The current state of scientific and technological progress in the Muslim world

SHERAZUR RAHMAN##
Approximately 1.82 billion people live in the Muslim world, but none of these countries are as influential or technologically advanced as the United States. In Muslim countries, advanced education and technological advancements have not been fully embraced. In terms of technological development and research, these countries are quite unsatisfactory. In certain sectors, it is difficult to find countries other than Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Iran excelling.

In global conflicts each year, approximately 1 million civilians are killed or seriously injured, with many coming from the Islamic community. Due to a lack of trust and unity among Muslim nations, as well as slow scientific and technological advancements, the situation has become tragic. There have been ongoing Rohingya crises and torture cases for over two decades, but powerful nations have shown little interest in resolving them.

In Muslim countries, scientific and technological progress has not been made due to their educational systems. This is evident when looking at the top 100 universities in the world, where Islamic countries are largely absent. However, countries like Iran, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are making strides in technological advancements and research despite economic obstacles. Their dedication to progress should be recognized and praised.
Regretfully, the Muslim world has not actively contributed to the development and research of new technologies. Despite the presence of 60 Muslim-majority countries with a large population, they have not been able to establish a significant presence in this field. Consequently, it is unlikely that their contribution will surpass 8% compared to developed countries. However, some countries, like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, have made advancements in the economic and technological sectors.

Nevertheless, the majority of Muslim countries still lag due to insufficient funding for innovative ideas and research. On the other hand, wealthy Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman have made substantial investments in education and technology to modernize their education systems and reduce their reliance on oil and gas export-based economies in the future. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are leading the way in this endeavor.

The United States leads global research and development spending, particularly in the military and civilian sectors. By 2023, the US is expected to invest around $300 billion in advanced research, funding prestigious universities, NASA, and other research institutes. In comparison, China invests $80 to $100 billion in innovative ideas and technologies, falling short of the US expenditure. Both countries benefit from their technological capabilities on a global scale.

In contrast, Muslim countries criticize these advancements while relying heavily on the products and services developed. However, they struggle to fully utilize their technology-based higher education institutions and research institutes in 90% of cases, hindering their technological progress. This highlights the Muslim world’s challenges in advancing technologically.##