A Tribute to a Muslim Genius

8/6/2019 A Tribute to a Muslim Genius

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A TRIBUTE TO A MUSLIM GENIUS

Sujit Das

[A note to the readers:Its not long since I have been writing critical to Islam. Though I cherish no

malice against Muslims, but, whenever an article of mine is published, I get many hate mails fromMuslim readers. Muslims often say that there are many scholars in Islam who had contributed

enough to the mankind. After few days of extensive study and research, I came across a great

Muslim scholar, named Ibn Baz. This article is a humble and sincere attempt to glorify hiswonderful contribution to the mankind.

Every effort has been made to write a very serious one, but Muslim readers might wrongly find thisarticle a satire or a spoof! Please dont blame me for your mistakes! This article is, indeed, a very

serious one. I will always appreciate Ibn Bazs enthusiasm and salute him with deep sense of respect

for his massive contribution to the modern science.Hope, this time I will be able to please theMuslim readers. Thank you.]

One of the mystifying capabilities of the human brain is embodied in the genius. A genius is an

individual with astounding creative talents and distinguished mental abilities. They are able togenerate new ideas. A new idea cannot be called creative unless it is quite hard to come by. It is a

common mistaken idea that geniuses are born, not made. If we look at the lives of worlds greatest

geniuses like, Shakespeare, Da Vinci, Socrates, Einstein, Gutenberg, Ibn Baz, Edison, Newton and

many others; we will soon realize that almost all of them have many common personalitycharacteristics. Any common people can develop these characteristics and operate on a genius level.

As per Dr. Barrios (1980), geniuses have a strong desire to work hard and for long and continuallyaccumulate information. Thomas Alva Edison said "Genius is ninety-nine percent perspiration and

one percent inspiration". Geniuses are highly motivated and do not bother about what common

people will think if they are different. They have the courage to do something which others mightconsider impossible. These characteristics enable geniuses to come up with and develop new and

fruitful ideas, which simpletons of their days cannot think of.

The common folks had seen many geniuses and have benefited from their extraordinary constructive

talents from time to time. One such genius is Ibn Baz. He hailed from Saudi Arabia (the land of

Prophet Muhammad) and his full name is Shaikh Abd-al-Aziz Ibn Abd-Allah Ibn Baaz (the name

means - Servant of the almighty Allah, or, son of the servant of Allah). He is better known by theshort name Ibn Baz (though there are many uncanny similarities between Mr. Ibn Baz and Mr. Bin,

these are coincidental only). From the very childhood days he was very fond of memorizing Koran

and learning Islamic religious scriptures (Saudi Gazette, 1999). He believed that there could not beany knowledge beyond Koran and Ahadith; and hence it was unnecessary to learn anything else

other than the religious scriptures of Islam.


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At the age of sixteen, Ibn Baaz contracted a serious eye infection. His sight deteriorated and by the

age of twenty he was completely blind. But, since he was a true genius, he never gave up. Despite of

his blindness, he determinedly continued to study Islam under the direction of some of the mostrenowned Islamic thinkers of his day, such as the Sheikh Shanqeeti and many other Islamic scholars

of different pedigree. An article published in Saudi Gazette highlighted the educational background

of this genius, as follows

The subjects he studied included Arabic language and Islamic science including the interpretation

of Holy Quran, the Prophets (pbuh) Traditions, jurisprudence and Islamic history. As an Islamic

visionary he fully understood the influence of history on the Ummah and worked hard to ensure thatthe evil influences which did affect people in the past did not repeat itself in the present age. (Anon,

1999)

Shortly, his creative Muslim brain was completely Islamized and, hardly any Islamic scriptures were

left for him to study. By this way he became a great scholar and highly respectable nobleman inSaudi Arabia. There were no science left in Koran and Ahadith which he did not pull out and learn.

In infidel world there are many scholars who can be called a walking encyclopedia, but Ibn Baz

soon became a walking Koran & Ahadith.

Throughout his life, this great Islamic genius was totally devoted to comprehend scientific miracles

of Koran and had issued many fataawa (fataawa - plural of "fatwa", means edicts) for thedevelopment of human civilization, starting from 1940 onwards (Wikipedia, 2006). A staff writer of

Arab News (a leading newspaper published from Saudi Arabia) reported on 15 th May 1999 , Hehas issued thousands of fatwas on various contemporary social and economic issues on the basis of

the Quran and Sunnah.

His first fatwa was employment of non-Muslims in the Arabian Gulf forbidden by Islam. After fewdecades, this genius gave another fatwa Non-Muslim troops should be deployed on Saudi Arabia

soil to defend the Kingdom from the Iraqi army (Kepel, 2004). This fatwa seems to be just a reversalof the first one, but we have to understand that geniuses always think differently and they developnew creative ideas from time to time. It is not easy for a simpleton to understand the creative

capacities of a genius.

He had authored many books to benefit mankind which are full of wisdom. His books are always

best-sellers within Muslim world only. The most famous of his discovery is that which is stated in

the book named, Evidence that the Earth is Standing Still. This scientific research work waspublished by Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia, during 1974. On page 23 of this academic

research work he talked about his brilliant discovery and cited many references from Koran and

Ahadith. He confidently challenged the age-old belief of earths rotation and quoted as follows,

If the earth is rotating as they claim, the countries, the mountains, the trees, the rivers, and the

oceans will have no bottom and the people will see the eastern countries move to the west and thewestern countries move to the east."

Parvez Hoodbhoy had mentioned the above valuable scientific conclusion of Ibn Baz, in his book

"Islam and Science: Religious Orthodoxy and the Battle for Rationality". On page 49, he wrote,


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intact even after so much merciless mockery of Egyptian journalists (Kepel, 2004). Another

Islamic scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Tantawi said he (Ibn Baz) did not fear any criticism while

expressing his Islamic viewpoints, (Arab News, 1999). His strong determination proved that he wasa true genius. Probably those shameless journalists were not aware of his professional

achievements.

This great scholar held the position of Grand Mufti of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Head of the

Council of Ulema (Senior Scholars) - 1993 to 1999 CE. This position refers to the highest official of

religious law in a Sunni Muslim country. The Grand Mufti issues legal opinions and edicts, fatwa,on interpretations of Islamic law both for assisting judges in deciding cases as well as for private

clients.

Other remarkable achievements of this great Islamic scholar, who had proved that earth is flat,motionless and sun revolves around earth; include (Saudi Gazette, 1999;Riyadh Daily, 1999;Arab

News, 1999),

Vice President, and later President of the Islamic University in Medina, 1960 CE to 1970 CE

Chairman of the government department of Scientific Research and Ifta (guidance) with therank of Minister. 1974 H to 1993 H.

President of the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fataawa.

Judge of Kharj For 14 years ,

Honorable teacher amongst faculty of Shariah [Islamic Law] of Riyadh Institute of Science

from 1951 CE to 1960 CE.

In 1981 CE, he was awarded the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam.

In addition to his intensive activities, he used to attain seminars and deliver lectures in different

Islamic universities till his death (Riyadh Daily, 1999). His favourite topic was the importance ofadherence to Sunnah (the Prophets teachings). Today, most of the prominent judges and religious

scholars, University lecturers, scientists and top government officials of Saudi Arabia are his

students which also includes the Education Minister of Saudi Arabia.

Though his success story was quite impressive, he never received any award from outside Saudi

Arabia. The infidel world did not pay serious attention to his discoveries, though there was much

curiosity about this Muslim genius and many newspapers of western world published his flat, rigid,geocentric earth and rotation of sun fataawa. Ibn Baz died during 1999. The Mullahs allover the

Islamic world must have used local mosques loud speaker to inform Allah about the mighty arrival

of Ibn Baz to paradise. It is hoped that Ibn Baz did not have to wait much to get a rightful place inIslamic heaven.

This is the misfortune with many great geniuses. Often geniuses are misunderstood at the beginning.Sometimes they are laughed at and ridiculed or thought to be crazy. The fact is that, geniuses are so


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advanced that the society of their day rejects their ideas. It is the future generation, who confirm

their status of genius. As example, when Galileo challenged the existing cosmic map and geocentric

earth theory, he was ordered imprisoned which was later commuted to house arrest by the CatholicChurch (During 1992, Pope John Paul II expressed regret for how the Galileo affair was handled),

when Sir Isaac Newton was inspired to formulate his theory of universal gravitation by the fall of an

apple from a tree, he was ridiculed. There were cartoons which suggested that the apple actually hitNewton's head, and that impact and pain in fact sensitized him of the force of gravity (no pain, no

gain!). Similarly, when Ibn Baz condemned the heliocentric Copernican system, the Egyptian

journalists targated him mercilessly with mockery. Another great philosophical genius was Socrateswho was accused of corrupting the youth and interfering with the religion of the state and sentenced

to death. At least Ibn Baz did not have to die to defend his scientific discovery. Darwins evolution

theory was also not accepted at the beginning by the academicians. Einstein's research paper on

general relativity was not liked and thought to be wrong by most of the members of RoyalAstronomical Society of England. Similarly, the Motionless earth, Flat earth and Sun revolve

around the earth discoveries of Muslim genius Ibn Baz are not taken seriously yet. It is just a matter

of time.

That day is not far away, when the great discoveries of this Islamic scholar will be recognized by the

whole world. With the further advancement of science and technology, in the future, the infidels willagree that the earth is really motionless and flat, and the sun revolves around the earth. This will

prove that the scientific miracles of Koran and Ahadith are not laughable matter at all and on that

day Islam will take over and rule the flat and motionless earth from one edge to another and the

leftover Infidels will be thrown overboard from the edge of the flat earth for not believing inKoran. Muslims will offer their five time obligatory prayer on the flat and motionless earth and the

sun will circle around Makkah round the clock by Allahs divine instruction.

The death of this genius was a great loss not only to Saudi Arabia, but also for the whole Muslim

world. When this great scholar died, the loss of "his erudition and reputation for intransigence" was

so great the Saudi government was said to have "found itself staring into a vacuum" unable to find afigure able to "fill bin Baaz's shoes." (Kepel, 2004). Arab News reported (1999) that more than

fifty thousand people came forward to carry his body to his burial ground at Makkah, while millions

of Muslims performed funeral prayers. King Fahd said that the Islamic world was shocked hearingthe sad news (Arab News, 1999). The news of his death was so unbearable that many Muslims must

had been wallowing on the ground as if they were orphaned. Many of them must have been soaking

their long beards with endless teardrops.

The death of Ibn Baz is a great loss to the mankind as a whole. In fact the whole world is still

staring into a vacuum because a genius like Ibn Baz is very rare to find out. He was an original

genius of too high standard. There is not another genius in ten million like him. It is difficult toreplace him.

Life is an ocean of grief and sorrow. Modern fast lifestyle, work pressure, unhealthy competition,jealousy, political unrest (intentionally, I did not mention the Islamic terrorism, because in this

article I am glorifying a Muslim genius and it is a wrong place to talk about Islamic terrorism) are

increasing day by day and no way leveling off. Everywhere, there are lifeless, sad, and long faces to

see. It looks like, slowly people are forgeting to smile. This is the time when the whole world looks


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forward for the geniuses like Ibn Baz. However, it is not late yet. The present Islamic scholars

should try to fill up the vacuum as early as possible and start digging up new scientific miracles

from the Holy Koran and Holy Ahadith and put up the new findings in the form of many fataawa forthe whole world to see. There are enough scientific miracles in Holy Koran and Holy Ahadith which

can amuse the infidels for next several decades, if not centuries. This is the only way Muslim

scholars can make a positive contribution to the mankind by bringing back the long lost smile onothers face.

References

Anonimous, (1999), Staunch Defender of Islam, An article published in Saudi Gazette on 14May 1999.

Arab News, (1999), pp. 1, 2; 15 May 1999

Barrious A (1980), 24 Qualities That Geniuses Have in Common; NationalEnquirer/Transworld Features. URL: http://www.hightechbiz.com/pub/genius.htm

Kepel G., (2004); The War for Muslim Minds: Islam and the West,. Belknap Press of

Harvard University Press. pp.184, 186

Riyadh Daily Staff Reporter (1999), Sheikh Bin Baz: A life devoted to Islam, Riyadh Daily

(Daily newspaper published from Saudi Arabia) dated, 14 May 1999.

Saudi Gazette staff reporter (1999); Biography of Sheikh Bin Baz, Saudi Gazette (Daily

newspaper published from Saudi Arabia) dated, 14 May 1999

Sina A., (n.d); Absurdities of Hadith and Muslims Denial,Faith Freedom International.

URL: http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/denialhadith.htm

Wikipedia (2006); Abd-al-Aziz ibn Abd-Allah ibn Baaz (Name). URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd-al-Aziz_ibn_Abd-Allah_ibn_Baaz#Name

The author can be contacted at [email protected]
http://www.hightechbiz.com/pub/genius.htmhttp://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/denialhadith.htmhttp://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/denialhadith.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd-al-Aziz_ibn_Abd-Allah_ibn_Baaz#Namemailto:[email protected]://www.hightechbiz.com/pub/genius.htmhttp://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/denialhadith.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd-al-Aziz_ibn_Abd-Allah_ibn_Baaz#Namemailto:[email protected]

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