MUCH has been written and said about the glorious Muslim civilisation of centuries gone by. That the great Muslim empires thrive on knowledge. That the success of these empires lie on scientific research and development (R & D).
Today, many Muslims would like to see how the R & D culture that made the Muslim empires great could be emulated once more.
It was this culture of the Muslims that brought Europe out of darkness into an age of enlightenment.
It is only logical that the same culture can be used and applied to make the Muslims of today the success story of the 21st Century.
“Research” by definition means “careful study or investigation”.
The purpose of research is to discover new facts or information in a wide variety of disciplines, such as scientific, medical, historical or social.
Generally, the word “research” is, more often than not, associated with scientific research which involves laboratory work.
However, it should be clarified that research work now encompasses many other fields and is not specific or unique only to science.
From the perspective of Islam, research work is essential in establishing facts for knowledge and understanding.
Research work provides a platform for further comprehension of the scheme of things.
Islam encourages its believers to observe the creations of the Almighty Creator so that Muslims would attain a greater and stronger level of piety and devotion.
In Surah al-Mulk, verse 19 of the Quran, God says to the effect that: “Do they not observe the birds above them, spreading their wings and folding them in?
“None can uphold them except (God), Most Gracious; truly it is He that watches over all things.”
This is one of the many verses in the Quran that encourages mankind to observe. Observation is one of the key elements in research.
Research is important for a variety of reasons. To different people, research has different importance.
For instance, to manufacturers and industrialists, research is important to develop new products and services. This is where the term “research and development” or “R & D” comes in.
Meanwhile, to a scientist, research is essential in finding answers to questions or mysteries of science. Research will help to prove or disprove a hypothesis.
In a nutshell, the following are the reasons and purposes for research work: to prove or disprove a hypothesis, to come up with new products and services, to support arguments and ideas, to identify problems, to find solutions to problems, and finally to enrich our knowledge.
While research work is not a speciality of science, many, including non-scientists, have adopted the scientific approach to research.
This is because of the systematic way in which scientific research is conducted.
The methods applied by scientific research have been tested and proven since the 12th Century.
Not many people realise that the research methodology was initiated by Muslim scientists. As De Lacy O’Leary wrote: “In astronomy and mathematics, the work of the Greek and Indian scientists was co-ordinated and there a real advance was made.
“The Arabs not only extended what they had received from the Greeks but also checked and corrected their records.”
A research usually takes years to complete. In today’s world, research projects are mainly sanctioned by governments, companies and industrialists.
The research projects are carried out by the academia, intellects and scientists in institutions of higher learning, research institutes and laboratories.
For us to understand and better ourselves, research work is unavoidable. It is a necessity.How can we understand the Greatness of God if we cannot appreciate His Creations?
For us to appreciate, we have to observe and study the world around us.
Research will increase our knowledge. With knowledge, our humility towards The Almighty would increase.
The one true aim of research is essentially to increase our faith and belief in God.
It is mentioned in the Quran, in verse 28 of Surah Fatir: “Those truly fear God, among His Servants, who have knowledge, for God is Exalted in Might, Oft-forgiving”. Malaysia should take the lead in institutionalising R & D as a culture. Recently, during the Europe-Asia Summit, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad mentioned that “. . . transfer of technology costs us a lot even if there is a willingness to do so.”
This is the stark reality. Transfer of technology has a high price tag. Even when transfer of technology occurs, chances are the technology that is transferred is already obsolete by the time it gets to the recipient country.
Such is the dynamicity of technology. What is state-of-the-art today may be outdated tomorrow.
One way out is through R & D. True, the cost of putting together a research institution is also very high.
But in the long run, it is better as reliance on foreign technology would be minimised.One good example of establishing our own R & D facilities is the national car manufacturer, Proton. Proton’s complete R & D Centre was opened on May 15 last year.
This centre can operate, in its own building, a range of facilities like a semi-high speed test track, a prototype shop, a multi-purpose analytical test track and steering pad, a component laboratory and a noise level detection laboratory.
With this centre, dependence on foreign technology can be minimised and, subsequently, cost can be reduced as manifested in the new Proton model Waja.
There are many important issues that need to be looked at in institutionalising R & D culture among Muslim countries.
For instance, the role that needs to be played by the Government and policy-makers.
Equally important is the co-operation between the private sector and research institutions, including institutes of higher learning.
What is also important is that there is sufficient funding for R & D.
In terms of natural resources, Muslim nations are some of the world’s richest. However, this is not reflected in terms of their funding for R & D.
In order to move forward in the ever-challenging world of today, considerable funding needs to be allocated for R & D. Only then could Muslim nations take the first step in competing with the already advanced nations of the world.
The first step makes a whole world of difference. There are many other elements in institutionalising the culture of R & D. All of these need to be looked at with great detail, followed by firm and resolute actions.
