World Blog by humble servant.Education in “Muslim” Countries Asking questions is discouraged

I have noticed several things regarding the attitudes in education as well as general attitudes in life.

The Muslim countries of the world are at the bottom of the list when it comes to education and development. Many people have tried to blame the west for the backward Muslim attitude. However, this problem is not an external problem, but an internal one. There are other countries in the world, which are poorer than some Muslim countries, but when it comes to education they are far ahead of Muslim nations.

India is one example. They were also under colonial rule like Pakistan and are among the poorest countries in the world. However, their education system is better than any Muslim country in the world. They produce more world class scientists and researchers than all the Muslims countries combined . If you go to any major university in the world, you are bound to find Indian professors in the faculty.

What is their secret? This question had been on my mind several years ago and I did some research on that.  I noticed several differences in ATTITUDE and no major differences in content of what was being taught at their universities compared to Muslim Universities.

The main difference was that Indian education system encourages QUESTIONING old Masters, whereas, the Muslim countries' education system DISCOURAGES asking new questions and it encourages following what people in the past did. This attitude is not limited to universities but is also prevalent in other social things, including religion.

Questioning oneself and others is the first and the most important aspect of intellectual and spiritual growth. The growth of a person or a nation depends on how much they are ready for self-criticism. This aspect has been totally missing from the Muslim attitude of late. In fact, the Muslims get upset and angry at the very suggestion of self-criticism. They are happy to blame others for their own shortcomings.

However, now after more than 1400 years it is quite clear that the Muslim intellect is behind the rest of the world; the freethinkers are very few. The only people visible are those who follow authority and do not question (both at an academic level as well as a spiritual level).

We should look at history, and learn from it. It has always been very important to be able to look at previous ideas and question them. If those ideas or theories were true, then questioning them would not change anything as the truth can stand any questions. Galileo came up with the truth because he questioned the ideas of authority.Newton was a great scientist. But Einstein questioned Newton's ideas. All the prophets and messengers questioned the religious authority. The Quran is full of these examples. An example is given in verses 6:76-79 for Prophet Abraham who was not satisfied with the practiced religion, and looked for the truth.

This example of Prophet Abraham is very important as it sheds light on several things:

1. He was open minded in his questioning.

2. He ONLY sought God's guidance.

3. Since what his people believed was not the Truth, it could not stand his questioning, and thus he was able to, with the guidance of God, arrive at the Truth.

What do Muslims believe in? Is it the truth? If it is the truth, then it should be able to stand any test and any question. If they have any fear from any questions, then that means that they are not standing by the truth and it is time for them to re-examine their belief. Since the Quran is the Truth, God openly invites all human beings to ponder/think/question its content. In addition to that God strongly discourages blind following of religious authority, even our parents (5:104; 12:40; 17:36).

In these and many other verses in the Quran, God encourages us to use our brains and common sense.

Why do they not study the Quran carefully? If it were from other than GOD, they would have found in it numerous contradictions (4:82).

Here again invitation is made to ponder and question the Quran. God is inviting people to look at this Book and ask your questions. You will not find ANY discrepancy in this Book as it is the Truth and it is also NOT afraid of being questioned.

We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn? (54:17, 22, 32, 40).

Again notice that the Quran is not asking people to follow blindly, but the invitation is being made to use our understanding.

They will also say, "Our Lord, we have obeyed our masters and leaders, but they led us astray. (33:67)

This is the state of people who without questioning followed other humans.

Unfortunately this aspect of questioning and testing the truth is almost extinct in the “Muslim” world. Even when Muslims debate about religion, they quote "authority" more often than the Quran. You will hear, "Shaykh A said this," and "Hadeeth X says that." You will seldom hear "The Quran says this and let us think about it and humble ourselves to that."

May God guide us all.[5:104]  When they are told, "Come to what GOD has revealed, and to the messenger," they say, "What we found our parents doing is sufficient for us." What if their parents knew nothing, and were not guided?

[17:36]  You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.