. It was first laid out by Mendeleev in 1869 when he managed to arrange a list of 63 elements according to their atomic masses.
Now there are more than 100 elements, which are part of the modern periodic table arranged in the sequence of increasing atomic number.
A famous Muslim scientist, Jabir bin Hayan (721-815) is considered the father of chemistry who invented many of the basic processes and equipment, which are still the basis of present day chemistry. However modern science has gradually become a thing of the West, with Muslim contribution almost forgotten.
As most of the prominent scientists that had a huge impact on modern day science like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Marie Curie were from the West, Muslim scientists are less acknowledged.
The Muslim world, once a hub of intellectual wonders, has lost its glory in science and technology.
We do not intend to undermine the marvelous contributions of the West towards scientific and technological advancement. Western scientists have done a splendid job. What we want to remind our readers here is that if the Muslim world can produce an Abdus Salam, there is no reason that there cannot be more.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa has always encouraged young Ahmadis to pursue careers in scientific research especially areas that are of benefit for humanity. We better rephrase the last sentence: If the Ahmadiyya Jamaat can give one Abdus Salam to the Muslim world and the rest of the world, it means that it has all that it takes to produce many more.
Another Story of Lost Glory
Spain has a long history of political, social and economic turmoil – three elections in just four years speak volumes of this bitter fact.
This week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a snap election due to the defeat of his Socialist Party’s budget plan in Congress.
Spain, which remained under the rule of Muslims for more than 700 years, was once the centre of scientific inventions and remarkable discoveries.
Alongside Islam, two other religions – Christianity and Judaism – lived side by side and benefited from the presence of each other. Infighting and civil wars cost Islamic Spain its centuries’ old glory and eventually all its power in 1492.
What followed is not something we wish to discuss here. What we would like to remind the Muslim world is that being a Muslim and yet triumphant is nothing impossible. It has happened in the past and it will happen in future; all that is needed is true and selfless leadership.
When the Muslim world goes out and finds this true leadership is up to them – though they should know, it has been around since 1889.
Be it science or religion, Muslims ought to remember their glorious past and excel in every field, with the help and guidance of Allah the Almighty and the Holy Quran.
The worldwide head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa states:
“The object of the advent of the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, was to revive the glory of Islam. Indeed, it was in Spain that after a few hundred years of rise, Islam fell in such a way that its adherents were forcibly converted to Christianity or they got caught in the trap of Christian missionaries due to their own spiritual weakness.
“India, with its Muslim mystics and saints was considered as the fortress of Islam. But there too Muslims were turning to Christianity.
“This is the time that the Promised Messiah’sas advent took place and the revival of Islam began. Having received knowledge from God, he told the world about the superiority of Islam over other world religions. He presented the reality of Christianity to the Christian priests who had spoken of Christian dominance in India in such a way that they were forced to be defensive about it, and some of them retreated, telling their followers never to engage in a discussion with Ahmadis. Christians acknowledged that due to this ‘new’ Islam, which was in fact the real Islam, the greatness of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, was being re-established.”
(Friday Sermon, Basharat Mosque Spain, 9 April 2010)