Many today may not know the achievements of some of the leading Muslim scholars and scientists whose significant scientific achievements encompassed a wide range of subject areas, especially medicine, mathematics, astronomy, agriculture as well as physics, economics, engineering and optics. Muslim scientists contributed significantly to science and civilization in the Islamic Golden Age (i.e. from the 8th century to the 14th century).
Some of these included:
- Ibn Sina, commonly known in the West as Avicenna, was a preeminent philosopher and physician of the Muslim world, flourishing during the Islamic Golden Age, serving in the courts of various Iranian rulers. He is often described as the father of early modern medicine.
- Al-Hassan ibn al-Haytham (mathematician, astronomer, and physicist),
- Muhammad bin Musa al-Khwarizmi (a polymath who produced vastly influential Arabic-language works in mathematics, astronomy, and geography.) ,
- And others like Ghiyath al-Din al- Kashani, Abu Wafa Muhammad al-Buzanji, Abu Abdullah al- Battani, Mohammad Bin Ahmed. In fact the list is too long of the enterprising Muslims who laid the foundation of many scientific discoveries to be taken over by the non Muslims, while there was no follow up by the Muslims. You may like to see the List of scientists in medieval Islamic world (Wikipedia)
However when the printing press was invented, Muslims failed to take advantage of this new invention to publish books based on the research work of Muslims scientists and Muslim generals who subdued armies much larger than theirs and conquered vast lands.
People know about Alexander the Great and his conquests, but very few know of Khalid ibn al-Walid who never lost a battle against the armies of the Byzantine Empire and defeated them in Battle of Yarmuk with only 40,00 soldiers while the opposing forces far far too many and too strong. The result of the battle was a crushing Muslim victory that ended Roman rule in Syria after about seven centuries. The Battle of the Yarmuk is regarded as one of the most decisive battles in military history.
Likewise the successive generals of the Ottoman Empire conquered almost the entire present day Europe. But with the unity of the West and exploitation of technology in the art of warfare including tacit diplomacy (like role of people like the Lawrence of Arabia) Muslims lost their once strong foothold on the ground and by the end of WW-I Muslims were vanquished. And since then they have not been able to rise - something that the Prophet of Allah predicted.
This prediction attributed to P rophet Muhammad ﷺ in a Hadith mentioned in Sunan Abi Dawud (Book # 39 Battles (Kitab Al-Malahim) / كتاب الملاحم / Chapter # 1591 Nations Summoning One Another To Attack Muslims / باب فِي تَدَاعِي الأُمَمِ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ / as Hadith number # 4297, quoted herein under:
Narrated by Thawban:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is wahn (enervation). Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): He replied: Love of the world and dislike of death.
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ بَكْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جَابِرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ السَّلاَمِ، عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يُوشِكُ الأُمَمُ أَنْ تَدَاعَى عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا تَدَاعَى الأَكَلَةُ إِلَى قَصْعَتِهَا " . فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ وَمِنْ قِلَّةٍ نَحْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ قَالَ " بَلْ أَنْتُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ كَثِيرٌ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ غُثَاءٌ كَغُثَاءِ السَّيْلِ وَلَيَنْزِعَنَّ اللَّهُ مِنْ صُدُورِ عَدُوِّكُمُ الْمَهَابَةَ مِنْكُمْ وَلَيَقْذِفَنَّ اللَّهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمُ الْوَهَنَ " . فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا الْوَهَنُ قَالَ " حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا وَكَرَاهِيَةُ الْمَوْتِ " .
Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani)
This provides a prophetic insight into a future condition of the Muslim Ummah (community). It describes a time when Muslims, despite being large in number, will find themselves weak and vulnerable, like "scum and rubbish" carried by a torrent. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explains the underlying reasons for this condition, which are the love of the world and the dislike of death. and today the plight of Muslims exactly matches the prophetic prediction as Muslims are more engrossed in the wordily pleasures and least concerned about their death.
Moreover, the dominance of science and technology which once the prime focus of Muslim scholars and their research work which laid the foundation of modern science has since gone into the hands of the non Muslims and we have digressed from the knowledge to mundane issues that have made us stand still in what we once know for which the others envied us. Now the entire research and development in science and technology is domain of the West while Muslims envy them for their developmental work as once the others envied us. Today, instead of spending money on research and development sponsor their young brains, while there is colossal brain drain to the West where these young Muslims have made major scientific discoveries to the benefit of the West, the rich Muslims are more concerned about building palaces, buying expensive cars and merry making, which is exactly as predicted by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ more than fifteen centuries before.
Wisdom Behind the Hadith:
- Prophetic Insight into Future Conditions:
- Warning of Future Weakness: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ foretells a time when the Muslim community will be large in number but will lack strength, unity, and influence. This condition is not due to external factors like their numbers but rather due to internal spiritual and moral weaknesses.
- Historical and Contemporary Relevance: This Hadith can be seen as relevant throughout history and even today, where despite the large population of Muslims worldwide, the community often faces challenges due to a lack of unity, internal divisions, and a weakening of spiritual and moral values.
- Metaphor of "Scum and Rubbish":
- Lack of Substance: The comparison to "scum and rubbish" carried by a torrent suggests a lack of substance, direction, and significance. Just as scum on a torrent is easily swept away and lacks weight, the Ummah will become easily manipulated and influenced by others if it loses its core values and principles.
- Loss of Influence: This metaphor reflects a loss of influence and respect in the world, where the Muslim community might be numerous but fails to exert positive influence or defend its interests effectively.
- Concept of Wahn (Weakness or Enervation):
- Love of the World: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ identifies "love of the world" as a key factor in the weakening of the Ummah. This refers to an excessive attachment to worldly pleasures, material wealth, and comfort at the expense of spiritual and moral obligations.
- Dislike of Death: The "dislike of death" reflects a fear of the hereafter and an attachment to life in this world. It indicates a lack of readiness to sacrifice for higher principles, such as justice, truth, and the defense of the faith. This fear weakens the resolve and courage of the community.
- Spiritual and Moral Decline:
- Internal Weakness: The Hadith highlights that the root cause of the community's vulnerability is internal—a decline in spiritual strength, moral values, and commitment to the principles of Islam. When love for the temporary world overrides commitment to the eternal hereafter, the community becomes weak and susceptible to external threats.
- Importance of Spiritual Revival: The Hadith serves as a call to self-reflection and spiritual revival. It urges Muslims to reassess their priorities, renew their commitment to their faith, and cultivate a balanced relationship with the world—using it as a means to achieve the hereafter rather than an end in itself.
- Impact on the Enemy:
- Loss of Fear: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentions that Allah will take the fear of Muslims out of the hearts of their enemies. This implies that when Muslims are spiritually and morally weak, they lose the respect and fear that once protected them from their enemies.
- Strategic Vulnerability: Without spiritual strength and unity, the community becomes strategically vulnerable, inviting others to exploit and harm them, much like people are invited to share in a dish.
- Losing what early Muslims strived for: The work of many Muslim scholars, scientists and mathematicians, astronomers and geographers, whose significant scientific achievements encompassed a wide range of subject areas, especially medicine, mathematics, astronomy, agriculture as well as physics, economics, engineering and optics. Muslim scientists contributed significantly to science and civilization in the Islamic Golden Age (i.e. from the 8th century to the 14th century).
Now if we look at the present times in the backdrop of above referred Hadith, we will see it perfectly correlated. Unfortunately, Muslims have lost the real faith and are more afraid of death and being subdued by the non Muslims. The plight and aggression against the Palestinians and Kashmiri Muslims is case in point. Despite some of the richest Muslim countries with large armies, have the guts to bring an end to the miseries of Muslims. Not even condemnation in plain words is sounded subjected to aggression too and any Muslim countries who seemingly fear of being perhaps losing their fortunes or even die if they supported the weak Muslims. This is the time that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ predicted and warned off.
This Hadith thus provides a profound warning about the spiritual, moral and intellectual decline of the Muslims, even when it is numerous in number. The root cause of this decline is identified as wahn, which is characterized by an excessive love of the world and a fear of death. These attitudes lead to a loss of substance, unity, and influence, making the community vulnerable to external threats. The Hadith serves as a reminder to Muslims to prioritize their faith, spiritual strength, and moral integrity, ensuring that their attachment to the world does not overshadow their commitment to the hereafter.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions for more Hadiths on the subject
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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