Dr. Ahmad Zaweel is the only Arab scientist to have received the Nobel science prize and the only Muslim to have received one since the death of the Pakistani physicist Dr. Abdul Salam. Yet there are around 1.2 billion Muslims in the world. What then is behind the scientific lethargy in the Islamic and Arab world and the consequent economic backwardness in comparison with the West and the Far East? Is it down to the inability of the Muslim World to isolate science from religion, which, it is suggested, works as a barrier?
Dr. Ahmad Zaweel, the Egyptian scientist who received the Nobel prize in chemistry in 1992 as a result of his laser research, says that it would be too simplistic to attribute this scientific torpor in the Muslim world to a single factor. In their genetic composition, Arabs and Muslims are no different from other humans, and historically Arabs and Muslims were at the height of their civilization in Spain and the Arabian Peninsula at the time when Europe and Christianity were living in ignorance. Without the accomplishments of Arab scientists and the translation of the discoveries of Greek philosophers in the fields of astronomy and other sciences, European development would have doubtless been delayed a good 500 years.
In an interview with the editor in chief of Nobel Laureates — a magazine devoted to the winners — Dr. Zaweel says that it is our duty to find the reason behind this indolence. Two hundred years ago during the time of Muhammad Ali, Egypt enjoyed a high level of progress and prosperity, which led Japan and Korea to copy its economic model. Something must have gone wrong in Egypt during the last two centuries.
Colonialism created, in Egypt just as in other Arab countries, a class and social system which allowed a minority to rule in alliance with the colonizers — 50 percent of those ruled were illiterate, and the illiteracy rate among women was 80 percent. When Arab countries became independent after World War II, they turned toward the great powers, West and then East, and didn’t progress economically. Instead, they became despots and robbed people of job opportunities. These people went astray and poured out their energy in religious extremism and violence.
In the 13th century the Islamic scientist Ibn Rushd tried to establish a bridge between intellect and religion, but since then the curtain has been drawn on such initiatives, and the scientific vision has not been able to circulate in Arab— Islamic societies. Isn’t it time that the Arab and Islamic world benefited from a harmonization of religion and science?
Dr. Zaweel adds: “I don’t believe that the current situation in the Islamic world has anything to do with the limits that religion imposes on the mind. I do believe that the economic situation in the Arab world and the individual frustration due to poor education and limited job opportunities are creating and spreading extremist groups that twist religion for their own purposes and reject the pursuit of knowledge. This is something that contradicts the first verse that was ever revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Read!” which urges understanding and knowledge.
In answer to the editor’s question regarding the statement by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad, Dr. Zaweel said the barrier to progress in the Islamic world is not Islam — it is the politicized Islamic scholars who profess that knowledge is restricted to the study of the Qur’an, thus rejecting the knowledge and technology of the West. “Mahatir is correct. He made Malaysia exceptional among Islamic countries with its modernity. Religion is not a bar to progress — it is poor education and the transformation of religion into politics. These are the two factors that prevent the development of Muslims’ scientific thinking.” Dr. Zaweel says that he was personally lucky that on graduating from university he found a good position that allowed him to live in comfort. Then he received a scholarship to continue his studies in the US and “the future was in front of me. I was young and full of hope.”
In order to confront the tide of extremism that is hindering progress in the Arab and Islamic world, Dr. Zaweel says the countries must provide modern education as well as job opportunities for the young.
What we really need is to make strides in the form of a campaign in all Islamic countries to seek excellence in the fields of education and culture, he said in reply to a question from the editor. “Today we must elevate the pursuit of knowledge to the level of jihad — this often misconstrued word that means the struggle to excel. When confronted with danger, we must struggle with all means available to us.”
This should be done, he says, through establishing centers for scientific and technological excellence in every Islamic country. We must also instill in our young men the thirst for knowledge. Dr. Zaweel ended his interview saying, “If we can turn the young people’s frustration into positive energy then there will be hope for the Arab and Islamic people for a brighter future.”
