Mustafa prize for scientists of the Islamic World

The “Mustafa Prize” initiated by the Islamic Republic of Iran in honour of the Prophet of Islam for scientists of the Islamic world held its 3rd biennial session last week in Tehran on the occasion of the Prophet’s blessed birth anniversary which is celebrated as Unit Week, spanning the two dates of the month of Rabi al-Awwal, believed to be the auspicious birthday – the 12th and the 17th.

 “Mustafa”, which means the “Chosen” is the Divinely-Bestowed epithet of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). In honour of the peerless position of the Prophet, one of whose famous statements is “seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave”, Iran awarded the “Mustafa Prize” to some outstanding scientists of the Islamic world. The ceremony was held in in the Iranian capital on November 20, attended by 100 distinguished academics and researchers from 30 world countries and jointly presided over by Iran's Vice President for Science and Technology, Sourena Sattari and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Dr. Ali Akbar Salehi.  

This top prize which is granted biennially to the leading scientists and researchers of the Islamic world, is presented every two years to those with innovative achievements in these fields, with focus on betterment of the life of human beings. 

The holy Qur’an, which is Almighty’s Last and Final Heavenly Scripture for the universal guidance of mankind, emphasizes the benefits of knowledge and learning in several ayahs, such as Ayah 9 of Surah Zumar which says: “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”

In Ayah 6 of Surah Saba, God says in His address to the Prophet: “Those who have been given knowledge see that what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the truth and [that] it guides to the path of the All-Mighty, the All-Laudable.

The Prophet of Islam who was knowledge and wisdom personified, has said in clear words: “I am the City of Knowledge and (my cousin) Ali is its Gate”.

The Prophet advised the Muslims of his time to seek knowledge even if it is found in China – a land which in those days was very far from Arabia. It means, the seekers of knowledge should spare no efforts for acquiring knowledge and wisdom.

It is worth noting that the holy Qur’an and the sayings of the Prophet of Islam provided impetus to Muslims to explore new frontiers of science, technology and learning, as is evident by achievements of the heyday of the Islamic civilization at a time when Christian Europe was in darkness. Later the Renaissance happened as a result of the translation from Arabic into Latin of the works of Muslim scholars and scientists, from Spain, Iran, and Egypt, such as Musa al-Khwarezmi, Zakariya Razi, Abu Ali Ibn Sina, Abu Rayhan Berouni, Ibn Haytham and hundreds of others – most of whom were Iranian Muslims writing in Arabic in various fields, such as astronomy, medicine, mathematics, geology, engineering, and etc.

Incidentally, the Prophet of Islam had reportedly remarked, while pointing to his Iranian companion Salman Farsi, “If knowledge is to be found in the Pleiades (Sorayya), his people will seek it.”

Thus, in view of these facts and in light of the spectacular progress made in various scientific fields by Iran following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, it is thus incumbent upon the Islamic Republic to initiate such a meritorious awards as “Mustafa Prize” to honour the scientists of the Islamic world.

Those eligible for the Mustafa Prize present their outstanding theoretical or practical achievements, which are scrutinized by a jury composed of scientific and technological experts.

Over the past 50 years, science and technology have spectacularly advanced to change concepts of bio sciences such as genetics, molecule biology, neurology, etc.  

These new disciplines and information have practically and profoundly revolutionized medicine and biotechnology, with positive affect for human health and comfort. Thus, the Mustafa Prize is granted to outstanding achievements in science, medicine, bio-technology and related fields that result in a better understanding of life or improving the quality of human life.

This year’s Mustafa Prize in medical science and technology was shared by Dr. Ugur Shahin, a Turkish professor of experimental oncology, and Dr. Ali Khadem Hosseini of Iran.

Professor Shahin received the award for his seminal work on individualized cancer immunotherapies, in particular for the development and clinical testing of mRNA-based vaccines that are tailored to each patient's mutation profile. 

Born in 1975, Dr. Khadem Hosseini is an Iranian professor at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) who holds a multi-departmental professorship in bioengineering, radiology, chemical, and bio-molecular engineering.

There are numerous researchers and scientists in different corners of the world who make breakthrough advances in science and technologies by their innovations and findings and contribute to betterment of the quality of human life. Recognizing these researchers and developing effective connections with them can lead to promotion of scientific interactions between Muslim researchers, as well as getting familiarized with the well-known international scientific institutions, and eventually the advancement of science in the world. Therefore, introducing these scientists and honoring their role in improving the level of science and technology, can create a role model for other researchers in the world.

With this aim, The Mustafa Prize is granted to outstanding achievements in the fields of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics; Information and Communication Technologies; Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction; Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary; Health and Welfare as well as Cognitive Science and Islamic Economics and Banking. 

During this year’s biennial ceremony, a number of researchers in the field of technology were also honoured. These were Prof. Imran Inan of Turkey, and two Iranian scientists, Professor Hossein Baharvand and Dr. Mohammad Abdol-Ahad of Iran who shared the Mustafa Prize in the category of scientists of the Islamic world.

President of Koc University, Turkish Prof. Imran Inan won the prize for “understanding of whistler-mode wave-particle interaction in the Earth’s stratosphere, and the electro-dynamic coupling between lighting discharges and the upper atmosphere.

During his speech, he said that he has visited seven continents and has conducted his studies in Antarctica, Greenland and Alaska, but he is very happy that he is here in Iran and the prize has a special place in his heart.

Professor of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology at the Royan institute, Hossein Baharvand, won the prize for “Parkinson’s treatment and Eye AMD with Stem Cell”.

In his speech, he hoped for a better future of science and technology in the Islamic world and proposed the establishment of an academy for developing countries.

The Faculty Member of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Tehran, Mohammad Abdol-Ahad, was awarded for his achievement in “Translating the Behavior of Healthy and Cancerous Cells into the Electronic Field (New Methods in Diagnosis of Cancer)”.

In his speech, he said: “I thank God for giving me the opportunity to develop a diagnostic method for the cancer disease.  I have found no area more important than human health improvement, either religiously or with a call to conscience."

Thus, as per the teachings of the Prophet of Islam, knowledge is a light to the heart of the human being, and as a lost property of a believer should be eagerly and earnestly acquired.

MG/SS