tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post1027739674596299625..comments2024-03-19T09:06:21.507-04:00Comments on Irtiqa: The Most Influential Muslims in Science & TechnologySalman Hameedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327330113822656571noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-63510939337957953492010-09-02T06:08:49.091-04:002010-09-02T06:08:49.091-04:00Salman,
Thanks for your important comments. You d...Salman,<br /><br />Thanks for your important comments. You did well to read those early pages of the document, where they set out to describe Islam and its "diversity" ('doctrinal' and 'ideological' divisions). I had not read those pages, as I jumped and focused on the rest (bulk) of the document: the lists (whichever themselves were quite stunning). <br />I agree with you that those descriptions of "Islamic Modernism", "Wahhabism", etc., leave to doubt that this is a very conservative group, clearly supported (probably funded) by the "traditional Islam" (either official or private Saudi groups).<br />Yes, the list on Science (etc.) was surprising, as I mentioned. El-Naggar, about whom I've blogged on "miraculous science in the Qur'an" is also famous for his creationism (he is a geologist!). I had a loud TV debate with him in Alexandria less than a year ago. (BTW, his comments about Ardi were, as far as I recall, published only in Arabic on the Aljazeera website -- I can get you the link and my own translation of what he said if you want...)<br />But you would not believe how popular he is everywhere in the Arab world. I see him on TV every day. And each time I say something about Science nowadays, one of the replies I get contain a reference to him...<br />We still have a lot of work to do...Nidhal Guessoumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12638764091228065424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-73510209823687309092010-09-02T02:42:15.787-04:002010-09-02T02:42:15.787-04:00Sorry Salman. Could not find any "Bizarre pro...Sorry Salman. Could not find any "Bizarre prononucements about Ardi" by Dr Najjar through the links you gave. <br /><br />And I would any day trust Al Jazeera more than any woman's (or man's for that matter) translation of bits and pieces of what Al Jazeera said. <br /><br />Just because the same item is not there in the English version will not make me discredit them.Alinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-37700881285402285682010-09-01T22:24:40.528-04:002010-09-01T22:24:40.528-04:00I'm not sure what to make of this list - espec...I'm not sure what to make of this list - especially when somebody like Zaghloul el Naggar is listed in glowing terms (check his bizarre pronouncements about <a href="http://sciencereligionnews.blogspot.com/2009/10/making-sense-of-al-jazeeras-strange.html" rel="nofollow">Ardi</a> here - also, Nidhal - you had a TV encounter with him at the Darwin conference in Alexandria). <br /><br />I was also intrigued by the definition of "Ideological Divisions Within Islam". Who would have guessed that the divisions are:<br />Traditional Islam (96% of the World's Muslims)<br />Islamic Modernism (1% of the Worlds' Muslims)<br />Islamic Fundamentalism (3% of the World's Muslims). <br /><br />And here is how they start to define Islamic Modernism:<br /><br />"Islamic modernism is a reform movement started by politically-minded urbanites with scant knowledge of traditional Islam."<br /><br />In case you are wondering if they pass similar judgements - say against the Wahabis/Salafis ... well, think again. They are quite neutral about that:<br /><br />"Wahhabism/Salafism are terms used interchangeably to refer to a particular brand of Islam. Salaf, meaning predecessors in Arabic, refers to the very early practice of Islam by Muhammad and his immediate successors. Salafism proposes to revive the practice of Islam as it was at the time of the Prophet and is critical of emphasis being placed on thinkers from after this period. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al Wahhab (1703-1792 CE) was the central figure in the formulation of this ideology therefore Salafism is often simply known as Wahhabism."<br /><br />Oh - but it seems that Ayaollah Khomenei was a Marxist :<br />"Revolutionary Shi‘ism is an ideology based on the teachings of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-1989 CE), which shares many similarities with Marxist revolutionary thought."<br /><br />This looks like a political group with its own axe to grind. We should look at this list with some of the astonishment that Nidhal referred to...Salman Hameedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04327330113822656571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-40772320767024466092010-08-31T18:17:14.010-04:002010-08-31T18:17:14.010-04:00Dear Nidhal,
Thanks again. :)
Best wishes,
A...Dear Nidhal, <br /><br />Thanks again. :) <br /><br />Best wishes, <br /><br />AliAlinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-20428835998678493532010-08-31T06:49:16.131-04:002010-08-31T06:49:16.131-04:00Dear Ali,
I am really flattered that you would en...Dear Ali,<br /><br />I am really flattered that you would encourage me to nominate myself for the list of most influential Muslims (in Science and related field) -- thank you so much! Well, let's wait until Irtiqa becomes really influential... :-) Salman tells me the blog is progressing well, but I don't think we are really "influential" yet... Of course, blogging is just one way to impacting society, and there are other important ways, including publishing, appearing on the media, teaching, etc...<br /><br />I agree with you on everything you wrote. And, very sincerely, you write very nicely. Best wishes.Nidhal Guessoumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12638764091228065424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-80763471072021763412010-08-31T03:24:42.827-04:002010-08-31T03:24:42.827-04:00Dear Nidhal,
Thank you for your kind words.
I ...Dear Nidhal, <br /><br />Thank you for your kind words. <br /><br />I am thinking they might even ask to submit CVs, etc for the selection process. If so, they will have an open invitation for that. It might be worthwhile to find out about it and submit yours for the 2011 list. Despite any negative criticisms it may have, I would consider getting the name included in that list an honour. <br /><br />"In terms of general impact on populations, heads of state are quite "influential". But I would have preferred to see people who will have impacts on longer timescales (thinkers, scholars, etc.)." <br /><br />I too would like to believe that scholars, thinkers, academics, and others from the educated world will be more influential than the heads of states. But the thing is, in the real world, education is not on the top. Generally what matters most when it comes to influencing people seems to be wealth and the power that is associated with it. <br /><br />The pen may be mightier than the sword but the mightiest of all seems to be money. <br /><br />The works of scholars and thinkers will be hidden inside libraries and book shelves. They will affect only the few who will take pains to read them. Any any influence produced by them will be too mild and too scattered. But money dissolves many boundaries and tend to reach everyone enabling to move the masses.Alinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-37678402646878924492010-08-30T20:59:09.122-04:002010-08-30T20:59:09.122-04:00Dear Ali,
Your words and viewpoint are quite wise....Dear Ali,<br />Your words and viewpoint are quite wise. I too don't know the selection process in any detail, but I am sure there's a committee, there are nominations, they are discussed, etc. As always, there must be some more deserving candidates, but on average, I am sure that those who make it to the final list are not bad. Errors and misjudgments are always made, but oftentimes they are corrected in follow-up editions.<br /><br />For the main list, it all depends what one means by "influential"... In terms of general impact on populations, heads of state are quite "influential". But I would have preferred to see people who will have impacts on longer timescales (thinkers, scholars, etc.).Nidhal Guessoumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12638764091228065424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-47667072019160554752010-08-30T18:22:05.069-04:002010-08-30T18:22:05.069-04:00I don't know how the people are selected for t...I don't know how the people are selected for this list. But I think the top 10 of the main list is believable. <br /><br />About the people on science and technology list, I have not heard of 12 out of the 19. Impressive eh? :) But then, i am not in a position to know of all these people either. So it hardly matters. <br /><br />Insignificant or not, I am happy that they make this list because now at least we have something we can consult should the need arise. Moreover, I think if we need to know more about Muslims and their work, this is a good way of knowing them. <br /><br />The selection process must be tiring and it cannot satisfy everyone, i am sure. There might be better candidates for all categories, but I don't mind.Alinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-72885123950705773262010-08-30T16:49:50.977-04:002010-08-30T16:49:50.977-04:00M. Akbar Hussain,
Do you mean the general Top-50 ...M. Akbar Hussain,<br /><br />Do you mean the general Top-50 list or the "Science, Technology, etc." one?<br /><br />As the title of this piece implies, I am more interested in the second one, and though I don't want to influence anyone's judgment, I find it not so crazy. But I am highly interested in hearing about specific names (those that are on the list and those that are not)...Nidhal Guessoumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12638764091228065424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-30562410676053223002010-08-30T10:44:17.016-04:002010-08-30T10:44:17.016-04:00This list is as insignificant and non-influential ...This list is as insignificant and non-influential as the Royal Society in Amman itself.M. Akbar Hussainnoreply@blogger.com