Message of the CEO of Mustafa Sci. & Tech. Foundation for the 4th STEP Forum in Oman

02 Dec. 2018

Allah is All-Wise

Indeed, knowledge is indubitably a light in the pure hearts over whom only God’s eternal destiny rules and it is a blessing and prosperity for those who seek Allah’s remembrance. People of knowledge must strive to help others enjoy the blessing light of their wisdom. Thus, surely being in the pursuit of knowledge is an obligation which has long been placed on the shoulders of the followers of Mustafa Not only shall they have the felicity in this world, they shall be on a bright light to discern the truth of creation and to reach the abode of prosperity. Whether this knowledge is in his hand or a seed in the heaven, the mighty thought of men must benefit from the wisdom and subjugate it to God’s light of guidance so that they can walk on the straight path toward the bright horizon. We believe that the followers of Mustafa shall realize the teachings of his as the best servant of Allah. They must discover the 6 knowledge while exploring the truth of the universe and illuminating the transcendental spirit of men toward the verities of creation. This shall grant men the true peace and shall provide them with security, health, and welfare in this world as well as prosperity for the Hereafter. Islamic civilization has beheld the tremendous influence of its scholars like, Ibn Battuta, Avicenna, Ibn al-Haytham, Al-Biruni, Badi al-Zaman al-Jazari, and its philosophers like, Al Farabi (Alpharabius), Ibn Rushd (Averroes), Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Razi, and al-Khwarizmi who kept the torch of science flaming and wanted the knowledge on a path which put men near stationed to God while recognizing it a healing and mercy for the conditions of human beings; these great men brought about a ground for a better life for humanity through promoting and developing such knowledge. Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) plans to provide the fertile ground for such a grand mission to praise and appreciate the contemporary bright stars in the scientific firmament and to open a field for the synergy among the scientists of the Muslim World. The Science and Technology Exchange Program (STEP) is a platform established in this Foundation to develop such interactions in science and technology. This comprehensive plan of action includes support and development packages and incentives for scientific cooperation of scientists’ networks and Islamic centers at international levels.

The plan follows scientific events in collaboration with scientific communities, granting financial assistance along with applied-research grants, establishing and deepening relations between scientists and scientific communities in the Muslim World, and hence reflecting the results of science and technology in human society. The first and third STEP were held in Tehran, simultaneous with Mustafa Prize Award Ceremony in 2015 and 2017, in cooperation with Islamic World Academy of Sciences, and various universities and scientific centers. The second STEP was held in Putrajaya, in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia, Young Scientists Network, and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. The fourth STEP is going to be held on Health, Water, and Energy, in collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).

I feel it incumbent upon me to express my gratitude to Prof. Jackie Ying, the 2015 Mustafa Prize laureate in Bio Nanotechnology; and Prof. Amin Shokrollahi, the 2017 Mustafa Prize laureate in Information Theory; and Ali Al Bimani the Vice Chancellor of SQU who kindly accepted the invitation of MSTF and laid the groundwork for holding the forth STEP.

Such programs are being held throughout the year in different countries around various fields in science and technology and are hosted by universities, scientific centers, and prominent scientists of the Islamic World who are counted as leading scientists in cooperation with MSTF in order to promote the level of interaction among scientists of the Islamic World.

Backing applied-scientific research conducted by OIC member states is among other missions of STEP. These include grants which are obtained from scientific endeavors of Muslim World’s scientists and are used in order to facilitate and expedite the processes from which the Islamic Community benefits. The financial assistance of STEP are awarded to the output-oriented and applied research in which at least two countries of the Muslim World participate in the investment, implementation, and exploitation of its results and have scientific cooperation in those areas.

MSTF hopes to take firm and consistent steps to promote the scientific and technological interactions in the Islamic World and to revive the role of the Muslim scientists in the development of science and technology. MSTF hopes to witness the scientific leadership of the Islamic Ummah once again in achieving the scientific facts and discoveries of the universe. This would not be attained unless the scientists of the Muslim World and the Muslim Communities and benefactors all cooperated closely. Therefore, this Foundation warmly welcomes all the enthusiasts with open arms.

Mahdi Safarinia

CEO of Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation