Dear Friends: (Regarding post # 96 & 98)

Mr. Mustayeen Khan Sahib has taken us thru the annals of history to list names of eminent Muslim scholars. I have not gone to the pages of encyclopedia to check validity of reference but I trust his list is accurate albeit incomplete for all achievements of Muslim scholars of a civilization bygone. Nonetheless, I agree with his list.

However, I am at a loss how to tell him that he has missed the point completely. His argument in para #4 is like referring to name of Dr. Abdul Salam (Nobel Laureate) to prove that Muslims have been vigorously participating in 20^th century intellectual discourse.

I think member of Family of Heart would benefit the most if he theorized reasons that led to intellectual suppression in Muslim countries other than colonialism, which we all agree had negative effect.

Now we have a new theory that I was not aware of. Lack of democracy in Muslim countries is being theorized as Intellectual stagnation because libraries were burnt in Muslim countries in 12^th & 13^th century. Good Lord!

Lets go beyond rhetoric and look at factual data. The era of original works and the idea of learning from translated books from various languages that filled the libraries due to be burnt (as above) had long gone. By end of eighteenth century only one medical book was translated, which was already about one hundred years old. Upon completion of the translation it was proudly presented to King Sultan Mehmed (Of course, it was an achievement in times of decay).

Mundane factors of movement of history have been present in all parts of the word. I think most appropriate question is whether there is anything in Islamic doctrine that was and is an impediment to logical thinking?

I think yes, very much so. There is something in Islam. Read the prescription for goodness of society in paragraph #8, “… be it Islamic or democratic, or even, dare I say, authoritarian”. I wonder as if there is a difference in Islamism and authoritarianism? And by the way, that is what Islamism is when this ideology spouts out of the hearts of faithful to be a noose of authority that seals the destiny of individuals and society. Shall we say Islamist also, if our good friend Subuhi allows it?

Regards

Tahir