IN FOCUS

why Islam places such great emphasis on knowledge and learning, beginning with the very first revelation: “Read in the name of your Lord who created.” (96:1) Similarly, the preservation of human life is declared a supreme value: “Whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of mankind.” (5:32) From this perspective, acts such as blood donation are not merely permissible; they are expressions of moral responsibility and compassion. The tragedy of earlier civilizations lay in their inability to separate religion from science. Galileo’s theory that the earth revolved around the sun was rejected not because it lacked evidence, but because it appeared to threaten a theological assumption prevalent in medieval Christianity. To preserve the symbolic centrality of the earth as the birthplace of Jesus, scientific truth was denied, and Galileo was persecuted. Islam, through the Prophet’s clear guidance, closed the door to such confusion. It freed religion from scientific speculation and science from theological interference. If Muslims today were to rediscover this prophetic principle, many of their doubts would dissolve, and they would once again become active contributors to human welfare. Initiatives such as blood donation, medical research, and social service would then be seen not as matters of suspicion, but as fulfilments of faith in action—faith that harmonizes belief with reason and worship with service to humanity.  Islam freed religion from scientific speculation and science from theological interference. If Muslims today were to rediscover this prophetic principle, many of their doubts would dissolve, and they would once again become active contributors to human welfare.